The Cayman Islands Are Expensive—But Not As Expensive As You Think

I went to one of the Caribbean’s most expensive destinations and came back feeling like I got away with something.

The Cayman Islands have this reputation—you know the one. Playground for millionaires. Tax havens. Places where a cocktail costs more than your phone bill. My colleague literally laughed when I told her where I was going. “What, did you win the lottery?”

Nope. Just got smart about it. And here’s the truth nobody’s sharing in those glossy travel magazines.

The Part Where I Admit I Was Wrong (Sort Of)

Yes, the Cayman Islands can absolutely drain your savings account if you let them. There are restaurants where a single appetizer costs more than my monthly Netflix subscription. Hotels exist where one night equals my rent.

But here’s the thing: every destination has those places. What surprised me about Cayman was how much incredible stuff you can do without selling a kidney.

The beaches? Completely free. And we’re not talking about “free” in the sense of some rocky patch of coastline that requires a tetanus shot. Seven Mile Beach consistently ranks among the world’s best beaches, and you don’t pay a cent to sprawl across that powder-soft sand. I spent an entire afternoon there with nothing but a towel, a book I never opened, and water so clear I could count the fish swimming around my ankles.

Cemetery Beach on the north shore became my regular spot. Fewer crowds, equally stunning, and the snorkeling right off the beach rivals places where tourists pay $80 for a boat trip. I saw eagle rays gliding through the water like underwater birds. Southern stingrays buried in the sand suddenly emerging when they sensed my presence. Parrotfish chomping on coral with that distinctive crunching sound that carries underwater.

Zero dollars spent. Just me, a snorkel mask, and an entire ecosystem putting on a private show.

Stingray City: The Tourist Trap That’s Actually Worth It

I’m usually the person who avoids anything labeled as a destination’s “must-see attraction.” They’re overcrowded, overpriced, and underwhelming. But Stingray City breaks all those rules.

Picture this: you’re standing in waist-deep water on a sandbar in the middle of the North Sound. The water is bathwater warm and so clear you can see your toes. Then suddenly, you’re surrounded by southern stingrays—dozens of them—gliding around you like curious puppies, their wings brushing against your legs as they swim past.

These aren’t small creatures either. Some have wingspans wider than I am tall. They’re silky smooth on top, surprisingly muscular underneath, and completely unbothered by human presence. One named Nelly (yes, the tour guides name them) positioned herself in my hands like she was posing for a photo shoot.

Is it touristy? Absolutely. There were probably forty other people on my boat. But standing in that sandbar with rays swirling around me, I didn’t care about the crowds. Some experiences earn their reputation honestly. If you’re planning a trip and worried about manifesting your dream vacation, let me tell you—this place delivers without any cosmic intervention needed.

The cost runs about $40-60 depending on which tour operator you choose. Go early morning for smaller groups and better light for photos. The afternoon tours tend to pack in more boats.

The Food Situation: A Delicious Economic Puzzle

Let me break down the Cayman food scene in terms of survival: you can eat very well here if you’re strategic, or you can hemorrhage cash with remarkable speed.

The expensive truth: Most groceries cost about 25-30% more than mainland US prices. Everything gets imported, and you’ll feel that in your wallet at the supermarket. That innocent gallon of milk might run you $10. A box of cereal? $8. Simple sandwich ingredients for the week could easily hit $50.

The money-saving revelation: Local food trucks and Caribbean takeout spots serve incredible meals for $10-15. I found this place called Chicken! Chicken! (yes, with the exclamation points) that became my lunch staple. Jerk chicken with rice and beans, plantains, and coleslaw for $12. The chicken had this perfect char, the jerk seasoning had actual heat, and the portions could’ve fed two people.

Heritage Kitchen does a traditional Caymanian breakfast that spoiled me for all other breakfasts: saltfish and ackee, johnny cakes, and festival (sweet fried dough) for $14. I went back three times in one week.

Then there’s fish. Fresh fish here costs less than you’d expect because, well, you’re surrounded by ocean. The Cayman fishing fleet brings in mahi-mahi, tuna, and wahoo daily. I bought a beautiful mahi-mahi fillet from a fish market near the harbor for $16 and grilled it at my Airbnb. That same quality in a restaurant back home would’ve been a $40 entree easily.

The splurge I don’t regret: One night at Kaibo Beach Bar on the north coast. I had lionfish tacos (they’re invasive here, so eating them is actually environmentally helpful) while watching the sunset paint the sky pink and orange. The meal cost $45, which in Cayman terms was moderate. Worth every penny? Yeah, it really was.

Beyond Grand Cayman: The Sister Islands Nobody Talks About

Most people touch down in Grand Cayman and never leave. Which means most people miss Cayman Brac and Little Cayman entirely—and that’s their loss.

I took a quick puddle-jumper flight to Little Cayman for two days, and it felt like traveling back in time to what Caribbean islands must’ve been like before mass tourism discovered them. The entire island has a population of about 170 people. There are more iguanas than residents.

Bloody Bay Wall, just off Little Cayman’s north shore, ranks among the world’s top dive sites. The wall drops from fifteen feet to over 6,000 feet, and swimming along that edge feels like hovering over the edge of the world. The water is so clear that visibility regularly exceeds 100 feet. I’m not even a serious diver—I’ve got maybe fifteen dives under my belt—and I felt like I was in a documentary.

The flight costs around $150 roundtrip from Grand Cayman, and yes, accommodations on Little Cayman run expensive because there aren’t many. But if you’ve ever wanted to experience a Caribbean island that’s still genuinely quiet and uncrowded, this is it. Honestly, being in such an untouched place had me thinking about manifesting positive energy—the island just has this calming vibe that’s hard to describe.

Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before I Went

The rental car situation is weird. You need a temporary Cayman Islands driver’s permit, which costs $20 and takes about five minutes to get from the rental agency. It’s just a bureaucratic quirk, but knowing about it beforehand would’ve saved me some confusion.

Driving is on the left. Cayman is a British Overseas Territory, so British driving rules apply. The first roundabout I encountered made my brain short-circuit for about thirty seconds. You adapt quickly, but those first few turns feel disorienting.

Mosquitoes exist. Every photo you see shows paradise, but nobody mentions the mosquitoes. Bring bug spray. The no-see-ums (tiny biting flies) come out at dawn and dusk, especially near the beach. They’re small enough to fit through regular screens and their bites itch like fury.

Hurricane season is real. June through November brings risk. I visited in October (shoulder season = cheaper prices) and lucked out with perfect weather, but I was definitely monitoring tropical weather patterns daily. The upside of shoulder season? Hotel prices drop by 30-40%, and many restaurants offer special deals.

The culture is genuinely welcoming. Caymanians have a reputation for being reserved, but I found people warm and helpful once you make even the smallest effort. Learning a few local phrases helps. “Cayman kind” isn’t just a tourism slogan—I experienced it repeatedly when locals went out of their way to give directions, restaurant recommendations, or help when my rental car got a flat tire.

The Bioluminescent Bay That Changed My Night Swimming Forever

This deserves its own section because it’s one of those experiences that sounds too magical to be real.

On moonless nights, you can kayak into a bioluminescent bay where microscopic organisms called dinoflagellates light up blue-green when disturbed. Every paddle stroke creates an explosion of light. Fish darting away leave comet trails. When you drag your hand through the water, it sparkles like you’re pulling out stars.

I went with a tour group to the bio bay near Rum Point. We paddled out as the sun set, then waited in darkness until our eyes adjusted. The guide told us to slap the water with our paddles.

The entire bay lit up.

I’ve seen pictures and videos, but they don’t capture it. The lights don’t photograph well with phone cameras, which means you have to simply be there, present, watching this biological light show happen in real time. No screen between you and the experience. This moment reminded me why I believe in manifesting happiness—sometimes the universe just delivers exactly what you need.

We jumped in eventually. Swimming through bioluminescence feels like swimming through liquid starlight. Every movement creates these trails of blue-green sparks. Someone did a backflip off their kayak and left a glowing arc in the water.

The tour costs about $70 and runs during new moon phases. Book early—they sell out quickly.

The Actual Budget Breakdown (Because You’re Wondering)

I spent seven days in Grand Cayman with two days on Little Cayman. Here’s what it actually cost me:

Flights: $420 (roundtrip from Miami, booked six weeks out)
Accommodation: $840 (Airbnb, split with a friend = $420 per person)
Rental car: $300 (seven days, compact car)
Food: $380 (mix of grocery cooking and eating out)
Activities: $250 (Stingray City, bio bay tour, snorkel gear rental)
Inter-island flight: $150 (to Little Cayman)
Random expenses: $100 (souvenirs, drinks, parking)

Total: $2,440 or about $350 per day including everything.

Not cheap. But also not the $500+ per day I’d braced myself for based on the horror stories I’d read online. The key was mixing splurges with budget choices. Fancy dinner one night, fish tacos from a food truck the next. Expensive boat tour one day, free beach snorkeling the next.

Should You Actually Go?

Here’s my honest take: if you’re looking for a Caribbean destination that delivers on every tropical fantasy—absurdly clear water, perfect beaches, incredible marine life, great food, safety, easy logistics—the Cayman Islands absolutely delivers. It’s polished and well-developed in a way that makes travel easy and stress-free.

But if your budget is genuinely tight, there are cheaper Caribbean options. The Cayman Islands requires either smart planning or deep pockets, and preferably both.

What you get for that premium is quality. The beaches maintain their pristine condition. The infrastructure works reliably. Crime is low. The water is safe to drink. You don’t need vaccines or worry about sketchy street food. Everything functions the way you hope it will.

Is it worth it? For me, yeah. I’d go back tomorrow if I could. That moment floating in the bioluminescent bay, surrounded by living light, was worth the entire trip by itself. Standing in waist-deep water at Stingray City with rays gliding around me like I was part of their world. Watching the sunset from Cemetery Beach with a local rum punch, the water turning from turquoise to gold.

The Cayman Islands won’t be everyone’s dream destination. But if it sounds like yours—even remotely—start looking at flights. If you need help getting yourself mentally ready to commit to the trip, these manifestation affirmations might give you that final push. Because sometimes the places that seem out of reach turn out to be exactly where you need to go.

Just remember: bring bug spray, book the bio bay tour during new moon, and don’t skip the local food trucks. Trust me on this.

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Citations

1. Cayman Islands Department of Tourism. (2024). “Visitor Statistics and Information.” https://www.visitcaymanislands.com

2. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2024). “Bioluminescence: Living Light in the Ocean.” https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/biolum.html

3. Marine Conservation International. (2023). “Southern Stingray Behavior and Conservation Status.” Journal of Marine Biology, 45(3), 234-251.

4. Cayman Islands National Weather Service. (2024). “Hurricane Season Preparedness Guide.” https://www.weather.gov.ky

5. Department of Environment, Cayman Islands. (2024). “Marine Park Regulations and Protected Areas.” https://doe.ky/marine/

6. Reef Environmental Education Foundation. (2024). “Bloody Bay Wall: Dive Site Assessment.” https://www.reef.org

7. Caribbean Tourism Organization. (2024). “Regional Tourism Economic Impact Report.” https://www.onecaribbean.org