Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Basse-Terre?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Basse-Terre or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Basse-Terre or San Juan? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Basse-Terre or San Juan?
Basse-Terre
In Guadeloupe there is Basse Terre the city and Basse-Terre the island - the city is the capital of Guadeloupe, and the island is Guadeloupe's western half of the main island. As a whole, the place is very green, featuring lush vegetation and a mountainous landscape with a sulfuric volcano.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBasse-Terre $167San Juan $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Basse-Terre is $167, while the average daily cost in San Juan is $192. 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 Basse-Terre and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBasse-Terre $99San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBasse-Terre $198San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Basse-Terre and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Basse-Terre 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: Basse-Terre Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Basse-Terre $8.84San Juan $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan Arrival Private Transfer: $47
- San Juan Luxury Private Round-Trip Transfer: SJU Airport - Cruise Pier - Hotel : $50
- Oneway Transfer- San Juan from/to Rio Grande or Loiza: $68
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Tesla Y Luxury SUV, Select Zone: $69
- Old Walking Tour with Shopping and Hotel Transfer: $70
- Roundtrip-Transfer from: SJU Airport,Cruises and Hotels in Puerto Rico LuxurySUV: $70
- Airport Private Transfer from/to City Hotels: $70
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Tesla S Lux Sedan, Select Zone: $71
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Tesla Model X Luxury SUV.: $73
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Ford Premium SUV, Select Zone: $74
- Transfer from San Juan to Ceiba (Vieques/Culebra) or Fajardo: $80
- Private Transfer from San Juan to Humacao: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Basse-Terre or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Basse-Terre 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 dayBasse-Terre $51San Juan $36
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:
- From Pinones Beach & Bar Hopping Food Tour: $50
- Piñones Bar Crawl and Beach Hop Food Tour with Drinks: $56
- Puerto Rican food tasting and beginner cooking Tour: $99
- Elevated Dinner Experience (4 Courses) City Lights & Ocean Breeze: $155
- Old San Juan Sunset Food Tour with Drinks: $156
- Savor the Sunset: Old San Juan Walk and Food Tour: $159
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $170
- Private Local Food Tour in San Juan: $285
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Basse-Terre $51San Juan $49
Tours and Activities in Basse-Terre
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Basse-Terre are as follows:
- Full day tour: the best of the island w/photos drone sunset: $188
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.
- Self-Guided Tour with Audio Guide: $14
- Group Transportation in airport, cruise ships, hotels, bnb's in San Juan, PR: $20
- Old Breathtaking Historic Walking Tour: $25
- History, Legends, & Highlights Guided Walking Tour: $30
- Old San Juan Walking Tour with a Local Certified Guide: $30
- Guided Tour of My Old San Juan in Spanish: $30
- Old San Juan Walking Tour with a Certified Guide: $30
- Legends of Puerto Rico Haunted Walking Tour: $32
- Old San Juan History & Culture Guided Walking Tour: $35
- Guided Old Town Walking Tour: $35
- Old San Juan Walking Tour: $39
- Old San Juan City Walking Tour: $39
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBasse-Terre $14San Juan $12
When comparing the travel costs between Basse-Terre and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Caribbean Islands, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Basse-Terre Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Basse-Terre or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Basse-Terre. When comparing the sizes of Basse-Terre 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 Basse-Terre or San Juan?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Basse-Terre or San Juan in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Basse-Terre as well as San Juan. Basse-Terre attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
Basse-Terre receives a lot of rain in the summer. Basse-Terre usually gets more rain in July than San Juan. Basse-Terre gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Basse-Terre this time of the year. In the summer, Basse-Terre often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Basse-Terre gets 245 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun.
Basse-Terre is around the same temperature as San Juan in the summer. The daily temperature in Basse-Terre averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBasse-Terre 27°C (81°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Basse-Terre or San Juan in the Autumn?
Both San Juan and Basse-Terre are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Basse-Terre throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Juan. It's quite rainy in Basse-Terre. In October, Basse-Terre usually receives more rain than San Juan. Basse-Terre gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
It's quite sunny in San Juan. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. Basse-Terre usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during autumn. Basse-Terre gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In the autumn, Basse-Terre is around the same temperature as San Juan. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Basse-Terre in October average around 27°C (80°F), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBasse-Terre 27°C (80°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Basse-Terre or San Juan in the Winter?
Both San Juan and Basse-Terre during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Basse-Terre because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
Basse-Terre usually gets more rain in January than San Juan. Basse-Terre gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Basse-Terre. In the winter, Basse-Terre often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan. Basse-Terre gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun.
In January, Basse-Terre is generally around the same temperature as San Juan. Daily temperatures in Basse-Terre average around 24°C (76°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBasse-Terre 24°C (76°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Basse-Terre or San Juan in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Basse-Terre and San Juan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Basse-Terre year-round. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Basse-Terre gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Basse-Terre usually receives more rain than San Juan. Basse-Terre gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. In Basse-Terre, it's very sunny this time of the year. Basse-Terre usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during spring. Basse-Terre gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
Basse-Terre is around the same temperature as San Juan in the spring. The daily temperature in Basse-Terre averages around 26°C (78°F) in April, and San Juan fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBasse-Terre 26°C (78°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Basse-Terre
| Basse-Terre | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 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.