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

Should you visit Curitiba or San Juan del Sur?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Curitiba and San Juan del Sur 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: Curitiba or San Juan del Sur?

Curitiba

Curitiba is a relatively large city that is convenient to visit if you're traveling to Iguazu Falls from either Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo. It is worth a day or two stop over because it has a great old city that has been restored. It's also the capital of Parana, Brazil. Curitiba is one of the more wealthy cities in the southern region of Brazil. It has a diverse population with many immigrants and some interesting cultural events.

San Juan del Sur

San Juan del Sur is a popular port destination on the Pacific coast of southwest Nicaragua. The town was once a quaint fishing village but has grown into a tourist town with activities for visitors that include surfing, fishing, and, of course, partying. The town has a population of just over 15,000, most of whom are either fishermen or involved in the tourism industry. There is also a large expat community from the United States, Canada, and Europe.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Brazil, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Brazil, The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.


Which place is cheaper, San Juan del Sur or Curitiba?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Curitiba is $73, while the average daily cost in San Juan del Sur is $53. 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 Curitiba and San Juan del Sur in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Curitiba $30
    San Juan del Sur $21
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Curitiba $60
    San Juan del Sur $42
Compare Hotels in Curitiba and San Juan del Sur

Looking for a hotel in Curitiba or San Juan del Sur? 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 Curitiba


Hotels in San Juan del Sur


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: Curitiba Hotel Prices and San Juan del Sur Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Curitiba $16
    San Juan del Sur $18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Curitiba

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Curitiba:


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.95

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Curitiba

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

  • Afonso Pena Airport (CWB) to Beach Resorts - Round-Trip Transfer: $87
  • Afonso Pena Airport CWB to Beach Resorts : Arrival Transfer: $44
  • Curitiba Airport (CWB) to Downtown - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $33
  • Curitiba Airport CWB to Downtown hotels- Arrival Private Transfer: $16
  • Curitiba Airport PrivateTransfers Round Trip or One Way: $111
  • Curitiba to Afonso Pena Airport (CWB)- Departure Private Transfer: $17
  • Curitiba to Curitiba Airport (CWB) - Departure Private Transfer: $16
  • Private Transfer from Curitiba Airport: $106
  • Private Transfer from Curitiba Airport (CWB) to Porto Belo Port : $75
  • Private Transfer from Curitiba City Hotels to Porto Belo Port: $75
  • Private Transfer from Curitiba City to Curitiba Airport (CWB): $35
  • Shared Transfer: Curitiba International Airport: $39

Is it cheaper to fly into Curitiba or San Juan del Sur?

Prices for flights to both San Juan del Sur and Curitiba 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
    Curitiba $28
    San Juan del Sur $18
Typical Food Prices in Curitiba

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Curitiba:


  • Chips
    $0.88

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Curitiba

For Curitiba, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Bar-hopping and Food Tour in Curitiba: $31
  • Curitiba's History Food Tour: $70
  • Curitiba's History Food Tour: $75
  • Curitiba Tour by Night with Dinner: $94

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Curitiba $19
    San Juan del Sur $15

Tours and Activities in Curitiba

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Curitiba.

  • Ticket MAI - Museum of Indigenous Art - Curitiba: $4.91
  • Walking tour from past to present: $12
  • Arte Bike Tour - Bike Tour with Kuritbike: $25
  • Half Day Curitiba Sightseeing Tour: $31
  • Private City Tour - Top Postcards from Curitiba by Pinheiro Turismo: $40
  • Historic City Tour in Curitiba with Jens Tours: $40
  • Interparks Cycling Tour Curitiba for small groups: $50
  • Curitiba City Tour: $58
  • 4-Hour Private Tour of Curitiba City: $70
  • CRAFT BREWERS TOUR By Jens Tours: $72
  • Full-day tour in Curitiba: $79
  • Gastronomic Tour in Curitiba with Jens Tours: $80

Tours and Activities in San Juan del Sur

Here are a few actual costs in San Juan del Sur for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • ATV Adventure Tour in San Juan del Sur, NICARAGUA: $130
  • Horseback Riding Tour in Playa Maderas, San Juan del Sur also in Costa Rica: $90
  • Mombacho Volcano Hike and Ziplining Adventure from San Juan del Sur: $159
  • SJDS PORT EXCURSION: Zipline and Adventure Park: $103
  • San Juan del Sur Shore Excursion: Private Masaya Volcano and Catarina Tour: $118
  • atv tour also in Costa Rica: $132

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Curitiba $14
    San Juan del Sur $13
Typical Alcohol Prices in Curitiba

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Curitiba:


  • Beer
    $0.44


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Curitiba and San Juan del Sur, we can see that Curitiba is more expensive. And not only is San Juan del Sur much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Curitiba is in South America and San Juan del Sur is in Central America, 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 San Juan del Sur would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Juan del Sur 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 Curitiba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Curitiba than you might in San Juan del Sur.

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


Which is Bigger, Curitiba or San Juan del Sur?

Curitiba has a larger population, and is about 220 times larger than the population of San Juan del Sur. When comparing the sizes of Curitiba and San Juan del Sur, 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.