Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Dahab?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Dahab or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Dahab and San Juan 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: Dahab or San Juan?
Dahab
Dahab is a small town on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. It is located about 85 kilometers north of Sharm el-Sheikh and sits on the Gulf of Aqaba. It's a popular destination with divers and backpackers alike, and offers some of the best snorkeling and diving that you'll find in the Red Sea. It's a great alternative to the resort driven Sharm el-Sheikh, and is popular with independent travelers who are looking for affordable accommodation. There are some upmarket options however, predominantly in the Laguna area, but budget facilities are not hard to find.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, and The Best Historical Tours in Egypt.
-
Dahab Prices
Egypt PricesSan Juan Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDahab $26San Juan $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Dahab is $26, 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 Dahab and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDahab $9.31San Juan $124
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDahab $19San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Dahab and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Dahab 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: Dahab Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dahab $3.10San Juan $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dahab
Also for Dahab, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Pickup Transfers from Dahab to Taba: $120
- Saint paul and saint anthony monastery private transfer: $69
- Private Transfer To/From Nuweibaa City and Sharm El Sheikh Hotels: $68
- Private Transfer Between Nuweibaa City and Sharm El Sheikh Hotels: $60
- Sharm el-Sheikh: 1-Way or Round-Trip Transfer to Dahab: $42
- Private Transfer Dahab Hotel to Sharm ElSheikh Airport : $32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer in Puerto Rico with Minivan from Airport: $280
- Transfer from San Juan to Ponce or Ponce to San Juan: $125
- Transfer SJU Airport to Ponce and Juana Diaz. Hotels and Airbnb Vice Versa 1 Way: $260
- Transfer SJU Airport to Dorado. Hotels and Airbnb. Vice Versa One Way Trip.: $140
- Single ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $195
- San Juan hotels to San Juan PR Cruise Port - Departure Transfer: $30
- San Juan Puerto Rico Private Transfers: $105
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $119
- San Juan Port to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $60
- San Juan Luxury Private Round-Trip Transfer: SJU Airport - Cruise Pier - Hotel : $80
- SJU Airport Private Transfer to Dorado: $115
- Roundtrip-Transfer in Puerto Rico: From Airports, Hotels, Cruises: $71
Is it cheaper to fly into Dahab or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Dahab 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 dayDahab $13San Juan $62
Typical Food Prices in Dahab
For Dahab, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Seafood Dinner (for 2)$2.00
-
Juice$0.11
-
Breakfast for Two$0.63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dahab
For Dahab, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Bedouin Dinner in the Mountains In Dahab: $36
- Bedouin Dinner in the Mountains In Dahab: $39
- Dahab Desert Safari and Bedouin Dinner: $95
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: $139
- Private San Juan Cooking Class with a Local Expert: $146
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $165
- FlyDining: 4 Courses Dinner with City Lights & Ocean Breeze: $165
- FlyDining: Sunset & City Lights Dinner Over Old San Juan: $165
- Morning Old San Juan Food Tour: $169
- Cooking and Connecting with a Local in Puerto Rico: $173
- Savor the Sunset: Old San Juan Walking Food Tour: $179
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dahab $6.56San Juan $49
Tours and Activities in Dahab
For Dahab, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Camel Trek Desert and Beach Experience Private Tour in Dahab: $140
- 2 Day Hiking Canyoning Tour Colored and Wishwashi in Sinai: $72
- 4x4 Jeep Adventure from Dahab: $43
- Adventure Quad Biking Tour in Dahab: $50
- Astronomy and Bedouin Culture group Tour in sharm with Pickup: $140
- Blue Hole Snorkeling Adventure in Dahab: $195
- Cairo pyramids tour from Hurghada Small group HurghadaToGo: $60
- Camel Ride + Blue Hole Snorkeling + Quad Bike Tour With Lunch From Dahab: $49
- Dahab Windsurfing Adventure in Red Sea Waves: $60
- Dahab's Kept Secrets 5 Adventures in 1 Tour: $25
- Royal seascope Semi-Submarine Cruise: $33
- luxury Snorkeling cruise with buffet lunch: $41
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Juan
For San Juan, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Horseback Riding Tour$40
-
Full Day Snorkeling Trip$100
-
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.
- Culebra Swim with Turtles Adventure and Flamenco Beach by Ferry: $130
- El Yunque Rainforest Tour Half Day Earlybird/ Small Groups: $85
- Rum Craft Cocktail Tour in San Juan: $65
- "Yo Soy de PfknR" Bad Bunny Party Bus Experience: $145
- 1 Hour Historical UTV Tour in San Juan: $200
- 1-Hour Freestyle Jet Ski Adventure in the Bay: $150
- 2 Tours in 1 Day: Rainforest Waterslides & Beach Tour w/Transport: $60
- 3 Tours in 1 Day: Old San Juan, Rainforest, Beach with Transport: $75
- ATV Double Rider Adventure Near San Juan - Hacienda Campo Rico: $221
- ATV Single Rider Adventure Near San Juan - Hacienda Campo Rico: $149
- Bio Bay Night Kayak Tour with Transport from San Juan: $115
- Bioluminescent Bay Chiliboats Waterbike Tour in La Parguera: $79
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayDahab $3.89San 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's First and Only Craft Beer Brewery Tour! : $99
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dahab and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Dahab much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dahab is in Africa 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 Dahab would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Dahab 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 Dahab.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dahab Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dahab or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Dahab. When comparing the sizes of Dahab 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.