Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Bern?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bern or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Bern 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: Bern or San Juan?
Bern
The capital city of Switzerland, Bern, is a surprisingly small city with a population of only about 130,000. It's located on a peninsula that is created by the turns of the River Aare. The city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it has a wonderfully preserved old town area. There are about four miles worth of quaint walkways that are lined with clock towers and fountains.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Switzerland, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Switzerland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBern $252San Juan $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Bern is $252, 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 Bern and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBern $163San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBern $326San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Bern and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Bern 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: Bern Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bern $34San Juan $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bern
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bern:
- Private Transfer From Bern to Zurich, English Speaking Driver: $228
- Private Transfer From Bern To Basel With a 2 Hour Stop in Olten: $214
- Private Direct Transfer From Bern to Basel: $192
- Private Car Departure Transfer from Bern to Bern Airport BRN: $73
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 Bern or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Bern 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 dayBern $60San Juan $36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bern
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bern.
- Cooking delicious Spanish paella in Switzerland.: $66
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.Bern $34San Juan $49
Tours and Activities in Bern
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bern are as follows:
- 007 Elegance:Exclusive Private Tour to Schilthorn from Bern: $633
- Alpine Heights: Small Group Tour to Jungfraujoch from Bern: $598
- Beautiful Bern's Old Town: Self Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Bern : Highlights & Hidden Gems Walking Tour: $81
- Bern : Private Walking Tour with a Local Guide (Private tour): $59
- Bern Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Walking Tour: $7.00
- Bern Highlights Small-Group Walking Tour with a Local: $157
- Bern Historical UNESCO Old Town Private Tour: $162
- Bern Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $60
- Bern Old City Walking Tour: $464
- Bern Old Town - Private Historic Walking Tour: $537
- Bern Private Walking Tour: $336
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 dayBern $27San Juan $12
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 Bern and San Juan, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is San Juan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bern 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 Bern would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bern 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 Bern Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bern or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Bern 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 Bern or San Juan?
Bern 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 Bern or San Juan in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Bern as well as San Juan. The summer months attract visitors to Bern because of the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
Bern is cooler than San Juan in the summer. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 21°C (70°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. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Bern this time of the year. In the summer, Bern often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun.
Bern usually gets less rain in July than San Juan. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 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 JulyBern 21°C (70°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Bern or San Juan in the Autumn?
Both San Juan and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Bern this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the autumn, Bern is much colder than San Juan. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bern in October average around 13°C (55°F), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (82°F).
It's quite sunny in San Juan. Bern usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during autumn. Bern gets 126 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, Bern usually receives less rain than San Juan. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 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 OctoberBern 13°C (55°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Bern or San Juan in the Winter?
Both San Juan and Bern during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Bern for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Bern. In January, Bern is generally much colder than San Juan. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 3°C (37°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, Bern often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun.
Bern usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as San Juan. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 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 JanuaryBern 3°C (37°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Bern or San Juan in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and San Juan. Many visitors come to Bern in the spring for the natural beauty. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Bern is much colder than San Juan in the spring. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 11°C (52°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. Bern usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during spring. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Bern usually receives less rain than San Juan. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 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 AprilBern 11°C (52°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Bern
| Bern | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (40°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 11°C (52°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 15°C (60°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (65°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 20°C (69°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (55°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (38°F) | 55 mm (2.2 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.