Which place is cheaper, San Francisco 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 San Francisco?
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 San Francisco. 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 San Francisco?
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.
San Francisco
San Francisco is a beautiful city that is famous for it's picturesque neighborhoods, liberal character, and stunning location on the bay. Some people describe San Francisco as the United State's most "European City." This title most likely comes from its compact development and its easy walkability. It also has no shortage of parks and public spaces where you can pass some time. The city sits on the end of a peninsula and offers stunning views of the blue bay, rolling green hills, and the striking Golden Gate Bridge.
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 PricesSan Francisco Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGrand Cayman $242San Francisco $251
The average daily cost (per person) in Grand Cayman is $242, while the average daily cost in San Francisco is $251. 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 San Francisco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGrand Cayman $149San Francisco $130
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGrand Cayman $298San Francisco $260
Compare Hotels in Grand Cayman and San Francisco
Looking for a hotel in Grand Cayman or San Francisco? 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 San Francisco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Grand Cayman $31San Francisco $16
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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in San Francisco
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in San Francisco:
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Taxi to SFO$45
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Golden Gate Bridge Toll$6.00
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Alcatraz Tour$30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Francisco
Also for San Francisco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in San Francisco HTL-APT (SFO): $123
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in San Francisco APT-HTL (SFO): $122
- Silicon Valley Private Tour with Transfers: $510
- SFO Airport Private Transfer to Downtown: $29
- SFO Airport Private Transfer to Downtown: $115
- One Way Private Airport Transfer Service: $95
- San Francisco to/from Yosemite National Park: 1-Way Transfer: $99
- San Francisco to San José Airport (SJC) - Departure Private Transfer: $226
- San Francisco to San Francisco Airport (SFO) Private Transfer: $70
- San Francisco to SFO | Private Airport Transfer (One-Way): $130
- San Francisco to Oakland Airport (OAK) Private Departure Transfer: $77
- San Francisco Port to San Francisco Airport SFO -Private Transfer: $78
Is it cheaper to fly into Grand Cayman or San Francisco?
Prices for flights to both San Francisco 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 $67San Francisco $79
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Francisco
For San Francisco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Online Cooking Class Pepper Steak Great for Team Building: $20
- Online Cooking Class Beijing Dumplings by Chef Sunflower Li: $25
- No Diet Club - Best street food tour in San Francisco !: $64
- North Beach and Little Italy Food Tour: $84
- North Beach & Chinatown Authentic Food Tour: $84
- San Francisco North Beach & Chinatown Food Tour with 5 Tastings: $85
- Mission District Food Tour with 6 Tastings: $89
- Mission District Food Tour with Tastings: $92
- San Francisco Food Tour: Ferry Building and Ferry Plaza Farmers Market: $95
- Chinatown Walking Food Tour: $99
- Mission District Walking Food Tour: $99
- Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 Food Tour: $99
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Grand Cayman $41San Francisco $31
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
Tours and Activities in San Francisco
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Francisco.
- Electric Bike Tour De San Francisco: $100
- Explore San Francisco Napa Sacramento Oakland Black Exp Car Tour: $244
- Muir Woods and Sausalito Morning Tour Small-Group Half Day: $84
- North Beach & Little Italy Walking Tour: Food, History & Flavor: $86
- Private Luxury Car Tour in San Francisco Hotel Kabuki: $99
- Small Group | 1 Day Tour Through Monterey From San Francisco: $205
- "Summer of Love" tour in Haight-Ashbury in French: $63
- 2hr. INTERACTIVE Sailing Experience on San Francisco Bay: $149
- 2hr. SUNSET Sailing Experience on San Francisco Bay: $149
- 2hrs- Beyond the Bridge - Marin Headlands GoCar Tour: $219
- 3HR Golden Gate Bridge and Golden Gate Park GoCar Tour: $229
- 90 Minute Daytime Tour Aboard Wine Therapy: $85
For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Museums in San Francisco, The Best Outdoor Activities in San Francisco, and Things to Do In San Francisco on a Rainy Day.
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGrand Cayman $13San Francisco $22
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 San Francisco
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in San Francisco:
- SF Pub Crawl and Clubbing Experience: $17
- San Francisco Pub Crawl + Clubbing Experience: $27
- Ghosts, Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- San Francisco Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl : $36
- Walk with Spirits: A Haunted Pub Crawl in San Francisco: $44
- Walk with Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl: $44
- Local Distillery Cocktail Class: $49
- Local Distillery Cocktail Class: Skyline Views and City History: $69
- Wine Tasting on the Bay: $85
- From Napa & Sonoma Valley Wine Tour with Tastings: $103
- Napa Valley Half-Day Wine Tour with Tastings: $103
- 5 hours private napa wine tour from san francisco up to 7 people: $120
When comparing the travel costs between Grand Cayman and San Francisco, we can see that San Francisco 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 San Francisco 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 San Francisco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Grand Cayman or San Francisco?
San Francisco has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Grand Cayman. When comparing the sizes of Grand Cayman and San Francisco, 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 San Francisco?
San Francisco 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 San Francisco in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Grand Cayman and San Francisco. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Grand Cayman year-round. Also, most visitors come to San Francisco for the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Grand Cayman is much warmer than San Francisco in the summer. The daily temperature in Grand Cayman averages around 28°C (83°F) in July, and San Francisco 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 San Francisco. Grand Cayman gets 179 mm (7 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 0.1 inches (2 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyGrand Cayman 28°C (83°F)San Francisco 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Grand Cayman or San Francisco in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Grand Cayman as well as San Francisco. Grand Cayman attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to San Francisco because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Grand Cayman is much warmer than San Francisco. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Grand Cayman in October average around 27°C (81°F), and San Francisco averages at about 63°F (17°C).
Grand Cayman receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Grand Cayman usually gets more rain in October than San Francisco. Grand Cayman gets 238 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 1.3 inches (33 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGrand Cayman 27°C (81°F)San Francisco 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Grand Cayman or San Francisco in the Winter?
Both San Francisco 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 museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine are the main draw to San Francisco this time of year.
In January, Grand Cayman is generally much warmer than San Francisco. Daily temperatures in Grand Cayman average around 24°C (76°F), and San Francisco fluctuates around 50°F (10°C).
In January, Grand Cayman usually receives less rain than San Francisco. Grand Cayman gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGrand Cayman 24°C (76°F)San Francisco 50°F (10°C)
Should I visit Grand Cayman or San Francisco in the Spring?
Both San Francisco 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. Furthermore, many travelers come to San Francisco for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
Grand Cayman is much warmer than San Francisco in the spring. The daily temperature in Grand Cayman averages around 26°C (79°F) in April, and San Francisco fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).
Grand Cayman usually gets more rain in April than San Francisco. Grand Cayman gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 1.2 inches (31 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilGrand Cayman 26°C (79°F)San Francisco 58°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for San Francisco and Grand Cayman
| Grand Cayman | San Francisco | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 58°F (14°C) | 1.2 inches (31 mm) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 131 mm (5.1 in) | 60°F (15°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 179 mm (7 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 172 mm (6.8 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.1 inches (1 mm) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 212 mm (8.3 in) | 66°F (19°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 238 mm (9.4 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.3 inches (33 mm) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 141 mm (5.6 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Dec | 25°C (78°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) | 51°F (11°C) | 2.7 inches (68 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.