Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Basel?
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 Basel or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Basel or San Juan, 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: Basel or San Juan?
Basel
Basel is often overlooked as a tourist destination in Switzerland, but despite this, it does have a lot to offer visitors as well as a beautiful medieval historic center. Every year it also hosts a Carnival festival that is one of the most popular in Europe, competing with those in Venice and Rio de Janeiro in its popularity. There are also some excellent museums and great examples of regional architecture around town. Basel also serves as an excellent entry point to the Swiss Jura mountains and a jumping off point to visit more popular cities such as Zurich or Lucerne.
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 2-Week Tours in Switzerland, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Switzerland.
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Basel Prices
Switzerland PricesSan Juan Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBasel $317San Juan $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Basel is $317, 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 Basel and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBasel $161San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBasel $322San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Basel and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Basel 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: Basel Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Basel $51San Juan $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Basel
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Basel:
- Private Transfer from Basel Airport BSL to Basel City: $251
- Private Transfer Basel Airport BSL to Zurich City in Car or Van: $231
- Private direct transfer: Basel to Zurich, English speaking driver: $230
- Private direct transfer from Basel to Colmar with a local driver: $139
- Basel Airport (BSL) to Badenweiler - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $130
- Private Transfer Service from Basel to Basel Airport: $129
- Departure Private Transfer: Basel to EuroAirport (BSL MLH EAP) in Luxury Van: $126
- Basel Airport Transfer: EuroAirport (BSL MLH EAP) to Basel in Luxury Van: $126
- Airport Transfer: Basel to EuroAirport (BSL MLH EAP) by MB Van: $126
- Basel Airport (BSL) to Feldberg Resort - Arrival Private Transfer: $122
- Departure Private Transfer: Basel to EuroAirport (BSL MLH EAP) in Business Car: $115
- Arrival Private Transfer: EuroAirport (BSL MLH EAP) to Basel in Business Car: $115
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- San Juan hotels to San Juan PR Cruise Port - Departure Transfer: $29
- San Juan Port to San Juan Airport (SJU)- Departure Transfer: $29
- Private Transfer Puerto Rico:To or From Airports, Hotels &Cruises: $33
- Premium Transfer Service FROM or TO Rio Grande Puerto Rico: $50
- 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
- San Juan hotels to San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $58
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Premium Sedan, Select Zone: $59
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, Tesla 3 Luxury Sedan.: $63
- Transfer SJU Airport to Cruise Port / Vice Versa in Old S.J ONLY: $65
- One-way transfer from SJU Airport to Cruise Port or Vice Versa: $65
- Roundtrip-Transfer from: SJU Airport,Cruises and Hotels in Puerto Rico LuxurySUV: $70
Is it cheaper to fly into Basel or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Basel 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 dayBasel $119San Juan $62
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Basel
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Basel.
- Self-Guided Food Tour: $49
- Traditional Swiss Dinner: Cheese Fondue, Appetizers/Dessert: $162
- Traditional Swiss Dinner: Cheese Fondue, Appetizers and Dessert: $169
- Cooking Class: Homemade Italian Lasagna Experience by Locals: $187
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.Basel $42San Juan $49
Tours and Activities in Basel
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Basel are as follows:
- Basel : Private Custom Walking Tour With A Guide (Private Tour): $87
- Basel City Sightseeing Bus Tour: $33
- Basel City Tour: The Essentials: $62
- Basel City Tour: The Essentials: $31
- Basel Exploration Game and City Tour on your Phone: $9.27
- Basel Farmer's Market, Cheese, Chocolate & Pastry Tour: $114
- Basel Historical Old Town Tour: $25
- Basel Historical Old Town Tour: $20
- Basel Old Town Walking Tour With A Guide: $58
- Basel Old Town Walking Tour With A Guide: $58
- Basel Old Town, Cheese & Chocolate Experience | From Basel: $45
- Basel Private & Small Group City Tour: Highlights And Hidden Gems: $69
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.
- The Ultimate Self-Guided Hidden Gems Tour in Puerto Rico: $5.00
- San Juan Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $17
- Eco Friendly Farming Tour to Explore Dorado's Most Beautiful Farm: $20
- Old San Juan Tour (1 Hour) by DUHO: $25
- San Juan Ghost Tour: Shrieks in the Sugarcane: $26
- Paddleboard Adventure: Explore Marine Life in Condado Lagoon: $32
- VIP San Juan Salsa Night Experience at Luxury Condado Beach: $35
- Legacy Tour at Casa BACARDÍ in Puerto Rico: $45
- Top Rated El Yunque Rainforest & Waterslide – SmallGroup Tour: $45
- San Juan Guided Turtle Snorkel Tour and Complimentary Videos: $45
- Old San Juan Highlights Walk – Cruise Piers: $50
- Private Guided Tours in Rio las Pailas: $55
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBasel $37San Juan $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Basel
Also in Basel, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Alsace wine tour & medieval villages small group guided tour: $368
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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Basel and San Juan, we can see that Basel is more expensive. And not only is San Juan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Basel is in Europe 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 San Juan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Juan 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 Basel would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Basel than you might in San Juan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Basel Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Basel or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Basel. When comparing the sizes of Basel 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 Basel or San Juan?
Basel 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 Basel or San Juan in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Basel as well as San Juan. Many visitors come to Basel in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
In July, Basel is generally cooler than San Juan. Daily temperatures in Basel average around 21°C (70°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Basel this time of the year. In the summer, Basel often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Basel gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun.
Basel usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as San Juan. Basel gets 89 mm (3.5 in) 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 JulyBasel 21°C (70°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Basel or San Juan in the Autumn?
Both San Juan and Basel are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Basel for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Basel is much colder than San Juan in the autumn. The daily temperature in Basel averages around 13°C (56°F) in October, and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
It's quite sunny in San Juan. Basel usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during autumn. Basel gets 120 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Juan. In October, Basel usually receives less rain than San Juan. Basel gets 70 mm (2.8 in) 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 OctoberBasel 13°C (56°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Basel or San Juan in the Winter?
Both San Juan and Basel during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Basel because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
The weather in Basel can be very cold. In the winter, Basel is much colder than San Juan. Typically, the winter temperatures in Basel in January average around 3°C (37°F), and San Juan averages at about 25°C (77°F).
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Basel often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Basel gets 55 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun.
Basel usually gets more rain in January than San Juan. Basel gets 77 mm (3 in) 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 JanuaryBasel 3°C (37°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Basel or San Juan in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Basel and San Juan. The natural beauty are the main draw to Basel this time of year. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Basel is generally much colder than San Juan. Daily temperatures in Basel average around 12°C (53°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. Basel usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during spring. Basel gets 150 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Basel usually receives more rain than San Juan. Basel gets 79 mm (3.1 in) 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 AprilBasel 12°C (53°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Basel
| Basel | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 5°C (40°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 16°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 21°C (69°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (56°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (39°F) | 83 mm (3.3 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.