Owen Roberts International Airport is just 3 km from George Town and roughly 8 km from Seven Mile Beach, so the short runs stay cheap even though the Cayman Islands are an expensive destination. The long runs do not.
How Cayman taxi fares are actually set
Taxis here are not metered. Every fare comes from the government's National Taxi Fare Schedule (SL 29 of 2019, in force since 2 August 2019), which prices a journey by road distance in miles and number of passengers — not by zone.
For 1-4 passengers the schedule works out as:
- CI$9.60 / US$12.00 for the first mile
- CI$0.80 / US$1.00 for each further 0.2 mile
- a minimum fare of CI$5.60 / US$7.00
- the table runs out at 36 miles, which is the length of the island
Above four passengers the schedule steps the fare up per extra head, to a maximum of 15.
Published fares from GCM Airport
Because the tariff is distance-based, the Public Transport Unit publishes worked fares to named properties rather than a zone chart. These are its own figures, for up to 4 passengers:
| Destination | Published fare (up to 4 passengers) |
|---|---|
| Margaritaville Beach Resort (George Town) | US$20.00 |
| Locale Hotel | US$22.00 |
| The Ritz-Carlton (Seven Mile Beach) | US$27.00 |
| Kimpton Seafire (Seven Mile Beach) | US$34.00 |
| Cobalt Coast (West Bay) | US$54.00 |
| Turtle Nest Inn (Bodden Town) | US$56.00 |
| Morritt's The Londoner (East End) | US$127.00 |
| Wyndham Reef Resort (East End) | US$129.00 |
Fixed-price private transfer
GCM George Town City Center
From€114for 2 passengers
4 passengers: €157 per vehicle, about €39 per person
- Fixed price, no meter
- Flight tracked
- 60 min free waiting
- Driver meets you at arrivals
- Free cancellation up to 24 h before pickup
The headline: Seven Mile Beach is a US$27-34 ride. East End is a US$127-129 ride. That is not a driver overcharging you — it is a 24-mile journey on a distance-based tariff.
Extras, and the surcharge that no longer exists
The first two pieces of luggage are free; each additional piece may add CI$1.00 / US$1.25. If the driver waits mid-journey, the first two minutes are free, then CI$0.80 / US$1.00 per minute.
There is no night surcharge. The 25% after-hours charge that applied under the old schedule was removed — fares are the same around the clock.
Pre-booked transfer prices
A private transfer is quoted and fixed at the moment you book, so you know the exact price before you land, and it includes luggage, meet-and-greet and flight monitoring — no recalculation if you are delayed.
Which is cheaper?
For 1-4 people going to George Town or Seven Mile Beach, the taxi schedule is cheap and hard to beat — and since the fare is per vehicle up to four passengers, a solo traveller pays the same as a couple. Compare a transfer quote against the published schedule fare for your specific hotel and decide on the number, not on a rule of thumb. For East End, get both numbers before you fly: this is the one run where the difference is material.
Currency note
Both KYD and USD are accepted everywhere, and the official taxi schedule quotes every fare in both — it converts CI$1.00 to US$1.25. Banks and shops may use a slightly different rate. Credit cards are generally not accepted in taxis — bring cash.
Fares are revised from time to time. The government's free CI:GO app quotes any journey on the current schedule; there is also a chart posted at the rank.
When a private transfer from GCM is the right choice
- Three or more people: a 4-seat car to George Town City Center is from €157, about €39 per person, usually level with or below separate public-transport tickets once you count the walk, the wait and the last mile with bags.
- Going to a specific address rather than the main station: the car goes to the door, so the public-transport fare is not the whole cost of the trip.
- Arriving tired or late: the driver waits at arrivals with your name, included for 60 minutes after landing.
GCM → George Town City Center from €114Fixed price, flight tracked, free cancellation up to 24 h before pickup.