Which place is cheaper, Cabarete or Punta Cana?
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 Punta Cana or Cabarete?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Punta Cana or Cabarete? 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: Punta Cana or Cabarete?
Punta Cana
Punta Cana, located on the easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic, is renowned for its stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, and vibrant culture. This Caribbean paradise offers a diverse range of experiences that cater to all types of travelers, whether you're on a tight budget, seeking thrilling activities, exploring local cuisine, or figuring out the best ways to get around.
Cabarete
Nestled on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, Cabarete is a vibrant beach town known for its stunning coastline, world-class water sports, and lively nightlife. Originally a small fishing village, Cabarete has transformed into a hub for travelers seeking both adventure and relaxation.
Traveling to Cabarete on a budget is entirely feasible with a bit of planning. Accommodation options range from budget-friendly hostels to affordable hotels and guesthouses. Eating on a budget is easy in Cabarete, with numerous local eateries and street vendors serving delicious Dominican dishes at reasonable prices. Look for "comedores," small local restaurants where you can enjoy meals like "la bandera" (rice, beans, and meat) for under $5. Public transportation in Cabarete is both affordable and convenient. The local "guaguas" (minibuses) and "motoconchos" (motorcycle taxis) are inexpensive ways to get around.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, and The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic.
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Punta Cana Prices
Dominican Republic PricesCabarete Prices
Dominican Republic Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPunta Cana $181Cabarete $181
The average daily cost (per person) in Punta Cana is $181, while the average daily cost in Cabarete is $181. 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 Punta Cana and Cabarete in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPunta Cana $101Cabarete $74
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPunta Cana $202Cabarete $148
Compare Hotels in Punta Cana and Cabarete
Looking for a hotel in Punta Cana or Cabarete? 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: Punta Cana Hotel Prices and Cabarete Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Punta Cana $6.80Cabarete $42
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Cana
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Punta Cana:
- private transfer standard and premium punta cana airport to puerto plata: $265
- private transfer standard and premium airport punta cana to hotels pta cana: $25
- Wyndham Alltra Punta Cana - Airport Transfer - Round Trip: $137
- Vip Private Transfer to Punta Cana from Santo Domingo: $153
- VIP transfer between Punta Cana airport and Bavaro hotels: $55
- VIP Transfers in Luxury SUVs - Punta Cana: $22
- VIP Transfers PUJ Airport to Bavaro and Punta Cana Hotels: $72
- VIP Transfer from Santo Domingo aiport - La Romana - Punta Cana: $220
- VIP Transfer from Airport to Cap Cana Hotels: $149
- VIP Transfer Santo Domingo Las Americas Airport to Punta Cana: $153
- VIP SUV Airport Transfer from Punta Cana/Bavaro: $70
- VIP Private Transfer Punta Cana Airport to Uvero Alto Resorts: $89
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cabarete
Also for Cabarete, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Cibao Airport (STI) to Sosua/Cabarete - Arrival Private Transfer: $40
- Puerto Plata Airport Transfer to Sosua: $30
- Puerto Plata: Private Airport Transfer to/from Cabarete: $40
- Punta Cana Airport PUJ to Puerto Plata -Arrival Private Transfer: $22
- Punta Cana Airport PUJ to Puerto Plata Roundtrip Private Transfer: $45
- Sosua/Cabarete to Puerto Plata Airport (POP) - Departure Transfer: $59
- Transfers from Cabarete to Santiago Airport: $50
- Transfers from Jarabacoa to cabarete, sosua: $75
- Transfers from Samana Airport to cabarete, sosua: $250
- Transfers from Santo Domingo Airport to cabarete, sosua: $250
Is it cheaper to fly into Punta Cana or Cabarete?
Prices for flights to both Cabarete and Punta Cana 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 dayPunta Cana $68Cabarete $72
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Punta Cana
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Punta Cana.
- 3hr Punta Cana Cooking Class: Mofonguitos & Morir Soñando: $85
- 'Chillo al Coco' Cooking Class & Taino Concept store: $98
- ATV or Buggy Tour with Swim & Cooking Class: $99
- "PRIVATE"- Wild Dominican Sancocho Cooking Adventure!: $99
- Buggy Ride, Dinner and Taino Party: $108
- Punta Cana Buggy Ride, Dinner and Taino Party: $118
- Unique Night Tour, Cenote Swim, & Dinner: $122
- Punta Cana Buggy Ride and Taino Party with Dinner: $139
- Sunset Buggies Adventure with Dinner from Punta Cana: $145
- Private: Nighttime Buggy Ride with Dinner & Open: $145
- Dinner in the Sky Experience in Punta Cana: $149
- Night Adventure – Waterfall Pool, Polaris Ride, Surf & Turf Dinner with Drinks: $169
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Punta Cana $32Cabarete $53
Typical Entertainment Prices in Punta Cana
Here are a few typical costs in Punta Cana for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Dune Buggy Adventure$54
Tours and Activities in Punta Cana
Here are a few actual costs in Punta Cana for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- "Saona Expedition: 4 Beaches Tour from Punta Cana": $100
- 3 ADVENTURES: Sailing Catamaran Cruise - Hooka Diving - Snorkeling: $105
- 3 Hours Half Day Tour Buggy Macao Beach cenote Hotel Pickup: $34
- 3 Hours Panoramic Tour in Punta Cana with Artisan Market: $35
- 3-Hour Punta Cana Party Boat & Catamaran Cruise: $48
- 3-in-1 Activity-Buggy-Horse-Zipline-City Tours-Macao Beach: $85
- 4 Hour Punta Cana Fishing Tour: $97
- 4 Wheel Adventure Beach and River Ride with Lunch: $135
- 4 hour deep sea fishing experience from punta cana: $100
- 4-Hour ATV and Horseback Adventure in Uvero Alto: $130
- 4-Hour Glass Bottom Boat Experience in Punta Cana: $90
- 4x4 ATV Tour: Cave Swim & Cultural Experience: $31
Tours and Activities in Cabarete
For Cabarete, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Deep Caves in Cabarete with Guided Tour and Swimming: $35
- Surfing Experience in Cabarete Dominican Republic: $60
- Buggie & atv adventure Jungle Adventure: $80
- Snorkeling Tour & Sosua Beach Day: $80
- VIP All-Inclusive City Tour: Luxury Beach Experience: $85
- Full-Day Tour to Punta Rucia and Cayo Arena with Snorkeling: $89
- Monkeyland and Zipline Adventure from Puerto Plata: $90
- Private Full Day Beach Tour in Puerto Plata: $100
- Combo Monkeys & plantation & city tours amber cove and Taino bay: $108
- 27 Waterfalls: Zip 'n Splash Adventure with Horse Ride: $125
- 4 Wheel Adventure: $127
- 10-Hour Guided Tour of Samana and Bacardi Island Los Haitises: $130
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPunta Cana $11Cabarete $17
Sample the Local Flavors in Punta Cana
Also in Punta Cana, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bar Crawl in Punta Cana: $35
When comparing the travel costs between Punta Cana and Cabarete, we can see that Punta Cana is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Caribbean Islands, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Punta Cana Expensive? and Is Cabarete Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Punta Cana or Cabarete?
Punta Cana has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Cabarete. When comparing the sizes of Punta Cana and Cabarete, 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.