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

Should you visit Grand Cayman or Richmond?

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 Richmond. 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 Richmond?

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.

Richmond

One of the oldest American cities, Richmond was established in 1607 by English settlers led by Captain Christopher Newport and Captain John Smith. During the Civil War it existed as the capital of the Confederacy, and today it remains the capital of the U.S. state of Virginia. There are many historic sights to see and museums to explore, as well as plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Richmond 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.

The average daily cost (per person) in Grand Cayman is $242, while the average daily cost in Richmond is $176. 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 Richmond in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Grand Cayman $149
    Richmond $101
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Grand Cayman $298
    Richmond $202
Compare Hotels in Grand Cayman and Richmond

Looking for a hotel in Grand Cayman or Richmond? 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.

Hotels in Grand Cayman


Hotels in Richmond


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 Richmond Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Grand Cayman $31
    Richmond $72

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 Richmond

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Richmond:

  • Richmond City to Richmond Airport (RIC) - Departure Private Transfer: $175
  • Richmond Airport (RIC) to Richmond city - Arrival Private Transfer: $175

Is it cheaper to fly into Grand Cayman or Richmond?

Prices for flights to both Richmond 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Grand Cayman $67
    Richmond $36

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Richmond

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Richmond.

  • Church Hill Food Tour: $89
  • Trendy Carytown Food Tour: $89
  • The Carytown Food Tour with Discover Richmond Tours: $90
  • Church Hill Food Tour with Discover Richmond Tours: $90
  • Arts District Food Tour in Richmond with Discover Richmond: $90
  • Delicious Pizza & Ice Cream Tour of Richmond: $94
  • Arts District Walking Food Tour: $99

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Grand Cayman $41
    Richmond $13

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 Richmond

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Richmond are as follows:

  • Capitol Steps and Stories Walking Tour : $45
  • Church Hill Chillers Ghost Tour: $27
  • Church Hill Segway Tour in Richmond: $80
  • Creepy Tales on Campus Ghost Tour: $27
  • Discover Downtown Richmond Bike Tour: $165
  • Discover Downtown and Riverfront Bike Tour : $115
  • Haunted Capitol Hill Ghost Tour: $27
  • Historic Trolley Tour: $42
  • Hollywood Cemetery Segway Tour in Richmond: $80
  • Offbeat History Tour of Richmond on a bus: $45
  • Phantoms of Franklin Ghost Tour: $27
  • Quirk Richmond Art and Secret Garden Tour: $115

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Grand Cayman $13
    Richmond -
Typical Alcohol Prices in Grand Cayman

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Grand Cayman:


  • 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 Richmond

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Richmond:

  • Richmond Virginia Bar Crawl: $15
  • Richmond Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
  • Richmond Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl : $37
  • Richmond Craft Brewery Crawl By Junket: $86
  • Brewery Tour of Richmond, VA: $90


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Grand Cayman and Richmond, we can see that Grand Cayman is more expensive. And not only is Richmond much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Grand Cayman is in Caribbean Islands and Richmond 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 Richmond would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Richmond 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 Richmond.

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 Richmond Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Grand Cayman or Richmond?

Richmond has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Grand Cayman. When comparing the sizes of Grand Cayman and Richmond, 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 Richmond?

Richmond 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 Richmond in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Grand Cayman as well as Richmond. Grand Cayman attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Richmond in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

Grand Cayman is around the same temperature as Richmond in the summer. The daily temperature in Grand Cayman averages around 28°C (83°F) in July, and Richmond fluctuates around 78°F (26°C).

It's quite rainy in Richmond. Grand Cayman receives a lot of rain in the summer. Grand Cayman usually gets more rain in July than Richmond. Grand Cayman gets 179 mm (7 in) of rain, while Richmond receives 5 inches (128 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Grand Cayman 28°C (83°F) 
    Richmond 78°F (26°C)

Should I visit Grand Cayman or Richmond in the Autumn?

Both Richmond 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, most visitors come to Richmond for the shopping scene during these months.

In the autumn, Grand Cayman is much warmer than Richmond. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Grand Cayman in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Richmond averages at about 59°F (15°C).

It's quite rainy in Grand Cayman. In October, Grand Cayman usually receives more rain than Richmond. Grand Cayman gets 238 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Richmond receives 3.5 inches (90 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Grand Cayman 27°C (81°F) 
    Richmond 59°F (15°C)

Should I visit Grand Cayman or Richmond in the Winter?

Both Richmond 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 winter months attract visitors to Richmond because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Richmond can be very cold. In January, Grand Cayman is generally much warmer than Richmond. Daily temperatures in Grand Cayman average around 24°C (76°F), and Richmond fluctuates around 36°F (2°C).

Grand Cayman usually gets less rain in January than Richmond. Grand Cayman gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Richmond receives 3.2 inches (83 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Grand Cayman 24°C (76°F) 
    Richmond 36°F (2°C)

Should I visit Grand Cayman or Richmond in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Grand Cayman and Richmond. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Grand Cayman year-round.

Grand Cayman is much warmer than Richmond in the spring. The daily temperature in Grand Cayman averages around 26°C (79°F) in April, and Richmond fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).

In April, Grand Cayman usually receives less rain than Richmond. Grand Cayman gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Richmond receives 3 inches (75 mm) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Grand Cayman 26°C (79°F) 
    Richmond 58°F (14°C)

Typical Weather for Richmond and Grand Cayman

Grand Cayman Richmond
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 24°C (76°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 36°F (2°C) 3.2 inches (83 mm)
Feb 24°C (76°F) 51 mm (2 in) 39°F (4°C) 3.2 inches (80 mm)
Mar 25°C (77°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) 49°F (9°C) 3.6 inches (92 mm)
Apr 26°C (79°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 58°F (14°C) 3 inches (75 mm)
May 27°C (81°F) 131 mm (5.1 in) 67°F (19°C) 3.8 inches (98 mm)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 183 mm (7.2 in) 74°F (24°C) 3.6 inches (92 mm)
Jul 28°C (83°F) 179 mm (7 in) 78°F (26°C) 5 inches (128 mm)
Aug 28°C (82°F) 172 mm (6.8 in) 77°F (25°C) 4.4 inches (113 mm)
Sep 28°C (82°F) 212 mm (8.3 in) 71°F (21°C) 3.3 inches (85 mm)
Oct 27°C (81°F) 238 mm (9.4 in) 59°F (15°C) 3.5 inches (90 mm)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 141 mm (5.6 in) 50°F (10°C) 3.2 inches (81 mm)
Dec 25°C (78°F) 57 mm (2.3 in) 41°F (5°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm)