Which place is cheaper, Key West 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 Key West?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Punta Cana or Key West? 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 Key West?
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.
Key West
Key West is both a city and an island as well as the southern most Florida Key. It is also the southern most city in the continental United States. The island is only about four miles long and one mile wide. The total land mass covers just 4.2 square miles. The most famous street in town is Duval Street, which runs just 1.1 miles from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean. There are 14 blocks. The size of the island doubled during the 1950s when many of the salt ponds along the eastern side of the island were filled in.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America.
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Punta Cana Prices
Dominican Republic PricesKey West Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPunta Cana $181Key West $247
The average daily cost (per person) in Punta Cana is $181, while the average daily cost in Key West is $247. 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 Key West in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPunta Cana $101Key West $132
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPunta Cana $202Key West $264
Compare Hotels in Punta Cana and Key West
Looking for a hotel in Punta Cana or Key West? 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 Key West Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Punta Cana $6.80Key West $51
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 Punta Cana Airport & Hotels in Uvero Alto: $8.00
- Private Transfers from Punta Cana Airport to Cap Cana: $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
- PRiVATE TRANSFERS FROM PUNTA CANA AIRPORT TO HOTELS -FAST SERVICE: $10
- 1-way Private Transfer: $10
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Key West
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Key West:
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Rental Car for One Day$38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Key West
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Key West:
- Key West Airport (EYW) to Key West - Arrival Private Transfer: $154
- Key West to Key West Airport (EYW) - Departure Private Transfer: $154
- One Way Airport Transfer Service: $54
- Private Arrival Transfer from Key West Airport EYW: $144
- Private Transfer from Key West Cruise Port to Key West hotels: $112
- Private Transfer from Key West Port to Key West Airport (EYW): $111
- Private Transfer from Key West hotels to Key West Cruise Port: $112
Is it cheaper to fly into Punta Cana or Key West?
Prices for flights to both Key West 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 $68Key West $81
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Key West
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Key West.
- Sunset Dinner Cruise with Open Bar & Live Music: $74
- Cooking Show Chef Demonstration with Meal: $81
- Southernmost Food & Cultural Walking Tour by Key West Food Tours: $90
- Key West Cooking Show Chef Demonstration with Meal: $91
- Key West Sunset Cruise: Dinner, Live Music & Drinks Included: $93
- Secret Walking Food Tour: $115
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Punta Cana $32Key West $33
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
- Santo Domingo: Panoramic tour to Punta Cana with Buggy Ride: $5.00
- Shopping Tour In Don Lucas Cigar Factory: $5.00
- Shopping Tour in Punta Cana with Round Trip Transportation: $5.00
- Guided Shopping Tour - Rum tasting, chocolate factory, Cigar factory: $5.00
- Tour de Compras: Chocolate, Café y Artesanías en Punta Cana.: $5.00
- Punta Cana Souvenir Shopping Tour with Pickup: $6.00
- Guided Shopping Tour to Bella Mare Store (Cigars, Chocolate, Rum and Souvenirs): $6.00
- Punta Cana Souvenir Shopping Tour with Free Pickup: $6.00
- Cigar Purchase Tour From Punta Cana with Transportation Included: $10
Tours and Activities in Key West
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Key West are as follows:
- Hemingway's Key West Self Guided outdoor Walking Audio Tour: $8.00
- Key West History Audio Guided Walking Tour: $9.75
- Key West GPS Audio Tour: From Seaside Village to Micro State: $12
- Key West’s Old Town Treasures: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
- Mel Fisher Maritime Museum Admission Ticket: $18
- Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum Tickets: $19
- Skip the Line: Mel Fisher Maritime Museum Admission Ticket and Audio Tour: $20
- Key West Aquarium Tickets: $23
- Truman Little White House Guided Tour Ticket: $26
- Key West Ghost Tours: Southernmost Shadows and Ghosts: $27
- Ghosts of Key West Walking Tour: $30
- A Self Guided Key West Cemetery Tour: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPunta Cana $11Key West $16
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Key West
Also in Key West, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- A Spectacular Bar Crawl in Key West: $15
- Bone Island Haunted Pub Crawl: $32
- Haunted Pub Crawl Walking Tour: $35
- Key West Spirits and Haunted Pub Crawl: $36
- Original Key West Pub Crawl: The Best Bars with Free T-Shirt: $43
- 2.5-Hour Duval Street Pub Crawl: $43
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Punta Cana and Key West, we can see that Key West is more expensive. And not only is Punta Cana much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Punta Cana is in Caribbean Islands and Key West 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 Punta Cana would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Punta Cana 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 Key West would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Key West than you might in Punta Cana.
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 Key West Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Punta Cana or Key West?
Punta Cana has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Key West. When comparing the sizes of Punta Cana and Key West, 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.