Which place is cheaper, Punta Cana or Mandeville?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Mandeville or Punta Cana?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Mandeville or Punta Cana? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Mandeville or Punta Cana?
Mandeville
Mandeville is a small, quiet town in the mountains of Jamaica with a population of about 50,000. The town is situated on a plateau west of Kingston. It is the largest town in the parish of Manchester and the fifth largest urban center in the country.
Punta Cana
Punta Cana, located on the easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic, is renowned for its stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, and vibrant culture. This Caribbean paradise offers a diverse range of experiences that cater to all types of travelers, whether you're on a tight budget, seeking thrilling activities, exploring local cuisine, or figuring out the best ways to get around.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, and The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic.
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Mandeville Prices
Jamaica PricesPunta Cana Prices
Dominican Republic Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMandeville $95Punta Cana $170
The average daily cost (per person) in Mandeville is $95, while the average daily cost in Punta Cana is $170. 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 Mandeville and Punta Cana in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMandeville $37Punta Cana $95
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMandeville $74Punta Cana $190
Compare Hotels in Mandeville and Punta Cana
Looking for a hotel in Mandeville or Punta Cana? 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: Punta Cana Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mandeville $30Punta Cana $6.39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Cana
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Punta Cana:
- private transfer from Punta Cana to Santo Domingo airport (sdq): $156
- YC VIP Transfers: $50
- Wyndham Alltra Punta Cana - Airport Transfer - Round Trip: $137
- VIP Uvero Alto Private Transfer Suburban from Punta Cana: $60
- VIP Transfers in Luxury SUVs - Punta Cana: $19
- VIP Transfers PUJ Airport to Bavaro and Punta Cana Hotels: $72
- VIP Transfer from Punta Cana Airport to Punta Cana / Bavaro Hotel: $67
- VIP Transfer from Airport to Cap Cana Hotels: $149
- VIP Transfer From Punta Cana Int. Airport to Punta Cana / Bavaro: $120
- VIP Suburban Transfer from Punta Cana Airport to Bavaro Hotels: $47
- VIP SUV Suburbans Transfer Punta Cana Airport & Hotels : $35
- VIP SUV Airport Transfer from Punta Cana/Bavaro: $60
Is it cheaper to fly into Mandeville or Punta Cana?
Prices for flights to both Punta Cana and Mandeville 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 dayMandeville $41Punta Cana $64
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Punta Cana
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Punta Cana.
- Origen Tasting Adventure Dinner or Lunch of 8 Courses Dom Cuisine: $85
- Taste of DR Street Food Tour: $125
- Sunset Buggies Adventure with Dinner from Punta Cana: $130
- Punta Cana Night Tour Polaris Ride Dinner Music and Open Bar: $169
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mandeville $8.01Punta Cana $30
Typical Entertainment Prices in Punta Cana
Here are a few typical costs in Punta Cana for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Dune Buggy Adventure$51
Tours and Activities in Punta Cana
Here are a few actual costs in Punta Cana for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Adventure:4x4 ATV Cave and Dominican Culture At Punta Cana: $40
- Enjoy Our Tours Higuey City Cultural : $45
- Explore Punta Cana Buggy or ATV Adventure in Macao: $59
- Full Day Tour to Santo Domingo with Lunch.: $70
- Full Experience Hacienda – 6 Exciting Adventures: $90
- Full-Day Boat Tour of Los Haitises National Park: $165
- Full-Day Santo Domingo City Tour: $89
- Half Day Higuey City Tour from Punta Cana with Pick Up: $82
- Macao Beach private horseback tour in punta cana : $55
- Private ATV Tour from Punta Cana : $250
- Tours Parasailing Punta Cana: $99
- Tours Ziplines Punta Cana : $99
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMandeville $6.27Punta Cana $10
Sample the Local Flavors in Punta Cana
Also in Punta Cana, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bar Crawl in Punta Cana: $35
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mandeville and Punta Cana, we can see that Punta Cana is more expensive. And not only is Mandeville much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mandeville would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mandeville 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 Punta Cana would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Punta Cana than you might in Mandeville.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mandeville Expensive? and Is Punta Cana Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mandeville or Punta Cana?
Punta Cana has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Mandeville. When comparing the sizes of Mandeville and Punta Cana, 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.