Which place is cheaper, Ponce or Athens?
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 Athens or Ponce?
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 Athens and Ponce. 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: Athens or Ponce?
Athens
Athens is the capital city of Greece and is home to a population of over 3.7 million people. It's most famous as the birthplace of Classical Greece and the history in the city is incomparable to that found anywhere. It became the national capital of the modern Greek State in the 1830s, before which it was just a small village with a very impressive history. The city was redesigned by architects and city planners and incorporated large public squares, lots of green space, and wide avenues. The city has had its ups and downs both economically and politically, but it remains a beautiful and impressive place to explore.
Ponce
Ponce is on the south coast of Puerto Rico. It's the second largest city on the island and has been around since 1692 when it was originally founded by Ponce de Leon's grandson Juan Ponce de Leon y Loayza. The city has several nicknames, including La Perla del Sur (The Pearl of the South), La Ciudad Senorial (The Noble, or Lordly, City), and La Ciudad de las Quenepas (Genip City).
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Greece, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Greece.
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Athens Prices
Greece PricesPonce Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAthens $181Ponce $230
The average daily cost (per person) in Athens is $181, while the average daily cost in Ponce is $230. 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 Athens and Ponce in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAthens $74Ponce $151
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAthens $148Ponce $302
Compare Hotels in Athens and Ponce
Looking for a hotel in Athens or Ponce? 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: Athens Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Athens $32Ponce $10
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Athens:
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Airport Bus for Two$7.51
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Metro$1.76
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Metro$2.35
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Metro from Airport to City Center$9.39
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Taxi from Airport$41
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Athens
Also for Athens, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Ferry Transfer from Athens to Aegina Island: $16
- Mykonos Super Paradise Beach Transfers: $18
- One way Private Transfer Athens City Center to / from Piraeus Port: $23
- Piraeus Port To Athens City Center Private Arrival Transfer: $24
- Santorini Airport Private Transfer: $25
- Athens Airport (ATH) Private Transfer to Athens Hotels/Piraeus: $26
- Santorini: Private Airport and Port Transfer Service: $27
- Athens city to Piraeus port Private transfer: $27
- Athens Airport Private Transfer to Piraeus Port with Meet & Greet: $28
- Private Transfer from Piraeus Port to Athens City Center: $29
- Piraeus port to Athens city Private transfer: $29
- Private Transfer from Athens City Center to Piraeus Port: $29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:
- Transfer SJU Airport to Humacao and Nagüabo. Vice Versa One Way Trip: $185
- Vega Baja to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $170
- Rio Grande hotel to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $109
- Aguadilla Hernandez Airport (BQN) to Isabela - RoundTrip Transfer: $87
- Private Transfer from San Juan City Hotels to Ponce Cruise Port: $79
- Transfer TO or FROM: Airport,Cruise,Hotel in DORADO or RIO GRANDE: $70
- Private Transfers from SJU Airport to Isla Verde, Condado or San Juan área : $60
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- San Juan PR Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Transfer: $46
- Isabela / Hatillo to Aguadilla Airport(BQN) - DepartureTransfer: $44
- San Juan Departure Share Transfer: $27
Is it cheaper to fly into Athens or Ponce?
Prices for flights to both Ponce and Athens 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 dayAthens $76Ponce $61
Typical Food Prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Athens:
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Ice cream$3.52
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Souvlaki$2.58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Athens
For Athens, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hard Rock Cafe Athens with Set Lunch or Dinner: $30
- Street Food Tour - Sample the Food the Locals Love: $71
- Koukaki Food Tour with a Local Friend: $78
- Athens's original vegan food tour: $78
- Small Group, Delicious Athens Food Tour: $81
- Traditional Greek Cooking Class and Organic Lunch on Poros: $81
- Get a Taste of Athens Food Tour: $82
- Athens, Greek food tour including market visit: $83
- Eat like an Athenian food tour of Athens: $83
- Athens Walking Food Tour with Visit to Varvakios Central Market: $83
- Athens Evening Food Tour: $88
- Greek Cooking Class by Poseidon’s Temple in Sounio with Antonia: $90
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ponce
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ponce.
- Latin Night with Dinner and Local Music with Transportation: $59
- Puerto Rico Art and Wine Dinner with One Way Transportation: $89
- Private Cooking Class with a Fun Local in San German, Puerto Rico: $96
- Private Half-Day Island Authentic Food Tour : $130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Athens $42Ponce $56
Tours and Activities in Athens
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Athens.
- Self Guided Walking Tour in Athens Hidden Gems: $3.59
- A Neoclassical Capital: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.50
- Athens Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $6.01
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Athens: $7.20
- Self-Guided Greece Grand Tour with Audio Guide: $7.69
- The Best of Piraeus: A Self-Guided Walking Tour: $7.99
- South Slope Acropolis Self-Guided 3D Audio Tour (No Ticket): $8.40
- Athens Interactive City Tour: $8.42
- Temple of Olympian Zeus: Self-Guided Audio Tour on your Phone (without ticket): $9.61
- Acropolis of Athens Self-Guided Tour with 3D & Audio (No Ticket): $9.61
- Private Self-Guided Audio City-Tour in Athens: $9.62
- Athens Olympic Museum ticket: $11
Tours and Activities in Ponce
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ponce are as follows:
- Half-Day El Yunque Rainforest Tour from Fajardo: $65
- Scuba Boat Diving Experience in Gilligan's Island at Copamarina: $160
- 2.5-Hour Historical Walking Tour of Old San Juan: $65
- 5 hours Tour in La Parguera Private Boat Charter: $200
- 7 Hours River Tour with Beach and Learn to Make Piña Colada : $195
- 8 Hours Private Tours in Puerto Rico: $150
- Adventure in Cave and the Guayaney Spring: $99
- Afro-Boriken-Loiza: Food, Cave & Art Tour: $140
- Aguadilla 6 Hour Local Tour: $150
- Camuy Caves Experience Tour with transportation: $130
- Cave Hopping Tour: $198
- Caves Coastlines and Beach; Cueva del Indio, Arecibo Adventure : $125
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAthens $26Ponce $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Athens
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Athens:
- The Original Athens Pub Crawl: $11
- Greek Honey Tasting Experience at our Old Distillery: $14
- Saturday Night Pub Crawl for Professionals in Athens, Greece: $25
- Experience Ouzo Tasting at Athens Oldest Distillery: $26
- Athens Ultimate Bar Crawl: $48
- 2 Hours Wine Tasting Odyssey in Athens: $59
- Best rated Acropolis Wine Tasting : $59
- Greek Wine Tasting with Acropolis view: $59
- Acropolis Private Wine Tasting @ Finewine store : $67
- Greek food and wine tasting: $71
- Noble Greeks Acropolis Wine Tasting with Private Sommelier: $72
- Athens by Night Walking and Wine Tasting Experience: $84
Sample the Local Flavors in Ponce
Also in Ponce, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Artisan Puertorrican Winery and Distillery Tour: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Athens and Ponce, we can see that Ponce is more expensive. And not only is Athens much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Athens is in Europe and Ponce 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 Athens would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Athens 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 Ponce would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ponce than you might in Athens.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Athens Expensive? and Is Ponce Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Athens or Ponce?
Athens has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Ponce. When comparing the sizes of Athens and Ponce, 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 Athens or Ponce?
Athens has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Ponce experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Athens or Ponce in the Summer?
Both Ponce and Athens during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Athens for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round.
In July, Athens is generally around the same temperature as Ponce. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 27°C (81°F), and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
In Ponce, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Athens. In the summer, Athens often gets more sunshine than Ponce. Athens gets 357 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 287 hours of full sun.
Athens usually gets less rain in July than Ponce. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAthens 27°C (81°F)Ponce 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Athens or Ponce in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Ponce. The autumn months attract visitors to Athens because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Athens is cooler than Ponce in the autumn. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 19°C (67°F) in October, and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ponce this time of the year. In Athens, it's very sunny this time of the year. Athens usually receives less sunshine than Ponce during autumn. Athens gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 235 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Ponce receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Athens usually receives less rain than Ponce. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAthens 19°C (67°F)Ponce 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Athens or Ponce in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Athens as well as Ponce. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Athens this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year.
In the winter, Athens is much colder than Ponce. Typically, the winter temperatures in Athens in January average around 10°C (51°F), and Ponce averages at about 25°C (77°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ponce. In the winter, Athens often gets less sunshine than Ponce. Athens gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 240 hours of full sun.
Athens usually gets less rain in January than Ponce. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAthens 10°C (51°F)Ponce 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Athens or Ponce in the Spring?
Both Ponce and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Athens for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Plenty of visitors come to Ponce because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Athens is generally much colder than Ponce. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 16°C (60°F), and Ponce fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
It's quite sunny in Ponce. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Athens. Athens usually receives less sunshine than Ponce during spring. Athens gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Athens usually receives less rain than Ponce. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAthens 16°C (60°F)Ponce 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Ponce and Athens
| Athens | Ponce | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 11°C (51°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (54°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (76°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (67°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (60°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 66 mm (2.6 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.