Which place is cheaper, Bonaire or Bar Harbor?
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 Bar Harbor or Bonaire?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Bar Harbor and Bonaire can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Bar Harbor or Bonaire?
Bar Harbor
Bar Harbor is a seafront town located on Mount Desert Island just off the coast of Maine. The Wabanaki Indians who seasonally fished, hunted and gathered berries, clams, and other shellfish in the area, called it the ‘clam-gathering' or ‘clambake' place. Eventually the area was settled by Europeans who established industries in fishing, lumbering, shipbuilding, and agriculture. Its maritime scenery even attracted artists of the Hudson River School like Thomas Cole, and the area soon became a seasonal resort for the affluent, comparable to that of Newport, Rhode Island.
Bonaire
An island municipality of the Netherlands, Bonaire resides in the Caribbean, east of Central America and north of Venezuela. It is a part of the ABC Islands together with Aruba and Curaçao, and is best known as a tropical vacation destination with many great dive spots, beaches, lagoons, and wildlife.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America, and The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America.
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Bar Harbor Prices
USA PricesBonaire Prices
Caribbean Netherlands Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBar Harbor $243Bonaire $299
The average daily cost (per person) in Bar Harbor is $243, while the average daily cost in Bonaire is $299. 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 Bar Harbor and Bonaire in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBar Harbor $117Bonaire $155
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBar Harbor $234Bonaire $310
Compare Hotels in Bar Harbor and Bonaire
Looking for a hotel in Bar Harbor or Bonaire? 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: Bar Harbor Hotel Prices and Bonaire Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bar Harbor $35Bonaire $65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bonaire
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bonaire:
- Private Transfers between Bonaire airport and any local address : $40
- Private Transfer from Kralendijk Port to Bonaire Airport (BON): $59
- Private Transfer from Kralendijk Cruise Port to Kralendijk city : $59
- Airport Transfer Return Included: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Bar Harbor or Bonaire?
Prices for flights to both Bonaire and Bar Harbor 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 dayBar Harbor $98Bonaire $101
Typical Food Prices in Bar Harbor
Some typical examples of dining costs in Bar Harbor are as follows:
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West Street Cafe (for 4)$70
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bonaire
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bonaire.
- Dinner at Sea: $95
- Discover the Flavors of Bonaire with the Bonaire Snack Food Tour: $130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bar Harbor $39Bonaire $40
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bar Harbor
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Bar Harbor are as follows:
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Acadia National Park Entrance Fee$25
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Sunset Cruise (for 4)$96
Tours and Activities in Bar Harbor
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bar Harbor are as follows:
- Self Guided GPS Audio Driving Tour Acadia NP From Hulls Cove VC: $9.50
- Acadia's Ocean Path Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $9.99
- Historic Bar Harbor Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour Guide: $13
- Acadia Mount Desert Island Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $15
- Acadia National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour: $16
- Ultimate Acadia National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $17
- Cape Cod Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $17
- Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Acadia National Park: $20
- Acadia National Park & Bar Harbor Self-Guided Driving & Walking Tour: $25
- Haunted Ghost Walking Tour: $30
- Bar Harbor Walking Tour: $30
- 90-minute Ghost Walking Tour in Bar Harbor: $33
Tours and Activities in Bonaire
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bonaire are as follows:
- Semi Submarine Boat Experience to Klein Bonaire: $33
- Walking Tours & Private Tours on Bonaire: $36
- 4 Hours Open Air Party Bus Tour with Beach Stop in Caribbean: $39
- Half-Day Bonaire Island Tour with Hotel Pickup and Drop-off: $46
- Bonaire Essentials Island Tour: $49
- Walking Tour with Lunch & Ice Cream: $55
- Yacht tour with local guide & snorkeling activities: $57
- Clearbottom Mangrove Kayak & Snorkel tour: $59
- Highlights of Bonaire & Cultural Experience: $59
- Tour in North and South Bonaire Guided : $63
- Explore North & South Tour: $65
- Small-Group Guided North & South Tour of Bonaire with Pick Up: $65
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBar Harbor $30Bonaire $33
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bar Harbor and Bonaire, we can see that Bonaire is more expensive. And not only is Bar Harbor much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bar Harbor is in North America and Bonaire is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Bar Harbor would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bar Harbor 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 Bonaire would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bonaire than you might in Bar Harbor.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bar Harbor Expensive? and Is Bonaire Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bar Harbor or Bonaire?
Bonaire has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Bar Harbor. When comparing the sizes of Bar Harbor and Bonaire, 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.