Should you visit Grand Cayman or Saint Thomas?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Grand Cayman and Saint Thomas. 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 Thomas
Saint Thomas is a beautiful island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Together with St. John, St. Croix, and Water Island, it forms the unincorporated territory of the United States. The island is also home to the territorial capital and port of Charlotte Amalie. The island's population is just over 50,000, which is slightly less than half of the territory's total population.
Which city is cheaper, Saint Thomas 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 Thomas is $175. 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 Thomas 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.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $210 in Saint Thomas For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
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.
The price of a meal in Saint Thomas can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $43 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $17 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
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Food
Meals for one day
Grand Cayman $31
Saint Thomas $43
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.
To get around in Saint Thomas, the average visitor spends $29 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
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 to West Bay Accommodations (GCM - Grand Cayman):
$64
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Airport Transfer - Owen Roberts Intl Airport to GeorgeTown or Seven Mile Beach:
$45
Typical Local Transportation prices in Saint Thomas
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Saint Thomas are as follows:
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Scooter Rental
$65
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Taxi Ride
$5.00
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.
In Saint Thomas, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $48 per person, per day.
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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Grand Cayman Private Island Tour:
$314
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Night Bioluminescence Snorkel Tour:
$99
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Skip the Line: Pedro St. James Castle General Admission and Guided Tour Ticket:
$13
Tours and Activities in Saint Thomas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Saint Thomas.
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Snorkel St. John Tour from Sapphire & Margaritaville:
$135
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Grand Cayman spend on average $10 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Saint Thomas, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $22.
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 Thomas, we can see that Saint Thomas 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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