Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Bogota?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bogota or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Bogota 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: Bogota or San Juan?
Bogota
Sprawling across a high altitude in the Columbian Andes region, Bogota is the capital city of Columbia. It is a mix of the old and new with century-old plazas and churches shadowed by towering skyscrapers, museums representing the history, art, and culture of the region, as well as a mix of distinct neighborhoods from quaint and historic to trendy and contemporary.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Colombia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBogota $53San Juan $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Bogota is $53, 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 Bogota and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBogota $26San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBogota $52San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Bogota and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Bogota 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: Bogota Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bogota $8.77San Juan $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bogota
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Bogota are as follows:
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Taxi from Airport$7.56
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Taxi Ride$0.39
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2 Bus Passes$0.89
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bogota
Also for Bogota, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Salt Cathedral and Nemocón Salt Mines + In & out Transfer + (8 hours): $242
- Private Visit to Zipaquira's Town & Salt Cathedral + In&Out Transfer + (6 hours): $176
- Bogotá to or from Barichara or San Gil Private Transfer: $167
- Bogotá to or from Villavieja or Tatacoa Desert Private Transfer: $167
- Layover Bogotá Private Tour + Transfer in & Out (4 Hrs.) : $149
- Arrival Private Transfer Bogota Airport BOG to Bogota City in a Luxury Van: $134
- Arrival Private Transfer from Bogota Airport BOG to Bogota City by Minibus: $124
- Bogotá Private Luxury Transfer - Airport Pick Up or Drop Off - SUV Mercedes Benz: $97
- Bogotá to or from Villa de Leyva Private Transfer: $80
- El Dorado International Airport (BOG) - Private Round trip transfer Bogota: $80
- Arrival Transfer from Bogota Airport BOG to Bogota by MiniSuv: $66
- Andres Carne de Res Chia • Premium Private Transfer: $39
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 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
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, 16Pax Mercedes Van, Select Zone: $130
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 11Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $103
Is it cheaper to fly into Bogota or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Bogota 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 dayBogota $14San Juan $36
Typical Food Prices in Bogota
For Bogota, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Breakfast$1.57
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Hot Dog$0.92
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bogota
For Bogota, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Peruvian cooking workshop: $26
- Bogotá Bites: Guided Street Food Tour with Tastings: $45
- Viejo Bogota Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $49
- PALOQUEMAO MARKET FOOD TOUR. EXOTIC FRUIT. LOCAL SNACKS. /Min 2 pax: $55
- Bogota Food Tour • Private Car • Fruits Cacao Lunch Coffee Beer: $59
- Private Colombian Cooking Class and Market Tour In Bogota: $90
- Dinner and party at Andres Carne de Res DC: $100
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
- Private Local Food Tour in San Juan: $275
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bogota $13San Juan $49
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bogota
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Bogota's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Beer$1.31
Tours and Activities in Bogota
For Bogota, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Bogota Zipaquira Salt Cathedral Private Tour + Lunch: $80
- Express Salt Cathedral Tour• Guided Tour & Tickets • 5h: $219
- La Candelaria and Monserrate Walking Half Day Tour: $234
- Lake Guatavitá Private Day Tour: $255
- Salt Cathedral Zipaquira - Group tour and daily departure: $80
- *Private tour* to Guatavita sacred lagoon + Nemocon salt mine: $153
- 3h 30 -Hour StopOver—Walking Tour: Bogota Historical Center: $54
- 4 Hours Private Tour to Monserrate from Bogotá: $69
- 4-Hour Private Tour of Bogotá with Guide and Transportation: $77
- 4-hour Paragliding Adventure from Bogota: $170
- 5-hour Bogota Street Art Tour with transportation: $184
- 5-hour Tour through Bogotá during the stopover. Includes round-trip from airport: $160
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.
- Rum Craft Cocktail Tour in San Juan: $65
- 1 or 2 Hour Puerto Rico Horseback Ride Experience!: $210
- Bioluminescent Bay Kayak Adventure from San Juan: $110
- Carolina: ATV Adventure at Campo Rico Ranch with Guide: $136
- Cave Day Tour From San Juan: $109
- Cruise Ship Travelers: Hike to a Hidden Puerto Rican Waterfall: $85
- Culebra Beach Day Tour with Snorkeling from San Juan by Ferry: $200
- Culebra Snorkeling Tour by Catamaran from Fajardo: $175
- Discover El Yunque: Half-Day Rainforest Tour: $115
- Discover Old In-App Audio Tour of History: $11
- El Yunque National RainForest: Tour with Nature walk: $75
- El Yunque Rainforest Guided Day Tour from San Juan: $85
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBogota $14San Juan $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Bogota
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bogota:
- Thursday Bar Crawl in Bogotá: $25
- Friday Night Bar Crawl in Bogotá : $25
- Saturday Bar Crawl in La Candelaria, Bogotá: $25
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 Bogota and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Bogota much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bogota is in South 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 Bogota would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bogota 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 Bogota.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bogota Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bogota or San Juan?
Bogota has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of San Juan. When comparing the sizes of Bogota 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 Bogota or San Juan?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Bogota or San Juan in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Bogota and San Juan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Bogota year-round. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Bogota usually receives less rain than San Juan. Bogota gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Bogota is much colder than San Juan in the summer. The daily temperature in Bogota averages around 14°C (57°F) in July, and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBogota 14°C (57°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Bogota or San Juan in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Bogota as well as San Juan. Bogota attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in San Juan. Bogota receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Bogota usually gets less rain in October than San Juan. Bogota gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Bogota is much colder than San Juan. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bogota in October average around 14°C (57°F), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBogota 14°C (57°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Bogota or San Juan in the Winter?
Both San Juan and Bogota are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Bogota throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Bogota usually receives less rain than San Juan. Bogota gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In January, Bogota is generally much colder than San Juan. Daily temperatures in Bogota average around 14°C (57°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBogota 14°C (57°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Bogota or San Juan in the Spring?
Both San Juan and Bogota during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Bogota because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
Bogota usually gets more rain in April than San Juan. Bogota gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
Bogota is much colder than San Juan in the spring. The daily temperature in Bogota averages around 15°C (59°F) in April, and San Juan fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBogota 15°C (59°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Bogota
| Bogota | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (57°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 15°C (59°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 14°C (57°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 14°C (57°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 14°C (57°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (57°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (57°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 14°C (57°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (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.