Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Arusha?
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 Arusha or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Arusha and San Juan can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Arusha or San Juan?
Arusha
Arusha is a city in East Africa's Tanzania, located at the base of volcanic Mt. Meru. It’s a gateway to safari destinations and to Africa’s highest peak, Mt. Kilimanjaro, lying some 100 kilometers northeast. To the west lies Serengeti National Park, home to wildlife including lions, rhinoceros, giraffes and leopards. Annual migrations feature huge herds of wildebeests crossing its plains. Arusha is Tanzania’s gateway to the northern circuit of stellar national parks and the starting point of many a memorable safari. It’s also a large, sprawling city which offers a nice break from the rigors of life on the African road – it has excellent places to stay and eat and, for the most part, it’s lush and green and enjoys a temperate climate throughout the year. Arusha is a great destination, and you're sure to enjoy your time here, no matter what your interests are.
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 G Adventures Tours to Tanzania, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Tanzania.
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Arusha Prices
Tanzania PricesSan Juan Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayArusha $189San Juan $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Arusha is $189, 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 Arusha and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personArusha $126San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomArusha $252San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Arusha and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Arusha 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: Arusha Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Arusha $13San Juan $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arusha
Also for Arusha, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Arusha to Jomo Kenyatta Airport (NBO): $288
- Moshi - Arusha Transfer: $149
- Kilimanjaro Airport to Arusha City Private Transfer: $120
- Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha City Center Transfer: $60
- Kilimanjaro Airport and Arusha Private Transfer: $59
- Arusha Airport & Hotel Transfers: $40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from San Juan, Rio Grande, Loiza, Luquillo or return: $80
- Transfer from San Juan to Rincon or Rincon to San Juan: $167
- Transfer from San Juan to Humacao or Humacao to San Juan: $80
- Transfer from San Juan to Dorado or Dorado to San Juan: $80
- Transfer SJU Airport to Dorado. Hotels and Airbnb. Vice Versa One Way Trip.: $140
- Transfer SJU Airport to Cruise Port / Vice Versa in Old S.J ONLY: $65
- San Juan hotels to San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $58
- San Juan hotels to San Juan PR Cruise Port - Departure Transfer: $29
- San Juan Puerto Rico Private Luxury Transfers: $105
- San Juan Port to San Juan Airport (SJU)- Departure Transfer: $29
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $58
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan Port Arrival Private Transfer: $58
Is it cheaper to fly into Arusha or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Arusha 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 dayArusha $40San Juan $62
Typical Food Prices in Arusha
For Arusha, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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A Quick Lunch (for 2)$2.09
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arusha
For Arusha, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Traditional Tanzania Cooking Class & Food Market Tour: $45
- NGO Lifted Strong - Traditional Tanzanian Cooking Class: $50
- Local Tanzanian Food Cooking Class by Kingstone Asilia (Arusha): $55
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:
- Puerto Rican Gastronomy Cooking Class: $167
- Morning Old San Juan Food Tour: $169
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $170
- FlyDining: 4 Courses Dinner with City Lights & Ocean Breeze: $195
- Fly Dining 4 Course Sunset and City Light Dinner Over San Juan: $195
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Arusha $44San Juan $49
Tours and Activities in Arusha
For Arusha, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Day trip to Materuni Waterfalls & Coffee Tour: $127
- 1 day trip Materuni Waterfall, Village & Coffee Walking Tour: $127
- 4 Hours Cycling Tour in Shimo La Mungu Crater: $50
- 8-Hour Lake Chala Guided Tour from Moshi or Arusha: $260
- A Day at Materuni Waterfalls and Coffee Tour in Mt Kilimanjaro: $160
- Arusha Bike Town Tour Experience: $55
- Arusha City Tour Markets Culture and Maasai Experiences: $22
- Arusha City Tour: Where Continents Collide & Cultures Dance: $30
- Arusha Full Day Tour to Waterfall and Coffee Tour: $140
- Arusha Guided City Tour &Hotel Pickup (History, Culture &Market: $21
- Arusha Guided Tour: Culture, History, Markets & Hidden Gems: $18
- Arusha National Park Half Day Tour: $197
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.
- 1 Hour Historical UTV Tour in San Juan: $200
- 2 Tours in 1 Day: Rainforest Waterslides & Beach Tour w/Transport: $60
- 3 Tours in 1 Day: Old San Juan, Rainforest, Beach with Transport: $65
- 3 in 1 Full Day Cueva Ventana, Indian Cave & Waterfall Adventure: $155
- ATV Double Rider Adventure Near San Juan - Hacienda Campo Rico: $221
- ATV Single Rider Adventure Near San Juan - Hacienda Campo Rico: $149
- Arecibo Cave Cliffside Waterfall Adventure: $139
- Arecibo Indian Cave Coastal Adventure: $65
- Bio Bay Magic and Rum Tasting Tour from San Juan: $250
- Bio Bay Night Kayak Tour with Transport from San Juan: $125
- BioBay Kayak Tour with San Juan Roundtrip Transportation: $179
- Cave Adventure: Canyon and Hidden Waterfall in Charco Azul: $115
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayArusha $10San 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 Tobacco Farm and Local Brewery Tour: $109
- Puerto Rico's First and Only Craft Beer Brewery Tour!: $150
When comparing the travel costs between Arusha 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 Arusha is in Africa 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 Arusha Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Arusha or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 23% larger than the population of Arusha. When comparing the sizes of Arusha 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.
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.