Which place is cheaper, Ponce or Bangkok?
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 Bangkok or Ponce?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Bangkok and Ponce 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: Bangkok or Ponce?
Bangkok
Bangkok: a name synonymous with all things exotic. The vibrant and exciting capital of Thailand is not just a hub for Southeast Asia, but also a destination into itself. Known for an active nightlife and party scene, as well as great food, historic temples, and busy markets, Bangkok offers a diversity to entertain even the most experienced travelers.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Thailand, and The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand.
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Bangkok Prices
Thailand PricesPonce Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBangkok $105Ponce $230
The average daily cost (per person) in Bangkok is $105, 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 Bangkok and Ponce in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBangkok $50Ponce $151
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBangkok $100Ponce $302
Compare Hotels in Bangkok and Ponce
Looking for a hotel in Bangkok 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: Bangkok Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bangkok $6.49Ponce $10
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bangkok
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Bangkok are as follows:
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Tuk Tuk to bus station$2.51
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Skytrain Ticket$5.02
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Chao Phraya River Express Ticket$1.00
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Ferry Ride$0.82
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Taxi From Airport$7.85
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Short Taxi Ride$2.83
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Boat Taxi$1.57
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Trains to airport$5.02
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bangkok
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bangkok:
- Erawan Museum Admision Ticket with Transfer: $12
- Private Transfer from/to Suvarnabhumi Airport(BKK) : $12
- Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Departure Transfer (Shared or Private): $12
- Sedan Arrival Transfer Bangkok Airport BKK to Bangkok or Pattaya: $15
- Private Departure Transfer : Bangkok Hotel to BKK/DMK airport: $15
- Arrival Transfer from BKK Airport to Bangkok Hotel: $15
- Private transfer from Hotel in Bangkok to BKK Airport : $18
- Private Bangkok Airport Transfer by Comfortable SUV: $19
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Pattaya APT-HTL (DMK): $20
- Bangkok City Tour with Guided Temple Visits and Shared Transfers: $21
- Affordable Bangkok Airport Transfer: $22
- Budget-Friendly Shared Transfer to Suvarnabhumi Airport: $23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:
- Aguadilla Hernandez Airport (BQN) to Isabela - RoundTrip Transfer: $87
- Isabela / Hatillo to Aguadilla Airport(BQN) - DepartureTransfer: $44
- Private Transfer from San Juan City Hotels to Ponce Cruise Port: $79
- Private Transfers from SJU Airport to Isla Verde, Condado or San Juan área : $60
- Rio Grande hotel to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $109
- San Juan Departure Share Transfer: $27
- San Juan PR Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Transfer: $46
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- Transfer SJU Airport to Humacao and Nagüabo. Vice Versa One Way Trip: $185
- Transfer TO or FROM: Airport,Cruise,Hotel in DORADO or RIO GRANDE: $70
- Vega Baja to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $170
Is it cheaper to fly into Bangkok or Ponce?
Prices for flights to both Ponce and Bangkok 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 dayBangkok $36Ponce $61
Typical Food Prices in Bangkok
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Bangkok:
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Dinner at Hard Rock Cafe (for Two)$28
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Casual Lunch of Prawns (for Two)$6.28
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2 Rotis (Bread)$1.41
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Mango & Sticky Rice$0.94
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Lunch at KFC (for Two)$6.28
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Pad Thai$2.20
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Airport Lunch for 2$17
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Lunch for 2$23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bangkok
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bangkok.
- Baiyoke Sky Hotel Observation Deck Ticket with Lunch or Dinner : $22
- Meridian Dinner and Sunset Cruise in Bangkok: $23
- Royal Princess Dinner Cruise in Bangkok: $25
- Chao Phraya Princess Sunset and Dinner Cruise: $27
- Twilight Dinner Cruise Along Chao Phraya River in Bangkok: $29
- Calypso Cabaret Show with Thai Set Dinner: $29
- Baiyoke Sky Dinner Experience with Observation Deck Access: $29
- Baiyoke Sky Observation Deck With Buffet Dinner or Lunch: $29
- Bangkok Amazing Chaophraya River Dinner Cruise with Live Music: $32
- Nopparat’s Traditional Thai Dinner & Dance: $32
- Chao Phraya River Serenade: VIVA Alangka Dinner Cruise, Bangkok: $32
- Riverside Bangkok Dinner Cruise with Buffet and City Views: $32
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.Bangkok $18Ponce $56
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bangkok
Here are a few typical costs in Bangkok for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Movie Ticket$5.02
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Grand Palace Entrance Ticket$11
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Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha) Ticket$1.57
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Dusit Zoo Entrance Fee (for Two)$6.28
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Club Cover Charge$12
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Thai Boxing Tickets (for Two)$75
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Fish Pedicure$4.71
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Wat Pho entrance ticket$3.14
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Siriraj Museum (2)$13
Tours and Activities in Bangkok
Here are a few actual costs in Bangkok for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Road to Democracy: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Thailand's Modern Politics: $5.00
- Bangkok Noi Canal: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.20
- Bangkok's Old Town: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Bangkok City Session Walking Tour: $8.18
- Grand Palace Self-Guided Walking Tour (entry not incl.): $9.00
- Space and Time Cube Tickets in Bangkok: $9.66
- Ancient City Bangkok and Erawan Museum Tickets: $10
- Erawan Museum Ticket (NON THAI): $10
- Half Day Coral Island Tour from Pattaya With Lunch: $11
- Erawan Museum at Bangkok Admission Ticket: $13
- Explore Brilliant Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $14
- Bangkok Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha Tour: $14
Tours and Activities in Ponce
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ponce are as follows:
- Private Sunset Walking Tour in San Juan: $25
- Guided Walking Tour in Ponce: $30
- Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $30
- La Perla Cultural Tour: $35
- Prive Tours in Puerto Rico: $40
- Las Tinajas Waterfall: Guided Short Hike Adventure from Fajardo: $55
- Walking Guided Tour of History and Myths of Old San Juan : $60
- Half-Day El Yunque Rainforest Tour from Fajardo: $65
- 2.5-Hour Historical Walking Tour of Old San Juan: $65
- Half-Day Small-Group River Experience in El Yunque with Local : $68
- El Yunque Rainforest, Waterslides & Beach Tour from San Juan: $75
- Party Bus Experience in San Juan, Puerto Rico: $79
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBangkok $5.65Ponce $16
Typical Alcohol Prices in Bangkok
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Bangkok are as follows:
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Beer$1.26
Sample the Local Flavors in Bangkok
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bangkok:
- Bangkok Pub Crawl: $17
- The Original Bangkok Pub Crawl: $32
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 Bangkok and Ponce, we can see that Ponce is more expensive. And not only is Bangkok much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bangkok is in Asia 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 Bangkok would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bangkok 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 Bangkok.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bangkok Expensive? and Is Ponce Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bangkok or Ponce?
Bangkok has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Ponce. When comparing the sizes of Bangkok 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 Bangkok or Ponce?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Bangkok or Ponce in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Bangkok and Ponce. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Bangkok year-round. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Bangkok gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Bangkok usually receives more rain than Ponce. Bangkok gets 155 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ponce this time of the year. Bangkok usually receives less sunshine than Ponce during summer. Bangkok gets 176 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Bangkok is around the same temperature as Ponce. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bangkok in July average around 29°C (84°F), and Ponce averages at about 28°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBangkok 29°C (84°F)Ponce 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Bangkok or Ponce in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Bangkok as well as Ponce. Bangkok attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year.
Also, November to February in Bangkok is the dry season. May to October in Bangkok is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Ponce. Bangkok receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Bangkok usually gets more rain in October than Ponce. Bangkok gets 242 mm (9.5 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ponce. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Bangkok this time of the year. In the autumn, Bangkok often gets less sunshine than Ponce. Bangkok gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 235 hours of full sun.
In October, Bangkok is generally around the same temperature as Ponce. Daily temperatures in Bangkok average around 28°C (83°F), and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBangkok 28°C (83°F)Ponce 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Bangkok or Ponce in the Winter?
Both Ponce and Bangkok are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Bangkok throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Ponce because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Bangkok is November to February. In January, Bangkok usually receives less rain than Ponce. Bangkok gets 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Ponce. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Bangkok. Bangkok usually receives more sunshine than Ponce during winter. Bangkok gets 276 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
Bangkok is around the same temperature as Ponce in the winter. The daily temperature in Bangkok averages around 27°C (80°F) in January, and Ponce fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBangkok 27°C (80°F)Ponce 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Bangkok or Ponce in the Spring?
Both Ponce and Bangkok during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Bangkok because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round.
May to October is the rainy season in Bangkok. Bangkok usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Ponce. Bangkok gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Ponce, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Bangkok. In the spring, Bangkok often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Ponce. Bangkok gets 262 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 272 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Bangkok is a little warmer than Ponce. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bangkok in April average around 31°C (87°F), and Ponce averages at about 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBangkok 31°C (87°F)Ponce 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Ponce and Bangkok
| Bangkok | Ponce | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (85°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 31°C (87°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 30°C (86°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (85°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 155 mm (6.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 344 mm (13.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (83°F) | 242 mm (9.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 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.