Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Beijing?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Beijing or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Beijing and San Juan 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: Beijing or San Juan?
Beijing
Beijing is the capital of China and, with 21.5 million people, it is the second most populated city in the world after Shanghai. It is a city that keeps pockets of its history hidden in old neighborhoods or back alleys, despite the constant change and modernization that goes on around it. As the capital city of China, there is plenty of history and culture. You can still get yourself lost in one of the last remaining hutongs, which are old neighborhoods that remain untouched by the city's modernization. The alleys that weave between the old homes are lined with drying clothes, corner markets, and people going about their daily lives the way they have for centuries. Surrounding these hutongs you'll find modern buildings and a booming economy, all threatening to destroying these last bits of Beijing's history. Beijing offers a glimpse into a microcosm that represents the entire country of China. Make sure you give yourself enough time in China to truly experience Beijing. You can pass a lot of time soaking up life in the city, which remains as diverse as the country it resides within.
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 from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBeijing $77San Juan $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Beijing is $77, 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 Beijing and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBeijing $39San Juan $124
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBeijing $78San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Beijing and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Beijing 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: San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Beijing $7.63San Juan $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Beijing
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Beijing:
-
Taxi$4.71
-
Train from Airport for Two$6.90
-
Taxi to Hotel$8.28
-
2 Metro Passes$2.21
-
Metro$0.55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beijing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Beijing:
- Private Beijing Downtown Transfer for 10 hours Up to 30pax: $850
- Private Beijing Downtown Transfer for 10 hours Up to 15pax: $490
- Private Beijing Downtown Transfer for 10 hours Up to 5pax: $380
- Beijing Layover Tour with Hutong, Temple of Heaven and Airport Transfer: $296
- Beijing to Zun Hua Explore Qing Emperor's Tombs By Car Transfer : $285
- 1 Day Pass for Universal Beijing and Private Transfer Package: $265
- Private Transfer to Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace with A Guide: $259
- Beijing Great Wall and Imperial Palace Private Tour with Airport Transfer: $256
- 1-Day Bejing Layover Tour:Mutianyu Great Wall,Forbidden City & Airport Transfers: $250
- Private Transfer from Tianjin Cruise port to Mutianyu Great Wall of China : $221
- Private Transfer from Tianjin Cruise Port to Beijing with stop at Great Wall : $221
- Beijing Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer for up to 15 pax: $220
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Carabali Rain Forest Round Trip Private Taxi Transfer: $210
- Old Walking Tour with Shopping and Hotel Transfer: $70
- Oneway Transfer San Juan to Ceiba: Ferry, Vieques/Culebra Airport: $80
- Oneway Transfer- San Juan(SJU, hotel, airbnb, port) to Río Grande: $68
- Private Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to San Juan Airport: $22
- Private Transfer from SJU Airport to San Juan / Rio Grande: $105
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 11Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $103
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 14Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $124
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, 16Pax Mercedes Van, Select Zone: $130
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Ford Premium SUV, Select Zone: $87
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Lexus Luxury Sedan, Select Zone: $81
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Mercedes ECO Van, Select Zone: $87
Is it cheaper to fly into Beijing or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Beijing 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
-
Food Meals for one dayBeijing $21San Juan $36
Typical Food Prices in Beijing
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Beijing:
-
Popcorn$0.83
-
Hot Pot Dinner$6.90
-
Dumpling Breakfast for Two$2.76
-
Watermelon$1.93
-
Peking Duck Dinner for 2$16
-
Two Popsicles$0.83
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beijing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Beijing.
- Online Cooking Class Handmade Noodles by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class Beijing Dumplings and Cuisine by Sunflowerli Renowned Chef : $20
- Online Cooking Class Orange Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- Deal 20% off Beijing Nango HotSpring Water World with Dinner: $38
- Beijing Acrobatic Show Tickets w/ Optional Dinner or Transfer: $48
- 3.5-Hour Walking Food Tour: A Bite of History at Beijing Niujie Street: $49
- Beijing Hutong Breakfast Food Tour: $55
- Temple of Heaven Private Tour w/Option Show &Dinner: $60
- 3 hours Morning or Afternoon Tea Tasting on Maliandao Street and Tea Restaurant Lunch or Dinner Tour: $69
- Mogolian Hot Pot Dinner with no limit soft drink and local beer .: $70
- Old Beijing Dinner Tour: $80
- Acrobatic Show with Peking Duck Dinner Private Tour: $80
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:
- Old San Juan Sunset Food Tour with Drinks: $156
- Savor the Sunset: Old San Juan Walk and Food Tour: $159
- City Lights Sky High Dinner Experience: $165
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $170
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Beijing $24San Juan $49
Typical Entertainment Prices in Beijing
Here are a few typical costs in Beijing for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
-
Entry to Summer Palace for Two$8.28
-
Two Opera Tickets$59
-
Temple of Heaven Park Entrance (for 2)$9.66
-
Forbidden City (for 2)$17
-
Forbidden City Tickets$17
-
Audio Guides at Forbidden City$11
Tours and Activities in Beijing
Here are a few actual costs in Beijing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1-Day Mutianyu Great Wall and Beijing Airport Drop off Tour: $235
- All Inclusive Mutianyu Great Wall & Summer Palace Private Tour: $188
- All Inclusive Private Summer Palace, Mutianyu Great Wall Day Tour: $204
- Beijing 2 Summer Palace Private Garden Tour: $140
- Beijing Art Tour: Seeing Fantastic Ming Murals at Fa Hai Temple : $220
- Beijing Layover Tour: Mutianyu Great Wall with English Driver : $100
- Beijing Private Tour of Ming Tombs, Summer Palace, Bird's Nest and Water Cube: $297
- China Art Museum and 798 Art Zone Private Tour: $137
- Classic One Day Beijing Tour: $240
- Forbidden City Tour : $110
- Full Day Private Tour Incredible Beijing City Highlights: $179
- Mutianyu Great Wall And Ming Tomb Private One Day Tour: $205
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Juan
For San Juan, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Horseback Riding Tour$40
-
Full Day Snorkeling Trip$100
-
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 Audio Tour of Historic Buildings: $5.99
- Discover Old In-App Audio Tour of History: $11
- Self-Guided Tour with Audio Guide: $14
- Group Transportation in airport, cruise ships, hotels, bnb's in San Juan, PR: $20
- Old Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $25
- Old San Juan Walking Tour with a Certified Guide: $30
- Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $30
- History, Legends, & Highlights Guided Walking Tour: $30
- Old San Juan Walking Tour: $39
- Old San Juan City Walking Tour: $39
- Legacy Tour at Casa BarcadÍ in Puerto Rico: $45
- Ron del Barrilito Skip-the-Line Heritage Tour Ticket: $46
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayBeijing $12San Juan $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Beijing
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Beijing:
- Beijing Brewery Bike Tour: $99
- Evening Food Private Tour with Brewery Taproom Hopping at Slow Boat in Beijing: $110
- Private Tour-Drum Tower, Hutong Food Taste and Local Brewery Beer: $150
- Full Day Private Chateau Changyu Wine Tour from Beijing: $162
- 5-Hour Private Changyu Chateau Wine Tasting Tour from Beijing: $178
- Private Changyu Chateau Wine Tasting Tour and Mutianyu Great Wall Visit: $238
Sample the Local Flavors in San Juan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Juan:
- Pinones Pub crawl in Puerto Rico: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Beijing and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Beijing much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Beijing is in Asia 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 Beijing would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Beijing 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 San Juan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Juan than you might in Beijing.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Beijing Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Beijing or San Juan?
Beijing has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of San Juan. When comparing the sizes of Beijing 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 Beijing or San Juan?
Beijing 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 Beijing or San Juan in the Summer?
Both San Juan and Beijing during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Beijing for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
In the summer, Beijing is around the same temperature as San Juan. Typically, the summer temperatures in Beijing in July average around 27°C (80°F), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (83°F).
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Beijing. In the summer, Beijing often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Beijing gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Beijing. Beijing usually gets more rain in July than San Juan. Beijing gets 176 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyBeijing 27°C (80°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Beijing or San Juan in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Beijing and San Juan. Many visitors come to Beijing in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Beijing is generally much colder than San Juan. Daily temperatures in Beijing average around 14°C (56°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. In Beijing, it's very sunny this time of the year. Beijing usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan during autumn. Beijing gets 227 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun in the autumn.
San Juan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Beijing usually receives less rain than San Juan. Beijing gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBeijing 14°C (56°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Beijing or San Juan in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Beijing as well as San Juan. Most visitors come to Beijing for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
Beijing can be very cold during winter. Beijing is much colder than San Juan in the winter. The daily temperature in Beijing averages around -4°C (26°F) in January, and San Juan fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Beijing this time of the year. In the winter, Beijing often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Beijing gets 201 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun.
Beijing usually gets less rain in January than San Juan. Beijing gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBeijing -4°C (26°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Beijing or San Juan in the Spring?
Both San Juan and Beijing are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Beijing because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the spring, Beijing is much colder than San Juan. Typically, the spring temperatures in Beijing in April average around 14°C (57°F), and San Juan averages at about 26°C (79°F).
It's quite sunny in San Juan. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Beijing. Beijing usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during spring. Beijing gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Beijing usually receives less rain than San Juan. Beijing gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilBeijing 14°C (57°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Beijing
| Beijing | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -4°C (26°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | -1°C (30°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (42°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (57°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (76°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (80°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (78°F) | 182 mm (7.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (69°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (56°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 5°C (41°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | -1°C (29°F) | 2 mm (0.1 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.