Which place is cheaper, Cancun or Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius)?
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 Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) or Cancun?
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 Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) and Cancun. 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: Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) or Cancun?
Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius)
An island of the Caribbean Netherlands, St. Eustatius, sometimes called Statia, is a small, relatively unknown destination to the greater tourist areas of the Caribbean. As a result, however, it is its own treasure consisting of a dormant volcano known as the Quill and featuring a lush rainforest, narrow volcanic beaches, many dive sites, and a quaint harbor town.
Cancun
In the northeast corner of the Mexican Caribbean, Cancun is one of Mexico's most popular destinations. The area that is now Cancun was actually selected specifically by the Mexican government for development as a tourist destination. The area was chosen because it has fourteen miles of beautiful white beaches, nearby Mayan ruins, and turquoise blue water with nearby snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities. Prior to its development as a tourist destination, there were few inhabitants in the area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun.
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Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) Prices
Caribbean Netherlands PricesCancun Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayOranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $225Cancun $153
The average daily cost (per person) in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) is $225, while the average daily cost in Cancun is $153. 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 Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) and Cancun in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $92Cancun $89
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $184Cancun $178
Compare Hotels in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) and Cancun
Looking for a hotel in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) or Cancun? 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: Cancun Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $70Cancun $16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius):
- St Kitts & Nevis Airport Roundtrip Transfers : $35
- Shared or Private St Kitts Airport Roundtrip Transfer : $32
- ST Kitts private Luxury Air Port Transfer: $300
- Private transfer from Park Hyatt & water taxi to R.L.B Airport: $45
- Private Airport Transfer to Belmont Estate Farm, Kititian Hill: $70
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cancun
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cancun:
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Taxi Around Town$1.52
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Airport Shuttle (for 2)$13
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Ferry to Isla de Mujeres (for 2)$15
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Local Bus (for 2)$1.85
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cancun
Also for Cancun, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Cancun Private Round trip Airport Transfer: $65
- Airport Transfer Cancun: $60
- Airport Transfers to Costa Mujeres - Private van (ROUND TRIP) FLAT RATE: $215
- Akumal One Way Or Roundtrip Private Transfer: $139
- Atv Cancun (cenote, Ziplines, Lunch And Transfer Included) : $49
- Best SpeedBoat and Snorkeling tour with Transfer from Cancun: $25
- Cancún Airport (CUN) Cancun hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $77
- Cancún Airport (CUN) to Akumal - Private Arrival Transfer: $107
- Cancún Airport (CUN) to Akumal - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $214
- Cancún Airport (CUN) to Cancun hotel or address - Private Arrival Transfer: $38
- Cancún Airport (CUN) to El Dorado Maroma - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $212
- Cancún Airport (CUN) to Playa del Carmen - Private Round-Trip Transfer: $180
Is it cheaper to fly into Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) or Cancun?
Prices for flights to both Cancun and Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) 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 dayOranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $89Cancun $45
Typical Food Prices in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cancun Pirate Ship Adventure : Dinner & Show at Sea 2 for 1 Deal: $50
- Pirate Show in Cancun! Dinner & drinks: $62
- Cancun Street Food Tour with Food Stalls, Local Market and Murals: $64
- Pirate Shop & Dinner at Cancun! Drinks, Adventure and Fun: $65
- Cancun Walking Food Tour: Local Food, Markets, and Street Art.: $77
- Puerto Morelos Walking Food Tour: $77
- Mexican Cooking Class with fresh Local Market ingredients selection and transpor: $79
- Cancun Taco & Mexican Food Tour with Tequila Tasting: $79
- Cancun Private Mural Art and Food Tour: $81
- Hands-On Cooking Class in Drink & Cook Authentic Dishes: $85
- Pirate’s Night Out: Dinner and Entertainment in the Caribbean: $89
- Unforgettable Pirate Dinner Adventure in the Mexican Caribbean: $89
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $37Cancun $32
Tours and Activities in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius)
Here are a few actual costs in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 3.5hr Private Power Catamaran Snorkel and Beach Experience: $165
- 5hr Private Powered Catamaran Snorkel and Beach Experience with Lunch: $198
- A Scenic, Historical and Guided Rainforest Tour: $80
- ATV Tour of St Kitts: $110
- Basseterre Food and Walking Tour: $77
- Basseterre Half Day Tour: $70
- Basseterre Plantation Half Day Tour: $60
- Best of St. Kitts Highlight Tour and Beach: $280
- Best of St. Kitts Private Half Day Tour: $240
- Capital and Beach Tour of St. Kitts and Nevis: $37
- Catamaran Sunset and Cocktail Cruise: $130
- Exotic Island Tour from Basseterre: $75
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cancun
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cancun's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Seasick Pills$0.54
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Whale Shark Tour (for 2)$92
Tours and Activities in Cancun
For Cancun, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- ATV Tour, Zip Lines, Horseback Riding, Cenote and Tequila Tasting: $10
- Tour to Kin Ha Cenotes with Craft Jewelry Workshop : $12
- Tulum Mayan Ruins + Shopping Tour + Tulum Jaguar Park: $13
- Discover Isla Mujeres tour with snorkel, buffet and open bar : $14
- Visit to 5th Avenue in Playa del Carmen + Shopping Tour: $14
- Speedboat jungle tour and snorkel: $15
- Chichen Itza full day tour: $16
- Catamaran Adventure in Cancun: $16
- Isla Mujeres Catamaran Tour with Snorkeling, Open Bar and Buffet: $16
- Tour to Tulum and Cenote for the best price! : $16
- Full Day Tour to Coba and Tulum Cenote Swim and Lunch: $16
- Chichen Itza Tour Full day food included: $16
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayOranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $26Cancun $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Cancun
Also in Cancun, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Social Pub Crawl in Cancun: $35
- Bar Crawl Madness Tour in Cancun: $99
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) and Cancun, we can see that Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) is more expensive. And not only is Cancun much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) is in Caribbean Islands and Cancun 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 Cancun would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cancun 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 Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) than you might in Cancun.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) Expensive? and Is Cancun Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) or Cancun?
Cancun has a larger population, and is about 490 times larger than the population of Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius). When comparing the sizes of Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) and Cancun, 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.