Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Columbus?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Columbus or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Columbus 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: Columbus or San Juan?
Columbus
The capital city of Ohio, Columbus sits at the meeting point of America's Rust Belt, Bible Belt, Appalachia, and the Plains. It is also home of Ohio State University, which is a major financial and economic force in the city. While not always famous for it's sights and attractions, visitors will be pleasantly surprised by what they find here.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayColumbus $158San Juan $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Columbus is $158, 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 Columbus and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personColumbus $72San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomColumbus $144San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Columbus and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Columbus 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: Columbus Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Columbus $50San Juan $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Columbus
Also for Columbus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Columbus Ohio (CMH) Airport Arrival or Departure Private Transfer: $180
- Columbus John Glen Airport (CMH) to Columbus - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $131
- Columbus John Glen Airport (CMH) to Columbus - Arrival Private Transfer: $65
- Columbus to Columbus John Glen Airport (CMH) - Departure Private Transfer: $65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Old San Juan Sunset Cruise with Drinks & Transfer: $99
- San Juan hotels to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port: Transfer to San Juan hotel: $271
- San Juan One-way Transfer: $30
- San Juan Luxury Private Round-Trip Transfer: SJU Airport - Cruise Pier - Hotel : $50
- San Juan Airport (SJU): Private Transfer to San Juan Port: $271
- Roundtrip-Transfer from: SJU Airport,Cruises and Hotels in Puerto Rico LuxurySUV: $70
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Tesla Y Luxury SUV, Select Zone: $77
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Tesla S Lux Sedan, Select Zone: $79
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Mercedes ECO Van, Select Zone: $87
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Lexus Luxury Sedan, Select Zone: $81
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Ford Premium SUV, Select Zone: $87
Is it cheaper to fly into Columbus or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Columbus 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 dayColumbus $49San 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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Columbus $46San Juan $49
Tours and Activities in Columbus
For Columbus, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Columbus Scavenger Hunt Adventure : $21
- 1-Hour Themed Escape Room Adventure & Narrative: $41
- Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $44
- Experience the season with a scavenger hunt in Columbus with Holly Jolly Hunt: $20
- LEGOLAND Discovery Center Columbus Ticket: $28
- Trolley Pub Holiday Lights Tour in Columbus: $45
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Columbus by Crazy Dash: $10
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
- 1 or 2 Hour Puerto Rico Horseback Ride Experience!: $210
- Arte Boriken-Urban Art & Beach Sip & Paint Tour: $145
- Bioluminescent Bay Kayak Adventure from San Juan: $110
- Black Sand Beach- See The Southeast of Puerto Rico Private Tour: $150
- Carolina: ATV Adventure at Campo Rico Ranch with Guide: $136
- Cave Day Tour From San Juan: $109
- Craft Beer Private Tour in San Juan: $168
- Cruise Ship Travelers: Hike to a Hidden Puerto Rican Waterfall: $85
- Culebra Snorkeling Tour by Catamaran from Fajardo: $175
- Discover El Yunque: Half-Day Rainforest Tour: $115
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayColumbus $20San 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 Columbus and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Columbus much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Columbus 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 Columbus would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Columbus 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 Columbus.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Columbus Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Columbus or San Juan?
Columbus has a larger population, and is about 76% larger than the population of San Juan. When comparing the sizes of Columbus 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 Columbus or San Juan?
Columbus has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Juan experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Columbus or San Juan in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Columbus and San Juan. The summer months attract visitors to Columbus because of the family-friendly experiences. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Columbus is cooler than San Juan in the summer. The daily temperature in Columbus averages around 77°F (25°C) in July, and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. In Columbus, it's very sunny this time of the year. Columbus usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during summer. Columbus gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
Columbus gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Columbus usually receives more rain than San Juan. Columbus gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyColumbus 77°F (25°C)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Columbus or San Juan in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Columbus as well as San Juan. The shopping scene are the main draw to Columbus this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
In the autumn, Columbus is much colder than San Juan. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Columbus in October average around 57°F (14°C), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (82°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. In the autumn, Columbus often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Columbus gets 179 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in San Juan. Columbus usually gets less rain in October than San Juan. Columbus gets 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberColumbus 57°F (14°C)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Columbus or San Juan in the Winter?
Both San Juan and Columbus are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Columbus for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Columbus. In January, Columbus is generally much colder than San Juan. Daily temperatures in Columbus average around 30°F (-1°C), and San Juan fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
It's quite sunny in San Juan. Columbus usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during winter. Columbus gets 105 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Columbus usually receives around the same amount of rain as San Juan. Columbus gets 2.2 inches (56 mm) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryColumbus 30°F (-1°C)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Columbus or San Juan in the Spring?
Both San Juan and Columbus during the spring are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
Columbus is much colder than San Juan in the spring. The daily temperature in Columbus averages around 54°F (12°C) in April, and San Juan fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Columbus often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Columbus gets 200 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun.
Columbus usually gets more rain in April than San Juan. Columbus gets 3.2 inches (81 mm) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilColumbus 54°F (12°C)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Columbus
| Columbus | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 33°F (1°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 45°F (7°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 54°F (12°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 65°F (18°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 73°F (23°C) | 4 inches (102 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 77°F (25°C) | 4.4 inches (112 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 75°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 69°F (20°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 57°F (14°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 47°F (8°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 35°F (2°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) | 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.