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 $179Key West $832
The average daily cost (per person) in Punta Cana is $179, while the average daily cost in Key West is $832. 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 $100Key West $132
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPunta Cana $200Key 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 $6.71Key West $51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Cana
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Punta Cana:
- Private Transfer Lopesan Costa Bavaro to Punta Cana Airport: $3.00
- Private Transfers Punta Cana Airport and Hotels.: $6.00
- Transfer from Punta Cana Airport to hotels - from Rep Dom: $6.40
- PUJ Airport to Punta Cana City Private Transfer: $7.00
- Bavaro|Veron: PUJ Airport to Bavaro|Veron Private Transfer: $7.00
- Private Transfer from Punta Cana Airport to Hotels: $9.50
- 1-way Private Transfer: $10
- Private Transfers from Punta Cana Airport to Hotel: $11
- Private airport transfer from punta cana to hotel in bavaro: $13
- Efficient & Private Airport Transfer Service: $13
- Private Airport Transfers, Shuttles and Taxis To Hotels in Dominican Republic: $13
- Punta Cana Airport Private Transfers to Hotels: $14
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 Int Airport (EYW) to Key West - Arrival Private Transfer: $160
- Key West Int Airport EYW to Key West Hotels Arrival Transfer: $153
- Key West to Key West Airport (EYW) - Departure Private Transfer: $160
- One Way Airport Transfer Service: $54
- Private Arrival Transfer from Key West Airport EYW: $144
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 $67Key West $667
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Punta Cana
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Punta Cana.
- 'Chillo al Coco' Cooking Class & Taino Concept store: $98
- "PRIVATE"- Wild Dominican Sancocho Cooking Adventure!: $99
- Buggy Ride, Dinner and Taino Party: $118
- Taste of DR Street Food Tour: $125
- Sunset Buggies Adventure with Dinner from Punta Cana: $145
- Punta Cana Night Tour Polaris Ride Dinner Music and Open Bar: $169
- Punta Cana Buggy Ride, Dinner and Taino Party: $236
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Key West
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Key West.
- Exploring and Walking Food Tour of Cayo Hueso: $80
- Key West Cooking School Demonstration with Meal: $81
- Cooking School Demonstration with Meal: $81
- Southernmost Food & Cultural Walking Tour by Key West Food Tours: $90
- Key West Sunset Cruise: Dinner, Live Music & Drinks Included: $93
- Sunset Dinner Cruise with Open Bar & Live Music: $93
- Key West Sunset Buffet Dinner Cruise with Open Bar and Live Music: $100
- Secret Walking Food Tour: $117
- Sunset Sail Full Bar, Live Music & Dinner & Early Morning Snorkeling: $160
- Key West Fishing Charter: Catch your Dinner!: $800
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Punta Cana $31Key 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$53
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
- Shopping Tour In Don Lucas Cigar Factory: $4.00
- Guided Tour of WordMart Souvenir Store in Punta Cana: $5.00
- Punta Souvenirs -Shooping Tour free: $5.00
- Guided Tour to Don Lucas Cigar Factory & Souvenirs Store: $5.00
- Guided Tour to Don Lucas Cigar Factory: Round-trip transport: $5.00
- Guided Shopping Tour at BellaMare Souvenirs Mall: $5.00
- Guided Shopping Tour to WordMart Souvenirs Store: $5.00
- Adventure Buggy Punta Cana:Cave Macao Beach: $5.00
- Shopping Tour to WorldMart Souvenirs Store: $5.00
- Guided Shopping Tour - Rum tasting, chocolate factory, Cigar factory: $5.00
- Tour of Souvenirs, Shopping in 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:
- Key West Smartphone guided Ghost Walking Tour App/GPS/EMF Reader: $7.75
- Key West GPS Audio Tour: From Seaside Village to Micro State: $12
- Maritime Village to Micro State: A Self Guided Tour of Key West: $12
- Miami: Key West Boat Tour w/ Optional Snorkeling & Open Bar: $18
- Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum Tickets: $19
- Skip the Line: Mel Fisher Maritime Museum Admission Ticket and Audio Tour: $20
- Key West Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour and Game: $22
- Key West Aquarium Tickets: $23
- Southernmost Ghosts Tour: $24
- The Ghosts of Key West Walking Tour: $25
- Ghosts of Key West Walking Tour: $25
- Truman Little White House Guided Tour Ticket: $26
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPunta Cana $11Key West $16
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:
- Haunted Pub Crawl Walking Tour: $30
- Key West Haunted Pub Crawl and Ghost Tour with Free T-Shirt: $32
- Bone Island Haunted Pub Crawl: $32
- 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.