Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Akureyri?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Akureyri or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Akureyri or San Juan, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Akureyri or San Juan?
Akureyri
Akureyri is the largest town in the northern region of Iceland, and is often considered the unofficial capital of the north. The town is a popular fishing port and is often used as a basecamp for visiting the more rural surrounding area. Akureyri is known for their great art scene, beautiful architecture, and stunning natural scenery.
San Juan
If you've ever set foot on a Caribbean cruise, you've probably spent a bit of time in San Juan, Puerto Rico. However, maybe you should consider spending more than just a port day in this beautiful and historically rich city.
As the capital and largest city in all of Puerto Rico, San Juan is home to approximately 400,000 people. Established in 1521, it is also the second oldest European-founded settlement in the Americas.
As this city fuses a historic paradise with modern day energy, it has absolutely everything to offer. Intellectual wanderers, beach bums, rainforest adventurers and radical surfers will all find plenty to do in San Juan.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Iceland, and The Best Northern Lights Tours in Iceland.
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Akureyri Prices
Iceland PricesSan Juan Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAkureyri $191San Juan $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Akureyri is $191, while the average daily cost in San Juan is $218. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Akureyri and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAkureyri $103San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAkureyri $206San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Akureyri and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Akureyri or San Juan? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Akureyri Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Akureyri $23San Juan $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Akureyri
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Akureyri:
- Whale Watching Tour with Transfer from Port: $141
- From Godafoss Waterfall Guided Trip with Transfers: $126
- Akureyri Airport (AEY): Transfer to/from Akureyri City: $29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer to Cruise Ships, Hotels, Airbnb in San Juan: $76
- Arrival Private Transfer SJU Airport to Old San Juan by Sedan: $120
- Carabali Rain Forest Round Trip Private Taxi Transfer: $200
- Departure Transfer from Old San Juan to to SJU Airport by Car: $86
- Double ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $289
- Premium Transfer in Airport, Hotel, Airbnb, Cruise: $25
- Private Airport Transfers to Ceiba Ferry Terminal and Airport: $155
- Private Transfer from SJU Airport to Cruise Port Roundtrip Servic: $109
- Private Transfer from SJU Airport to San Juan / Rio Grande: $115
- Private Transfer from or to San Juan and Ceiba Ferry: $93
- Private Transfer to El Conquistador Hotel : $200
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 11Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $93
Is it cheaper to fly into Akureyri or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Akureyri change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayAkureyri $71San Juan $62
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Juan
For San Juan, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Old San Juan Food Tour with 7 Tastings of Authentic Local Flavors: $139
- Private San Juan Cooking Class with a Local Expert: $146
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $165
- FlyDining: 4 Courses Dinner with City Lights & Ocean Breeze: $165
- FlyDining: Sunset & City Lights Dinner Over Old San Juan: $165
- Morning Old San Juan Food Tour: $169
- Cooking and Connecting with a Local in Puerto Rico: $173
- Savor the Sunset: Old San Juan Walking Food Tour: $179
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Akureyri $18San Juan $49
Tours and Activities in Akureyri
Here are a few actual costs in Akureyri for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Akureyri Cruise Port: Mývatn Lakes, Waterfalls & Nature Trip: $282
- Akureyri Guided E-Bike Tour: $167
- Akureyri Port: Dettifoss, Goðafoss and Lake Mývatn Tour: $229
- Akureyri Port: Goðafoss and Akureyri Botanical Garden Tour: $170
- Akureyri Port: Goðafoss and the Forest Lagoon Tour: $203
- Akureyri Port: Godafoss Waterfall Classic Tour & Viewpoint: $82
- Akureyri Port: Lake Mývatn & Goðafoss Guided Tour with Lunch: $329
- Akureyri Port: Myvatn Nature Baths & Godafoss Waterfall Tour: $247
- Akureyri Private Walking Tour: $143
- Akureyri Private Walking Tour: $135
- 3-Hour Classic Whale Watching Tour by Ship: $108
- E-Bike Tour with Forest Lagoon Entry: $217
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Juan
For San Juan, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Horseback Riding Tour$40
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Full Day Snorkeling Trip$100
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1 Hr Windsurfing Lesson$75
Tours and Activities in San Juan
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Juan.
- Transportation in San Juan, Isla verde, Condado, Hotels, Cruises & Airbnb's SJU: $14
- San Juan Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $17
- Discover Superb Self-Guided Audio Tour: $20
- Group Transportation in airport, cruise ships, hotels, bnb's in San Juan, PR: $23
- Old San Juan Walking Tour with a Local Certified Guide: $25
- San Juan Ghost Tour: Shrieks in the Sugarcane: $26
- Explore Old San Juan Walking Tour: $30
- Old San Juan Tour in Spanish: $30
- Historic Old San Juan Sunset Walking Tour: $39
- Old San Juan Walking Tour: $39
- Top Rated El Yunque Rainforest & Waterslide – VIP SmallGroup Tour: $45
- Ron del Barrilito Heritage Skip-the-Line Tour: $46
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAkureyri $15San Juan $12
Sample the Local Flavors in San Juan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Juan:
- Old San Juan Bar Crawl: Experience Local Hotspots: $65
- Puerto Rico's First and Only Craft Beer Brewery Tour! : $99
When comparing the travel costs between Akureyri and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Akureyri is in Europe and San Juan is in Caribbean Islands, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Akureyri Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Akureyri or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Akureyri. When comparing the sizes of Akureyri and San Juan, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Akureyri or San Juan?
Akureyri has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Juan experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Akureyri or San Juan in the Summer?
Both San Juan and Akureyri during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
Akureyri is much colder than San Juan in the summer. The daily temperature in Akureyri averages around 11°C (52°F) in July, and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Akureyri often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Akureyri gets 158 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun.
Akureyri usually gets less rain in July than San Juan. Akureyri gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAkureyri 11°C (52°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Akureyri or San Juan in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Akureyri and San Juan. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Akureyri can be very cold during autumn. In the autumn, Akureyri is much colder than San Juan. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Akureyri in October average around 3°C (38°F), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (82°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. Akureyri usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during autumn. Akureyri gets 52 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun in the autumn.
San Juan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Akureyri usually receives less rain than San Juan. Akureyri gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAkureyri 3°C (38°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Akureyri or San Juan in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Akureyri as well as San Juan. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
The weather in Akureyri can be very cold. In January, Akureyri is generally much colder than San Juan. Daily temperatures in Akureyri average around -2°C (28°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. In the winter, Akureyri often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Akureyri gets 7 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun.
Akureyri usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as San Juan. Akureyri gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAkureyri -2°C (28°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Akureyri or San Juan in the Spring?
Both San Juan and Akureyri are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite cold in Akureyri in the spring. Akureyri is much colder than San Juan in the spring. The daily temperature in Akureyri averages around 2°C (36°F) in April, and San Juan fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
It's quite sunny in San Juan. Akureyri usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during spring. Akureyri gets 130 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Akureyri usually receives less rain than San Juan. Akureyri gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAkureyri 2°C (36°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Akureyri
| Akureyri | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -2°C (28°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | -1°C (30°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | -1°C (31°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 2°C (36°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 6°C (43°F) | 19 mm (0.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 10°C (50°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 11°C (52°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 11°C (51°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 7°C (44°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 3°C (38°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | -0°C (32°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | -2°C (29°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.