Which place is cheaper, Playa del Carmen 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 Playa del Carmen?
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 Playa del Carmen. 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 Playa del Carmen?
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.
Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is in Quintana Roo on the Yucatan Peninsula. It's a popular resort town and is about seventy kilometers south of Cancun. It has a European atmosphere with many small hotels and a nice relaxed feel. It was originally a small fishing town but tourism began with the introduction of a passenger ferry to Cozumel. The area developed rapidly and there are many luxury hotels, condos, and resorts. There are also American chains and a variety of shopping opportunities nearby.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico.
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Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) Prices
Caribbean Netherlands PricesPlaya del Carmen Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayOranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $225Playa del Carmen $95
The average daily cost (per person) in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) is $225, while the average daily cost in Playa del Carmen is $95. 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 Playa del Carmen in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $92Playa del Carmen $38
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $184Playa del Carmen $76
Compare Hotels in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) and Playa del Carmen
Looking for a hotel in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) or Playa del Carmen? 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: Playa del Carmen Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $70Playa del Carmen $23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius):
- One Way Transfer to Reggae and Cockleshell Beaches: $70
- One Way Transfer to South Friars Bay Beach: $50
- Private transfer from Park Hyatt & water taxi to R.L.B Airport: $45
- Shared or Private St Kitts Airport Roundtrip Transfer: $42
- St Kitts & Nevis Airport Roundtrip Transfers: $42
- St. Kitts Beach Transfers Round trip: $67
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Playa del Carmen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Playa del Carmen:
- Access to Xel-Há Park with Transfer: $155
- Airport Transfers to Playa del Carmen - Private van (ROUND TRIP) FLAT RATE: $268
- Akumal to Cancún Airport (CUN) - Departure Private Transfer: $105
- Akumal to Cancun - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $82
- CUN Airport One-Way/Round-Trip Transfers to Playa del Carmen: $60
- Cancún Airport Transfer to Playa del Carmen One Way: $135
- Cancun Airport Departure transfer from Playa Paraiso, Playa del Carmen, Playacar: $28
- Cancun Airport Private Transfer to/from Akumal Half Moon Bay: $99
- Cancun Airport Private Transfer to/from Akumal Hotels: $109
- Cancun Airport: Private Transfers: From/to Playa del Carmen: $70
- Chetumal Airport (CTM) to Chetumal - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $129
- Chetumal Airport to Bacalar - Private Transfer with English-speaking driver: $106
Is it cheaper to fly into Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) or Playa del Carmen?
Prices for flights to both Playa del Carmen 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) $89Playa del Carmen $39
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius)
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius).
- St.Kitts Downtown Basseterre Walking Food Tour: $75
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Playa del Carmen
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Playa del Carmen.
- Dinner and Show at the Mayan Planetarium of Chichen: $39
- Christmas Eve Dinner in a magical jungle setting: $45
- Carmen Cocina Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $52
- Cenotes by Bike and Mayan Cooking Class Half-Day Guided Tour: $59
- Flavors of Playa del Carmen, Mexican Food Tour: $67
- Playa Del Carmen Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $75
- Cooking Class in 9 Recipes & Drinks: $77
- Playa del Carmen Food Tour with 8+ Authentic Yucatan Dishes: $81
- Food Tour Through Markets with 7 Tastings: $82
- Playa del Carmen Walking Food Tour: $84
- VIP Private Mystery Dinner Murder in the Jungle: $85
- Steak or Lobster dinner in a magical jungle setting.: $86
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $37Playa del Carmen $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:
- Capital and Beach Tour of St. Kitts and Nevis: $37
- Panoramic Sightseeing Tour of St Kitts: $40
- St Kitts Top Sights Open Air Safari Tour with Beach Time: $45
- Ken's Panoramic Tour: $50
- City Tour and Beach Escape: $50
- City Tour, Timothy Hill Lookout and South Friars Beach: $55
- Full Island Private Tour: $60
- Rainforest Tours in St. Kitts: $62
- St. Kitts Sea Glass Adventure and Volcanic Black Sand Beach Day: $65
- Basseterre Plantation Half Day Tour: $66
- St Kitts Rainforest Tour: $67
- Full Island Panoramic Tour of St Kitts: $68
Tours and Activities in Playa del Carmen
Here are a few actual costs in Playa del Carmen for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Bus Ticket connecting Cancun Central and Playa del Carmen: $7.20
- Tulum Legends: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of the Ancient Mayan City: $8.99
- Playa del Carmen Coastal Heritage Walking Tour: $18
- 4 ADVENTURES 1 DAY Tulum Coba Cenote and Playa del Carmen: $20
- Riviera Maya: Frida Kahlo Museum Guided Tour 2025: $20
- 4x1 Tulum Coba Cenote swim Full tour: $21
- Tulum and 2 Cenotes Half Day Tour from Riviera: $21
- YAL-KU Park in Riviera Maya Admission Ticket: $22
- Tulum Cancun ATV Tour Experience: $29
- Playa Del Carmen Walking Tour: Explore Top Sights & Hidden Gems: $30
- Chichen Itza Tour Options with Cenote Swim from Playa del Carmen: $31
- Chichen Itza Cenote and Valladolid All Inclusive Tour: $32
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayOranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $26Playa del Carmen $20
Sample the Local Flavors in Playa del Carmen
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Playa del Carmen:
- Playa del Carmen Local Brewery and Tacos Experience: $58
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) and Playa del Carmen, we can see that Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) is more expensive. And not only is Playa del Carmen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) is in Caribbean Islands and Playa del Carmen 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 Playa del Carmen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Playa del Carmen 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 Playa del Carmen.
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 Playa del Carmen Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius). When comparing the sizes of Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) and Playa del Carmen, 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.