Home Purchase Cost Calculator
The real cost of buying a home in the Cayman Islands, stamp duty, mortgage duty, legal fees, the cash you need to close, and the monthly payment. It leads with the first-time Caymanian concessions, then shows what a permanent resident or overseas buyer pays on the same property.
| Deposit | CI$55,000 |
| Stamp duty (transfer) | CI$0 |
| Stamp duty (mortgage) | CI$7,425 |
| Legal fees (est. ~1%) | CI$5,500 |
| Cash to close | CI$67,925 |
Buying a home in Cayman, quick answers
How much stamp duty do first-time Caymanian buyers pay?
A first-time Caymanian buyer pays no stamp duty on a developed home worth up to CI$550,000, or on raw land worth up to CI$250,000. Above that a reduced 3.75% applies on the next slice (up to CI$650,000 for a home, CI$350,000 for land), and above those ceilings the full 7.5% applies to the whole value. The concession is for Caymanians only.
Do non-Caymanians get any stamp duty relief when buying property?
No. First-time-buyer relief applies only to Caymanians. Permanent residents and overseas buyers always pay the full rate: 7.5% of the price or market value, or 10% on the whole value for property worth CI$2 million or more since 1 January 2026.
Is there stamp duty on a mortgage in the Cayman Islands?
Yes. On top of the transfer duty, a mortgage (charge) is stamped at 1% of the amount borrowed if it is under CI$300,000, or 1.5% if it is CI$300,000 or more, payable to Lands and Survey when the mortgage is registered.
What are the closing costs when buying a home in Cayman?
The big one is stamp duty on the transfer. Add mortgage duty if you are financing, and legal fees of roughly 0.5% to 1% of the price. The buyer does not pay agent commission (the seller does), and there is no annual property tax, income tax or capital gains tax.
Methodology and sources
Figures are in Cayman Islands dollars (CI$), at the fixed rate of roughly US$1.20 to CI$1. Rates checked 20 September 2026. Stamp duty on a transfer is 7.5% of the price or market value, whichever is higher; from 1 January 2026 it is 10% on the whole value of property worth CI$2 million or more (Cayman Islands Government, gov.ky; CIREBA). First-time Caymanian concessions: no duty on a developed home up to CI$550,000 or raw land up to CI$250,000, then 3.75% on the slice up to CI$650,000 (home) or CI$350,000 (land), then the full 7.5% above those ceilings; the relief is for Caymanians only (CIREBA; Lands and Survey concession form, caymanlandinfo.ky). Mortgage duty is 1% of the amount borrowed under CI$300,000, or 1.5% at CI$300,000 and above (PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries; CIREBA). Legal fees of about 0.5% to 1% of the price are market-typical, not fixed by law, and are modelled here at 1% for a conservative estimate; the buyer pays no agent commission. Deposit and mortgage-rate figures are for guidance: Caymanians and locals may put down as little as 5% to 10%, resident non-Caymanians typically 10% to 30%, and non-residents 30% to 50%; Cayman mortgage rates track US prime.
This is an estimate, not legal or financial advice. Concession thresholds, high-value rates and fees can change, and your exact duty depends on your circumstances and the property. Confirm figures with your attorney, your bank, and the Lands and Survey Department before you commit. See our companion guide: Buying Property in the Cayman Islands.