A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Asuncion vs. San Juan del Sur for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Asuncion or San Juan del Sur?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Asuncion or San Juan del Sur, 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: Asuncion or San Juan del Sur?

Asuncion

Asuncion is a vastly underrated city. It is the capital but also the administrative economic and cultural center of Paraguay. It is located in the south central part of the country, near the border with Argentina and it is one of the oldest cities in South America, with people living here since almost 500 years. The city has a beautiful and simple center, with a few unique colonial and beaux arts buildings, international cuisine, shady plazas and friendly people. Its handful of historic buildings around the Plaza de los Heroes, Plaza Uruguaya and Manzana de la Ribera, two or three small museums, old bars and cafes, but also smart suburbs, ritzy shopping malls and fashionable nightclubs will keep you entertained for a day or two. It is a very charming city for travellers and apart from the sights, the city boasts a good tourist infrastructure with hotels and restaurants.

San Juan del Sur

San Juan del Sur is a popular port destination on the Pacific coast of southwest Nicaragua. The town was once a quaint fishing village but has grown into a tourist town with activities for visitors that include surfing, fishing, and, of course, partying. The town has a population of just over 15,000, most of whom are either fishermen or involved in the tourism industry. There is also a large expat community from the United States, Canada, and Europe.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Asuncion and San Juan del Sur, we can see that Asuncion is more expensive. And not only is San Juan del Sur much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Asuncion is in South America and San Juan del Sur is in Central America, 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 San Juan del Sur would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Juan del Sur 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 Asuncion would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Asuncion than you might in San Juan del Sur.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Asuncion Expensive? and Is San Juan del Sur Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Asuncion or San Juan del Sur?

Asuncion has a larger population, and is about 190 times larger than the population of San Juan del Sur. When comparing the sizes of Asuncion and San Juan del Sur, 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 Asuncion or San Juan del Sur?

Asuncion has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Juan del Sur experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Asuncion or San Juan del Sur in the Summer?

Both San Juan del Sur and Asuncion during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan del Sur year-round.

In the summer, Asuncion is around the same temperature as San Juan del Sur. Typically, the summer temperatures in Asuncion in January average around 29°C (84°F), and San Juan del Sur averages at about 27°C (81°F)in July.

It's quite sunny in Asuncion. In the summer, Asuncion often gets more sunshine than San Juan del Surin July. Asuncion gets 249 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan del Sur receives 175 hours of full sun.

San Juan del Sur gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Asuncion. Asuncion usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as San Juan del Surin July. Asuncion gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Asuncion or San Juan del Sur in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Asuncion and San Juan del Sur. San Juan del Sur attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In April, Asuncion is generally cooler than San Juan del Surin October. Daily temperatures in Asuncion average around 24°C (75°F), and San Juan del Sur fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Asuncion usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan del Sur during autumn. Asuncion gets 199 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan del Sur receives 195 hours of full sun in the autumn.

San Juan del Sur receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Asuncion gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Asuncion usually receives less rain than San Juan del Surin October. Asuncion gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Asuncion or San Juan del Sur in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Asuncion as well as San Juan del Sur. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan del Sur throughout the year.

Asuncion is cooler than San Juan del Sur in the winter. The daily temperature in Asuncion averages around 19°C (66°F) in July, and San Juan del Sur fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in January.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan del Sur. In the winter, Asuncion often gets less sunshine than San Juan del Surin January. Asuncion gets 191 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan del Sur receives 244 hours of full sun.

Asuncion usually gets more rain in July than San Juan del Surin January. Asuncion gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Asuncion or San Juan del Sur in the Spring?

Both San Juan del Sur and Asuncion are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan del Sur because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the spring, Asuncion is cooler than San Juan del Sur. Typically, the spring temperatures in Asuncion in October average around 25°C (77°F), and San Juan del Sur averages at about 29°C (84°F)in April.

It's quite sunny in San Juan del Sur. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Asuncion. Asuncion usually receives less sunshine than San Juan del Sur during spring. Asuncion gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan del Sur receives 242 hours of full sun in the spring.

It's quite rainy in Asuncion. In October, Asuncion usually receives more rain than San Juan del Surin April. Asuncion gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for San Juan del Sur and Asuncion