Which place is cheaper, Bonaire or Maui?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Maui or Bonaire?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Maui or Bonaire? 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: Maui or Bonaire?
Maui
Who hasn't spent at least one Monday morning fantasizing about holding a mai tai on a Hawaiian beach? A trip to Maui may be just what we all have in mind, but it's so much more than a drink on a sandy towel.
At over 700 square miles, the island of Maui is the second largest of the Hawaiian islands with a small population of just over 140,000 people. The island enjoys approximately two seasons a year with a mild climate just about everywhere. Rough living, right?
Voted "Best Island in the World" by many in the travel industry, Maui is the center for whale watching, relaxing on the beach, snorkeling, and the home of a large and lush rainforest.
Bonaire
An island municipality of the Netherlands, Bonaire resides in the Caribbean, east of Central America and north of Venezuela. It is a part of the ABC Islands together with Aruba and Curaçao, and is best known as a tropical vacation destination with many great dive spots, beaches, lagoons, and wildlife.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMaui $275Bonaire $256
The average daily cost (per person) in Maui is $275, while the average daily cost in Bonaire is $256. 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 Maui and Bonaire in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMaui $141Bonaire $155
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMaui $282Bonaire $310
Compare Hotels in Maui and Bonaire
Looking for a hotel in Maui or Bonaire? 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: Maui Hotel Prices and Bonaire Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Maui $62Bonaire $65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Maui
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Maui:
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Maui Airport to Hotel: $13
- Private Arrival Transfer from Maui Kahului Airport OGG: $31
- Private Departure Transfer to Maui Kahului Airport OGG: $78
- Private Transfer from Lahaina Cruise Port to Kahului Airport(OGG): $80
- Private Transfer from Lahaina Cruise Port to Maui city hotels: $80
- Private Transfer from Maui City Hotels to Lahaina Cruise Port: $80
- Maui Kahului Airport (OGG) to Maui hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $85
- Maui to Maui Kahului Airport (OGG) - Departure Private Transfer: $85
- Private transfer: Kahului Airport (OGG) to Kahului: $99
- Private transfer: Kahului to Kahului Airport (OGG): $99
- Maui Kahului Airport (OGG) to Maui - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $170
- Private Customizable Island Tour with Transfer: $500
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bonaire
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bonaire:
- Airport Transfer Return Included: $44
- Private Transfer from Kralendijk City to Kralendijk Cruise Port: $59
- Private Transfer from Kralendijk Cruise Port to Kralendijk city : $59
- Private Transfer from Kralendijk Port to Bonaire Airport (BON): $59
- Private Transfers from Bonaire airport to any address on Bonaire: $43
Is it cheaper to fly into Maui or Bonaire?
Prices for flights to both Bonaire and Maui 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
-
Food Meals for one dayMaui $94Bonaire $59
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Maui
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Maui.
- From Ma'alaea Harbor: Sunset Dinner Cruise Aboard the Quicksilver: $120
- From Ma'alaea Harbor: Thanksgiving Dinner Cruise Aboard Calypso: $130
- Ma'alaea Harbor: Sunset Prime Rib or Mahi Mahi Dinner Cruise : $140
- Premium Sunset Dinner Cruise from Ka’anapali Beach: $154
- South Gilligans' Island Luau with Dinner and Drinks: $166
- Mystery Puzzle Food Tour in Lahaina for 2 People: $170
- Premium Dinner Cruise: Four Course Dining Experience - Ma'alaea: $170
- Maui Sunset Luau Dinner Cruise from Ma'alaea Harbor aboard Pride of Maui: $187
- Haleakala's Best Sunset Tour with Dinner: $210
- Wailele Luau Including Fire and Knife Performance plus Dinner: $219
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Maui $38Bonaire $40
Tours and Activities in Maui
Here are a few actual costs in Maui for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- South Beach Parks Self-Guided Driving Tour: $12
- Ultimate Self-Driving Audio Tour of Road to Hana, Maui: $17
- Kahului: Self-Driving Audio Tour of Road to Hana: $17
- Self-Guided Audio Tours - Full Island: $20
- Maui Bundle: 6 In-App Driving And Walking Audio Tours: $30
- All Hawaii Self-Guided Driving Tours Bundle: $40
- Reefdancer Semi-Sub Boat Cruise from Lahaina Harbor: $54
- Small-Group Ghost Walking Tour in Maui: $59
- Taste of Hawaii: A Maui Farm Tour: $69
- Maui Pineapple Farm Tour in Haliimaile: $75
- Hali'imaile: Pineapple Farm Tour: $75
- 3 Hours Guided Koa Kai Snorkel Adventure & Sunset Combo: $83
Tours and Activities in Bonaire
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bonaire are as follows:
- Semi Submarine Boat Experience to Klein Bonaire: $33
- Walking Tours & Private Tours on Bonaire: $36
- 4 Hours Open Air Party Bus Tour with Beach Stop in Caribbean: $39
- Half-Day Bonaire Island Tour with Hotel Pickup and Drop-off: $46
- Bonaire Essentials Island Tour: $49
- Sunset Adventure: $55
- Yacht tour with local guide & snorkeling activities: $57
- Highlights of Bonaire & Cultural Experience: $59
- Clearbottom Mangrove Kayak & Snorkel tour: $59
- Explore North & South Tour: $65
- Small-Group Guided North & South Tour of Bonaire with Pick Up: $65
- Donkey Sanctuary Tour with a Local Guide : $68
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayMaui $41Bonaire $33
Sample the Local Flavors in Maui
Also in Maui, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Goat Farm, Distillery, & Glass-Blowing Tour w/ Tasting: $224
- Maui Tour : Iao Valley, Hawaiian Distillery and Lavender Farm Tour: $300
When comparing the travel costs between Maui and Bonaire, we can see that Maui 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. Even though Maui is in North America and Bonaire is in Caribbean Islands, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Maui Expensive? and Is Bonaire Expensive?.
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.