Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Cabarete?
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 Cabarete or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Cabarete 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: Cabarete or San Juan?
Cabarete
Nestled on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, Cabarete is a vibrant beach town known for its stunning coastline, world-class water sports, and lively nightlife. Originally a small fishing village, Cabarete has transformed into a hub for travelers seeking both adventure and relaxation.
Traveling to Cabarete on a budget is entirely feasible with a bit of planning. Accommodation options range from budget-friendly hostels to affordable hotels and guesthouses. Eating on a budget is easy in Cabarete, with numerous local eateries and street vendors serving delicious Dominican dishes at reasonable prices. Look for "comedores," small local restaurants where you can enjoy meals like "la bandera" (rice, beans, and meat) for under $5. Public transportation in Cabarete is both affordable and convenient. The local "guaguas" (minibuses) and "motoconchos" (motorcycle taxis) are inexpensive ways to get around.
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 Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, and The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic.
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Cabarete Prices
Dominican Republic PricesSan Juan Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCabarete $180San Juan $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Cabarete is $180, 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 Cabarete and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCabarete $74San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCabarete $148San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Cabarete and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Cabarete 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: Cabarete Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cabarete $42San Juan $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cabarete
Also for Cabarete, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfers from Santo Domingo Airport to cabarete, sosua: $250
- Transfers from Samana Airport to cabarete, sosua: $250
- Transfers from Jarabacoa to cabarete, sosua: $75
- Sosua/Cabarete to Puerto Plata Airport (POP) - Departure Transfer: $58
- Transfers from Cabarete to Santiago Airport: $50
- Punta Cana Airport PUJ to Puerto Plata Roundtrip Private Transfer: $44
- Puerto Plata: Private Airport Transfer to/from Cabarete: $40
- Cibao Airport (STI) to Sosua/Cabarete - Arrival Private Transfer: $39
- Puerto Plata Airport Transfer to Sosua: $30
- Punta Cana Airport PUJ to Puerto Plata -Arrival Private Transfer: $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from San Juan, Rio Grande, Loiza, Luquillo or return: $80
- Transfer from San Juan to Rincon or Rincon to San Juan: $167
- Transfer from San Juan to Humacao or Humacao to San Juan: $80
- Transfer from San Juan to Dorado or Dorado to San Juan: $80
- Transfer from San Juan to Ceiba Ferry or Ceiba to San Juan: $100
- Transfer SJU Airport to Dorado. Hotels and Airbnb. Vice Versa One Way Trip.: $140
- Transfer SJU Airport to Cruise Port / Vice Versa in Old S.J ONLY: $65
- San Juan hotels to San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $59
- 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 Puerto Rico Private Luxury Transfers: $105
- San Juan Port to San Juan Airport (SJU)- Departure Transfer: $29
Is it cheaper to fly into Cabarete or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Cabarete 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 dayCabarete $72San 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.Cabarete $53San Juan $49
Tours and Activities in Cabarete
For Cabarete, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 10-Hour Guided Tour of Samana and Bacardi Island Los Haitises: $117
- 27 Waterfalls Damajagua Tour from Cabarete Sosua & Puerto Plata: $79
- 27 Waterfalls: Zip 'n Splash Adventure with Horse Ride: $125
- 4 Wheel Adventure: $127
- 4-Wheel Adventure: $102
- Buggie & atv adventure Jungle Adventure: $80
- Combo Monkeys & plantation & city tours amber cove and Taino bay: $120
- Damajagua Waterfalls Adventure from Puerto Plata: $77
- Deep Caves in Cabarete with Guided Tour and Swimming: $45
- Excursions 3 in 1 Monkey Home Waterfalls And City Tours: $169
- Full-Day Tour to Punta Rucia and Cayo Arena with Snorkeling: $89
- Jamao al Norte: Hidden River Kayak Adventure & Nature Escape: $80
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 Historical UTV Tour in San Juan: $200
- 2 Tours in 1 Day, Rainforest and Beach Adventure with Transport: $60
- 3 Tours in 1 Day, Old San Juan, Rainforest, Beach with Transport: $65
- 3 in 1 Full Day Cueva Ventana, Indian Cave & Waterfall Adventure: $155
- ATV Double Rider Adventure Near San Juan - Hacienda Campo Rico: $221
- ATV Single Rider Adventure Near San Juan - Hacienda Campo Rico: $149
- Arecibo Cave Cliffside Waterfall Adventure: $139
- Arecibo Indian Cave Coastal Adventure: $65
- Bio Bay Magic and Rum Tasting Tour from San Juan: $250
- Bio Bay Night Kayak Tour with Transport from San Juan: $125
- Bioluminescent Bay Kayak Adventure Tour from San Juan: $110
- Cave Adventure: Charco Azul Caves, Canyon & Waterfall Adventure: $115
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCabarete $17San 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 Cabarete and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Cabarete much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cabarete would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cabarete 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 Cabarete.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cabarete Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cabarete or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 100 times larger than the population of Cabarete. When comparing the sizes of Cabarete 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.