Which place is cheaper, Ponce 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 Ponce?
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 Ponce. 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 Ponce?
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.
Ponce
Ponce is on the south coast of Puerto Rico. It's the second largest city on the island and has been around since 1692 when it was originally founded by Ponce de Leon's grandson Juan Ponce de Leon y Loayza. The city has several nicknames, including La Perla del Sur (The Pearl of the South), La Ciudad Senorial (The Noble, or Lordly, City), and La Ciudad de las Quenepas (Genip City).
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Grand Cayman Prices
Cayman Islands PricesPonce Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGrand Cayman $242Ponce $230
The average daily cost (per person) in Grand Cayman is $242, while the average daily cost in Ponce is $230. 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 Ponce in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGrand Cayman $149Ponce $151
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGrand Cayman $298Ponce $302
Compare Hotels in Grand Cayman and Ponce
Looking for a hotel in Grand Cayman or Ponce? 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 $31Ponce $10
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 Ponce
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:
- Vega Baja to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $170
- Transfer TO or FROM: Airport,Cruise,Hotel in DORADO or RIO GRANDE: $70
- Transfer SJU Airport to Humacao and Nagüabo. Vice Versa One Way Trip: $185
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- San Juan PR Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Transfer: $46
- San Juan Departure Share Transfer: $27
- Rio Grande hotel to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $109
- Private Transfers from SJU Airport to Isla Verde, Condado or San Juan área : $60
- Private Transfer from San Juan City Hotels to Ponce Cruise Port: $79
- Isabela / Hatillo to Aguadilla Airport(BQN) - DepartureTransfer: $44
- Aguadilla Hernandez Airport (BQN) to Isabela - RoundTrip Transfer: $87
Is it cheaper to fly into Grand Cayman or Ponce?
Prices for flights to both Ponce 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 $67Ponce $61
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ponce
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ponce.
- Latin Night with Dinner and Local Music with Transportation: $59
- Puerto Rico Art and Wine Dinner with One Way Transportation: $89
- Private Cooking Class with a Fun Local in San German, Puerto Rico: $96
- Private Half-Day Island Authentic Food Tour : $130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Grand Cayman $41Ponce $56
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
Tours and Activities in Ponce
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ponce are as follows:
- Half-Day El Yunque Rainforest Tour from Fajardo: $65
- Scuba Boat Diving Experience in Gilligan's Island at Copamarina: $160
- 2.5-Hour Historical Walking Tour of Old San Juan: $65
- 5 hours Tour in La Parguera Private Boat Charter: $200
- 7 Hours River Tour with Beach and Learn to Make Piña Colada : $195
- 8 Hours Private Tours in Puerto Rico: $150
- Adventure in Cave and the Guayaney Spring: $99
- Afro-Boriken-Loiza: Food, Cave & Art Tour: $140
- Aguadilla 6 Hour Local Tour: $150
- Camuy Caves Experience Tour with transportation: $130
- Cave Hopping Tour: $198
- Caves Coastlines and Beach; Cueva del Indio, Arecibo Adventure : $125
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGrand Cayman $13Ponce $16
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 Ponce
Also in Ponce, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Artisan Puertorrican Winery and Distillery Tour: $50
When comparing the travel costs between Grand Cayman and Ponce, 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. Since both cities are in Caribbean Islands, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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 Ponce Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Grand Cayman or Ponce?
Ponce has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Grand Cayman. When comparing the sizes of Grand Cayman and Ponce, 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 Ponce?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Grand Cayman or Ponce in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Grand Cayman as well as Ponce. Grand Cayman attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year.
Grand Cayman receives a lot of rain in the summer. Grand Cayman usually gets more rain in July than Ponce. Grand Cayman gets 179 mm (7 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In July, Grand Cayman is generally around the same temperature as Ponce. Daily temperatures in Grand Cayman average around 28°C (83°F), and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyGrand Cayman 28°C (83°F)Ponce 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Grand Cayman or Ponce in the Autumn?
Both Ponce 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. Plenty of visitors come to Ponce because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Ponce. It's quite rainy in Grand Cayman. In October, Grand Cayman usually receives more rain than Ponce. Grand Cayman gets 238 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Grand Cayman is around the same temperature as Ponce in the autumn. The daily temperature in Grand Cayman averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGrand Cayman 27°C (81°F)Ponce 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Grand Cayman or Ponce in the Winter?
Both Ponce 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round.
Grand Cayman usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Ponce. Grand Cayman gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the winter, Grand Cayman is around the same temperature as Ponce. Typically, the winter temperatures in Grand Cayman in January average around 24°C (76°F), and Ponce averages at about 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGrand Cayman 24°C (76°F)Ponce 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Grand Cayman or Ponce in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Grand Cayman and Ponce. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Grand Cayman year-round. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Grand Cayman usually receives less rain than Ponce. Grand Cayman gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
In April, Grand Cayman is generally around the same temperature as Ponce. Daily temperatures in Grand Cayman average around 26°C (79°F), and Ponce fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilGrand Cayman 26°C (79°F)Ponce 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Ponce and Grand Cayman
| Grand Cayman | Ponce | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 131 mm (5.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 179 mm (7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 172 mm (6.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 212 mm (8.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 238 mm (9.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 141 mm (5.6 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (78°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
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.