A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cairo vs. San Juan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Cairo 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 Cairo 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: Cairo or San Juan?

Cairo

Cairo is the chaotic capital city of Egypt. With a population of more than 16 million, it is one of the largest cities in both Africa and the Middle East. As a traveler, you're likely to arrive and leave from here and you'll get your first orientation to the area during the chaotic and congestion filled taxi ride from the airport.

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 Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, and The Best Historical Tours in Egypt.


Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Cairo?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Cairo is $30, 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 Cairo and San Juan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cairo $10
    San Juan $124
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cairo $20
    San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Cairo and San Juan

Looking for a hotel in Cairo 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.

Hotels in Cairo


Hotels in San Juan


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: Cairo Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cairo $3.46
    San Juan $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cairo

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Cairo are as follows:


  • Metro Ride
    $0.08
  • Taxi Ride
    $0.29

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:

  • From Guided 4 Day Cairo & Red Sea Tour with Transfer: $1,440
  • Private Day Trip to Luxor with Transfers and Flights: $791
  • Cairo To Marsa Alam Private Transfer: $511
  • From One-Way Private Transfer To Luxor: $489
  • 3 Private Full-Day Tours to Cairo Top Attractions+One Airport Transfer: $300
  • 1 Day Aswan Abu Simple Tour with Transfer Included: $300
  • 3-Days Private Guided Tour Package Covering all Cairo,Lunch and Airport Transfer: $300
  • Private Pickup Transfers From Cairo To Luxor By Bus: $295
  • Private One-Way Transfer to/from Hurghada: $292
  • Private One-Way Transfer to/from Sharm El-Sheikh: $292
  • Private Transfer Cairo to Hurghada: $290
  • PrivateTransfer from Cairo Airport(CAI) to Suez Canal Cruise Port: $284

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan

Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Airport Transfer to Cruise Ships, Hotels, Airbnb in San Juan: $85
  • Departure Transfer from Old San Juan to to SJU Airport by Car: $86
  • Double ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $289
  • HandyCap Airport Transfer to Isla Verde, Condado or Ocean Park: $100
  • Luxury Puerto Rico Private Transfers: $220
  • One-way transfer from SJU Airport to Cruise Port or Vice Versa: $65
  • Private Transfer San Juan from or to SJU Airport, Hotel, Cruises: $16
  • Private Transfer from San Juan Airport (SJU) to Ponce Cruise Port: $77
  • Private Transfer in San Juan: $75
  • Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 11Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $103
  • Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 14Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $124
  • Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, Tesla 3 Luxury Sedan.: $63

Is it cheaper to fly into Cairo or San Juan?

Prices for flights to both San Juan and Cairo 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 day
    Cairo $16
    San Juan $62
Typical Food Prices in Cairo

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cairo:


  • Juice
    $0.04

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cairo

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cairo.

  • Dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer show on Nile river: $4.00
  • Cairo dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer show on Nile river: $6.30
  • Quad Bike ATV ,Camel Ride ,Nile Dinner Cruise Belly dancer show: $6.30
  • 2 Hour Cairo Dinner Cruise on Nile river with live band: $6.30
  • Private Nile Cruise with Dinner and Folk Show from Cairo: $6.82
  • night-tour Nile dinner cruise with open buffet and belly dancer: $7.20
  • Cairo Dinner Cruise in Nile River With Belly Dancer & Tanora show: $7.20
  • Cairo Nile Dinner Cruise Belly Dancer Tanora Show Dinner Buffet: $8.10
  • Giza Pyramids Sphinx Camel ATV Bike Shopping Nile Dinner Cruise: $8.10
  • Giza pyramids, Sphinx, ATV bike,Camel ride,Dinner cruise&shopping: $8.10
  • food tour private tour from cairo or giza hotel: $8.10
  • Cairo Dinner Cruise show with belly dancer show on Nile river: $8.10

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:

  • FlyDining: 4 Course Sunset & City Light Dinner Over Old San Juan: $159
  • 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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cairo $8.27
    San Juan $49
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairo

Here are a few typical costs in Cairo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Entry to Camel Market for Two
    $0.76
  • Egyptian Museum Entry for Two
    $5.89

Tours and Activities in Cairo

Here are a few actual costs in Cairo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • “Cairo Private Tour: Giza Pyramids, Sphinx & GEM Museum”: $160
  • "The Great Pyramids & Grand Museum: Luxury Private Day Tour": $60
  • ( Stopover Tour Of Cairo ) Private All Inc.Pyramids,Camel Ride,Museum& Lunch: $180
  • (Egypt jewel) Day Tour To Giza Pyramids, Museum, Mosque &Felucca: $55
  • 01 Day Tour to Alexandria from Cairo: $246
  • 01 Day Tour to Pyramids Of Giza Memphis And Sakkara: $86
  • 1 Day Private Tour to Alexandria from Cairo: $100
  • 1 Day tour to Alexandria from Cairo: $30
  • 1 Hour ATV Quad Bike Private Tour Around Giza Pyramids: $30
  • 1 Hour Adventure In The Nile River By Nile Taxi In Cairo: $60
  • 1 Hour Adventure In The Nile River By Nile Taxi In Cairo: $60
  • 1 Hour adventure in the Nile River By Nile Taxi In Cairo: $60

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.

  • 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
  • Outdoor Salsa Class Experience in San Juan: $19
  • Discover Superb Self-Guided Audio Tour: $20
  • Old San Juan Tour in Spanish: $30
  • Paddleboard Adventure: Explore Marine Life in Condado Lagoon: $32
  • SJU Airport to San Juan Cruise Port or return: $33
  • VIP Glow San Juan Salsa Night Experience at Luxury Condado Beach: $35
  • San Juan Cruise Port: Puerto Rico Artisan Rum Tasting: $39
  • Historic Old San Juan Sunset Walking Tour: $39
  • San Juan Guided Turtle Snorkel Tour and Complimentary Videos: $45
  • Legacy Tour at Casa BACARDÍ in Puerto Rico: $45

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cairo $1.34
    San Juan $12

Sample the Local Flavors in Cairo

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cairo:

  • Pub Crawl and Speakeasy Bar Tour with 2 Free Drinks: $70

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


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cairo and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Cairo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cairo is in Africa 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 Cairo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cairo 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 Cairo.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cairo Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Cairo or San Juan?

Cairo has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of San Juan. When comparing the sizes of Cairo 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 Cairo or San Juan?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.

Should I visit Cairo or San Juan in the Summer?

Both San Juan and Cairo during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Cairo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.

Cairo usually gets less rain in July than San Juan. Cairo gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Cairo. In the summer, Cairo often gets more sunshine than San Juan. Cairo gets 350 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun.

Cairo is around the same temperature as San Juan in the summer. The daily temperature in Cairo averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Cairo 28°C (82°F) 
    San Juan 28°C (83°F)

Should I visit Cairo or San Juan in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Cairo and San Juan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cairo year-round. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

San Juan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Cairo usually receives less rain than San Juan. Cairo gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. In Cairo, it's very sunny this time of the year. Cairo usually receives more sunshine than San Juan during autumn. Cairo gets 290 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In the autumn, Cairo is cooler than San Juan. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Cairo in October average around 23°C (73°F), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (82°F).


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Cairo 23°C (73°F) 
    San Juan 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Cairo or San Juan in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Cairo as well as San Juan. Cairo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.

Cairo usually gets less rain in January than San Juan. Cairo gets 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cairo this time of the year. In the winter, Cairo often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Cairo gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun.

In January, Cairo is generally much colder than San Juan. Daily temperatures in Cairo average around 14°C (57°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Cairo 14°C (57°F) 
    San Juan 25°C (77°F)

Should I visit Cairo or San Juan in the Spring?

Both San Juan and Cairo are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cairo throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In April, Cairo usually receives less rain than San Juan. Cairo gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

It's quite sunny in San Juan. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cairo. Cairo usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan during spring. Cairo gets 276 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.

Cairo is cooler than San Juan in the spring. The daily temperature in Cairo averages around 21°C (70°F) in April, and San Juan fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Cairo 21°C (70°F) 
    San Juan 26°C (79°F)

Typical Weather for San Juan and Cairo

Cairo San Juan
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 14°C (57°F) 15 mm (0.6 in) 25°C (77°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Feb 14°C (57°F) 4 mm (0.2 in) 25°C (77°F) 41 mm (1.6 in)
Mar 17°C (63°F) 8 mm (0.3 in) 26°C (78°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Apr 21°C (70°F) 7 mm (0.3 in) 26°C (79°F) 69 mm (2.7 in)
May 25°C (77°F) 0 mm (0 in) 27°C (81°F) 120 mm (4.7 in)
Jun 27°C (81°F) 0 mm (0 in) 28°C (82°F) 82 mm (3.2 in)
Jul 28°C (82°F) 1 mm (0 in) 28°C (83°F) 95 mm (3.7 in)
Aug 28°C (82°F) 0 mm (0 in) 28°C (83°F) 130 mm (5.1 in)
Sep 26°C (79°F) 5 mm (0.2 in) 28°C (83°F) 130 mm (5.1 in)
Oct 23°C (73°F) 5 mm (0.2 in) 28°C (82°F) 135 mm (5.3 in)
Nov 19°C (66°F) 1 mm (0 in) 27°C (80°F) 132 mm (5.2 in)
Dec 15°C (59°F) 3 mm (0.1 in) 26°C (78°F) 92 mm (3.6 in)