Which place is cheaper, Duck Key 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 Duck Key?
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 Duck Key. 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 Duck Key?
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.
Duck Key
If you are thirsty for the taste of tropical splendor, Duck Key, Florida will surely quench your desires. Located in Monroe County, Florida, right beside its neighbor Conch Key, Duck Key stands. The community is chock full of everyone's favorite seaside activities, including fishing, jetskiing, scuba diving, canoeing, and kayaking. Though a quaint town, Duck Key attracts tourists from all over due to its quiet beaches and friendly locals. Whether you are looking to meet and greet with the dolphins or simply lie upon the sandy white beaches as the fire orange sun sets before you, Duck Key is truly a sweet and small subtropical diversion.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles.
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Grand Cayman Prices
Cayman Islands PricesDuck Key Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGrand Cayman $242Duck Key $175
The average daily cost (per person) in Grand Cayman is $242, while the average daily cost in Duck Key is $175. 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 Duck Key in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGrand Cayman $149Duck Key $56
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGrand Cayman $298Duck Key $112
Compare Hotels in Grand Cayman and Duck Key
Looking for a hotel in Grand Cayman or Duck Key? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Grand Cayman $31Duck Key $69
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Grand Cayman
Also for Grand Cayman, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Airport to morritts: $180
- Privat Transfer from Owen Roberts Airport GCM to George Town Port: $103
Is it cheaper to fly into Grand Cayman or Duck Key?
Prices for flights to both Duck Key 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 $67Duck Key $77
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Grand Cayman $41Duck Key $30
Tours and Activities in Grand Cayman
For Grand Cayman, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- StingrayCity ,Coral Garden & Starfish Tour. : $69
- 2 Stop Reef Snorkel and Glass Bottom Boat Adventure: $35
- 3 Stop Boat Tour Stingray City Coral Gardens and Starfish Point: $65
- Acquarius Stingray City and Snorkel Tours: $79
- Cayman 2 in 1 Combo Tour Stingray City Reef Snorkel Adventure: $77
- Cayman 3 in 1 Combo Adventure Stingray City Reef Snorkeling: $104
- Cayman Adventure Stingrays Starfish plus Crystal Caves : $89
- Cayman Bioluminescent Bay Night Tour: $144
- Cayman Combo Tour: Starfish Point, Stingray City & Coral Gardens: $119
- Cayman Crystal Caves Tour in Grand Cayman: $143
- Cayman's Classic Food Tasting & Cultural Experience: $179
- CaymanVisitor Hide & Seek GeoTour Self-Drive Tour: $13
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGrand Cayman $13Duck Key $7.99
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Grand Cayman and Duck Key, we can see that Grand Cayman is more expensive. And not only is Duck Key much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Grand Cayman is in Caribbean Islands and Duck Key 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 Duck Key would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Duck Key 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 Duck Key.
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 Duck Key Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Grand Cayman or Duck Key?
Grand Cayman has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Duck Key. When comparing the sizes of Grand Cayman and Duck Key, 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 Duck Key?
Duck Key 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 Duck Key in the Summer?
Both Duck Key and Grand Cayman are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Grand Cayman throughout the year.
In July, Grand Cayman is generally around the same temperature as Duck Key. Daily temperatures in Grand Cayman average around 28°C (83°F), and Duck Key fluctuates around 84°F (29°C).
It's quite rainy in Grand Cayman. In July, Grand Cayman usually receives more rain than Duck Key. Grand Cayman gets 179 mm (7 in) of rain, while Duck Key receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyGrand Cayman 28°C (83°F)Duck Key 84°F (29°C)
Should I visit Grand Cayman or Duck Key in the Autumn?
Both Duck Key and Grand Cayman during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Grand Cayman because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Grand Cayman is around the same temperature as Duck Key in the autumn. The daily temperature in Grand Cayman averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Duck Key fluctuates around 80°F (27°C).
Duck Key gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Grand Cayman. Grand Cayman usually gets more rain in October than Duck Key. Grand Cayman gets 238 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Duck Key receives 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGrand Cayman 27°C (81°F)Duck Key 80°F (27°C)
Should I visit Grand Cayman or Duck Key in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Grand Cayman and Duck Key. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Grand Cayman year-round.
In the winter, Grand Cayman is a little warmer than Duck Key. Typically, the winter temperatures in Grand Cayman in January average around 24°C (76°F), and Duck Key averages at about 70°F (21°C).
In January, Grand Cayman usually receives more rain than Duck Key. Grand Cayman gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Duck Key receives 1.7 inches (43 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGrand Cayman 24°C (76°F)Duck Key 70°F (21°C)
Should I visit Grand Cayman or Duck Key in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Grand Cayman as well as Duck Key. Grand Cayman attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Grand Cayman is generally around the same temperature as Duck Key. Daily temperatures in Grand Cayman average around 26°C (79°F), and Duck Key fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).
Grand Cayman usually gets more rain in April than Duck Key. Grand Cayman gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Duck Key receives 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilGrand Cayman 26°C (79°F)Duck Key 77°F (25°C)
Typical Weather for Duck Key and Grand Cayman
| Grand Cayman | Duck Key | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 70°F (21°C) | 1.7 inches (43 mm) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 71°F (21°C) | 1.4 inches (36 mm) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 74°F (23°C) | 1.7 inches (42 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 0.8 inches (21 mm) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 131 mm (5.1 in) | 81°F (27°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 83°F (28°C) | 4.5 inches (114 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 179 mm (7 in) | 84°F (29°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 172 mm (6.8 in) | 84°F (29°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 212 mm (8.3 in) | 83°F (29°C) | 5.7 inches (144 mm) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 238 mm (9.4 in) | 80°F (27°C) | 5.1 inches (129 mm) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 141 mm (5.6 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 2 inches (50 mm) |
| Dec | 25°C (78°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 1.4 inches (35 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.