Which place is cheaper, Charleston or Grand Cayman?
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 Grand Cayman or Charleston?
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 Charleston. 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 Charleston?
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.
Charleston
Charleston is a beautiful, southern city and seaport town in South Carolina. It has a wonderful, historic downtown area that the city government works hard to maintain. Located on a peninsula that is created by two rivers, the city is a stunning setting with much character. It is a popular place to visit for its culture, architecture and cuisine. In recent years Charleston has gained popularity and it continues to grow as both a regional and international travel destination. With its rising popularity comes increasing costs. Travel costs continue to go up as restaurants and hotels raise their prices, particularly during the peak travel season and holiday periods.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America.
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Grand Cayman Prices
Cayman Islands PricesCharleston Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGrand Cayman $242Charleston $212
The average daily cost (per person) in Grand Cayman is $242, while the average daily cost in Charleston is $212. 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 Grand Cayman and Charleston in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGrand Cayman $149Charleston $90
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGrand Cayman $298Charleston $180
Compare Hotels in Grand Cayman and Charleston
Looking for a hotel in Grand Cayman or Charleston? 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: Grand Cayman Hotel Prices and Charleston Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Grand Cayman $31Charleston $33
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Grand Cayman
Also for Grand Cayman, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Privat Transfer from Owen Roberts Airport GCM to George Town Port: $103
- Private Transfer from Airport to morritts: $180
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Charleston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Charleston:
- Private Transfer from Charleston Port to Charleston Airport (CHS): $134
- Private Transfer from Charleston City to Charleston Cruise Port: $125
- Private Transfer from Charleston Airport (CHS) to Charleston Port: $134
- Kiawah/Seabrook Islands to Charleston Airport (CHS) – Departure Private Transfer: $208
- Isle of Palms/Sullivans to Charleston AirportCHS Private Transfer: $147
- From Boone Hall Plantation Entry with Transfers: $71
- Folly Beach to Charleston Airport (CHS) - Departure Private Transfer: $147
- One Way Airport Transfer Service: $80
- Charleston city to Charleston Airport (CHS) - Departure Private Transfer: $134
- Charleston AirportCHS to Isle of Palms/Sullivans Private Transfer: $294
- Charleston Airport (CHS) to Folly Beach - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $294
- Charleston Airport (CHS) to Charleston city - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $268
Is it cheaper to fly into Grand Cayman or Charleston?
Prices for flights to both Charleston and Grand Cayman 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 dayGrand Cayman $67Charleston $100
Typical Food Prices in Charleston
Some typical examples of dining costs in Charleston are as follows:
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Lunch in downtown Charleston for two$21
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Breakfast$26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Charleston
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Charleston.
- Charleston Sunset Blues & BBQ Dinner Cruise: $72
- Hands-on Cooking Class in Charleston: $89
- Tastes Through Time - Charleston's Best Food Tour!: $96
- Charleston Harbor Luxury Dinner Cruise with Live Music: $100
- Tastes Through Time - Charleston's Best Food Tour: $109
- Charleston Brunch Food Tour: Biscuits, Shrimps, Grits and More: $110
- Charleston French Quarter or Brunch Food Tour with 7+ Tastings: $110
- Downtown Charleston Food Tour: $110
- Charleston's Savor the Flavors of Upper King Street Walking Food Tour: $111
- Savor the Flavors Upper King Street Food Tour: $111
- Small Group Food Tour – Savor the Flavors: $111
- Luxury Harbor Dinner Cruise: $111
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Grand Cayman $41Charleston $22
Tours and Activities in Grand Cayman
For Grand Cayman, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- CaymanVisitor Hide & Seek GeoTour Self-Drive Tour: $13
- Diamonds and Cocktails a Shopping Experience in Grand Cayman: $25
- 2 Stop Reef Snorkel and Glass Bottom Boat Adventure: $35
- Grand Cayman Hop On Hop Off Island Adventure: $40
- Stingray City and Snorkeling Tour Starfish Point Adventure: $53
- Stingray City, Snorkeling, & StarFish Adventure: $55
- Stingray City and Starfish Experience with Coral Reef Snorkeling: $55
- Stingray City Catamaran Sunset Tour: $59
- West Bay Sightseeing Tour Plus Seven Mile Beach Visit: $65
- 3 Stop Boat Tour Stingray City Coral Gardens and Starfish Point: $65
- Stingray City Sandbar Experience: $65
- StingrayCity ,Coral Garden & Starfish Tour. : $69
Typical Entertainment Prices in Charleston
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Charleston are as follows:
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Patriots Point (for 2)$60
Tours and Activities in Charleston
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Charleston are as follows:
- 1.5-Hour Charleston Harbor Cruise with Live Narration: $42
- 2 Hours Shem Creek Safari Kayak Tour: $52
- 2 of Charleston's finest plantations in one tour: $140
- 2-Hour Guided Kayak Eco Tour in Charleston: $54
- 2-Hour Tiki Boat Tour in Folly Beach: $75
- 2hr Private River Cruise with stop at Morris Island: $325
- 3 Hour Bus Tour and Self Paced Audio Tour of Aiken Rhett House: $50
- 300 Years of War and Peacetime in A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
- 90 Minute Sightseeing Bus Tour of Historic Charleston: $32
- 90-Minute Charleston City Sightseeing Bus Tour : $37
- A Ghost Tour with 10 ORIGINAL Stories AND Equipment!: $35
- Afternoon Charleston Harbor Boat Cruise: Family Friendly Scenic: $58
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGrand Cayman $13Charleston $36
Typical Alcohol Prices in Grand Cayman
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Grand Cayman:
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Beer$4.95
Sample the Local Flavors in Grand Cayman
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Grand Cayman:
- Cayman Spirits Co. Distillery Tour Pass Ticket Only: $24
- Cayman Art and Wine Tour: $150
Sample the Local Flavors in Charleston
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Charleston:
- Charleston Bar Hunt: Charleston Chase Bar Crawl: $13
- Striped Pig Distillery Tour and Tasting: $22
- Charleston’s Spirits & Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl: $29
- Spirits & Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl: $29
- Charleston Women and Wine Tour: $34
- Women and Wine Tour: $34
- Charleston Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Bay Street Bastards Pub Crawl: $35
- Haunted Pub Crawl for the Broken-Hearted: $35
- Bay Street Bastards Pub Crawl Shared Tour in Charleston : $35
- Haunted Pub Crawl for the Broken-Hearted: $35
- Speakeasy Sagas Prohibition Pub Crawl: $35
When comparing the travel costs between Grand Cayman and Charleston, we can see that Grand Cayman 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. Even though Grand Cayman is in Caribbean Islands and Charleston is in North America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
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 Charleston Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Grand Cayman or Charleston?
Charleston has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Grand Cayman. When comparing the sizes of Grand Cayman and Charleston, 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.
When is the best time to visit Grand Cayman or Charleston?
Charleston 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 Charleston in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Grand Cayman as well as Charleston. Grand Cayman attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Charleston for the beaches, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Grand Cayman is around the same temperature as Charleston in the summer. The daily temperature in Grand Cayman averages around 28°C (83°F) in July, and Charleston fluctuates around 82°F (28°C).
It's quite rainy in Charleston. Grand Cayman receives a lot of rain in the summer. Grand Cayman usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Charleston. Grand Cayman gets 179 mm (7 in) of rain, while Charleston receives 6.9 inches (176 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyGrand Cayman 28°C (83°F)Charleston 82°F (28°C)
Should I visit Grand Cayman or Charleston in the Autumn?
Both Charleston and Grand Cayman are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Grand Cayman throughout the year. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Charleston because of the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Grand Cayman is a little warmer than Charleston. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Grand Cayman in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Charleston averages at about 67°F (19°C).
It's quite rainy in Grand Cayman. In October, Grand Cayman usually receives more rain than Charleston. Grand Cayman gets 238 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Charleston receives 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGrand Cayman 27°C (81°F)Charleston 67°F (19°C)
Should I visit Grand Cayman or Charleston in the Winter?
Both Charleston and Grand Cayman during the winter 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 museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Charleston this time of year.
In January, Grand Cayman is generally much warmer than Charleston. Daily temperatures in Grand Cayman average around 24°C (76°F), and Charleston fluctuates around 47°F (9°C).
Grand Cayman usually gets less rain in January than Charleston. Grand Cayman gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Charleston receives 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGrand Cayman 24°C (76°F)Charleston 47°F (9°C)
Should I visit Grand Cayman or Charleston in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Grand Cayman and Charleston. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Grand Cayman year-round. Also, many travelers come to Charleston for the beaches and the natural beauty.
Grand Cayman is a little warmer than Charleston in the spring. The daily temperature in Grand Cayman averages around 26°C (79°F) in April, and Charleston fluctuates around 64°F (18°C).
In April, Grand Cayman usually receives less rain than Charleston. Grand Cayman gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Charleston receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilGrand Cayman 26°C (79°F)Charleston 64°F (18°C)
Typical Weather for Charleston and Grand Cayman
| Grand Cayman | Charleston | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 47°F (9°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 58°F (14°C) | 4.3 inches (110 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 131 mm (5.1 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 4.2 inches (106 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 78°F (26°C) | 6.4 inches (163 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 179 mm (7 in) | 82°F (28°C) | 6.9 inches (176 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 172 mm (6.8 in) | 81°F (27°C) | 7.1 inches (181 mm) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 212 mm (8.3 in) | 76°F (25°C) | 4.8 inches (121 mm) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 238 mm (9.4 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 2.9 inches (74 mm) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 141 mm (5.6 in) | 58°F (15°C) | 2.5 inches (63 mm) |
| Dec | 25°C (78°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) | 51°F (10°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
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.