A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bern vs. San Juan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Zurich, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Zurich.


Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Bern?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Bern is $310, 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
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bern $170
    San Juan $124
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bern $340
    San 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.

Hotels in Bern


Hotels in San Juan


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bern $35
    San 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: $229
  • Private Direct Transfer From Bern to Basel: $193

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan

Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • SJU Airport Transfer To-From San Juan, Hotels, Airbnb, Ports: $24
  • San Juan One-way Transfer (Cruise, SJU, Hotels, Airbnb): $30
  • Private Transportation in Puerto Rico From or To San Juan Airport(SJU) Transfers: $33
  • One-way transfer from SJU Airport to Cruise Port or Vice Versa: $55
  • Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, Tesla 3 Luxury Sedan.: $63
  • Oneway Transfer- San Juan from/to Rio Grande or Loiza: $68
  • Oneway Transfer- San Juan (SJU,hotel,airbnb,port) to Dorado City: $68
  • Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Chrysler Minivan, Select Zone: $68
  • 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 Y Luxury SUV, Select Zone: $77

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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Bern $109
    San 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: $59
  • Elevated Sunset or Night Dinner Experience Ocean View 4 Courses: $155
  • Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $170
  • Savor the Sunset: Old San Juan Walking Food Tour: $179

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bern $36
    San 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: $662
  • Alpine Heights: Small Group Tour to Jungfraujoch from Bern: $625
  • Bern : Highlights & Hidden Gems Walking Tour: $82
  • Bern : Private Walking Tour with a Local Guide (Private tour): $57
  • Bern Highlights Small-Group Walking Tour with a Local: $164
  • Bern Historical UNESCO Old Town Private Tour: $170
  • Bern Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $61
  • Bern Old City Walking Tour: $303
  • Bern Old Town - Private Historic Walking Tour: $542
  • Bern Private Walking Tour: $340
  • Bern Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $4.40
  • Bern Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $17

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 Tour with Audio Guide: $14
  • Group Transportation in airport, cruise ships, hotels, bnb's in San Juan, PR: $20
  • Old Guided Tour 100% in Swedish: $25
  • Tour de Viejo San Juan en Español: $30
  • History, Legends, & Highlights Guided Walking Tour: $30
  • Explore Old San Juan Walking Tour: $30
  • Old San Juan Walking Tour with a Certified Guide: $30
  • Old San Juan Walking Tour with a Local Certified Guide: $30
  • Old San Juan History & Culture Guided Walking Tour: $35
  • Urban Park Sky Bull Zipline Experience: $39
  • Old San Juan City Walking Tour: $39
  • Old San Juan Walking Tour: $39

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bern $28
    San Juan $12

Sample the Local Flavors in San Juan

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Juan:

  • Puerto Rico: Ocean Lab Brewery and Tobaco Farm Tour: $149


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.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Bern 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.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Bern 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.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Bern 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.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Bern 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)