Which place is cheaper, Santa Fe 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 Fe?
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 Fe. 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 Fe?
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 Fe
Santa Fe is the state capital of New Mexico as well as the oldest state capital in the United States, founded in 1607. It has become a popular travel destination due to the surrounding scenic beauty, its long history, cultural diversity especially with its proximity to American Indian pueblos and culture, and a rich concentration of arts, music, and food.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America, and The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGrand Cayman $214Santa Fe $159
The average daily cost (per person) in Grand Cayman is $214, while the average daily cost in Santa Fe is $159. 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 Fe in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGrand Cayman $150Santa Fe $81
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGrand Cayman $300Santa Fe $162
Compare Hotels in Grand Cayman and Santa Fe
Looking for a hotel in Grand Cayman or Santa Fe? 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 Santa Fe Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Grand Cayman $31Santa Fe $61
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: $107
- Airport Transfer - Owen Roberts Intl Airport to GeorgeTown or Seven Mile Beach: $88
- Private Transfer from George Town Port to George Town or 7-Mile: $53
- Private Transfer from George Town or 7 Mile to George Town Port: $53
- George Town / 7- Mile Beach area to George Town Port -Departure Private Transfer: $53
- George Town Port to Owen Roberts Airport (GCM) - Departure Private Transfer: $53
- Private Transfer from George Town Port to Owen Roberts AirportGCM: $53
- Privat Transfer from Owen Roberts Airport GCM to George Town Port: $53
- George Town Cruise Port to George Town or 7-Mile Beach -Arrival Private Transfer: $53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Fe
Also for Santa Fe, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer to Santa Fe Airport SAF: $125
- Private Arrival Transfer from Santa Fe Airport (SAF): $62
Is it cheaper to fly into Grand Cayman or Santa Fe?
Prices for flights to both Santa Fe 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 Fe $43
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Fe
For Santa Fe, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- New Mexican Flavors Food Tour of the Santa Fe Plaza: $184
- Wander New Mexico Food Tour - Railyard Arts District: $189
- Wander New Mexico Food Tour - Downtown Plaza 'Sip & Savor': $209
- Downtown Plaza "Sip and Savor" Half-day Food Tour: $209
- Savor Wine Pairing Dinner: $228
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Grand Cayman $41Santa Fe $17
Tours and Activities in Grand Cayman
For Grand Cayman, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2-stop Adventure: Stingray City and snorkeling at Cayman Reefs: $79
- 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
- East Island Tour : $298
- Full Day Private Shore Tour in George Town from George Town Port: $276
- Full Day Private Shore Tour in George Town from George Town Port: $263
- Grand Cayman Cruise: Starfish Point, Stingray City, Coral Garden: $80
- Grand Cayman Reef & Stingray City Snorkeling Adventure: $159
Tours and Activities in Santa Fe
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santa Fe.
- 2 Hour Pottery Experience (Wheel or Hand-Building): $160
- 2-Hour Photography Class While Touring Downtown Santa Fe, Smart Phones Welcome!: $85
- A Walking Tour of Santa Fe's Most Beautiful and Historic Sites: $215
- Canyon Road Art & History Walking Tour: $70
- Downtown Santa Fe Walking Wine & Tapas Tour: $149
- Enchanted Eats of Santa Fe Half-Day Tour: $946
- Explore Santa Fe's Old Town & the Museum of Art: Private Tour: $195
- Murder Mystery Detective Experience Santa Fe, NM: $15
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Walking Tour in Santa Fe: $53
- Plaza Sip, Savor, & History Walking Tour in Santa Fe: $119
- Private Canyon Road Art & History Walking Tour: $138
- Railyard Sip, Savor, & History Walking Tour in Santa Fe: $119
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGrand Cayman $13Santa Fe $9.68
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Fe
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Santa Fe:
- Tumbleroot Brewery and Distillery Tour and Tasting: $18
- Architectural Walking Tour & Wine Tasting: $135
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Grand Cayman and Santa Fe, we can see that Grand Cayman is more expensive. And not only is Santa Fe much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Grand Cayman is in Caribbean Islands and Santa Fe is in North 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 Fe would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Fe 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 Fe.
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 Fe Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Grand Cayman or Santa Fe?
Santa Fe has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Grand Cayman. When comparing the sizes of Grand Cayman and Santa Fe, 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.
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.