Which place is cheaper, Montanita or Grand Cayman?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Grand Cayman or Montanita?
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 Montanita. 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 Montanita?
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.
Montanita
Montanita is a small village located on Manglaralto parish along the southern coast of Ecuador. The Pacific Coast of Ecuador is lined with beach towns, either small villages with local fisherman or larger towns more set up for foreign travellers like Montanita. With one of the best beaches in Ecuador, one of the best surf breaks in the region, and a great laid-back atmosphere Montanita is a great little getaway, especially for the hippies of the world. It has also become a popular weekend destination for English teachers and Spanish students coming from Guayaquil and Quito. The beachfront village of Montanita has a laid-back atmosphere and steady stream of cosmopolitan backpackers, with as many South Americans as gringos.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGrand Cayman $214Montanita $96
The average daily cost (per person) in Grand Cayman is $214, while the average daily cost in Montanita is $96. 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 Montanita in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGrand Cayman $150Montanita $41
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGrand Cayman $300Montanita $82
Compare Hotels in Grand Cayman and Montanita
Looking for a hotel in Grand Cayman or Montanita? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Grand Cayman $31Montanita $39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Grand Cayman
Also for Grand Cayman, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfers to North Side Accommodation (GCM Grand Cayman): $265
- George Town Port to George Town / 7-Mile Beach area -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $106
- Airport Transfer - Owen Roberts Intl Airport to GeorgeTown or Seven Mile Beach: $88
- Privat Transfer from Owen Roberts Airport GCM to George Town Port: $53
- George Town Port to Owen Roberts Airport (GCM) - Departure Private Transfer: $53
- Private Transfer from George Town Port to George Town or 7-Mile: $53
- 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
- Private Transfer from George Town or 7 Mile to George Town Port: $53
- Private Transfer from George Town Port to Owen Roberts AirportGCM: $53
Is it cheaper to fly into Grand Cayman or Montanita?
Prices for flights to both Montanita 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 $39Montanita $28
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Grand Cayman $41Montanita $31
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGrand Cayman $13Montanita $7.86
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 Montanita, we can see that Grand Cayman is more expensive. And not only is Montanita much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Grand Cayman is in Caribbean Islands and Montanita 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 Montanita would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Montanita 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 Montanita.
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 Montanita Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Grand Cayman or Montanita?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Grand Cayman or Montanita in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Grand Cayman and Montanita. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Grand Cayman year-round. Montanita attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Grand Cayman gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Grand Cayman usually receives more rain than Montanita. Grand Cayman gets 179 mm (7 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Grand Cayman is a little warmer than Montanita in the summer. The daily temperature in Grand Cayman averages around 28°C (83°F) in July, and Montanita fluctuates around 25°C (78°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyGrand Cayman 28°C (83°F)Montanita 25°C (78°F)
Should I visit Grand Cayman or Montanita in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Grand Cayman as well as Montanita. Grand Cayman attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montanita throughout the year.
Grand Cayman receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Grand Cayman usually gets more rain in October than Montanita. Grand Cayman gets 238 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Grand Cayman is around the same temperature as Montanita. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Grand Cayman in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Montanita averages at about 26°C (78°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGrand Cayman 27°C (81°F)Montanita 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Grand Cayman or Montanita in the Winter?
Both Montanita and Grand Cayman are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Grand Cayman throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Montanita because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Grand Cayman usually receives less rain than Montanita. Grand Cayman gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In January, Grand Cayman is generally around the same temperature as Montanita. Daily temperatures in Grand Cayman average around 24°C (76°F), and Montanita fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGrand Cayman 24°C (76°F)Montanita 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Grand Cayman or Montanita in the Spring?
Both Montanita and Grand Cayman during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Grand Cayman because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montanita year-round.
Grand Cayman usually gets less rain in April than Montanita. Grand Cayman gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
Grand Cayman is around the same temperature as Montanita in the spring. The daily temperature in Grand Cayman averages around 26°C (79°F) in April, and Montanita fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilGrand Cayman 26°C (79°F)Montanita 27°C (81°F)
Typical Weather for Montanita and Grand Cayman
| Grand Cayman | Montanita | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 131 mm (5.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 179 mm (7 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 172 mm (6.8 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 212 mm (8.3 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 238 mm (9.4 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 141 mm (5.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (78°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 15 mm (0.6 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.