Which place is cheaper, Ponce or Dubrovnik?
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 Dubrovnik or Ponce?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Dubrovnik or Ponce? 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: Dubrovnik or Ponce?
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik, the "Pearl of the Adriatic", is a beautiful walled city in southern Croatia that sits on the edge of the Adriatic Sea. It's a small city, with only about 40,000 residents, but it's become one of the most significant tourist destinations in the Mediterranean. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The city was historically built on maritime trade, which is not surprising given its location near major Italian and Greek ports such as Venice, Bari, Corfu, and Trieste. It was a center of language and literature and was the home of many important poets, playwrights, painters, and scientists during the 15th and 16th centuries. Today its economy is dependent on tourism and it is one of the most popular destinations in the region. People visit the city for its impressive history, beautiful setting, great weather, and interesting architecture.
Ponce
Ponce is on the south coast of Puerto Rico. It's the second largest city on the island and has been around since 1692 when it was originally founded by Ponce de Leon's grandson Juan Ponce de Leon y Loayza. The city has several nicknames, including La Perla del Sur (The Pearl of the South), La Ciudad Senorial (The Noble, or Lordly, City), and La Ciudad de las Quenepas (Genip City).
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Split, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Croatia.
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Dubrovnik Prices
Croatia PricesPonce Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDubrovnik $142Ponce $230
The average daily cost (per person) in Dubrovnik is $142, while the average daily cost in Ponce is $230. 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 Dubrovnik and Ponce in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDubrovnik $59Ponce $151
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDubrovnik $118Ponce $302
Compare Hotels in Dubrovnik and Ponce
Looking for a hotel in Dubrovnik or Ponce? 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: Dubrovnik Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dubrovnik $15Ponce $10
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dubrovnik
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubrovnik:
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Bus Around Town$1.67
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dubrovnik
Also for Dubrovnik, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Airport Transfer to/from City Center: $18
- Lokrum Island Transfer with Panoramic Cruise from Dubrovnik: $18
- Lopud Island Boat Transfer: $23
- Sveti Jakov Beach Boat Transfer: $23
- Koločep Island Boat Transfer: $23
- Private transfer from Dubrovnik airport to Dubrovnik city: $24
- Dubrovnik to Koločep Island Ferry: Scenic Transfer: $24
- Dubrovnik to Lopud Island Ferry: Scenic Transfer: $24
- Return transfer to Dubrovnik airport: $27
- Convenient Bus Transfer from/to Split: $29
- Private return transfer to Dubrovnik airport: $30
- From Dubrovnik Airport: 1-Way Private Transfer to Dubrovnik: $30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:
- Transfer SJU Airport to Humacao and Nagüabo. Vice Versa One Way Trip: $185
- Vega Baja to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $170
- Rio Grande hotel to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $109
- Aguadilla Hernandez Airport (BQN) to Isabela - RoundTrip Transfer: $87
- Private Transfer from San Juan City Hotels to Ponce Cruise Port: $79
- Transfer TO or FROM: Airport,Cruise,Hotel in DORADO or RIO GRANDE: $70
- Private Transfers from SJU Airport to Isla Verde, Condado or San Juan área : $60
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- San Juan PR Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Transfer: $46
- Isabela / Hatillo to Aguadilla Airport(BQN) - DepartureTransfer: $44
- San Juan Departure Share Transfer: $27
Is it cheaper to fly into Dubrovnik or Ponce?
Prices for flights to both Ponce and Dubrovnik 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 dayDubrovnik $67Ponce $61
Typical Food Prices in Dubrovnik
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubrovnik:
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Seafood Dinner (for 2)$34
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dubrovnik
For Dubrovnik, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Sunset Dinner Cruise around the Old Town: $82
- Gastro Cruise | Dinner and Boat ride around Dubrovnik Old Town: $93
- Dinner in the Sky Dubrovnik - Dine 50m above ground: $101
- Dinner in the Sky Dubrovnik: $114
- Secret Food Tours in Dubrovnik: $118
- Secrets of traditional Dalmatian cuisine with a cooking class: $140
- Croatian Traditional Cuisine: Peka Cooking Lesson: $143
- Old Town Food Tour: $157
- Dubrovnik Old Town Food Tour: Small-Group Experience: $168
- Eat Like A Local On A Food Tour: $180
- Authentic Garden to Table Cooking Class in Dubrovnik Countryside : $208
- Konavle Wine& History&food Tour: $226
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ponce
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ponce.
- Latin Night with Dinner and Local Music with Transportation: $59
- Puerto Rico Art and Wine Dinner with One Way Transportation: $89
- Private Cooking Class with a Fun Local in San German, Puerto Rico: $96
- Private Half-Day Island Authentic Food Tour : $130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dubrovnik $22Ponce $56
Typical Entertainment Prices in Dubrovnik
For Dubrovnik, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Boat to Lokrum Island (for 2)$16
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Dubrovnik City Wall Tour (for 2)$62
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Dubrovnik Cable Car (for 2)$53
Tours and Activities in Dubrovnik
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dubrovnik.
- Selfguide® Secrets Tour Dubrovnik with Game of Thrones Spots: $3.57
- Self Guided Private Tour of Dubrovnik's Best Kept Secrets: $3.58
- Time Traveler’s Trail: Self-Guided Puzzle Adventure in Dubrovnik: $5.99
- Dubrovnik Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $6.67
- Dubrovnik Old Town Walking Tour with Audioguide: $8.34
- Old Town Highlights Tour with Audio Guide: $9.36
- Love Stories Museum Skip-the-Line Entrance Ticket: $11
- Red History Museum Regular Ticket: $11
- Skip the Line: Love Stories Museum Admission Ticket: $11
- Museum of Selfies & Illusions Dubrovnik Ticket: $11
- A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Dubrovnik's Old Town: $12
- Discover Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
Tours and Activities in Ponce
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ponce are as follows:
- Half-Day El Yunque Rainforest Tour from Fajardo: $65
- Scuba Boat Diving Experience in Gilligan's Island at Copamarina: $160
- 2.5-Hour Historical Walking Tour of Old San Juan: $65
- 5 hours Tour in La Parguera Private Boat Charter: $200
- 7 Hours River Tour with Beach and Learn to Make Piña Colada : $195
- 8 Hours Private Tours in Puerto Rico: $150
- Adventure in Cave and the Guayaney Spring: $99
- Afro-Boriken-Loiza: Food, Cave & Art Tour: $140
- Aguadilla 6 Hour Local Tour: $150
- Camuy Caves Experience Tour with transportation: $130
- Cave Hopping Tour: $198
- Caves Coastlines and Beach; Cueva del Indio, Arecibo Adventure : $125
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDubrovnik $16Ponce $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Dubrovnik
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dubrovnik:
- Dubrovnik Sunset Tour with Wine Tasting : $42
- Panoramic Dubrovnik Tour Golden Hour Sunset and Wine Tasting: $46
- Sunset and Wine / Dubrovnik Sunset Tour and Premium Wine Tasting : $54
- Brewery Tour with Food included: $66
- Columbo Pub Crawl Dubrovnik: $70
- Columbo Pub Crawl Dubrovnik: $72
- Sunset Wine Tasting At Panorama Point: $74
- Pub Crawl Nightlife Xperience: $80
- Ston and Korcula Island Day Trip from Dubrovnik with Wine Tasting: $83
- Day Tour of Korcula Island from Dubrovnik with Wine Tasting: $83
- Luxury Sunset Tour with Wine Tasting: $84
- Wine Tour - Get to know local grapes: $84
Sample the Local Flavors in Ponce
Also in Ponce, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Artisan Puertorrican Winery and Distillery Tour: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dubrovnik and Ponce, we can see that Ponce is more expensive. And not only is Dubrovnik much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dubrovnik is in Europe and Ponce 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 Dubrovnik would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Dubrovnik 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 Ponce would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ponce than you might in Dubrovnik.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dubrovnik Expensive? and Is Ponce Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dubrovnik or Ponce?
Ponce has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Dubrovnik. When comparing the sizes of Dubrovnik and Ponce, 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 Dubrovnik or Ponce?
Dubrovnik has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Ponce experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Dubrovnik or Ponce in the Summer?
Both Ponce and Dubrovnik during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Dubrovnik in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round.
In July, Dubrovnik is generally cooler than Ponce. Daily temperatures in Dubrovnik average around 25°C (77°F), and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
Dubrovnik usually gets less rain in July than Ponce. Dubrovnik gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyDubrovnik 25°C (77°F)Ponce 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Dubrovnik or Ponce in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Dubrovnik and Ponce. Most visitors come to Dubrovnik for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Dubrovnik is much colder than Ponce in the autumn. The daily temperature in Dubrovnik averages around 18°C (64°F) in October, and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
Ponce receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Dubrovnik gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Dubrovnik usually receives more rain than Ponce. Dubrovnik gets 162 mm (6.4 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberDubrovnik 18°C (64°F)Ponce 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Dubrovnik or Ponce in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Dubrovnik as well as Ponce. The winter months attract visitors to Dubrovnik because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year.
In the winter, Dubrovnik is much colder than Ponce. Typically, the winter temperatures in Dubrovnik in January average around 9°C (48°F), and Ponce averages at about 25°C (77°F).
Dubrovnik receives a lot of rain in the winter. Dubrovnik usually gets more rain in January than Ponce. Dubrovnik gets 139 mm (5.5 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryDubrovnik 9°C (48°F)Ponce 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Dubrovnik or Ponce in the Spring?
Both Ponce and Dubrovnik are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Dubrovnik this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to Ponce because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Dubrovnik is generally much colder than Ponce. Daily temperatures in Dubrovnik average around 14°C (57°F), and Ponce fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
It's quite rainy in Dubrovnik. In April, Dubrovnik usually receives more rain than Ponce. Dubrovnik gets 104 mm (4.1 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilDubrovnik 14°C (57°F)Ponce 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Ponce and Dubrovnik
| Dubrovnik | Ponce | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 9°C (48°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 10°C (50°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 11°C (52°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (57°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (77°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 14°C (57°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 11°C (52°F) | 178 mm (7 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.