Are you planning a trip to Turks and Caicos and wondering how expensive your trip is gonna be? This post answers that question as well as many others.
Let’s start with a simple question and simple answer: is Turks and Caicos expensive? YES! Turks and Caicos is expensive. It’s very expensive. But there are a few ways to save money when visiting the islands and we will discuss that in this post as well.
If you’re familiar with these Caribbean islands you know that they are known for their gorgeous beaches and crystal clear sea water. You will find some of the best beaches in the world in Turks and Caicos. So we will also discuss how even though it’s an expensive place to visit, it can be totally worth it if you have the money.
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Prices in Turks and Caicos
So just how expensive is Turks and Caicos? Let’s get into that here. Turks and Caicos uses the US Dollar, so all prices in this article are given in USD.
The simple answer is that Turks and Caicos is ridiculously expensive. It’s one of the most expensive places to go on vacation. You can reasonably expect to spend multiple thousands of dollars on your trip. If you don’t have significant reserve cash in your personal savings, this is not the trip for you.
Let’s get into some specifics now about what is so expensive in Turks and Caicos and why.
Flights
The very first thing you’ll purchase on your trip to Turks and Caicos is the flight. Luckily, flights to Turks and Caicos are not too bad if you’re coming from the east coast of the United States, since it’s relatively close.
We paid $450 for a direct flight from DC to Providenciales on United. Not cheap, but cheaper than flying to the west coast.
If you’re coming from the west coast or elsewhere in North America expect to pay a bit more. And, of course, if you’re coming from outside of North America you’re flying overseas so expect to pay a fair amount. Overseas flights in the post-covid era have become remarkably expensive.
Hotels
Your biggest expense will be your accommodation. Put simply, there are no budget accommodations in Turks and Caicos. The cheapest hotel you’ll find might be around $200/night and it will be pretty basic. The kind of place that would cost like $20/night in Thailand.
The resorts average about $400-$1000 per night (or more). And these are not all-inclusive. That’s just for your room. Sure, the rooms will be nice, but they’re not all the Ritz Carlton. The Ritz – and similar quality hotels – are at the upper end of that price range.
Hotel prices vary by season. Winter is high season and prices are considerably higher than the summer slow season. Either way, if you want to stay at a decent hotel, prepare to drop at least $250 per night per room. And if you want to stay at a resort, just try not to think about the money….
All-inclusive resorts
There are a few all-inclusive resorts in Turks and Caicos, like the Alexandra Resort and the Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort Villages and Spa. These are not cheap, starting at about $800/night per two people. But hey, at least you’ll get all the food you can eat and booze you can drink.
Villas
Turks and Caicos is known for luxury villa rentals. These are basically beautiful mansions that you can rent out on a weekly basis. They are plentiful and you will see them all over Providenciales. Most have at least three bedrooms and can accommodate multiple families.
As you can imagine, renting one of these villas is not cheap. They range anywhere from $300/night to $30,000/night, with about $1000-$2000/night being pretty standard. Considering the hotel prices, if you’re going with other friends or families, it could be more cost effective to share a luxury villa with others.
Renting a villa is a very Turks and Caicos thing to do, so if it’s in your budget you might as well try it. The thing about the villas, however, is that they are all owned by wealthy foreigners, so all that money you’re spending doesn’t stay on the island. Only a small portion that the property management company takes stays local.
if you want to book a villa, you’ll want to go through WIMCO Villa Rentals. They manage a ton of really nice villas in Turks and Caicos.
Airbnb
The cheapest accommodation option in Turks and Caicos is usually Airbnb. There are a couple rooms or small apartments that people rent out for about $100/night. They’re not on the beach or near any of the main attractions. But with a rental car it’s not inconvenient to stay at them.
If you’re concerned about how much you’re going to spend on your trip, you will want to check out what’s available on Airbnb first.
Groceries
Perhaps the biggest sticker shock in Turks and Caicos comes at the supermarket. The cost of groceries in Turks and Caicos will blow your freaking mind. You’ll have to do a double take just to make sure your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you.
If you’re from the United States or Canada take what you would usually pay for any given item and multiply it by 2 or 3. If you’re from Europe, multiply it by at least 2.5. If you’re from a lower cost of living country, just try not to think about it. Literally every item at the store is considerably more than you will be accustomed to.
A few examples:
- Jar of roasted peanuts: $2-$3 in US, $5.90 in Turks and Caicos
- Small box of Laughing Cow cheese: $4-$4.50 in US, $7.00 in Turks and Caicos on sale
- Honeydew melon: $4-5 in US, $10 in Turks and Caicos
- Norwegian Salmon: $8-$12 per pound in US, $20 per pound in Turks and Caicos
You get the idea by now. If you’re staying at a villa and plan on cooking, just be prepared to spend a small fortune on groceries.
Wholesale Stores
The prices quoted above were based on the IGA supermarket (link), which is definitely the nicest supermarket on Providenciales. It looks like any grocery store in the US (other than the prices).
There are, however, wholesale markets that sell cheaper products in bulk. This is how the locals manage. It’s not Costco-like bulk buys, but the sizes of grocery items are larger in these stores and a lot of stuff is sold by the box, similar to Costco.
An example of one of these wholesale supermarkets is the P&K Spend Less Supermarket near the airport. The thing about wholesale stores, however, is that buying in bulk doesn’t make a whole lot of sense when you’re just staying for one week.
Alcohol
Alcohol follows the same pattern as grocery items. You can buy beer, wine, and hard liquor at the supermarket and it’s typically about twice the cost that you would expect in the United States or Europe.
If there is a sale, however, you might actually be able to find something that is not too much more than you’re used to. We saw some New Zealand wine on sale for $15. Not terrible, and much less than twice what it would be in the US. The cheapest bottle of wine at the standard price is about $16.
Imported beer prices are pretty outrageous when you see the price tag. Would you pay $24 for a 6-pack of Coors Lite or $81 for a case of Corona? If you plan on drinking beer, try the local beer. A 6-pack of Turks Head starts at $15.
Hard liquor prices are not terrible, considering how high hard liquor prices are in many countries. For example a bottle of Smirnoff vodka will run you about $38 while Grey Goose is more than $60.
If you’re just trying to get drunk, the low-quality tequila is probably your best bet at around $35 per bottle. Either way. Expect to pay quite a bit to get a buzz going in Turks and Caicos.
Restaurants
Eating out in Turks and Caicos won’t be as much of a sticker shock as the supermarkets unless you’re from a low-cost country. Restaurant prices are similar to those in big American and Canadian cities.
It’s not cheap, but you won’t find it much different than going out for dinner back home. If you’re from mainland Europe you’ll definitely find it expensive, but not too much more than popular tourist destinations like Paris and London.
The restaurant industry in Turks and Caicos is heavily influenced by American culture. Menu prices do not include a tax of 12% and a service charge of 10%. On top of that, you’re expected to tip another 10-15%, which basically means you have to add on 32% minimum in addition to the given price.
Main meals are usually $20-30 but vary on the establishment of course. For example, at the casual Omar’s Beach Hut (link) on the water, the Jamaican jerk chicken is only $16. At the nicer Las Brisas, the Azorean stuffed chicken will run you $30. And wherever you are, the fresh fish of the day will be between $30-$40.
Remember, of course, that you’ll need to add the 32% minimum to those prices. So it does add up. But if you can find me a sit-down restaurant in New York City where I can get an authentic jerk chicken meal for $16 then dinner is on me. Compared to the price of everything else on the island, eating out in Turks and Caicos is not that bad.
The restaurants at resorts are more expensive and overpriced. You’d expect that, though, at the Ritz.
Lastly, if you want to eat like a local, there are a number of restaurants near the Providenciales airport – like Delicious Dishes – and scattered around the island where you can get home-cooked local, massive meals for $15 or less. These are casual takeaway places, but they make amazing food.
Two of us got one meal at Delicious Dishes and could barely finish it. If you’re looking for a way to save money on your trip, skipping the grocery store and going to local hole-in-the-wall restaurants is the way to do it.
Rental Cars
Rental car prices are actually not too bad. We paid $60 per day with a 3-day rental for a basic, old hatchback. If you rent for a week or more you should be able to get something for around $35 per day.
Keep in mind these are not recent cars with backup cameras or digital touchscreens. There are old cars. They’re likely to have roll up windows and a CD player. But the roads in Turks and Caicos are bumpy and full of potholes, so a crappy car is really all you want.
If you do want to rent a nicer car, there are plenty of options, but you’re looking at more like the $80-100 range. Either way, rental cars are pretty affordable in Turks and Caicos.
Gas (petrol)
Gas/petrol is about twice what you pay in the US, so about $6-7 per gallon. Still cheaper than most of Europe. You can’t really drive far in Turks and Caicos, so gas will be a negligible cost on your trip.
Tours and experiences
Tourist activities like snorkeling tours or horseback rides along the beach are pretty expensive in Turks and Caicos. The operators charge a lot as they know the clientele of people coming to Turks and Caicos can afford to pay. But they’re not really any more than you’d pay for something similar in Hawaii or the Bahamas or other super touristy destinations.
Some examples of minimum tour prices (not including 12% tax):
- Half day snorkeling tour: $120
- Sunset catamaran cruise: $100
- 2 hour kayak tour: $120
- 1 hour horseback ride in ocean: $180
- 1 hour guided jet ski tour: $180
- 1 hour ATV tour: $125
Longer tours and private tours are obviously more expensive. But this should give you a good idea of what to expect when you’re booking tours and excursions in Turks and Caicos.
Shopping
There is not a whole lot of shopping to do in Turks and Caicos. This is not Rodeo Drive. Nobody really comes to Turks and Caicos to shop. There really aren’t many stores to shop at anyways. Best to leave the shopping to your home country.
Why is Turks and Caicos so Expensive?
So now that we’ve gone through the cost of just about everything in Turks and Caicos, let’s just to the thing you’ve been wondering the entire time. Why…? Why is Turks and Caicos so expensive?
The US Dollar
A major reason Turks and Caicos is so expensive is that its official currency is the US Dollar. So you don’t get any benefits from the exchange rate when visiting. It’s basically like going on vacation in the United States, one of the most expensive countries in the world to travel in (plus the additional factors discussed below).
It’s also heavily influenced by American culture and many wealthy Americans own property on the islands. All this drives up the costs of property on the islands, and with property prices goes everything else.
Luxury travel
Turks and Caicos was a pretty poor place for a while. The British protectorate got by on salt farming and fishing until about the 1960s, when wealthy Americans started coming to the islands for the pristine, white sand beaches and privacy.
Turks and Caicos quickly evolved into a getaway for wealthy New Yorkers and other Americans. The leaders of the islands went all-in on catering to the wealthy and a luxury travel destination was born.
These days, Turks and Caicos still caters to the wealthy. While you don’t have to be wealthy to visit, you do have to be financially comfortable. A week in Turks and Caicos will likely cost you at least $5000 per couple. And that’s if you’re staying at one of the lower range or mid-range places.
Luxury travel is what the islands do. And when you cater this kind of clientele, prices for everything are naturally high.
Import taxes
Everything imported to Turks and Caicos – except food products – are subject to a 30% import tax plus a 7.5% customs processing fee. And as the islands produce just about nothing, everything has to be imported.
On top of that, the cost of shipping in everything on cargo ships is not cheap regardless of the taxes. Add all this together and you start to paint a picture of why things are so expensive.
OK, but groceries?
Food imports are not subject to the 30% import tax. So then why are groceries the most expensive thing on the islands? It’s not the taxes, but just the cost of importing everything. Nothing grows on Turks and Caicos so literally everything is imported.
On top of that, certain items do have specific import taxes, like 40% on bottled water and 30% on soft drinks. But does all this really explain why everything is so much more than other countries though? It’s hard to say, but it plays a big role.
How to Visit Turks and Caicos on a Budget
After all this, let’s answer another important question: is it possible to visit Turks and Caicos on a budget?
Let’s be blunt. No, there is no such thing as budget travel in Turks and Caicos. This is not a place to visit if you are concerned about how much money you are going to spend. This is not Cancun, Phuket, or even the Maldives, which while known for luxury travel, has many budget accommodations on its populated islands.
The cheapest accommodations in Turks and Caicos start at over $100/night. There is nothing budget about that. Even if you get a place for as low as $100, you’ll probably spend more than that just to feed yourself.
But are there ways to implement money saving techniques on your trip? Certainly. Let’s go over that now.
How to save money in Turks and Caicos
Here are some money saving techniques for your visit to Turks and Caicos:
- Stay at Airbnbs or split hotel rooms with friends
- Eat at local inland restaurants and avoid the beach cafes
- Buy the cheapest liquor from the supermarket and don’t drink alcohol out
- Bring as much food from home as you can – avoid shopping for groceries in the island
- Avoid excursions and organized tours – visit undeveloped beaches instead
- Purchase snorkeling equipment from the supermarket instead of renting
There are, of course, many other things you can do to reduce the amount of money you spend on your trip to Turks and Caicos. These are just a few of the best examples.
It is possible to watch your wallet on your trip, but you might find you’re depriving yourself of the true feeling of vacation. Hard to have tropical vacation vibes when you’re eating at takeaway restaurants with locals and taking shots of shitty tequila in your room!
What to do in Turks and Caicos
So why do so many people pay so much to visit Turks and Caicos? Is it worth it? That will be up to you to decide. But it does feature some of the most beautiful beaches and sea water on earth. And who doesn’t like staying in luxury villas every once in a while?
This article is not intended to explain everything there is to do in Turks and Caicos. But we will just give a brief intro of some of the things that make Turks and Caicos a magical place that’s worth your money.
Beaches and Sounds
Turks and Caicos has some of the best beaches in the world. White sand, turquoise water, and the intermittent shade of palm trees. Beach life does not get much better. The beaches are mostly undeveloped and you can bring your own alcohol and food.
Sapodilla Bay Beach
One of the best beaches on Providenciales is Sapodilla Bay Beach at the south side of the island. It’s a long cove of white sand and splendid water. The kind of beach you dream about. I have dedicated an entire post to Sapodilla Bay Beach so if you’re going to Turks and Caicos be sure to check it out.
Taylor Bay Beach
A small, undeveloped cove beach lined with luxury villas, Taylor Bay Beach has some of the shallowest water you’ll ever see. You can seemingly walk out forever without getting your torso wet. Similar to Sapodilla Bay Beach and a great place to spend a few hours.
Grace Bay Beach
Grace Bay Beach is the most well known beach on Providenciales. It’s where most of the resorts and large hotels are. It’s a long stretch of white sand flanked by mid-rise buildings.
Long Bay Beach
Long Bay Beach is exactly what it sounds like, a long bay. It’s on the south side of the island, opposite Grace Bay. It also features a number of resorts, but smaller ones that Grace Bay.
Leeward Beach
Next to Grace Bay, Leeward Beach is basically where the resorts and hotels end and it gets more residential and laid back. There are still a few hotels, but the beach is far less crowded.
Other beaches on Providenciales
There are various other stretches of beach on Providenciales, but these are primarily for locals. The majority of the coastline is actually pretty rugged, with cliffs of jagged coral rock. Whatever you do, don’t skip and fall while walking along a coral cliff!
Grand Turk beaches
Far fewer people visit Grand Turk island, but the tiny island has arguably even better beaches than Providenciales. Some of the best beaches to hit if you’re staying in Grand Turk are Governor’s Beach, Cockburn Town Beach, Pillory Beach, English Point Beach, and Cruise Center Beach.
Chalk Sound National Park
One of the most unique landmarks on Providenciales is Chalk Sound. Chalk Sound is a national park (never mind that Turks and Caicos is not actually a country) that protects a shallow inland lagoon. Chalk Sound features sea water so turquoise that you literally won’t believe your eyes. You can access Chalk Sound from a few different spots but it’s best to visit from Las Brisas restaurant.
For more information on Chalk Sound, refer to my detailed guide to visiting Chalk Sound National Park in Turks and Caicos.
Turks and Caicos – Important Information
Where is Turks and Caicos
Turks and Caicos is a chain of Caribbean islands north of Haiti and southeast of the Bahamas.
How to get to there
You’ll likely be flying to Turks and Caicos unless you have your own boat or you’re just briefly visiting on a cruise. The main international airport is Providenciales and most visitors choose to stay on the island of Providenciales, though there are other islands open to tourists too, like Grand Turk.
Many US destinations – such as Miami, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Boston and Washington DC – offer direct flights to Providenciales. There are also direct flights to London and some Canadian destinations. Otherwise you’ll likely layover in Miami.
How to get around Turks and Caicos
If you just plan on staying at a resort and not leaving you can take a taxi or shuttle to your hotel from the airport. If you’re staying at a villa or plan on exploring the islands, you’ll need a rental car.
Getting around by taxi in Turks and Caicos is not recommended, as there are not many and they focus on the airport. There are also no Ubers or Lyfts or any ride sharing services. So yeah, you’ll want a car. Just remember you drive on the left side of the road in Turks and Caicos.
For the best deals on rental cars we use Rentalcars.com. You can book your rental from Providenciales Airport using the search bar below.
Best time of year to visit Turks and Caicos
Turks and Caicos is a year-round destination, as the temperature doesn’t vary much month-to-month. Winter is peak season and summer is hurricane season. The best time to visit is probably March-May.
Where to stay
You’ll likely be visiting the island of Providenciales. Accommodations are a mix of nice resorts and luxury villas. As we’ve already discussed, Turks and Caicos is especially known for massive villas. There are hundreds of them on Providenciales.
As I mentioned earlier, go through WIMCO Villa Rentals for villa booking.
If you’d rather stay at a resort, there are tons of those along Grace Bay at the north end of Providenciales. Some options in Grace Bay are show below.
Or check out the full listing of hotels on Booking.com.
Turks and Caicos weather
The weather in Turks and Caicos is pretty consistently hot all year-round. It’s sunny most of the time, with tropical downpours here and there. In general, it’s drier than most other tropical islands though.
Language
Turks and Caicos speaks English. The locals speak with a typical Caribbean accent (think Jamaican).
Travel insurance
Before visiting Turks and Caicos, be sure to purchase travel insurance so that you’re protected for the unexpected. We use World Nomads when we travel abroad. World Nomads provides coverage to travelers in over 100 countries. You can search for a coverage plan using the link below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Turks and Caicos more expensive than Hawaii?
While you can spend a ton of money in Hawaii, Turks and Caicos is generally considered to be more expensive as Hawaii at least has budget accommodation options, especially on the Big Island. Whereas Turks and Caicos caters really only to travelers with significant amounts of money to spend. Groceries and items at stores are also far cheaper in Hawaii.
How much money do I need for Turks and Caicos?Â
Most visitors to Turks and Caicos will spend at least $5000 on a week for a couple and some will spend a whole lot more. It’s up to you how much you want to eat and drink and how many excursions you want to go on, but things add up real quickly in Turks and Caicos. If you’re concerned about money, it might not be the right trip for you. Â
Can you use US currency in Turks and Caicos?
Even though it’s technically Great Britain, the official currency of Turks and Caicos is the US Dollar. Don’t try to pay with anything else.Â
What makes Turks and Caicos so expensive?Â
There are a number of factors that play into why Turks and Caicos is so expensive, including their use of the US Dollar, their marketing of luxury travel, their high import tariffs, and the sheer number of luxury villas that are owned by rich foreigners. Â
Is Turks and Caicos Expensive? – Final Word
By now you should have a pretty good idea of the answer to the question of whether or not Turks and Caicos is expensive. The truth is it’s a super expensive place to visit. But if you have the means, it’s a beautiful place with some of the best beaches on the planet. It’s not for the budget traveler, but there are ways to save money when visiting. Enjoy your trip!
