Which place is cheaper, Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara?
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 Santa Barbara. 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 Santa Barbara?
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.
Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara is located in California, less than 100 miles from Los Angeles. It sits between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, giving it a stunning backdrop. The town has a population of just 90,000 but it still offers visitors many cultural, culinary, and shopping experiences that surpass many large cities. There are wide beaches along a beautiful coastline, impressive wineries, and many top rated restaurants. Many people see Santa Barbara as a hangout for the rich and famous, but with a university and diverse population, the city is much more relatable than you might expect, although travel prices here are still somewhat high.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America.
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Grand Cayman Prices
Cayman Islands PricesSanta Barbara Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGrand Cayman $242Santa Barbara $196
The average daily cost (per person) in Grand Cayman is $242, while the average daily cost in Santa Barbara is $196. 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 Santa Barbara in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGrand Cayman $149Santa Barbara $88
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGrand Cayman $298Santa Barbara $176
Compare Hotels in Grand Cayman and Santa Barbara
Looking for a hotel in Grand Cayman or Santa Barbara? 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 Santa Barbara Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Grand Cayman $31Santa Barbara $42
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Grand Cayman or Santa Barbara?
Prices for flights to both Santa Barbara 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 $67Santa Barbara $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Grand Cayman $41Santa Barbara $27
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 Santa Barbara
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santa Barbara are as follows:
- Tours of Santa Barbara ( Private touring ): $219
- 2- Hour Pottery Workshop and Studio Tour in Ojai: $65
- 3-Winery Tour Tastings & Lunch Included from Santa Barbara in SYV: $179
- 3-Winery Tour: Lunch Included from Santa Barbara in Santa Ynez: $119
- 3-Winery Tour: Lunch Included from Santa Ynez/Solvang/Buellton: $89
- 3-Winery Tour: Tastings & Lunch Included from Santa Ynez/Solvang: $149
- Beginner or Intermediate Mountain Bike Tour of Santa Barbara: $125
- Bellosguardo Estate Tour: $100
- Best of Santa Barbara Walking Tour with Ice Cream : $90
- City & Sand Electric Bike Tour: $105
- Coastal Cruise on Yacht in Santa Barbara: $40
- Epic Zipline Tour near Santa Barbara: $155
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGrand Cayman $13Santa Barbara $12
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
Typical Alcohol Prices in Santa Barbara
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Santa Barbara:
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Camping$20
Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Barbara
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Santa Barbara:
- Santa Barbara Craft Brewery and History Crawl: $140
- Private Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting: $150
- Santa Ynez Valley Biking and Wine Tasting Tour: $175
- Solvang Santa Ynez Valley Small Group All-Inclusive Wine Tour : $180
- Small-Group Wine Tasting Tour of Santa Barbara Wine Country: $235
- Santa Barbara Small-Group Wine Tour to Private Estates & Wineries: $235
- Small-Group Wine Tour to Private Locations in Santa Barbara : $235
- Santa Ynez Wine Tour (All-Inclusive): $239
- Santa Ynez Cupcake & Wine Tour (All-Inclusive): $259
- Santa Barbara Wine Tour Experience - Authentic and Boutique : $265
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Grand Cayman and Santa Barbara, we can see that Grand Cayman is more expensive. And not only is Santa Barbara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Grand Cayman is in Caribbean Islands and Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara.
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 Santa Barbara Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Grand Cayman or Santa Barbara?
Santa Barbara has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Grand Cayman. When comparing the sizes of Grand Cayman and Santa Barbara, 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 Santa Barbara?
Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Grand Cayman as well as Santa Barbara. Grand Cayman attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Santa Barbara for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
Grand Cayman is much warmer than Santa Barbara in the summer. The daily temperature in Grand Cayman averages around 28°C (83°F) in July, and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 65°F (19°C).
Grand Cayman receives a lot of rain in the summer. Grand Cayman usually gets more rain in July than Santa Barbara. Grand Cayman gets 179 mm (7 in) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyGrand Cayman 28°C (83°F)Santa Barbara 65°F (19°C)
Should I visit Grand Cayman or Santa Barbara in the Autumn?
Both Santa Barbara 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, many visitors come to Santa Barbara in the autumn for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Grand Cayman is much warmer than Santa Barbara. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Grand Cayman in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Santa Barbara averages at about 62°F (17°C).
It's quite rainy in Grand Cayman. In October, Grand Cayman usually receives more rain than Santa Barbara. Grand Cayman gets 238 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0.5 inches (13 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGrand Cayman 27°C (81°F)Santa Barbara 62°F (17°C)
Should I visit Grand Cayman or Santa Barbara in the Winter?
Both Santa Barbara 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. Furthermore, most visitors come to Santa Barbara for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
In January, Grand Cayman is generally much warmer than Santa Barbara. Daily temperatures in Grand Cayman average around 24°C (76°F), and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).
Grand Cayman usually gets less rain in January than Santa Barbara. Grand Cayman gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGrand Cayman 24°C (76°F)Santa Barbara 52°F (11°C)
Should I visit Grand Cayman or Santa Barbara in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Grand Cayman and Santa Barbara. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Grand Cayman year-round. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Santa Barbara because of the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
Grand Cayman is much warmer than Santa Barbara in the spring. The daily temperature in Grand Cayman averages around 26°C (79°F) in April, and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).
In April, Grand Cayman usually receives more rain than Santa Barbara. Grand Cayman gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilGrand Cayman 26°C (79°F)Santa Barbara 57°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for Santa Barbara and Grand Cayman
| Grand Cayman | Santa Barbara | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 55°F (13°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 1.1 inches (27 mm) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 131 mm (5.1 in) | 59°F (15°C) | 0.2 inches (4 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 179 mm (7 in) | 65°F (19°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 172 mm (6.8 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 212 mm (8.3 in) | 66°F (19°C) | 0.5 inches (12 mm) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 238 mm (9.4 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.5 inches (13 mm) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 141 mm (5.6 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| Dec | 25°C (78°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 2.2 inches (56 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.