Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Boquete?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Boquete or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Boquete and San Juan can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Boquete or San Juan?
Boquete
Boquete is a village located in the pacific west of Panama. This town very recently became an attractive destination for tourists and expatriates. Before the early 2000's, it was a quiet town hidden away in the mountains with very little tourism. After the development of Valle Escondido, which is a largely residential area, many North Americans flocked to this town and an expat community developed. Boquete is known for it's near perfect year round temperature of about seventy degrees Fahrenheit, beautiful untouched nature, and world renowned coffee.
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 Panama City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Panama City.
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Boquete Prices
Panama PricesSan Juan Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBoquete $67San Juan $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Boquete is $67, while the average daily cost in San Juan is $218. 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 Boquete and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBoquete $23San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBoquete $46San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Boquete and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Boquete 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: Boquete Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Boquete $5.24San Juan $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Boquete
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Boquete:
- Private transfer from Boquete to Bocas del Toro: $165
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- San Juan hotels to San Juan PR Cruise Port - Departure Transfer: $29
- San Juan hotels to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $29
- San Juan Port to San Juan Airport (SJU)- Departure Transfer: $29
- Private Transfer Puerto Rico:To or From Airports, Hotels &Cruises: $33
- Premium Transfer Service FROM or TO Rio Grande Puerto Rico: $50
- San Juan hotels to San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $59
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan Port Arrival Private Transfer: $59
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $59
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, Tesla 3 Luxury Sedan.: $63
- Private Transfer Airport SJU to Old San Juan Vice versa One way: $65
- Transfer SJU Airport to Cruise Port / Vice Versa in Old S.J ONLY: $65
- Roundtrip-Transfer from: SJU Airport,Cruises and Hotels in Puerto Rico LuxurySUV: $70
Is it cheaper to fly into Boquete or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Boquete 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 dayBoquete $32San Juan $62
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:
- Morning Old San Juan Food Tour: $169
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $170
- FlyDining: 4 Courses Dinner with City Lights & Ocean Breeze: $195
- Fly Dining 4 Course Sunset and City Light Dinner Over San Juan: $195
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Boquete $17San Juan $49
Tours and Activities in Boquete
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Boquete are as follows:
- Ancestral Coffee Experience in Boquete: $55
- Boquete Adventure - E-Bike Tour (2 hrs.) (2 Person Min.): $55
- Boquete Panoramic Tour: $200
- Boquete Rock climbing tour: $80
- Chasing Waterfalls Adventure in Boquete: $100
- Coffee Tasting Experience-Los Molinos Hotel-Panama's Top Product: $25
- Dirtbike adventure in Boquete (half day): $200
- Epic Cloud Forest Horseback Riding Adventure in Boquete: $55
- Family experience in boiler Thermal wells and limestone: $65
- Fun Adventure at Finca CreaDora Cafe and Animals and Hiking: $35
- Guided Market Tour with Sensory Coffee Tasting Boquete: $48
- Hiking Experience in Caldera Transportation Included: $95
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.
- The Ultimate Self-Guided Hidden Gems Tour in Puerto Rico: $5.00
- Transportation in San Juan, Isla verde, Condado, Hotels, Cruises & Airbnb's SJU: $14
- Eco Friendly Farming Tour to Explore Dorado's Most Beautiful Farm: $20
- Old San Juan Tour (1 Hour) by DUHO: $25
- San Juan Ghost Tour: Shrieks in the Sugarcane: $26
- Paddleboard Adventure: Explore Marine Life in Condado Lagoon: $35
- San Juan Guided Turtle Snorkel Tour and Complimentary Videos: $39
- Legacy Tour at Casa BACARDÍ in Puerto Rico: $45
- Top Rated El Yunque Rainforest & Waterslide – SmallGroup Tour: $45
- Ron del Barrilito Heritage Skip-the-Line Tour: $46
- Historic Old San Juan Walking Tour with El Morro Entry: $49
- Old San Juan Guided Walking Tour: $55
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBoquete $4.46San Juan $12
Sample the Local Flavors in San Juan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Juan:
- Old San Juan Bar Crawl: Experience Local Hotspots: $65
- Puerto Rico Tobacco Farm and Local Brewery Tour: $109
- Puerto Rico's First and Only Craft Beer Brewery Tour!: $150
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Boquete and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Boquete much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Boquete is in Central 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 Boquete would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Boquete 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 Boquete.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Boquete Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Boquete or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Boquete. When comparing the sizes of Boquete 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.
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.