Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Asheville?
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 Asheville or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Asheville and San Juan. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Asheville or San Juan?
Asheville
Asheville is a beautiful mountain town between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains. It's a popular tourist destination in western North Carolina that attracts hikers, shoppers, and adventurers alike. It's the largest city in the area and is famous for it's liberal mindset and large art community. Local crafts are frequently available for sale in the downtown shops.
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 Photography Tours in United States of America, and The Best Camping Tours in United States of America.
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Asheville Prices
USA PricesSan Juan Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAsheville $159San Juan $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Asheville is $159, 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 Asheville and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAsheville $89San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAsheville $178San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Asheville and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Asheville 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: Asheville Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Asheville $14San Juan $14
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: $67
- Arrival Private Transfer SJU Airport to Old San Juan by SUV: $125
- Arrival Private Transfer SJU Airport to Old San Juan by Sedan: $120
- Departure Transfer from Old San Juan to to SJU Airport by Car: $86
- Double ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $279
- From Private Transfer to Ceiba Ferry Terminal: $99
- HandyCap Airport Transfer to Isla Verde, Condado or Ocean Park: $100
- HandyCap Transfer Airport to Dorado, Rio Grande or Luquillo: $270
- Old Walking Tour with Shopping and Hotel Transfer: $70
- Premium Transfer in Airport, Hotel, Airbnb, Cruise: $25
- Private Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to San Juan Airport: $22
- Private Taxi Transfer From SJU Airport to Humacao Palmas Del Mar: $125
Is it cheaper to fly into Asheville or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Asheville 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 dayAsheville $58San 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:
- Puerto Rican food tasting and beginner cooking Tour: $79
- From Pinones Beach & Bar Hopping Food Tour: $85
- Puerto Rico Secret Food Tour of Old San Juan: $115
- Private San Juan Cooking Class with a Local Expert: $146
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $165
- Ponce: Walking Tour with Castillo Serrallés Visit and Dinner: $195
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Asheville $20San Juan $49
Typical Entertainment Prices in Asheville
Here are a few typical costs in Asheville for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Biltmore Estate Entrance Fee$60
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Massage$40
Tours and Activities in Asheville
Here are a few actual costs in Asheville for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- (3 HR) Guided Scenic UTV Adventure: $175
- (4 HR) UTV ECO Elk Wilderness Adventure : $275
- 2-Hour Guided Segway Tour of Asheville: $65
- 2.5-3 hour Smoky Mountain Cherokee Blue Ridge Parkway Safari tour: $100
- 2.5-Hour Blue Ridge Parkway Guided Jeep Tour: $109
- Asheville Coffee Tours: $67
- Asheville Ghost Tour: A Walk Through Riverside Cemetery & Montford Neighborhood: $27
- Asheville Historic Downtown Guided Electric Bike Tour with Scenic Views: $75
- Asheville Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Trolley Tour: $41
- Asheville Insider Guided Walking Tour: $35
- Asheville Night-Time Walking Ghost Tour : $27
- Asheville Terrors: Blue Ridge Haunted Walking Tour: $27
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.
- San Juan Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $17
- Explore Old San Juan Walking Tour: $30
- Old San Juan Walking Tour with a Local Certified Guide: $30
- Old San Juan Guided Walking Tour: $30
- Tour de Viejo San Juan en Español: $30
- Old San Juan Walking Tour with a Certified Guide: $30
- Old San Juan Pitorro Classic Tasting Experience: $32
- Old San Juan History & Culture (Open Walking Tour): $35
- Old San Juan City Walking Tour: $39
- Urban Park Sky Bull Zipline Experience: $39
- Old San Juan Walking Tour: $39
- Old San Juan Puerto Rican Cream Liqueur Tasting Experience: $41
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAsheville $16San Juan $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Asheville
Also in Asheville, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Terrors, Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- Asheville Terrors Boos and Brews Haunted Pub Crawl: $36
- Expert-Led Brewery Walking Tour with Beer Samples: $65
- Downtown Asheville Guided Brewery Walking Tour: $69
- Premier Walking Guided Brewery Tour Through Downtown Asheville: $69
- Floating Bar Crawl Tour: $90
- Guided Craft Brewery Tour with a Snack: $99
- Asheville Signature Guided Brewery Tour: $105
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: Ocean Lab Brewery and Tobaco Farm Tour: $139
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Asheville and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Asheville much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Asheville is in North America and San Juan is in Caribbean Islands, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Asheville would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Asheville and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in San Juan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Juan than you might in Asheville.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Asheville Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Asheville or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Asheville. When comparing the sizes of Asheville 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 Asheville or San Juan?
Asheville 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 Asheville or San Juan in the Summer?
Both San Juan and Asheville during the summer are popular places to visit. The hiking, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Asheville this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
In July, Asheville is generally around the same temperature as San Juan. Daily temperatures in Asheville average around 82°F (28°C), and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Asheville. In the summer, Asheville often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan. Asheville gets 268 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Asheville. Asheville usually gets more rain in July than San Juan. Asheville gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) 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 JulyAsheville 82°F (28°C)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Asheville or San Juan in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Asheville and San Juan. Many travelers come to Asheville for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Asheville is much colder than San Juan in the autumn. The daily temperature in Asheville averages around 64°F (18°C) in October, and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. In Asheville, it's very sunny this time of the year. Asheville usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan during autumn. Asheville gets 229 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, Asheville usually receives less rain than San Juan. Asheville gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) 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 OctoberAsheville 64°F (18°C)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Asheville or San Juan in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Asheville as well as San Juan. Many visitors come to Asheville in the winter for the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
In the winter, Asheville is much colder than San Juan. Typically, the winter temperatures in Asheville in January average around 44°F (7°C), and San Juan averages at about 25°C (77°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. In the winter, Asheville often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Asheville gets 176 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun.
Asheville receives a lot of rain in the winter. Asheville usually gets more rain in January than San Juan. Asheville gets 3.9 inches (100 mm) 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 JanuaryAsheville 44°F (7°C)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Asheville or San Juan in the Spring?
Both San Juan and Asheville are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Asheville for the natural beauty during these months. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Asheville is generally cooler than San Juan. Daily temperatures in Asheville average around 64°F (18°C), and San Juan fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
It's quite sunny in San Juan. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Asheville. Asheville usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan during spring. Asheville gets 266 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Asheville. In April, Asheville usually receives more rain than San Juan. Asheville gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) 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 AprilAsheville 64°F (18°C)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Asheville
| Asheville | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 44°F (7°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 47°F (8°C) | 4.3 inches (109 mm) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 55°F (13°C) | 5.4 inches (137 mm) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 64°F (18°C) | 4.4 inches (112 mm) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 71°F (22°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 79°F (26°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 82°F (28°C) | 5.4 inches (137 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 4.6 inches (118 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 75°F (24°C) | 4 inches (101 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 64°F (18°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 55°F (13°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 47°F (8°C) | 4.1 inches (103 mm) | 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.