Which place is cheaper, Puerto Madryn or Grand Cayman?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Grand Cayman or Puerto Madryn?
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 Puerto Madryn. 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 Puerto Madryn?
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.
Puerto Madryn
Puerto Madryn is mostly known as the gateway to Peninsula Valdes, welcoming tourists who come for whale watching. The Peninsula Valdes is a nature reserve designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site; 97 km long and 63 km wide, it is connected to the continent by an isthmus of 35 km from which we can see both gulfs, San Jose at north and the Nuevo at south.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Argentina, and The Best 3-Week Tours in Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGrand Cayman $214Puerto Madryn $14
The average daily cost (per person) in Grand Cayman is $214, while the average daily cost in Puerto Madryn is $14. 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 Puerto Madryn in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGrand Cayman $150Puerto Madryn $5.25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGrand Cayman $300Puerto Madryn $11
Compare Hotels in Grand Cayman and Puerto Madryn
Looking for a hotel in Grand Cayman or Puerto Madryn? 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 Puerto Madryn Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Grand Cayman $31Puerto Madryn $3.28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Grand Cayman
Also for Grand Cayman, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 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
- Airport Transfer - Owen Roberts Intl Airport to GeorgeTown or Seven Mile Beach: $88
- George Town Port to George Town / 7-Mile Beach area -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $106
- Airport Transfers to North Side Accommodation (GCM Grand Cayman): $265
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Madryn
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Madryn:
- Trelew Airport Shuttle Transfer To Puerto Madryn : $47
- From Punta Tombo Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $131
Is it cheaper to fly into Grand Cayman or Puerto Madryn?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Madryn 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 $39Puerto Madryn $5.69
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Grand Cayman $41Puerto Madryn $5.77
Tours and Activities in Grand Cayman
For Grand Cayman, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- West Bay Sightseeing Tour Plus Seven Mile Beach Visit: $45
- Stingraycity Adventure: $69
- Starfish and Stingray City Fun Tour with Reef Snorkeling- 3 stops: $69
- Stingray City Experience Plus One Snorkeling Stop: $69
- Stingray City Sandbar, Coral Gardens and 7-Mile Beach Tour: $70
- Stingray City Experience Plus Two Snorkeling Stops on Grand Cayman: $75
- Stingrays, Starfish and Snorkeling Tour: $75
- Grand Cayman Cruise: Starfish Point, Stingray City, Coral Garden: $80
- Acquarius Stingray City and Snorkel Tours: $80
- Grand Cayman - Bioluminescent Bay Tour: $95
- Cayman Adventure: Starfish Point, Stingray City and Coral Gardens: $99
- West Island Guided Tour with Entry Tickets: $120
Typical Entertainment Prices in Puerto Madryn
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Puerto Madryn are as follows:
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Whale Watching for Two$0.35
Tours and Activities in Puerto Madryn
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Madryn are as follows:
- 4 x 4 experience around Puerto Madryn: $100
- Cruise Shore Excursion Ea San Lorenzo Peninsula Valdes - Patagonia - Argentina: $229
- Cruise Shore Excursion Peninsula Valdes - Pto Madryn - Patagonia - Argentina: $119
- Cruise Shore Excursion Punta Tombo - Tickets included - Puerto Madryn Patagonia: $129
- Excursion to Punta Loma and Puerto Madryn for Cruisers: $60
- From City and Punta Loma Tour: $70
- From Florentino Ameghino Dam Day Tour: $194
- From Penguin Tour & Península Valdés Day Trip: $152
- From Valdes Peninsula Full-Day Tour: $130
- Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience: $90
- Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience - optional Whale Watching : $87
- Full Day Punta Tombo - Walking Among Penguins Experience - Madryn: $105
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGrand Cayman $13Puerto Madryn $3.13
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 Puerto Madryn, we can see that Grand Cayman is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Madryn much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Grand Cayman is in Caribbean Islands and Puerto Madryn 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 Puerto Madryn would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Madryn 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 Puerto Madryn.
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 Puerto Madryn Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Grand Cayman or Puerto Madryn?
Puerto Madryn has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Grand Cayman. When comparing the sizes of Grand Cayman and Puerto Madryn, 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 Puerto Madryn?
Puerto Madryn 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 Puerto Madryn in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Grand Cayman as well as Puerto Madryn. Grand Cayman attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Grand Cayman is a little warmer than Puerto Madryn in the summer. The daily temperature in Grand Cayman averages around 28°C (83°F) in July, and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 22°C (71°F)in January.
Grand Cayman receives a lot of rain in the summer. Grand Cayman usually gets more rain in July than Puerto Madrynin January. Grand Cayman gets 179 mm (7 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryGrand Cayman 28°C (83°F)Puerto Madryn 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Grand Cayman or Puerto Madryn in the Autumn?
Both Puerto Madryn and Grand Cayman are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Grand Cayman throughout the year.
In the autumn, Grand Cayman is much warmer than Puerto Madryn. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Grand Cayman in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Puerto Madryn averages at about 14°C (58°F)in April.
It's quite rainy in Grand Cayman. In October, Grand Cayman usually receives more rain than Puerto Madrynin April. Grand Cayman gets 238 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilGrand Cayman 27°C (81°F)Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Grand Cayman or Puerto Madryn in the Winter?
Both Puerto Madryn and Grand Cayman during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Grand Cayman because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Grand Cayman is generally much warmer than Puerto Madrynin July. Daily temperatures in Grand Cayman average around 24°C (76°F), and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).
Grand Cayman usually gets more rain in January than Puerto Madrynin July. Grand Cayman gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyGrand Cayman 24°C (76°F)Puerto Madryn 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Grand Cayman or Puerto Madryn in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Grand Cayman and Puerto Madryn. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Grand Cayman year-round.
Grand Cayman is much warmer than Puerto Madryn in the spring. The daily temperature in Grand Cayman averages around 26°C (79°F) in April, and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 14°C (58°F)in October.
In April, Grand Cayman usually receives more rain than Puerto Madrynin October. Grand Cayman gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberGrand Cayman 26°C (79°F)Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Puerto Madryn and Grand Cayman
| Grand Cayman | Puerto Madryn | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 131 mm (5.1 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 179 mm (7 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 172 mm (6.8 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 212 mm (8.3 in) | 11°C (53°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 238 mm (9.4 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 141 mm (5.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (78°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 12 mm (0.5 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.