Which place is cheaper, Bonaire or Whistler?
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 Whistler or Bonaire?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Whistler or Bonaire, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Whistler or Bonaire?
Whistler
Located in the province of British Columbia in Canada, Whistler is most famous as the largest ski area in North America. It is also only a short distance from the city of Vancouver, and offers countless opportunities for snow boarding and other winter sports. The town has a permanent population of almost 10,000 and there is a larger seasonal population of workers that come from all over the world. Whistler is a major travel destination with more than two million people visiting the town yearly. As such, there are countless amenities available to visitors. Hotels can vary dramatically in price and quality. There are some budget options, including a couple of hostels in the area, but most people do not visit Whistler as a budget travel destination. It's usually an expensive vacation, but few would argue that it isn't worth the cost.
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 Contiki Tours to Canada, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Canada.
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Whistler Prices
Canada PricesBonaire Prices
Caribbean Netherlands Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayWhistler $146Bonaire $299
The average daily cost (per person) in Whistler is $146, 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 Whistler and Bonaire in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personWhistler $65Bonaire $155
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomWhistler $130Bonaire $310
Compare Hotels in Whistler and Bonaire
Looking for a hotel in Whistler 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: Whistler Hotel Prices and Bonaire Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Whistler $20Bonaire $65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Whistler
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Whistler:
- Vancouver Airport Private Transfer to Whistler: $133
- Private Transfer from Whistler to Downtown Vancouver: $560
- Private Transfer from Richmond BC to Whistler: $684
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 Whistler or Bonaire?
Prices for flights to both Bonaire and Whistler 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 dayWhistler $52Bonaire $101
Typical Food Prices in Whistler
Some typical examples of dining costs in Whistler are as follows:
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Coffee at Starbucks$12
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Tim Hortons Breakfast$12
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Coffee at Timmy's$3.63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Whistler
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Whistler.
- Finer Things: 4-Course Dinner Tour in Whistler: $121
- Finer Things Dinner Tour in Whistler: $155
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.Whistler $78Bonaire $40
Typical Entertainment Prices in Whistler
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Whistler are as follows:
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Driving Range$15
Tours and Activities in Whistler
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Whistler are as follows:
- Sea to Sky Highway: a Smartphone Audio Driving Tour: $8.12
- Whistler Mountain Peeks Audio Tour Adventure: $15
- Audain Art Museum Admission Ticket: $17
- One Hour Axe Throwing Guided Experience in Whistler: $33
- Axe Throwing Experience: $35
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure with Geocaching in Whistler: $36
- Vallea Lumina Multimedia Evening Experience: $45
- Tour, Immersive Nature Experience: $52
- Tour, Sensory Nature Experience for Families: $52
- Backcountry Snowshoeing Tour with Guide: $90
- Whistler Sightseeing Tour: Discover all of Whistler Year-Round!: $90
- Mountain Breeze Tour - Mountain E Bike - Whistler Marmot Activity: $104
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
- Clearbottom Mangrove Kayak & Snorkel tour: $59
- Highlights of Bonaire & Cultural Experience: $59
- Tour in North and South Bonaire Guided : $63
- Explore North & South Tour: $65
- Small-Group Guided North & South Tour of Bonaire with Pick Up: $65
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayWhistler $8.72Bonaire $33
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Whistler and Bonaire, we can see that Bonaire is more expensive. And not only is Whistler much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Whistler 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 Whistler would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Whistler 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 Whistler.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Whistler Expensive? and Is Bonaire Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Whistler or Bonaire?
Bonaire has a larger population, and is about 26% larger than the population of Whistler. When comparing the sizes of Whistler 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.