Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Buzios?
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 Buzios or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Buzios 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: Buzios or San Juan?
Buzios
Initially a fishing village, Armação dos Buzios is a small beach resort town about three hours from Rio de Janeiro by bus. Buzios is a common weekend getaway destination for Cariocas. With 23 beaches, visitors from all over come to swim, snorkel, surf and enjoy sun and sand.
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 Rio de Janeiro, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Foz Do Iguacu.
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Buzios Prices
Brazil PricesSan Juan Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBuzios $96San Juan $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Buzios is $96, 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 Buzios and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBuzios $38San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBuzios $76San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Buzios and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Buzios 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.Buzios $19San Juan $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Buzios
Also for Buzios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from GIG Airport to City Buzios in Rio: $230
- Private transfer Buzios in Rio to the SDU Airport: $191
- Private Transfer from Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) to Buzios Port: $117
- Private Transfer from Buzios Port to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB): $117
- Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) to Beach Resorts - Round-Trip Transfer: $90
- Tour in Buzios City Tour, Lunch and Transfer: $60
- Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Private Transfer: $45
- Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Departure Transfer: $45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Double ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $289
- Luxury Puerto Rico Private Transfers: $220
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to Ponce hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $200
- Private Transfer from SJU Airport to Humacao Hotels: $180
- Transfer from San Juan to Rincon or Rincon to San Juan: $167
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to Rio Grande hotel – Round-Trip Private Transfer: $165
- Transfer SJU Airport to Dorado. Hotels and Airbnb. Vice Versa One Way Trip.: $140
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 14Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $124
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $118
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $118
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 11Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $103
- San Juan PR Transfer in Luxury SUV (Airports,Ports,Hotel,Airbnb): $103
Is it cheaper to fly into Buzios or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Buzios 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 dayBuzios $42San 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:
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- Morning Old San Juan Food Tour: $169
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $170
- Savor the Sunset: Old San Juan Walking Food Tour: $179
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Buzios $27San Juan $49
Tours and Activities in Buzios
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Buzios.
- 3-hour Small Group Buzios Peninsula Open Air Trolley Tour: $39
- Búzios Full day: Boat and Trolley Tour with Lunch from Búzios: $107
- Búzios Full day: Boat and Trolley Tour with Lunch from Cabo Frio: $112
- Boat Tour Open Bar A Floor Arraial do Cabo: $14
- Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo: $24
- Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo from Buzios with Lunch: $60
- Buggy Ride in Buzios by Buziana Tour: $20
- Buggy Tour in Arraial do Cabo by Arraial Viagens: $60
- Buzios Trolley City Tour: $41
- Cabo Frio Full-Day Tour From Buzios with Lunch: $64
- Catamaran Boat Tour in Búzios: $31
- Diving Experience In Buzios: $147
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.
- 1 Hour Bull Maze Adventure at Toroverde Urban Park San Juan: $45
- 1 Hour Historical UTV Tour in San Juan: $200
- 1)El Yunque Rainforest and Famous Luquillo Beach Experience: $96
- 2 Tours in 1 Day: Rainforest Waterslides & Beach Tour w/Transport: $60
- 3 Tours in 1 Day: Old San Juan, Rainforest, Beach with Transport: $65
- ATV Double Rider Adventure Near San Juan - Hacienda Campo Rico: $221
- ATV Single Rider Adventure Near San Juan - Hacienda Campo Rico: $149
- Adventure Water Bike in Condado Lagoon, San Juan: $60
- Arecibo Cave Cliffside Waterfall Adventure: $139
- Arecibo Indian Cave Coastal Adventure: $65
- Bio Bay Night Kayak Tour with Transport from San Juan: $125
- BioBay Kayak Tour with San Juan Roundtrip Transportation: $179
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBuzios $18San 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 Buzios and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Buzios much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Buzios 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 Buzios would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Buzios 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 Buzios.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Buzios Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Buzios or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Buzios. When comparing the sizes of Buzios 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.