A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Pretoria vs. Grand Cayman for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Pretoria or Grand Cayman?

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

Should I visit Pretoria or Grand Cayman? 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: Pretoria or Grand Cayman?

Pretoria

Located in Gauteng Province, Pretoria is the administrative capital city of South Africa, making it home to many government buildings and three universities. It is actually one of three capital cities, being home to the executive branch, with Cape Town as the legislative capital and Bloemfontein as the judicial capital. Within South Africa, Pretoria is also known as the "Jacaranda City" due to the thousands of jacaranda trees lining its streets, parks, and gardens.

Grand Cayman

When people think of the Cayman Islands, they typically think of offshore bank accounts and sunny, cruise ship ports. Grand Cayman has more to offer travelers than a playground for the wealthy or a short stopover for cruise passengers. This tropical island is the largest of the three Cayman Islands, it is a shopper's heaven, a center for global finance and an ideal vacation spot.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in South Africa, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in South Africa.


Which place is cheaper, Grand Cayman or Pretoria?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Pretoria is $50, while the average daily cost in Grand Cayman is $215. 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 Pretoria and Grand Cayman in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Pretoria $25
    Grand Cayman $150
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Pretoria $50
    Grand Cayman $300
Compare Hotels in Pretoria and Grand Cayman

Looking for a hotel in Pretoria or Grand Cayman? 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 Pretoria


Hotels in Grand Cayman


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: Grand Cayman Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Pretoria $12
    Grand Cayman $31

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pretoria

Also for Pretoria, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Sun City Private Transfer: $250
  • Shuttle Transfer from Gauteng to Greater Kruger: $61
  • One Way Private Transfer from Airports and Hotels in Sandton: $89
  • Gauteng, South Africa: Airport transfers, shuttle services: $27

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Grand Cayman

Also for Grand Cayman, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer from George Town or 7 Mile to George Town Port: $54
  • Private Transfer from George Town Port to Owen Roberts AirportGCM: $54
  • Private Transfer from George Town Port to George Town or 7-Mile: $54
  • Privat Transfer from Owen Roberts Airport GCM to George Town Port: $54
  • George Town Port to Owen Roberts Airport (GCM) - Departure Private Transfer: $54
  • George Town Port to George Town / 7-Mile Beach area -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $108
  • George Town Cruise Port to George Town or 7-Mile Beach -Arrival Private Transfer: $54
  • George Town / 7- Mile Beach area to George Town Port -Departure Private Transfer: $54
  • Airport Transfers to North Side Accommodation (GCM Grand Cayman): $265
  • Airport Transfer - Owen Roberts Intl Airport to GeorgeTown or Seven Mile Beach: $88

Is it cheaper to fly into Pretoria or Grand Cayman?

Prices for flights to both Grand Cayman and Pretoria 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
    Pretoria $15
    Grand Cayman $39

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Pretoria $14
    Grand Cayman $41

Tours and Activities in Pretoria

For Pretoria, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 2 Hours Bicycle Tour in Soweto(Johannesburg): $91
  • 4-Hours Pretoria Private History Tour : $83
  • Aerial Cableway Private Tour from Johannesburg : $82
  • Ann Van Dyk Cheetah Centre Half-Day Tour from Johannesburg: $199
  • Apartheid Museum Tour in Johannesburg from Pretoria, every FRIDAY afternoon: $51
  • Apartheid Museum Tour in Johannesburg, every FRIDAY afternoon: $51
  • Artistic Half Day Tour of Johannesburg : $86
  • Cheer on the Cheetah Run for Conservation Adventure: $194
  • Cradle of Human Kind & Lion & Rhino Park Tour Full day Tour Private : $188
  • Cradle of Humankind Half Day Tour with Lunch : $110
  • Cradle of Humankind Private Tour and Safari: $108
  • Cradle of Humankind half day tour: $102

Tours and Activities in Grand Cayman

For Grand Cayman, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 2-stop Adventure: Stingray City and snorkeling at Cayman Reefs: $79
  • Acquarius Stingray City and Snorkel Tours: $80
  • Cayman Adventure: Starfish Point, Stingray City and Coral Gardens: $99
  • Cayman Classic Food Tasting Walking Tour Shore Excursion : $159
  • Cayman Crystal Caves Tour in Grand Cayman Island: $126
  • Cayman's Classic Food Tasting & Cultural Experience: $179
  • East End Activities and Tour in Grand Cayman: $158
  • East Island Tour : $298
  • Full Day Private Shore Tour in George Town from George Town Port: $278
  • Full Day Private Shore Tour in George Town from George Town Port: $264
  • Grand Cayman - Bioluminescent Bay Tour: $95
  • Grand Cayman Cruise: Starfish Point, Stingray City, Coral Garden: $80

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Pretoria $31
    Grand Cayman $13

Typical Alcohol Prices in Grand Cayman

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Grand Cayman:


  • Beer
    $4.97

Sample the Local Flavors in Grand Cayman

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Grand Cayman:

  • Cayman Spirits Co. Distillery Tour Pass Ticket Only: $24


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

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


Which is Bigger, Pretoria or Grand Cayman?

Pretoria has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Grand Cayman. When comparing the sizes of Pretoria and Grand Cayman, 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.