Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Caracas?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Caracas 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 Caracas and San Juan can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Caracas or San Juan?
Caracas
Caracas is the capital city of Venezuela, and also the country's largest city. It's in the northern portion of the country and is close to the Caribbean. While Caracas may not be a major travel destination in Venezuela, it can offer interesting insight into the country's urban character. It has a great art, culinary, and music culture that truly bring the city to life. The beautiful Mount Avila overlooks the city and separates the city from the Caribbean Sea. Many locals and visitors alike head to the mountain as a quick escape. You can reach it by taking a cable car that carries you up to the SWaraira Repano Park at the very top.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCaracas $0.00San Juan $179
The average daily cost (per person) in Caracas is $0.00, while the average daily cost in San Juan is $179. 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 Caracas and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCaracas -San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCaracas $0.00San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Caracas and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Caracas 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.Caracas -San Juan $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Carabali Rain Forest Round Trip Private Taxi Transfer: $210
- Mendoza: One-Way Private Transfer from Airport: $25
- Old Walking Tour with Shopping and Hotel Transfer: $70
- Oneway Transfer San Juan to Ceiba: Ferry, Vieques/Culebra Airport: $80
- Oneway Transfer from San Juan (SJU, hotel, airbnb, port) to Ponce: $125
- Oneway Transfer- San Juan(SJU, hotel, airbnb, port) to Río Grande: $68
- Private Airport Transfers to Ceiba Ferry Terminal and Airport: $155
- Private Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to San Juan Airport: $22
- Private Transfer from SJU Airport to San Juan / Rio Grande: $105
- Private Transportation in Puerto Rico From or To San Juan Airport(SJU) Transfers: $33
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 11Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $103
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, 16Pax Mercedes Van, Select Zone: $130
Is it cheaper to fly into Caracas or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Caracas 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 dayCaracas -San 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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Caracas -San Juan $49
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.
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of Historic Buildings: $5.99
- Discover Old In-App Audio Tour of History: $11
- Self-Guided Tour with Audio Guide: $14
- Group Transportation in airport, cruise ships, hotels, bnb's in San Juan, PR: $20
- Old Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $25
- History, Legends, & Highlights Guided Walking Tour: $30
- Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $30
- Old San Juan Walking Tour with a Certified Guide: $30
- Old San Juan City Walking Tour: $39
- Old San Juan Walking Tour: $39
- Legacy Tour at Casa BarcadÍ in Puerto Rico: $45
- Walking tour of Oaxaca City: $48
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCaracas -San 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 Caracas and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Caracas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Caracas 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 Caracas would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Caracas 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 Caracas.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Caracas Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Caracas or San Juan?
Caracas has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of San Juan. When comparing the sizes of Caracas 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 Caracas 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 Caracas or San Juan in the Summer?
Both San Juan and Caracas during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Caracas because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
Caracas usually gets less rain in July than San Juan. Caracas gets 57 mm (2.2 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 Caracas. In the summer, Caracas often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Caracas gets 242 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun.
In July, Caracas is generally around the same temperature as San Juan. Daily temperatures in Caracas average around 27°C (81°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCaracas 27°C (81°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Caracas or San Juan in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Caracas and San Juan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Caracas 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, Caracas usually receives less rain than San Juan. Caracas gets 56 mm (2.2 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 Caracas, it's very sunny this time of the year. Caracas usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during autumn. Caracas gets 208 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Caracas is around the same temperature as San Juan in the autumn. The daily temperature in Caracas averages around 28°C (83°F) in October, and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCaracas 28°C (83°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Caracas or San Juan in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Caracas as well as San Juan. Caracas attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
Caracas usually gets less rain in January than San Juan. Caracas gets 28 mm (1.1 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 Caracas this time of the year. In the winter, Caracas often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan. Caracas gets 233 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Caracas is around the same temperature as San Juan. Typically, the winter temperatures in Caracas in January average around 26°C (78°F), and San Juan averages at about 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCaracas 26°C (78°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Caracas or San Juan in the Spring?
Both San Juan and Caracas are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Caracas throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Caracas usually receives less rain than San Juan. Caracas gets 29 mm (1.1 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. Caracas usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during spring. Caracas gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Caracas is generally around the same temperature as San Juan. Daily temperatures in Caracas average around 27°C (80°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCaracas 27°C (80°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Caracas
| Caracas | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (78°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (78°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (80°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (83°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (80°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
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.