Which place is cheaper, Granada 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 Granada?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Punta Cana or Granada? 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 Granada?
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.
Granada
Granada is Nicaragua's oldest colonial city, and arguably, the most beautiful city in the country. It sits on the northern edge of Lake Nicaragua (Lago Cocibolca) and has many beautifully colored buildings and nice churches. The city's beauty and colonial architecture, along with its relative safety and accessibility, make it one of Nicaragua's top tourist destinations. The city has long been a center for commerce, but today its economy depends heavily on tourism. The city is the sixth largest in Nicaragua and a real estate boom in the early 2000's brought a large number of expats to the town.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.
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Punta Cana Prices
Dominican Republic PricesGranada Prices
Nicaragua Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPunta Cana $181Granada $50
The average daily cost (per person) in Punta Cana is $181, while the average daily cost in Granada is $50. 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 Granada in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPunta Cana $101Granada $17
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPunta Cana $202Granada $34
Compare Hotels in Punta Cana and Granada
Looking for a hotel in Punta Cana or Granada? 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 Granada Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Punta Cana $6.80Granada $8.60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Cana
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Punta Cana:
- Budget Punta Cana Airport Transfers-Cap Cana, Bavaro, Uvero Alto: $6.50
- Affordable Private SUBURBAN Transfer from Punta Cana Airport: $6.50
- Bavaro|Veron: PUJ Airport to Bavaro|Veron Private Transfer: $7.00
- Private Transfers Between Punta Cana Airport and Hotels: $8.00
- Private Transfers from Punta Cana Airport to Cap Cana: $8.00
- Private Transfers Punta Cana Airport & Hotels in Uvero Alto: $8.00
- PRiVATE TRANSFERS FROM PUNTACANA AIRPORT TO HOTELS -FAST SERVICE: $8.00
- Punta Cana PUJ Airport Private Transfer to/from Bavaro|Veron: $9.00
- PRiVATE TRANSFERS FROM PUNTA CANA AIRPORT TO HOTELS -FAST SERVICE: $9.00
- Private Transfers from Punta Cana Airport to Hotels: $9.45
- 1-way Private Transfer: $10
- PRiVATE TRANSFERS FROM PUNTA CANA AIRPORT TO HOTELS -FAST SERVICE: $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Granada
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Granada:
- From One way shared transfer to Leon: $39
- From One way shared transfer to Rivas: $39
- From San Jorge: One way shared transfer to Granada: $39
- Leon: One way shared transfer to Granada: $39
- One-Way Private Transfer From/To Airport or Hotels in Granada: $40
- San Juan del Sur: One way shared transfer to Granada: $39
Is it cheaper to fly into Punta Cana or Granada?
Prices for flights to both Granada 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 $68Granada $24
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
- "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 Buggy Tour with Cenote Swim & Dinner Combo: $190
- Night Buggy Tour with Cenote Swim & Dinner Combo: $190
Typical Food Prices in Granada
Some typical examples of dining costs in Granada are as follows:
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Pizza$2.30
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Punta Cana $32Granada $10
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:
- Souvenir Shopping Tour with Traditional Tastings: $2.00
- Saona Island Classic Tour with Lunch & Drinks: $2.50
- Shopping Tour In Don Lucas Cigar Factory, Rum tasting, Cocoa factory, Souvenirs: $5.00
- Guided Shopping Tour - Rum tasting, chocolate factory, Cigar factory: $5.00
- Santo Domingo: Panoramic tour to Punta Cana with Buggy Ride: $5.00
- Shopping Tour in Punta Cana with Round Trip Transportation: $5.00
- Tour de Compras: Chocolate, Café y Artesanías en Punta Cana.: $5.00
- Shopping Tour In Don Lucas Cigar Factory: $5.00
- Guided Shopping Tour to Bella Mare Store (Cigars, Chocolate, Rum and Souvenirs): $6.00
- Punta Cana Souvenir Shopping Tour with Free Pickup: $6.00
- Punta Cana Souvenir Shopping Tour with Pickup: $6.00
- Souvenir Shopping Tour in Punta Cana Transportation Included: $10
Typical Entertainment Prices in Granada
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Granada are as follows:
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Lago de Nicaragua Boat Tour$8.20
Tours and Activities in Granada
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Granada are as follows:
- Isletas Boat Tour: $32
- Paddle Boarding and Meditation Wellness Experience in Las Isletas: $33
- Colonial Granada Horse Carriage & Walking Tour: $35
- Granada Colonial Granada Horse Carriage and Walking Tour: $35
- Las Isletas: Kayak Tour: $39
- City Tour Granada, Nicaragua.: $40
- Las Isletas: Boat Tour: $45
- Masaya Volcano Tour Minimum 2 People from Granada: $45
- Mountain Biking Tour with Snacks and Drinks: $45
- Las Isletas Boat Tour: $45
- City Walking Tour and Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride: $50
- Granada's City Tour: $50
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPunta Cana $11Granada $7.53
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
Typical Alcohol Prices in Granada
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Granada:
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Tequila$1.37
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Punta Cana and Granada, we can see that Punta Cana is more expensive. And not only is Granada much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Punta Cana is in Caribbean Islands and Granada is in Central 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 Granada would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Granada 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 Punta Cana would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Punta Cana than you might in Granada.
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 Granada Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Punta Cana or Granada?
Punta Cana has a larger population, and is about 12% larger than the population of Granada. When comparing the sizes of Punta Cana and Granada, 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.