Which place is cheaper, Santa Elena or Grand Cayman?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Grand Cayman or Santa Elena?
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 Santa Elena. 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 Santa Elena?
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.
Santa Elena
Santa Elena is a cute town, and the closest to the Monteverde Cloud Forest. It's one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica, and is a great place to experience the cloud forest and see some of country's unique wildlife.
In the Monteverde Cloud Forest you have a good chance of seeing rare quetzals which are the national bird of Costa Rica. Other common animals include white-faced capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, orange-kneed tarantulas, any of 8-9 species of hummingbirds, and sloth.
Santa Elena is about 1,400 meters above sea level and has a humid and damp environment. The average yearly temperature is 64 degrees Fahrenheit and the average rainfall is 3,000 millimetres. Humidity can be anywhere between 74% and 97%.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGrand Cayman $214Santa Elena $92
The average daily cost (per person) in Grand Cayman is $214, while the average daily cost in Santa Elena is $92. 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 Santa Elena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGrand Cayman $150Santa Elena $55
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGrand Cayman $300Santa Elena $110
Compare Hotels in Grand Cayman and Santa Elena
Looking for a hotel in Grand Cayman or Santa Elena? 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 $31Santa Elena $11
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Elena
Also for Santa Elena, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Lake crossing from Monteverde To Arenal From 1 to 6 passengers: $249
- Private Transfer From Monteverde To La Fortuna From 1 to 6 passengers: $270
- Peñas Blancas to Liberia Airport (LIR) Departure Private Transfer: $38
- One-Way Private Transfer: Monteverde to Quepos and Manuel Antonio: $276
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde - Liberia: $276
- Direct transfer from Monteverde to San Jose, English Speaking Driver: $179
Is it cheaper to fly into Grand Cayman or Santa Elena?
Prices for flights to both Santa Elena 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 $39Santa Elena $24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Elena
For Santa Elena, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Night Walk in Monteverde with Dinner Included: $55
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Grand Cayman $41Santa Elena $30
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
Tours and Activities in Santa Elena
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santa Elena.
- Cloud Forest hanging bridges with a local naturalist tour guide: $70
- Curi-cancha Bird-Watching tour semi private : $50
- Day & Night Nature Tour in Monteverde Combo tour : $190
- Wildlife Tour in Curicancha : $25
- 100% Adventure Park Combo: Zipline, Superman, and Mega Tarzan Tour in Monteverde: $57
- 3 hours of the Longest and Highest Extreme Zip line Experience in Monteverde: $80
- 5-Hour Birdwatching and Photography Tour in Monteverde: $100
- Adventure Day - Outdoor activities for Family and Friends Special Package.: $29
- Adventure Park High Ropes Course : $69
- Authentic experience of Coffee, Cane and Caco inside the forest: $37
- Bird Watching Experience in Monteverde: $90
- Bird-Watching private tour : $100
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGrand Cayman $13Santa Elena $6.22
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 Santa Elena, we can see that Grand Cayman is more expensive. And not only is Santa Elena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Grand Cayman is in Caribbean Islands and Santa Elena is in Central 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 Santa Elena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena.
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 Santa Elena Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Grand Cayman or Santa Elena?
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 Santa Elena in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Grand Cayman and Santa Elena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Grand Cayman year-round. Santa Elena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Santa Elena receives a lot of rain in the summer. Grand Cayman gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Grand Cayman usually receives more rain than Santa Elena. Grand Cayman gets 179 mm (7 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Grand Cayman is around the same temperature as Santa Elena in the summer. The daily temperature in Grand Cayman averages around 28°C (83°F) in July, and Santa Elena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyGrand Cayman 28°C (83°F)Santa Elena 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Grand Cayman or Santa Elena in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Grand Cayman as well as Santa Elena. Grand Cayman attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Santa Elena throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Santa Elena. Grand Cayman receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Grand Cayman usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Santa Elena. Grand Cayman gets 238 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Grand Cayman is around the same temperature as Santa Elena. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Grand Cayman in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Santa Elena averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGrand Cayman 27°C (81°F)Santa Elena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Grand Cayman or Santa Elena in the Winter?
Both Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Grand Cayman usually receives more rain than Santa Elena. Grand Cayman gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In January, Grand Cayman is generally cooler than Santa Elena. Daily temperatures in Grand Cayman average around 24°C (76°F), and Santa Elena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGrand Cayman 24°C (76°F)Santa Elena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Grand Cayman or Santa Elena in the Spring?
Both Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena year-round.
Grand Cayman usually gets more rain in April than Santa Elena. Grand Cayman gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
Grand Cayman is cooler than Santa Elena in the spring. The daily temperature in Grand Cayman averages around 26°C (79°F) in April, and Santa Elena fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilGrand Cayman 26°C (79°F)Santa Elena 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Santa Elena and Grand Cayman
| Grand Cayman | Santa Elena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 131 mm (5.1 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 179 mm (7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 172 mm (6.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 212 mm (8.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 238 mm (9.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 141 mm (5.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (78°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 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.