A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Grand Cayman vs. Big Island of Hawaii for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Grand Cayman or Big Island of Hawaii?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Grand Cayman and Big Island of Hawaii. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Grand Cayman or Big Island of Hawaii?

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.

Big Island of Hawaii

What comes to mind when someone says, "Hawaii"? Probably sandy beaches, coconut drinks and lazy days of tanning. It's a dream destination for those who want to get away, but the island of Hawai'i, or the Big Island as it's most commonly called, has so much more to offer than a place to catch up on your latest novel.

At 93 miles across, and a population of 185 thousand, the Big Island was once a large exporter of sugarcane. After its final plantation closed in 1996, tourism became the backbone of Hawai'i Island's economy. More recently, the Big Island has become the focus for sustainable tourism – visiting a place as a tourist and trying to make only a positive impact on your destination.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, and The Best Walking Tours in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Grand Cayman and Big Island of Hawaii, we can see that Big Island of Hawaii is more expensive. And not only is Grand Cayman much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Grand Cayman is in Caribbean Islands and Big Island of Hawaii 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 Grand Cayman would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Grand Cayman 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 Big Island of Hawaii would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Big Island of Hawaii than you might in Grand Cayman.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Grand Cayman Expensive? and Is Big Island of Hawaii Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Grand Cayman or Big Island of Hawaii?

Big Island of Hawaii has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Grand Cayman experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Grand Cayman or Big Island of Hawaii in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Grand Cayman and Big Island of Hawaii. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Grand Cayman year-round. Also, most visitors come to Big Island of Hawaii for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Grand Cayman is a little warmer than Big Island of Hawaii. Typically, the summer temperatures in Grand Cayman in July average around 28°C (83°F), and Big Island of Hawaii averages at about 76°F (24°C).

Big Island of Hawaii receives a lot of rain in the summer. Grand Cayman gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Grand Cayman usually receives less rain than Big Island of Hawaii. Grand Cayman gets 179 mm (7 in) of rain, while Big Island of Hawaii receives 9.7 inches (247 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Grand Cayman or Big Island of Hawaii in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Grand Cayman as well as Big Island of Hawaii. Grand Cayman attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Big Island of Hawaii because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Grand Cayman is generally a little warmer than Big Island of Hawaii. Daily temperatures in Grand Cayman average around 27°C (81°F), and Big Island of Hawaii fluctuates around 76°F (24°C).

It's quite rainy in Big Island of Hawaii. Grand Cayman receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Grand Cayman usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Big Island of Hawaii. Grand Cayman gets 238 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Big Island of Hawaii receives 9.8 inches (248 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Grand Cayman or Big Island of Hawaii in the Winter?

Both Big Island of Hawaii and Grand Cayman are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Grand Cayman throughout the year. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Big Island of Hawaii this time of year.

Grand Cayman is around the same temperature as Big Island of Hawaii in the winter. The daily temperature in Grand Cayman averages around 24°C (76°F) in January, and Big Island of Hawaii fluctuates around 72°F (22°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Big Island of Hawaii. In January, Grand Cayman usually receives less rain than Big Island of Hawaii. Grand Cayman gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Big Island of Hawaii receives 8.7 inches (221 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Grand Cayman or Big Island of Hawaii in the Spring?

Both Big Island of Hawaii and Grand Cayman during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Grand Cayman because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Big Island of Hawaii for the beaches and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Grand Cayman is a little warmer than Big Island of Hawaii. Typically, the spring temperatures in Grand Cayman in April average around 26°C (79°F), and Big Island of Hawaii averages at about 73°F (23°C).

Big Island of Hawaii gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Grand Cayman usually gets less rain in April than Big Island of Hawaii. Grand Cayman gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Big Island of Hawaii receives 15.6 inches (395 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Big Island of Hawaii and Grand Cayman