Which place is cheaper, Puerto Montt 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 Montt?
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 Montt. 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 Montt?
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 Montt
The Lake District is a region of snow capped volcanoes, pale green lakes and endless miles of virgin and ancient forests. Found 1,016 km away from Santiago de Chile, Puerto Montt is famous for its beautiful lakes and its germanic architecture, old wooden houses and its legendary Iglesia Catedral, found on the town's main square, la Plaza de Armas. The monument, entirely built with alerce (cypress) wood, is the oldest building of the city. The capital of the Lake Region is a good starting point for many memorable excursions in the area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGrand Cayman $214Puerto Montt $89
The average daily cost (per person) in Grand Cayman is $214, while the average daily cost in Puerto Montt is $89. 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 Montt in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGrand Cayman $150Puerto Montt $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGrand Cayman $300Puerto Montt $122
Compare Hotels in Grand Cayman and Puerto Montt
Looking for a hotel in Grand Cayman or Puerto Montt? 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 Montt Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Grand Cayman $31Puerto Montt $6.43
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 Montt
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Montt:
- Transfer from Puerto Montt Airport to Puerto Varas: $50
- Transfer from Puerto Montt Airport to Frutillar: $80
- Transfer from Puerto Montt Airport to Castro: $300
- Transfer Puerto Montt Airport to Castro: $277
- Puerto Tepual Airport (PMC) to Puerto Varas - Arrival Transfer: $21
- Puerto Montt Shuttle Transfer: $34
- Puerto Montt Airport(PMC) to Frutillar - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
- Puerto Montt Airport(PMC) to Frutillar - Arrival Private Transfer: $21
- Puerto Montt Airport to Puerto Varas - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $42
- Puerto Montt Airport Arrival Transfer to Hotel in Puerto Varas: $24
- Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Puerto Varas City- Arrival Transfer: $33
- Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Puerto Varas - Round-Trip Transfer: $66
Is it cheaper to fly into Grand Cayman or Puerto Montt?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Montt 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 Montt $21
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Grand Cayman $41Puerto Montt $14
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
Tours and Activities in Puerto Montt
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Montt are as follows:
- 6 Hours Shared Tour in Calbuco and Millennial Forest : $130
- Alerce Andino National Park/Alerce Millenario/Cruises: $77
- Austral / Hornopiren Road Tour: $102
- Frutillar & Llanquihue Private Tour from Puerto Montt: $128
- Frutillar & Llanquihue Tour from Puerto Montt: $56
- Frutillar Tour: $31
- Osorno Volcano Tour+Petrohue Falls / Cruises / Spanish: $68
- Private Day tour Petrohue Falls, Osorno Volcano & Puerto Varas: $250
- Private Shore Excursion Tour to Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas and Frutillar: $143
- Private Tour: Puerto Montt Sightseeing: $47
- Private Tour: Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas and Vicente Peres Rosales National Park: $164
- Private. City Tour Puerto Montt and Puerto Varas: $92
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGrand Cayman $13Puerto Montt $4.49
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 Montt, we can see that Grand Cayman is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Montt much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Grand Cayman is in Caribbean Islands and Puerto Montt 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 Montt would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Montt 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 Montt.
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 Montt Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Grand Cayman or Puerto Montt?
Puerto Montt has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Grand Cayman. When comparing the sizes of Grand Cayman and Puerto Montt, 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 Montt?
Puerto Montt 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 Montt in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Grand Cayman as well as Puerto Montt. Grand Cayman attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Grand Cayman is generally much warmer than Puerto Monttin January. Daily temperatures in Grand Cayman average around 28°C (83°F), and Puerto Montt fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
Grand Cayman receives a lot of rain in the summer. Grand Cayman usually gets more rain in July than Puerto Monttin January. Grand Cayman gets 179 mm (7 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryGrand Cayman 28°C (83°F)Puerto Montt 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Grand Cayman or Puerto Montt in the Autumn?
Both Puerto Montt 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.
Grand Cayman is much warmer than Puerto Montt in the autumn. The daily temperature in Grand Cayman averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Puerto Montt fluctuates around 11°C (51°F)in April.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Montt. It's quite rainy in Grand Cayman. In October, Grand Cayman usually receives more rain than Puerto Monttin April. Grand Cayman gets 238 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilGrand Cayman 27°C (81°F)Puerto Montt 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Grand Cayman or Puerto Montt in the Winter?
Both Puerto Montt 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 the winter, Grand Cayman is much warmer than Puerto Montt. Typically, the winter temperatures in Grand Cayman in January average around 24°C (76°F), and Puerto Montt averages at about 7°C (45°F)in July.
Puerto Montt gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Grand Cayman usually gets less rain in January than Puerto Monttin July. Grand Cayman gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 229 mm (9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyGrand Cayman 24°C (76°F)Puerto Montt 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Grand Cayman or Puerto Montt in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Grand Cayman and Puerto Montt. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Grand Cayman year-round.
In April, Grand Cayman is generally much warmer than Puerto Monttin October. Daily temperatures in Grand Cayman average around 26°C (79°F), and Puerto Montt fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Puerto Montt receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Grand Cayman usually receives less rain than Puerto Monttin October. Grand Cayman gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 121 mm (4.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberGrand Cayman 26°C (79°F)Puerto Montt 11°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Puerto Montt and Grand Cayman
| Grand Cayman | Puerto Montt | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 131 mm (5.1 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 179 mm (7 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 229 mm (9 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 172 mm (6.8 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 209 mm (8.2 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 212 mm (8.3 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 238 mm (9.4 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 141 mm (5.6 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (78°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 103 mm (4.1 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.