Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Buzios?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Brazil, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Brazil.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBuzios $77San Juan $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Buzios is $77, 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 Buzios and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBuzios $37San Juan $124
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBuzios $74San 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
-
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:
- Departure Private Transfer Arraial do Cabo to GIG or SDU Airport by Sedan Car: $241
- Departure Transfer from Buzios or to Rio Airports by Minivan: $219
- Private transfer from Buzios to the GIG Airport : $190
- Private transfer Buzios in Rio to the SDU Airport : $190
- Private Transfer from GIG Airport to City Buzios in Rio : $170
- Departure Transfer from Buzios to Rio Airports by Sedan Car: $129
- Private transfer Minivan from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 6 pax to Buzios: $112
- Executive private transfer from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 4 pax to Buzios: $108
- Executive private transfer from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 3 pax to Buzios: $98
- Private Transfer Buzios to Rio de Janeiro: $91
- Private Transfer from Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro: $91
- Tour in Buzios City Tour, Lunch and Transfer: $60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- San Juan Airport (SJU): Private Transfer to San Juan Port: $271
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port: Transfer to San Juan hotel: $271
- Carabali Rain Forest Round Trip Private Taxi Transfer: $210
- Private Airport Transfers to Ceiba Ferry Terminal and Airport: $155
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, 16Pax Mercedes Van, Select Zone: $130
- Oneway Transfer from San Juan (SJU, hotel, airbnb, port) to Ponce: $125
- Private Transfer from SJU Airport to San Juan / Rio Grande: $105
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 11Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $103
- Old San Juan Sunset Cruise with Drinks & Transfer: $99
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Mercedes ECO Van, Select Zone: $87
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Ford Premium SUV, Select Zone: $87
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Lexus Luxury Sedan, Select Zone: $81
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
-
Food Meals for one dayBuzios $24San 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
- Private Local Food Tour in San Juan: $275
Entertainment
-
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.
- Buzios Trolley City Tour: $29
- 3-hour Small Group Buzios Peninsula Open Air Trolley Tour: $33
- 7 Beaches In Búzios With Photos On A Private Tour!: $35
- Búzios Full day: Boat and Trolley Tour with Lunch from Arraial do Cabo: $128
- Búzios Full day: Boat and Trolley Tour with Lunch from Búzios: $99
- Búzios Full day: Boat and Trolley Tour with Lunch from Cabo Frio: $116
- Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo: $24
- Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo Panoramic City Tour in Cabo Frio: $96
- Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo from Buzios with Lunch: $60
- Buggy Ride in Buzios by Buziana Tour: $16
- Buggy Tour in Arraial do Cabo by Arraial Viagens: $32
- Cabo Frio Full-Day Tour From Buzios with Lunch: $68
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.
- 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
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayBuzios $17San 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 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.