Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Big Pine Key?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Big Pine Key or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Big Pine Key and San Juan. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Big Pine Key or San Juan?
Big Pine Key
If you are yearning for a slice of paradise without the hustle and bustle of an ever-growing tourist population, the calm, turquoise waters and the untouched sands of Big Pine Key will surely do. Located 100 miles south of Miami and 30 miles north of Key West, this small community huddled in the family of Florida keys is often overlooked by many. However, Big Pine Key is truly a gem for all who seek a tropical vacation as activities like boating, fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling are found throughout the town. Besides its oceanic wonders, Big Pine Key also boasts in containing some of the United States' best seafood restaurants. Enjoy the aquatic wonders of the Keys and stop at Big Pine Key!
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 in United States of America, and The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBig Pine Key $144San Juan $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Big Pine Key is $144, 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 Big Pine Key and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBig Pine Key $64San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBig Pine Key $128San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Big Pine Key and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Big Pine Key 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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Big Pine Key $56San Juan $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Old San Juan Sunset Cruise with Drinks & Transfer: $99
- San Juan hotels to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port: Transfer to San Juan hotel: $271
- San Juan One-way Transfer: $30
- San Juan Luxury Private Round-Trip Transfer: SJU Airport - Cruise Pier - Hotel : $50
- San Juan Airport (SJU): Private Transfer to San Juan Port: $271
- 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
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Mercedes ECO Van, Select Zone: $87
- 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 Big Pine Key or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Big Pine Key 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 dayBig Pine Key $42San 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:
- 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.Big Pine Key $42San Juan $49
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.
- Full-Day Tour: El Yunque, Luquillo Beach, Bio Bay Night Kayaking: $155
- Rum Craft Cocktail Tour in San Juan: $65
- 1 or 2 Hour Puerto Rico Horseback Ride Experience!: $210
- Arte Boriken-Urban Art & Beach Sip & Paint Tour: $145
- Bioluminescent Bay Kayak Adventure from San Juan: $110
- Black Sand Beach- See The Southeast of Puerto Rico Private Tour: $150
- Carolina: ATV Adventure at Campo Rico Ranch with Guide: $136
- Cave Day Tour From San Juan: $109
- Craft Beer Private Tour in San Juan: $168
- Cruise Ship Travelers: Hike to a Hidden Puerto Rican Waterfall: $85
- Culebra Snorkeling Tour by Catamaran from Fajardo: $175
- Discover El Yunque: Half-Day Rainforest Tour: $115
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBig Pine Key $9.29San 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 Big Pine Key and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Big Pine Key much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Big Pine Key is in North America 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 Big Pine Key would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Big Pine Key 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 Big Pine Key.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Big Pine Key Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Big Pine Key or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Big Pine Key. When comparing the sizes of Big Pine Key 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 Big Pine Key or San Juan?
Big Pine Key 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 Big Pine Key or San Juan in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Big Pine Key and San Juan. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Big Pine Key is generally around the same temperature as San Juan. Daily temperatures in Big Pine Key average around 84°F (29°C), and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. In Big Pine Key, it's very sunny this time of the year. Big Pine Key usually receives more sunshine than San Juan during summer. Big Pine Key gets 328 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Big Pine Key usually receives less rain than San Juan. Big Pine Key gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBig Pine Key 84°F (29°C)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Big Pine Key or San Juan in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Big Pine Key as well as San Juan. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
Big Pine Key is around the same temperature as San Juan in the autumn. The daily temperature in Big Pine Key averages around 80°F (27°C) in October, and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Big Pine Key this time of the year. In the autumn, Big Pine Key often gets more sunshine than San Juan. Big Pine Key gets 258 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in San Juan. Big Pine Key receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Big Pine Key usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as San Juan. Big Pine Key gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBig Pine Key 80°F (27°C)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Big Pine Key or San Juan in the Winter?
Both San Juan and Big Pine Key are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the winter, Big Pine Key is cooler than San Juan. Typically, the winter temperatures in Big Pine Key in January average around 70°F (21°C), and San Juan averages at about 25°C (77°F).
It's quite sunny in San Juan. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Big Pine Key. Big Pine Key usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan during winter. Big Pine Key gets 252 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Big Pine Key usually receives less rain than San Juan. Big Pine Key gets 1.7 inches (43 mm) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBig Pine Key 70°F (21°C)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Big Pine Key or San Juan in the Spring?
Both San Juan and Big Pine Key during the spring are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
In April, Big Pine Key is generally around the same temperature as San Juan. Daily temperatures in Big Pine Key average around 77°F (25°C), and San Juan fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Big Pine Key. In the spring, Big Pine Key often gets more sunshine than San Juan. Big Pine Key gets 326 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun.
Big Pine Key usually gets less rain in April than San Juan. Big Pine Key gets 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBig Pine Key 77°F (25°C)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Big Pine Key
| Big Pine Key | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 70°F (21°C) | 1.7 inches (43 mm) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 71°F (21°C) | 1.4 inches (36 mm) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 74°F (23°C) | 1.7 inches (42 mm) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 77°F (25°C) | 0.8 inches (21 mm) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 81°F (27°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 83°F (28°C) | 4.5 inches (114 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 84°F (29°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 84°F (29°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 83°F (29°C) | 5.7 inches (144 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 80°F (27°C) | 5.1 inches (129 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 76°F (24°C) | 2 inches (50 mm) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 72°F (22°C) | 1.4 inches (35 mm) | 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.