A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Nassau vs. Castro for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Nassau or Castro?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Nassau or Castro, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Nassau or Castro?

Nassau

There are few vacation destinations more famous than the Bahamian city of Nassau. This capital city is full of laid back locals, relaxed tourists and the iconic pastel pink government houses.

As the largest city in the Bahamas, Nassau can hold plenty of people. Not only are there hundreds of tourists on any given day, the city is also home to 260,000 people – that is 80 percent of the Bahamas' total population.

Founded around 1650, Nassau's location made it a great spot on the trade route. So great, in fact, that it also became a popular destination for pirates – including the infamous Blackbeard.

Pack light because it's going to be pretty steamy in Nassau. The climate is essentially identical to southern Florida. It is warm and humid all year with the occasional cold snap in the winter.

Castro

The capital of Chiloe, modern and dynamic, has succeeded in keeping its authenticity even though it now has many gigantic supermarkets, hotels and other touristic infrastructures. It is located on the island's eastern coast, halfway between Ancud in the north and Quellon in the south, and is a convenient base for exploring the stunning sites in the region of Chiloe Island. The tourist information is located on the town square in front of the church.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Castro or Nassau?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Nassau is $189, while the average daily cost in Castro is $88. 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 Nassau and Castro in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Nassau $109
    Castro $37
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Nassau $218
    Castro $74
Compare Hotels in Nassau and Castro

Looking for a hotel in Nassau or Castro? 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.

Hotels in Nassau


Hotels in Castro


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: Nassau Hotel Prices and Castro Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Nassau $32
    Castro $20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nassau

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Nassau are as follows:


  • Water Taxi
    $8.02
  • Taxi to Cable Beach
    $25
  • Taxi from Airport
    $30

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nassau

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nassau:

  • (Private) Nassau Bahamas Airport Round-Trip Transfers (1-4ppl One Flat Rate): $160
  • Airport Transfer: $190
  • Atlantis Private Luxury Roundtrip Airport Transfer: $190
  • Baha Mar ( Grand Hyatt, SLS, Rosewood Hotels) Private Airport Transfers : $160
  • Chippies Airport/Hotel Transfers Transportation: $55
  • Group transfer: $68
  • Low Cost Airport Transfers: $185
  • Luxury MKT Town Car Private Roundtrip Transfer : $140
  • Luxury Taxi Transfer to Nassau Bahamas Paradise Island: $125
  • Lynden Pindling Airport (NAS): Round-Trip Nassau Transfer: $252
  • Nassau Airport (NAS) to Nassau Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $40
  • Nassau Airport (NAS) to Nassau cruise port - Arrival Transfer: $40

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Castro

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Castro:

  • Chiloe Airport Private Transfer: $50

Is it cheaper to fly into Nassau or Castro?

Prices for flights to both Castro and Nassau 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 day
    Nassau $53
    Castro $36

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nassau

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nassau.

  • Nassau Food Tour and Beach Break: $65
  • Conch Salad Cooking Lesson and Tasting in Nassau: $80
  • Savor Old Nassau Dining Stroll by Tru Bahamian Food Tours: $116
  • Sail Catamaran Sunset Dinner Cruise: $116
  • Dinner and Dancing: $130
  • Authentic Bahamian Cooking Class: $135
  • Bahamian Cooking Class Lunch Experience by Tru Bahamian Food Tour: $140
  • Island Food Tour: $140
  • Gourmet dinner & sunset cruise on luxury catamaran: $375

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Nassau $37
    Castro $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Nassau

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Nassau are as follows:


  • Jet Ski
    $50
  • 4 Hr Kayak Tour
    $70
  • 1/2 Day Snorkel Trip
    $75

Tours and Activities in Nassau

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nassau are as follows:

  • All New Weekend Tour with Seafood Snack Portuguese & Spanish : $7.00
  • KINDWalk — Nassau Historical and Cultural Walking Tour: $10
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
  • Nassau Self-Guided Audio Tour: The Jewel of the Bahamas: $15
  • Heritage Museum of The Bahamas Nassau Guided Tour: $20
  • Jekyll Island Dolphin Tours: $28
  • Roundtrip Shuttle from Cruise Terminal at Prince George Wharf: $29
  • Nassau Sightseeing Bus Tour: $35
  • Big Bus Private Tour (minimum of 15): $43
  • Bahamas Ghost Walking Tour: $44
  • Island Tour: $44
  • Nassau Historical Walking Tour: $49

Tours and Activities in Castro

Here are a few actual costs in Castro for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Private Half Day Tour in Patrimonial Castro: $30
  • Castro Sightseeing Tour in Chiloe: $58
  • From Puerto Varas: Chiloe Island Full-day Tour: $65
  • Bosque Piedra Reserve Tour: $106
  • Dalcahue and Quinchao Island Full Day Tour in Chiloe: $123
  • Pier of Light Full Day Tour in Chiloe: $156
  • Lemuy Island in Chiloe Full Day Private Tour: $164
  • Lemuy Island Tour from Castro: $178
  • Full Day Private Chiloe National Park Tour Following "The Darwin´s Route" : $179
  • Dock of Souls Trekking in Chiloe Private Tour: $189

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Nassau $19
    Castro $17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Nassau

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Nassau are as follows:


  • Cocktail
    $6.52

Sample the Local Flavors in Nassau

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Nassau:

  • Rum Runners Pub Crawl: $135
  • Rum Runners Pub Crawl: $140


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nassau and Castro, we can see that Nassau is more expensive. And not only is Castro much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Nassau is in Caribbean Islands and Castro is in South 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 Castro would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Castro 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 Nassau would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nassau than you might in Castro.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nassau Expensive? and Is Castro Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Nassau or Castro?

Nassau has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Castro. When comparing the sizes of Nassau and Castro, 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.