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

Should you visit Grand Cayman or Big Sur?

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 Sur. 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 Sur?

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 Sur

Big Sur is the 90-mile stretch of the California Central Coast which runs from the Carmel River in Monterey County south to San Carpoforo Creek in San Luis Obispo County and 20 miles east into the Santa Lucius Foothills.

However you look at it, California's Central Coast is beautiful and undoubtedly a huge tourist trap. If you're not willing to fork over big bucks for overnight stays on coastal hotels, be prepared ahead of time with your camping gear and get ready to go off the beaten track to avoid crowds as best you can and save your wallet.

While the weather in Central Coast is overall, mild and temperate, between 50 and 70 degrees year-round. The highs and lows during the year are in August and January, respectively, with dry summers and wet winters, making April through October the best times to visit but be warned: there will be crowds.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, and The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America.

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

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 Sur Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Grand Cayman or Big Sur?

Big Sur 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 Sur in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Grand Cayman and Big Sur. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Grand Cayman year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Big Sur in the summer for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

Grand Cayman is much warmer than Big Sur in the summer. The daily temperature in Grand Cayman averages around 28°C (83°F) in July, and Big Sur fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).

Grand Cayman gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Grand Cayman usually receives more rain than Big Sur. Grand Cayman gets 179 mm (7 in) of rain, while Big Sur receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Grand Cayman or Big Sur in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Grand Cayman as well as Big Sur. Grand Cayman attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Big Sur for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Grand Cayman is much warmer than Big Sur. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Grand Cayman in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Big Sur averages at about 62°F (17°C).

Grand Cayman receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Grand Cayman usually gets more rain in October than Big Sur. Grand Cayman gets 238 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Big Sur receives 0.6 inches (14 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Grand Cayman or Big Sur in the Winter?

Both Big Sur 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 winter months attract visitors to Big Sur because of the cuisine.

In January, Grand Cayman is generally much warmer than Big Sur. Daily temperatures in Grand Cayman average around 24°C (76°F), and Big Sur fluctuates around 51°F (11°C).

In January, Grand Cayman usually receives around the same amount of rain as Big Sur. Grand Cayman gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Big Sur receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Grand Cayman or Big Sur in the Spring?

Both Big Sur 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. Also, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Big Sur this time of year.

Grand Cayman is much warmer than Big Sur in the spring. The daily temperature in Grand Cayman averages around 26°C (79°F) in April, and Big Sur fluctuates around 56°F (13°C).

Grand Cayman usually gets more rain in April than Big Sur. Grand Cayman gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Big Sur receives 1.1 inches (29 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Big Sur and Grand Cayman