Should you visit Saint John's or Grand Cayman?
Should I visit Saint John's or Grand Cayman? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Saint John's
If you've been to St. John's, Antigua, you were likely on a cruise - which means you likely did not have enough time to truly experience the magic of this tiny island getaway.
St. Johns is the capital of the tiny islands of Antigua and Barbuda. Located on Antigua, this tropical city lives up to its status as a tropical paradise. With 365 beaches on the island, you can enjoy the luxury of lounging in the sand every day of the year.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Grand Cayman or Saint John's?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint John's is $178, while the average daily cost in Grand Cayman is $171. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Saint John's and Grand Cayman in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $96. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Saint John's the cost is $192 on average.
For a normal double-occupancy room in Grand Cayman, $238 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Grand Cayman, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $119, such as in a hostel.
Food
In Saint John's travelers spend around $54 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
While meal prices in Grand Cayman can vary, the average travelers spends about $31 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Grand Cayman should cost around $12 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Grand Cayman is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Saint John's $54
Grand Cayman $31
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Saint John's is $14 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Grand Cayman's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $25 per person, per day on transportation in Grand Cayman.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Saint John's
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Saint John's:
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Local Bus
$1.52
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Taxi From Airport
$6.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Grand Cayman
Also for Grand Cayman, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Airport Transfer - Owen Roberts Intl Airport to GeorgeTown or Seven Mile Beach:
$45
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Airport Transfer to West Bay Accommodations (GCM - Grand Cayman):
$64
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint John's or Grand Cayman?
Prices for flights to both Grand Cayman and Saint John's 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.
Entertainment
Saint John's's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $82 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Grand Cayman can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $33 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Typical Entertainment prices in Saint John's
Here are a few typical costs in Saint John's for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Grand Cayman
For Grand Cayman, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Skip the Line: Pedro St. James Castle General Admission and Guided Tour Ticket:
$13
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Night Bioluminescence Snorkel Tour:
$99
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Grand Cayman Private Island Tour:
$314
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Saint John's may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $14 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Typically, people visiting Grand Cayman spend on average $10 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typical Alcohol prices in Grand Cayman
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Grand Cayman:
When comparing the travel costs between Saint John's and Grand Cayman, we can see that Saint John's 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.
