In the last 12 months the Porsche Cayman sold for a median $34,375 (92 U.S.-dollar auction sales) and the Porsche Boxster for $17,500 (472 sales), so the Cayman costs $16,875 (96%) more. As of Nov 2, 2026, the 12-month trend is +5%/yr for the Cayman and +10%/yr for the Boxster. Below: ranges, trend, manual share, mileage and a like-for-like trim comparison, all from real sold auctions.
Cayman vs Boxster side by side
| Cayman | Boxster | |
|---|---|---|
| Model years | 2006–2016 | 1997–2016 |
| Median sold price | $34,375 | $17,500 |
| Middle 50% range | $27,300–$59,000 | $12,900–$31,100 |
| Low – high | $11,500 – $142,000 | $4,500 – $142,000 |
| USD sales (12 months) | 92 | 472 |
| 12-month trend (mix-adjusted) | +5%/yr | +10%/yr |
| Last 3 months vs prior 3 | -20% adj. / -5% raw | +12% adj. / +19% raw |
| Market signal | HOLD | SELL |
| Manual share (known gearbox) | 83% of 77 | 87% of 438 |
| Manual / automatic median | $33,500 / $26,500 | $16,500 / $18,350 |
| Median mileage (where stated) | 38,500 mi of 44 | 37,000 mi of 222 |
| Median model year sold | 2010 | 2003 |
U.S.-dollar sold auctions in the last 12 months. Manual / automatic medians need 5+ sales of each; mileage is taken from the listing where stated. Not an appraisal.
Cayman vs Boxster price chart
Quarterly median USD sold price at online auctions (quarters with 3+ sales; bigger dot = more sales). The latest quarter is to date. Hover a dot for the figures.
Like for like: Cayman vs Boxster by trim
| Trim | Cayman | Boxster | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cayman (base) / Boxster (base) | $31,750 26 sales | $15,000 244 sales | -53% |
| Cayman S / Boxster S | $31,875 42 sales | $21,500 185 sales | -33% |
Trims read from listing titles, with at least 5 sales on each side. Difference = Boxster median against the Cayman median.
Same generation, side by side
| Generation | Cayman | Boxster | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 987 | $30,250 62 sales | $26,500 126 sales | -12% |
| 981 | $63,000 30 sales | $47,500 77 sales | -25% |
Cars of the same generation, which removes most of the age difference between the two model lines.
Which should you buy?
- Price. At the median, the Porsche Cayman costs $16,875 (96%) more than the Porsche Boxster.
- Overlap. The middle-half ranges overlap between $27,300 and $31,100. In that band you can shop both, weighing an above-median Boxster against a below-median Cayman.
- Trend. Over 12 months, Cayman prices were broadly flat (+5% a year); Boxster prices were rising, about +10% a year; the Boxster has the firmer trend.
- Want a manual? 64 of 77 Cayman sales with a known gearbox were manual (83%), against 383 of 438 for the Boxster (87%).
- Mileage. The median Cayman sold with 38,500 miles and the median Boxster with 37,000 (sales with a stated mileage).
- Trim matters. Like for like, the gap is widest for the Cayman (base) / Boxster (base) (-53%) and narrowest for the Cayman S / Boxster S (-33%).
- Choice. The Boxster had more sales in our sample (472 against 92), so there are more comparables to price a car against.
In short: on budget alone the Porsche Boxster is the cheaper way in, and the Porsche Cayman costs about 96% more at the median. The numbers can't tell you which car you'll enjoy more; a pre-purchase inspection and the individual car's history matter more than either median.
What to check before buying
Porsche Cayman: Early 987.1 Caymans can have IMS and bore-scoring concerns; the 987.2 (2009+) DFI engines dropped the IMS. The GT4 and Cayman R sit well above S and base cars. Look for documented services and a clean pre-purchase inspection.
Porsche Boxster: 986 and early 987 Boxsters share IMS bearing and bore-scoring concerns with the 996/997.1, so ask about an IMS upgrade. Check convertible-top operation, rear window, and coolant tank condition. Boxster S and later 981 cars carry clear premiums over base 986s.
Full price guides
More Porsche comparisons
- Porsche 996 vs 997
- Porsche 997 vs 991
- Porsche 991 vs 992
- Porsche 993 vs 996
- Porsche 964 vs 993
- Porsche 996.1 vs 996.2
- Porsche 997.1 vs 997.2
- Porsche 991.1 vs 991.2
- Porsche 986 Boxster vs 987 Boxster
- Porsche 987 Boxster vs 981 Boxster
- Porsche 987 Cayman vs 981 Cayman
- Porsche 718 Cayman vs 981 Cayman
- Porsche 718 Boxster vs 981 Boxster
- Porsche Macan vs Cayenne
- All comparisons
Method
Every figure on this page is computed from our sample of completed, sold public auctions after removing parts, replicas, restomods and other non-car lots. Medians use U.S.-dollar sales only; we don't convert currencies. The window is the last 12 months unless a row says otherwise. Sub-generations are assigned by model year (see the methodology). Trend and signal use online-auction sales only, adjusted for trim and model year. It is a sample, not every sale, and not an appraisal. Sold-price data from Old Cars Data auction records. Full methodology.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Porsche Cayman more expensive than the Boxster?
Yes, in our sample: the Cayman median was $34,375 against $17,500 for the Boxster, a 96% difference, from 92 and 472 U.S.-dollar auction sales in the last 12 months.
Are Cayman or Boxster prices rising faster?
Adjusted for trim and model year, the 12-month trend is +5% a year for the Cayman and +10% a year for the Boxster. This describes recent sales, not a forecast.
Which has more manual cars, the Cayman or the Boxster?
Of sales with a known gearbox in the last 12 months, 83% of Caymans (64 of 77) and 87% of Boxsters (383 of 438) were manual.
Published Nov 2, 2026. Figures as of Nov 2, 2026, rebuilt weekly from the latest sample.