Should you visit Grand Cayman or Saint Croix?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Grand Cayman and Saint Croix. 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. So, let's dig into it.
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.
Saint Croix
Sometimes all you want out of a vacation is the warmth of the sun, the sound of the waves and the taste of a cold drink. No more. No less. That's exactly what you can expect in St. Croix.
The largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix is a place of our leisure and relaxation. It's a bit of an expensive lifestyle for its 50,000 residents and daily visitors, but when you're living on island time, money is never a worry. There are no worries on island time.
This once volcanic island is covered in incredible beaches, stunning mountains, palm tress in the wind and historic colonial towns. While they may be a bit old and rundown, the Danish architecture still stands as a unique part of this island's legacy. Don't expect much window-shopping, though. That was not a feature incorporated in this style of architecture. If you want to know if a store is open, just step on in, but remember, shop hours are also running on island time.
Which city is cheaper, Saint Croix or Grand Cayman?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Grand Cayman is $171, while the average daily cost in Saint Croix is $189. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Grand Cayman and Saint Croix in more detail.
Accommodation
For a normal double-occupancy room in Grand Cayman, $238 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Grand Cayman, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $119, such as in a hostel.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $119. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Saint Croix the cost is $238 on average.
Food
While meal prices in Grand Cayman can vary, the average travelers spends about $31 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Grand Cayman should cost around $12 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Grand Cayman is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
While meal prices in Saint Croix can vary, the average travelers spends about $45 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Saint Croix should cost around $18 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Saint Croix is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Grand Cayman $31
Saint Croix $45
Local Transportation
Grand Cayman's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $25 per person, per day on transportation in Grand Cayman.
The average price of local transportation around Saint Croix is $28 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Grand Cayman
Also for Grand Cayman, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Airport Transfer - Owen Roberts Intl Airport to GeorgeTown or Seven Mile Beach:
$45
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Airport Transfer to West Bay Accommodations (GCM - Grand Cayman):
$64
Is it cheaper to fly into Grand Cayman or Saint Croix?
Prices for flights to both Saint Croix 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Grand Cayman can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $33 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Saint Croix's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $46 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Tours and Activities in Grand Cayman
For Grand Cayman, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Skip the Line: Pedro St. James Castle General Admission and Guided Tour Ticket:
$13
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Night Bioluminescence Snorkel Tour:
$99
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Grand Cayman Private Island Tour:
$314
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Grand Cayman spend on average $10 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
The average person spends about $22 on alcoholic beverages in Saint Croix per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Typical Alcohol prices in Grand Cayman
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Grand Cayman:
When comparing the travel costs between Grand Cayman and Saint Croix, we can see that Saint Croix is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Caribbean Islands, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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