Which place is cheaper, Manaus or Grand Cayman?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Grand Cayman or Manaus?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Grand Cayman and Manaus. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Grand Cayman or Manaus?
Grand Cayman
When people think of the Cayman Islands, they typically think of offshore bank accounts and sunny, cruise ship ports. Grand Cayman has more to offer travelers than a playground for the wealthy or a short stopover for cruise passengers. This tropical island is the largest of the three Cayman Islands, it is a shopper's heaven, a center for global finance and an ideal vacation spot.
Manaus
Manaus is a Brazilian city, capital of the state of Amazonas, and is located on the Rio Negro a few miles before it meets the Rio Solimões to form the Amazon River. The city is a major departure point for those visiting the Amazon Rainforest, though there are a few sights worth seeing within the city itself as well.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Brazil, and The Best Wildlife Tours to Brazil.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGrand Cayman $214Manaus $59
The average daily cost (per person) in Grand Cayman is $214, while the average daily cost in Manaus is $59. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Grand Cayman and Manaus in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGrand Cayman $150Manaus $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGrand Cayman $300Manaus $84
Compare Hotels in Grand Cayman and Manaus
Looking for a hotel in Grand Cayman or Manaus? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Grand Cayman Hotel Prices and Manaus Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Grand Cayman $31Manaus $7.94
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Grand Cayman
Also for Grand Cayman, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from George Town or 7 Mile to George Town Port: $53
- Private Transfer from George Town Port to Owen Roberts AirportGCM: $53
- Private Transfer from George Town Port to George Town or 7-Mile: $53
- Privat Transfer from Owen Roberts Airport GCM to George Town Port: $53
- George Town Port to Owen Roberts Airport (GCM) - Departure Private Transfer: $53
- George Town Port to George Town / 7-Mile Beach area -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $106
- George Town Cruise Port to George Town or 7-Mile Beach -Arrival Private Transfer: $53
- George Town / 7- Mile Beach area to George Town Port -Departure Private Transfer: $53
- Airport Transfers to North Side Accommodation (GCM Grand Cayman): $265
- Airport Transfer - Owen Roberts Intl Airport to GeorgeTown or Seven Mile Beach: $88
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Manaus
Also for Manaus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfers from the airport to any place in Manaus City: $40
- Transfer from Manaus Airport to Manaus City: $40
- Transfer Privativo 24h aeroporto -> hotel em Manaus: $18
- Shared Round-Trip Transfer: Eduardo Gomes International Airport: $72
- Serviço de transfer privativo do Porto -> aeroporto de Mana: $20
- Private Transfer 24h Airport to Hotel in Manaus: $15
- Private Transfer - Airport - Hotel / Hotel - Airport: $35
- Private 24-hour transfer from the Hotel to the Airport in Manaus: $16
- Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $46
- Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
- Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus - Arrival Private Transfer: $21
- Manaus to Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) - Departure Private Transfer: $23
Is it cheaper to fly into Grand Cayman or Manaus?
Prices for flights to both Manaus and Grand Cayman change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayGrand Cayman $39Manaus $12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Manaus
For Manaus, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Folklore Amazonian Dinner Show: $42
- Food Tour: $50
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Grand Cayman $41Manaus -
Tours and Activities in Grand Cayman
For Grand Cayman, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Acquarius Stingray City and Snorkel Tours: $80
- Cayman Adventure: Starfish Point, Stingray City and Coral Gardens: $99
- Cayman Crystal Caves & Pedro St James Castle Tour in Grand Cayman: $179
- Cayman Crystal Caves Tour in Grand Cayman Island: $126
- Cayman's Classic Food Tasting & Cultural Experience: $179
- East End Activities and Tour in Grand Cayman: $158
- Full Day Private Shore Tour in George Town from George Town Port: $275
- Full Day Private Shore Tour in George Town from George Town Port: $262
- Grand Cayman - Bioluminescent Bay Tour: $95
- Grand Cayman Cruise: Starfish Point, Stingray City, Coral Garden: $80
- Grand Cayman Reef & Stingray City Snorkeling Adventure: $159
- West Island Guided Tour with Entry Tickets: $120
Tours and Activities in Manaus
For Manaus, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Adventure: 4-hour hike in the Amazon rainforest: $150
- Amazon Experience: meet a native village and swim with porpoises: $80
- Amazon Jungle Experience with Overnight: $300
- Amazon Jungle: 3- or 4-Day Tour at Ipanema River Guest House: $200
- Amazon Negro River Half-Day Expedition Tour: $55
- Amazon Private Safari by Tuhiri Eco Tour - Leaving Manaus: $199
- Amazon River Stand Up Paddling Tour: $124
- Amazon and Negro Rivers Experience with Night Exploration Tour: $300
- City Tour Plus Amazon River Tour: $100
- City Tour in Manaus at Teatro Amazonas and Praça da Matriz: $50
- City Tour no Centro Histórico de Manaus com um fotógrafo: $91
- From Manaus Cruise Terminal: Amazon Rainforest Highlights: $150
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGrand Cayman $13Manaus $2.84
Typical Alcohol Prices in Grand Cayman
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Grand Cayman:
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Beer$4.97
Sample the Local Flavors in Grand Cayman
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Grand Cayman:
- Cayman Spirits Co. Distillery Tour Pass Ticket Only: $24
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Grand Cayman and Manaus, we can see that Grand Cayman is more expensive. And not only is Manaus much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Grand Cayman is in Caribbean Islands and Manaus is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Manaus would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Manaus and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Grand Cayman would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Grand Cayman than you might in Manaus.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Grand Cayman Expensive? and Is Manaus Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Grand Cayman or Manaus?
Manaus has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Grand Cayman. When comparing the sizes of Grand Cayman and Manaus, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Grand Cayman or Manaus?
Manaus has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Grand Cayman experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Grand Cayman or Manaus in the Summer?
Both Manaus and Grand Cayman are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Grand Cayman throughout the year.
In July, Grand Cayman is generally around the same temperature as Manausin January. Daily temperatures in Grand Cayman average around 28°C (83°F), and Manaus fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Manaus. It's quite rainy in Grand Cayman. In July, Grand Cayman usually receives less rain than Manausin January. Grand Cayman gets 179 mm (7 in) of rain, while Manaus receives 264 mm (10.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryGrand Cayman 28°C (83°F)Manaus 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Grand Cayman or Manaus in the Autumn?
Both Manaus and Grand Cayman during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Grand Cayman because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Grand Cayman is around the same temperature as Manaus in the autumn. The daily temperature in Grand Cayman averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Manaus fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in April.
Manaus gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Grand Cayman. Grand Cayman usually gets less rain in October than Manausin April. Grand Cayman gets 238 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Manaus receives 311 mm (12.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilGrand Cayman 27°C (81°F)Manaus 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Grand Cayman or Manaus in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Grand Cayman and Manaus. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Grand Cayman year-round.
In the winter, Grand Cayman is cooler than Manaus. Typically, the winter temperatures in Grand Cayman in January average around 24°C (76°F), and Manaus averages at about 28°C (82°F)in July.
In January, Grand Cayman usually receives less rain than Manausin July. Grand Cayman gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Manaus receives 85 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyGrand Cayman 24°C (76°F)Manaus 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Grand Cayman or Manaus in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Grand Cayman as well as Manaus. Grand Cayman attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Grand Cayman is generally cooler than Manausin October. Daily temperatures in Grand Cayman average around 26°C (79°F), and Manaus fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
It's quite rainy in Manaus. Grand Cayman usually gets less rain in April than Manausin October. Grand Cayman gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Manaus receives 113 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberGrand Cayman 26°C (79°F)Manaus 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Manaus and Grand Cayman
| Grand Cayman | Manaus | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 264 mm (10.4 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 290 mm (11.4 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 311 mm (12.3 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 131 mm (5.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 279 mm (11 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 179 mm (7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 85 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 172 mm (6.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 212 mm (8.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 238 mm (9.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 141 mm (5.6 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 174 mm (6.8 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (78°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 220 mm (8.6 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.