Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Cancun?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cancun or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Cancun and San Juan can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Cancun or San Juan?
Cancun
In the northeast corner of the Mexican Caribbean, Cancun is one of Mexico's most popular destinations. The area that is now Cancun was actually selected specifically by the Mexican government for development as a tourist destination. The area was chosen because it has fourteen miles of beautiful white beaches, nearby Mayan ruins, and turquoise blue water with nearby snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities. Prior to its development as a tourist destination, there were few inhabitants in the area.
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 2-Week Tours in Mexico, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCancun $124San Juan $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Cancun is $124, 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 Cancun and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCancun $82San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCancun $164San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Cancun and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Cancun 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: Cancun Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cancun $15San Juan $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cancun
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cancun:
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Taxi Around Town$1.40
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Airport Shuttle (for 2)$12
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Ferry to Isla de Mujeres (for 2)$14
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Local Bus (for 2)$1.70
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cancun
Also for Cancun, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Cancun Airport to Tulum Roundtrip Private Transfer: $290
- Limo Transfer Airport Cancun - Puerto Morelos Hotel Zone: $279
- Transfers in Lincoln Strecth Limousine with Wi Fi on board: $261
- Round trip private transfer VAN-Airport-Hotel-Airport-Puerto Morelos: $260
- Private Transfer roundtrip (Cancun Airport-Akumal): $259
- Roundtrip Transfer Service to Costa Mujeres and Playa Mujeres: $248
- Luxury Transfers in a Mercedes Maybach GLS 600: $242
- Cancun Airport Private Transfer One Way: To or From Akumal Area Up to 15 Pass.: $239
- Full-Day Tour to Xcaret Plus with Transfer from Playa del Carmen and Lunch: $238
- Private Transfer from Cancún Airport (CUN) to Tulum : $230
- Private SUV transfer from Cancun Airport to Tulum: $225
- Private Transfer from Cancun Airport to Tulum: $220
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfers from San Juan to Adjuntas or Utuado: $113
- Transfer from San Juan to South coast- Ponce or Guanica: $250
- Transfer from San Juan to Río Grande, Loíza or Luquillo: $135
- Transfer from San Juan to Ceiba (Vieques/Culebra) or Fajardo: $80
- Old San Juan Sunset Cruise with Drinks & Transfer: $99
- Airport Private Transfer from/to City Hotels: $70
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port: Transfer to San Juan hotel: $280
- San Juan Luxury Private Round-Trip Transfer: SJU Airport - Cruise Pier - Hotel : $50
- San Juan Airport (SJU): Private Transfer to San Juan Port: $280
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan Arrival Private Transfer: $47
- Roundtrip-Transfer from: SJU Airport,Cruises and Hotels in Puerto Rico LuxurySUV: $70
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Tesla Y Luxury SUV, Select Zone: $69
Is it cheaper to fly into Cancun or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Cancun 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 dayCancun $24San Juan $36
Typical Food Prices in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Señor Frogs Ticket with 2-Course Dinner and Drink: $33
- Captain Hook: Pirate Show and Dinner Cruise in Cancun: $46
- The Ultimate Cancun Taco & Street Mexican Food Tour: $49
- Mayan Chichen Itza And Pirate Dinner Two Day Experience: $57
- (2x1 price) Pirate Night! Dinner, Fun and Show: $63
- (2x1 price) Dinner Show and Pirates Experience : $63
- Cancun Street Food Tour with Food Stalls, Local Market and Murals: $64
- Cancun Walking Food Tour: Local Food, Markets, and Street Art.: $67
- Puerto Morelos Walking Food Tour: $67
- Cooking Show & Tequila Tasting: $73
- Cancun Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $78
- Cancun Hands-On Mexican Cooking Class : $79
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:
- From Pinones Beach & Bar Hopping Food Tour: $50
- Piñones Bar Crawl and Beach Hop Food Tour with Drinks: $56
- Puerto Rican food tasting and beginner cooking Tour: $99
- Elevated Dinner Experience (4 Courses) City Lights & Ocean Breeze: $155
- Old San Juan Sunset Food Tour with Drinks: $156
- Savor the Sunset: Old San Juan Walk and Food Tour: $159
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $170
- Private Local Food Tour in San Juan: $285
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cancun $29San Juan $49
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cancun
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cancun's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Seasick Pills$0.50
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Whale Shark Tour (for 2)$85
Tours and Activities in Cancun
For Cancun, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2 Day Combo Tour, Xcaret, Xel-Ha, Xplor and Chichen Itza Option: $244
- 2 Hours Speed Boat Tour and Snorkeling in Nichupte Lagoon: $39
- Coco Bongo Music And Show Ticket: $90
- Full Day All Inclusive Catamaran Tour to Isla Mujeres : $99
- Full Day Chichen-Itza, Cenote and Valladolid Complete Tour: $37
- Holbox Island Magic Tour from Cancun : $144
- Isla Contoy and Isla Mujeres Tour: $152
- Isla Mujeres Catamaran Platinum Tour with Open Bar: $115
- LDS Tour to Chichen Itza + Cenote : $165
- Private Tour to Tulum Ruins and Cenotes : $257
- Reef and Sunken Ship Snorkeling Experience in Cancun: $85
- Riviera Maya Luxury Snorkeling Cruise with Lunch and Drinks: $139
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.
- Full-Day Tour: El Yunque, Luquillo Beach, Bio Bay Night Kayaking: $155
- Rum Craft Cocktail Tour in San Juan: $65
- (Private) El Yunque Half-Day Tour with Transport / 7AM or 12PM: $110
- (Small Group) El Yunque HalfDay Tour with Transport / 7AM or 12PM: $105
- 1 or 2 Hour Puerto Rico Horseback Ride Experience!: $210
- ATV Single Rider Adventure at Hacienda Campo Rico: $136
- Adventure to a Hidden Waterfall, Private Tour: $185
- Airport transportation to cruise ships, hotels, bnb's in San Juan, Puerto Rico: $68
- Along The Shore Private Helicopter Tour San Juan Puerto Rico: $295
- Arenales Caves, Waterfall, Spring & River Swimming Adventure: $140
- Bioluminescent Bay Kayak Adventure from San Juan: $110
- Black Sand Beach- See The Southeast of Puerto Rico Private Tour: $150
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCancun $11San Juan $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Cancun
Also in Cancun, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Social Pub Crawl in Cancun: $32
- Brewery Tour / Craft Beer Tasting Cancun Mexico: $129
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cancun and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Cancun much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cancun is in North 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 Cancun would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cancun 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 Cancun.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cancun Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cancun or San Juan?
Cancun has a larger population, and is about 30% larger than the population of San Juan. When comparing the sizes of Cancun 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.