Which place is cheaper, Bonaire or Santa Cruz?
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 Santa Cruz or Bonaire?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Santa Cruz or Bonaire? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Santa Cruz or Bonaire?
Santa Cruz
On the central coast of California in between Monterey Bay and San Jose lies Santa Cruz, California, a laid-back coastal college town with a reputation of locals open to liberal views and accepting of alternative lifestyles. Among its residents are University of California, Santa Cruz students, a large artist colony, and professional surfers.
Bonaire
An island municipality of the Netherlands, Bonaire resides in the Caribbean, east of Central America and north of Venezuela. It is a part of the ABC Islands together with Aruba and Curaçao, and is best known as a tropical vacation destination with many great dive spots, beaches, lagoons, and wildlife.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America.
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Santa Cruz Prices
USA PricesBonaire Prices
Caribbean Netherlands Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySanta Cruz $156Bonaire $299
The average daily cost (per person) in Santa Cruz is $156, while the average daily cost in Bonaire is $299. 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 Santa Cruz and Bonaire in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanta Cruz $61Bonaire $155
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanta Cruz $122Bonaire $310
Compare Hotels in Santa Cruz and Bonaire
Looking for a hotel in Santa Cruz or Bonaire? 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: Santa Cruz Hotel Prices and Bonaire Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santa Cruz $40Bonaire $65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bonaire
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bonaire:
- Private Transfers between Bonaire airport and any local address : $40
- Private Transfer from Kralendijk Port to Bonaire Airport (BON): $59
- Private Transfer from Kralendijk Cruise Port to Kralendijk city : $59
- Airport Transfer Return Included: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Santa Cruz or Bonaire?
Prices for flights to both Bonaire and Santa Cruz 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 daySanta Cruz $70Bonaire $101
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Cruz
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santa Cruz.
- Capitola Friday Night Food Tour: $129
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bonaire
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bonaire.
- Dinner at Sea: $95
- Discover the Flavors of Bonaire with the Bonaire Snack Food Tour: $130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santa Cruz $18Bonaire $40
Tours and Activities in Santa Cruz
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santa Cruz are as follows:
- Self Guided UC Santa Cruz Walking Tour: Unlock Secret Stories : $20
- Capitola Private 2-Hour Walking Tour: $30
- Half Day Private Beach Tour in Santa Cruz: $35
- Santa Cruz Guided eBike Ride & Most Fun Bike e-Bike Tour : $110
- Santa Cruz 2Hour Guided eBike Tour for Small E-Bike Groups: $110
- Santa Cruz Family Friendly Guided Electric Bike Tour (eBike): $110
- Guided eBike Tour: $120
- Mermaid Experience & Photoshoot: $220
- Capitola Watercolor Journaling Experience: $297
Tours and Activities in Bonaire
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bonaire are as follows:
- Semi Submarine Boat Experience to Klein Bonaire: $33
- Walking Tours & Private Tours on Bonaire: $36
- 4 Hours Open Air Party Bus Tour with Beach Stop in Caribbean: $39
- Half-Day Bonaire Island Tour with Hotel Pickup and Drop-off: $46
- Bonaire Essentials Island Tour: $49
- Walking Tour with Lunch & Ice Cream: $55
- Yacht tour with local guide & snorkeling activities: $57
- Highlights of Bonaire & Cultural Experience: $59
- Clearbottom Mangrove Kayak & Snorkel tour: $59
- Tour in North and South Bonaire Guided : $63
- Small-Group Guided North & South Tour of Bonaire with Pick Up: $65
- Explore North & South Tour: $65
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySanta Cruz $8.57Bonaire $33
Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Cruz
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Santa Cruz:
- Wine Tasting Experience: $25
- Private Brewery Tour: $500
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santa Cruz and Bonaire, we can see that Bonaire is more expensive. And not only is Santa Cruz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Santa Cruz is in North America and Bonaire is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Cruz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Cruz 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 Bonaire would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bonaire than you might in Santa Cruz.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santa Cruz Expensive? and Is Bonaire Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santa Cruz or Bonaire?
Santa Cruz has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Bonaire. When comparing the sizes of Santa Cruz and Bonaire, 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.
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.