Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Castries?
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 Castries or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Castries 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: Castries or San Juan?
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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Castries Prices
Saint Lucia PricesSan Juan Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCastries $186San Juan $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Castries is $186, 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 Castries and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCastries $100San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCastries $200San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Castries and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Castries 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: Castries Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Castries $25San Juan $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer San Juan from or to SJU Airport, Hotel, Cruises: $20
- SJU Airport Transfers (Isla Verde, Condado, Old San Juan): $23
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan - Arrival Private Transfer: $26
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan Arrival Private Transfer: $29
- San Juan Port to San Juan Airport (SJU)- Departure Transfer: $29
- San Juan Transfers: $38
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfers, VW Buzz Luxury Minivan.: $61
- One-way transfer from SJU Airport to Cruise Port or Vice Versa: $65
- Private Transfer Airport SJU to Old San Juan Vice versa One way: $65
- Roundtrip-Transfer from: SJU Airport,Cruises and Hotels in Puerto Rico LuxurySUV: $70
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Tesla S Lux Sedan, Select Zone: $71
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Tesla Model X Luxury SUV.: $73
Is it cheaper to fly into Castries or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Castries 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 dayCastries $66San 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:
- Old San Juan Food Tour with 7 Tastings of Authentic Local Flavors: $140
- Private Puerto Rican Cooking Class in San Juan for Groups: $146
- FlyDining 4-Course Dinner in Old Sunset or City Lights: $165
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $170
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Castries $27San 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.
- The Ultimate Self-Guided Hidden Gems Tour in Puerto Rico: $5.00
- San Juan’s Historic Streets Audio Guided Walking Tour: $12
- Transportation in San Juan, Isla verde, Condado, Hotels, Cruises & Airbnb's SJU: $14
- San Juan Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $17
- Outdoor Salsa Class Experience in San Juan: $19
- Old San Juan Tour (1 Hour) by DUHO: $25
- Old San Juan Walking Tour with a Local Certified Guide: $25
- San Juan Ghost Tour: Shrieks in the Sugarcane: $26
- VIP San Juan Salsa Night Experience at Luxury Condado Beach: $35
- San Juan Guided Turtle Snorkel Tour and Complimentary Videos: $39
- SJU Airport to San Juan Cruise Port or return: $43
- 2 Tours in 1 Day Rainforest and Beach Adventure with Transport: $44
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCastries $11San 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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Castries and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Castries much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Castries would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Castries 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 Castries.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Castries Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
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.