Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Belfast?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Belfast or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Belfast 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: Belfast or San Juan?
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland and the second largest city on the island of Ireland after Dublin. It has a population of about 270,000 and almost 500,000 in the metropolitan area. It's located on the mouth of the River Lagan and is set between many low hills that rise up around it.
One of the most famous, and tragic times in Belfast's history is referred to as "The Troubles." During this time, between 1969 and 1997, there were many bomb and gun attacks throughout the city. This left many areas as essentially no-go zones. Neighborhoods became completely lawless do to the lack of security and the damage is still visible today in some areas. In 1998 the Good Friday Agreement was signed and much of the politically motivated violence ended. The city actually received praise recently as the safest city in the UK based on crime rate. Tourism is growing and many visitors enjoy seeing this less popular travel destination. The city has a lot of character and will give you an interesting take on Irish and British history.
Belfast has a temperate climate and temperature and precipitation have little variation throughout the year. The climate is influenced by the warming effects of the Gulf Stream, making it warmer than many cities that are found at the same latitude. Rain is common with precipitation falling an average of 157 days a year. Snow is much less common, although it does happen about ten days a year. The warmest days during the summer may reach a temperature around 25 degrees Celsius and the coldest days have lows that drop just below freezing.
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 Budget Tours to United Kingdom, and The Best Tours for Seniors to United Kingdom.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBelfast $167San Juan $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Belfast 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 Belfast and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBelfast $86San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBelfast $172San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Belfast and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Belfast 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: Belfast Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Belfast $18San Juan $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Belfast
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Belfast:
- Private Transfer from Belfast City Airport (BHD) to Dublin Airport: $294
- Private Transfer from Belfast City Airport (BHD) to Derrylin: $269
- Private Transfer from Belfast City Airport (BHD) to Bellanaleck: $269
- Private Transfer from Belfast City Airport (BHD) to Kinawley: $264
- Private Transfer from Belfast City Airport (BHD) to Kesh: $264
- Private Transfer from Belfast City Airport (BHD) to Lisnarick: $259
- Private Transfer from Belfast City Airport (BHD) to Ballycassidy: $257
- Private Transfer from Belfast City Airport (BHD) to Irvinestown: $252
- Private Transfer from Belfast City Airport (BHD) to Castlederg: $248
- Private Transfer from Belfast City Airport (BHD) to Ballinamallard: $248
- Private Transfer from Belfast City Airport (BHD) to Newtownbutler: $236
- Private Transfer from Belfast City Airport (BHD) to Strabane : $227
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to San Juan Airport: $22
- San Juan One-way Transfer: $30
- San Juan hotels to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- San Juan Luxury Private Round-Trip Transfer: SJU Airport - Cruise Pier - Hotel : $50
- Oneway Transfer- San Juan(SJU, hotel, airbnb, port) to Río Grande: $68
- Old Walking Tour with Shopping and Hotel Transfer: $70
- Roundtrip-Transfer from: SJU Airport,Cruises and Hotels in Puerto Rico LuxurySUV: $70
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Tesla Y Luxury SUV, Select Zone: $77
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Tesla S Lux Sedan, Select Zone: $79
- Oneway Transfer San Juan to Ceiba: Ferry, Vieques/Culebra Airport: $80
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Lexus Luxury Sedan, Select Zone: $81
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Ford Premium SUV, Select Zone: $87
Is it cheaper to fly into Belfast or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Belfast 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 dayBelfast $64San Juan $36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Belfast
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Belfast.
- Guided Craft Beer and Street Food Tour: $82
- Belfast Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $108
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Belfast $23San Juan $49
Typical Entertainment Prices in Belfast
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Belfast are as follows:
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Movie Tickets$10
Tours and Activities in Belfast
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Belfast are as follows:
- Belfast A Music and StreetArt Experience. Small Gr Walking Tour : $25
- Belfast The Troubles cab tour Adventure 2hrs personal guide : $113
- Historical Private Tour in Belfast : $76
- (Small Group) Shore Tour from Giant's Causeway and Belfast Day Trip: $147
- 2 hour Private Political History & Murals Tour Belfast: $70
- 2 hours Belfast Original Drivers The Troubles Black Taxi Tour: $93
- 3 Hour extended Murals Tour: $102
- 4 Hours Private Guided Belfast City Tour: $254
- A History of Terror - Belfast City Centre Walking Tour : $28
- Antrim Coast Carrickfergus and Gobbins Cliff Experience: $439
- Award winners Express 2 hrs Black Taxi tours and Mural Taxi Tour: $159
- Belfast Famous Black taxi political mural peace wall tour 2 hour: $126
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 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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBelfast $9.86San Juan $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Belfast
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Belfast:
- Pub Crawl and Bar Walking Tour with Two Drinks: $15
- Explore & Taste: Distillery Tour at Titanic Distillers: $32
- Belfast Giant's Causeway and Titanic Distillery Whiskey Tour: $69
- VIP Skip-the Line Titanic Museum and Distillery Tasting Tour: $119
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 comparing the travel costs between Belfast 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. Even though Belfast is in Europe and San Juan is in Caribbean Islands, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Belfast Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Belfast or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 52% larger than the population of Belfast. When comparing the sizes of Belfast 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 Belfast or San Juan?
Belfast 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 Belfast or San Juan in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Belfast as well as San Juan. Many visitors come to Belfast in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
Belfast is much colder than San Juan in the summer. The daily temperature in Belfast averages around 15°C (59°F) in July, and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. In the summer, Belfast often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Belfast gets 151 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun.
Belfast usually gets less rain in July than San Juan. Belfast gets 70 mm (2.8 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 JulyBelfast 15°C (59°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Belfast or San Juan in the Autumn?
Both San Juan and Belfast are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Belfast for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the autumn, Belfast is much colder than San Juan. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Belfast in October average around 9°C (48°F), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (82°F).
It's quite sunny in San Juan. Belfast usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during autumn. Belfast gets 92 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, Belfast usually receives less rain than San Juan. Belfast gets 90 mm (3.5 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 OctoberBelfast 9°C (48°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Belfast or San Juan in the Winter?
Both San Juan and Belfast during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Belfast because of the shopping scene and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
The weather in Belfast can be very cold. In January, Belfast is generally much colder than San Juan. Daily temperatures in Belfast average around 4°C (39°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Belfast often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Belfast gets 50 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun.
Belfast usually gets more rain in January than San Juan. Belfast gets 80 mm (3.1 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 JanuaryBelfast 4°C (39°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Belfast or San Juan in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Belfast and San Juan. The activities around the city are the main draw to Belfast this time of year. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Belfast is much colder than San Juan in the spring. The daily temperature in Belfast averages around 8°C (46°F) in April, 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. Belfast usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during spring. Belfast gets 150 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Belfast usually receives less rain than San Juan. Belfast gets 50 mm (2 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 AprilBelfast 8°C (46°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Belfast
| Belfast | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 4°C (39°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (39°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 8°C (46°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 11°C (52°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 13°C (55°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 15°C (59°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 15°C (59°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 9°C (48°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 5°C (41°F) | 80 mm (3.1 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.