Which place is cheaper, Merida or Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius)?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) or Merida?
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 Merida. 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 Merida?
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.
Merida
Merida is the largest city on the Yucatan Peninsula, which separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Caribbean Sea. It is also the capital of the state of Yucatan as a whole. There is a population of 750,000 and is very rich in diversity and culture.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayOranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $188Merida $88
The average daily cost (per person) in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) is $188, while the average daily cost in Merida 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 Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) and Merida in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $92Merida $44
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $184Merida $88
Compare Hotels in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) and Merida
Looking for a hotel in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) or Merida? 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: Merida Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $70Merida $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius):
- St. Kitts & Nevis Airport Hotel & Boat Shared/Private Transfers: $45
- St. Christophe Harbour Transfers: $67
- Shared or Private St Kitts Airport Roundtrip Transfer : $32
- ST Kitts private Luxury Air Port Transfer: $300
- Private Transfer from St. Kitts Airport to Park Hyatt: $55
- Private Airport Transfer to Belmont Estate Farm, Kititian Hill: $70
- Catamaran Party Cruise to Nevis from St Kitts with Transfer from Frigate Bay: $150
- Beach Transfer Frigate Bay Beach: $26
- St. Kitts Hotel Transfers: $80
- International Airport/Private Jet Terminal Transfers: $67
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Merida
Also for Merida, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Merida Rejon Airport (MID) to Tulum hotels - Round Trip Transfer: $227
- Merida hotels to Mérida International Airport (MID) - Private Departure Transfer: $33
- One-way Airport Transfers to Merida Hotels: $120
- Mexico Private Transfer from Merida airport to central Merida: $41
- Mexico Private Transfer from Merida hotels to Merida airport: $41
- Private Transfer From Uxmal to Merida, English Speaking Driver: $73
- Private Transfer from Airport to Hotel in Merida One Way: $47
Is it cheaper to fly into Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) or Merida?
Prices for flights to both Merida 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) $51Merida $29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Merida
For Merida, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Merida Walking Food Tour. Authentic & Local Cuisine: $62
- Taste of the Yucatan: Merida Cooking Class and Market Visit: $89
- Private Yucatecan Cooking Lesson in a Local Merida Home: $90
- Private Market Tour and Authentic Mexican Cooking Class in Merida with Transfers: $126
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $37Merida $16
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 Hour St. Kitts Open Air Safari Exotic Tour: $75
- 3 Hours Private Royal Highlight Tour in St. Kitts: $260
- 3.5hr Private Power Catamaran Snorkel and Beach Experience: $155
- 5hr Private Powered Catamaran Snorkel and Beach Experience with Lunch: $178
- A Scenic, Historical and Guided Rainforest Tour: $80
- ATV Tour of St Kitts: $110
- Basseterre Food and Walking Tour: $77
- Basseterre Plantation Private Half Day Tour: $60
- Beach Adventure Tour: $93
- Best of St. Kitts Highlight Tour.: $250
- Best of St. Kitts Private Half Day Tour: $240
- Best of St. Kitts Tour: $135
Typical Entertainment Prices in Merida
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Merida's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Train at the Zoo$0.12
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Uxmal Entrance (for 2)$20
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Mayan Village Entrance (for 2)$6.01
Tours and Activities in Merida
For Merida, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Panoramic Sightseeing Tour of Merida: $8.00
- Mérida Scavenger Hunt and Sights Private Self-Guided Tour: $8.95
- Walking Tour Across the Historic Center in Merida: $22
- Walking Tour in the City of Mérida: $22
- Merida Private Tour on a Budget : $29
- Mérida Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $35
- 3 Hour Tour in The Sotuta de Peón Live Museum: $60
- Merida Street Food Walking Tour: $65
- Tour to Uxmal + Choco Story Chocolate Museum: $67
- Private Walking Tour in City of Merida: $75
- Day of the Dead Tour & Taco buffet: $80
- Tour to progreso, corchito and salt ponds: $81
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayOranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $26Merida $16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) and Merida, we can see that Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) is more expensive. And not only is Merida much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) is in Caribbean Islands and Merida 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 Merida would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Merida 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 Merida.
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 Merida Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) or Merida?
Merida has a larger population, and is about 650 times larger than the population of Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius). When comparing the sizes of Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) and Merida, 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.