Which place is cheaper, San Juan del Sur or Florianopolis?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Florianopolis or San Juan del Sur?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Florianopolis or San Juan del Sur? 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: Florianopolis or San Juan del Sur?
Florianopolis
With a population of almost 500,000, Florianopolis is the capital city of the state of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil. The city is split between mainland Brazil and Santa Catarina Island.
Florianopolis has grown in popularity with tourists recently because of its wonderful scenery, beautiful beaches, and fascinating culture. Many Brazilians have also moved here, leaving behind the big cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
Florianopolis has a warm humid subtropical climate. There are summer, winter, spring and fall seasons. Frosts are rare but do occur occasionally. Highs during the warmest months are usually in the high 70s Fahrenheit. Rain is evenly distributed throughout the year and there is no distinct dry season.
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 G Adventures Tours to Brazil, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Rio de Janeiro, The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFlorianopolis $62San Juan del Sur $53
The average daily cost (per person) in Florianopolis is $62, 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 Florianopolis and San Juan del Sur in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFlorianopolis $26San Juan del Sur $21
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFlorianopolis $52San Juan del Sur $42
Compare Hotels in Florianopolis and San Juan del Sur
Looking for a hotel in Florianopolis 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.
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: Florianopolis Hotel Prices and San Juan del Sur Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Florianopolis $13San Juan del Sur $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Florianopolis
Also for Florianopolis, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Florianópolis Airport Transfer anywhere on the island by Floripa Nativa: $40
- Hercilio Luz Airport - North Island Transfer: $14
- One Way Transfer : Florianopolis Airport to or from Florianopolis: $64
- Private Transfer Florianópolis Airport to City Center: $32
- Private Transfer Florianopolis Airport to Bal. Camboriu: $96
- Private Transfer from FLN Airport to the City Balneario Camboriú : $84
- Private Transfer from Florianópolis Airport to Bombinhas: $97
- Roundtrip transfer from Florianópolis Airport to Bombinhas: $168
- Shared transfer from Florianópolis airport to Balneário Camboriú: $35
- Transfer Florianópolis Airport / Costão do Santinho: $78
Is it cheaper to fly into Florianopolis or San Juan del Sur?
Prices for flights to both San Juan del Sur and Florianopolis 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 dayFlorianopolis $22San Juan del Sur $18
Typical Food Prices in Florianopolis
For Florianopolis, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
A Quick Snack$0.44
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Florianopolis $26San Juan del Sur $15
Typical Entertainment Prices in Florianopolis
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Florianopolis's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
Internet$0.59
Tours and Activities in Florianopolis
For Florianopolis, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Historic Center Walking Tour in Florianopolis with Local Bar Hop: $14
- Bombinhas Beach and 4 Islands Tour: $22
- Shared Shuttle between Florianópolis Airport and Hotel with optional City Tour: $23
- Florianópolis Full Day City Tour: $25
- Rafting Adventure in Apuama - Rio Cubatão in Greater Florianópolis: $30
- Floripa City Tour by Bus - Whole Island - The Most Complete City Tour: $32
- Balneário Camboriú City Tour from Florianópolis: $35
- Blumenau City Tour - departing from Florianópolis: $37
- Tour Balneario Camboriu and Laranjeiras Beach TELEFERICO INCLUDED: $37
- Blumenau City Tour from Florianópolis: $38
- Private Tour: The 7 Most Preserved Beaches on the South Island by Floripa Nativa: $39
- Lagoinha do Leste Hiking and Photography Adventure : $42
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 dayFlorianopolis $8.68San Juan del Sur $13
Typical Alcohol Prices in Florianopolis
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Florianopolis from other travelers:
-
Beer$0.59
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Florianopolis and San Juan del Sur, we can see that Florianopolis is more expensive. And not only is San Juan del Sur much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Florianopolis 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 Florianopolis would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Florianopolis 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 Florianopolis Expensive? and Is San Juan del Sur Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Florianopolis or San Juan del Sur?
Florianopolis has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of San Juan del Sur. When comparing the sizes of Florianopolis 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.
When is the best time to visit Florianopolis or San Juan del Sur?
Florianopolis has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Juan del Sur experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Florianopolis or San Juan del Sur in the Summer?
Both San Juan del Sur and Florianopolis during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan del Sur year-round.
Florianopolis is around the same temperature as San Juan del Sur in the summer. The daily temperature in Florianopolis averages around 25°C (76°F) in January, and San Juan del Sur fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in July.
In the summer, Florianopolis often gets more sunshine than San Juan del Surin July. Florianopolis gets 198 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan del Sur receives 175 hours of full sun.
San Juan del Sur gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Florianopolis. Florianopolis usually gets more rain in January than San Juan del Surin July. Florianopolis gets 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyFlorianopolis 25°C (76°F)San Juan del Sur 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Florianopolis or San Juan del Sur in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Florianopolis and San Juan del Sur. San Juan del Sur attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, Florianopolis is cooler than San Juan del Sur. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Florianopolis in April average around 22°C (71°F), and San Juan del Sur averages at about 27°C (81°F)in October.
Florianopolis usually receives less sunshine than San Juan del Sur during autumn. Florianopolis gets 179 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan del Sur receives 195 hours of full sun in the autumn.
San Juan del Sur receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Florianopolis usually receives less rain than San Juan del Surin October. Florianopolis gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberFlorianopolis 22°C (71°F)San Juan del Sur 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Florianopolis or San Juan del Sur in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Florianopolis as well as San Juan del Sur. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan del Sur throughout the year.
In July, Florianopolis is generally much colder than San Juan del Surin January. Daily temperatures in Florianopolis average around 17°C (62°F), and San Juan del Sur fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan del Sur. In the winter, Florianopolis often gets less sunshine than San Juan del Surin January. Florianopolis gets 170 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan del Sur receives 244 hours of full sun.
Florianopolis usually gets more rain in July than San Juan del Surin January. Florianopolis gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryFlorianopolis 17°C (62°F)San Juan del Sur 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Florianopolis or San Juan del Sur in the Spring?
Both San Juan del Sur and Florianopolis are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan del Sur because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Florianopolis is cooler than San Juan del Sur in the spring. The daily temperature in Florianopolis averages around 20°C (68°F) in October, and San Juan del Sur fluctuates around 29°C (84°F)in April.
It's quite sunny in San Juan del Sur. Florianopolis usually receives less sunshine than San Juan del Sur during spring. Florianopolis gets 159 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan del Sur receives 242 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Florianopolis. In October, Florianopolis usually receives more rain than San Juan del Surin April. Florianopolis gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilFlorianopolis 20°C (68°F)San Juan del Sur 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan del Sur and Florianopolis
| Florianopolis | San Juan del Sur | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (76°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 22°C (71°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| May | 19°C (67°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (63°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (63°F) | 95 mm (3.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (65°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) |
| Oct | 20°C (68°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) |
| Nov | 22°C (71°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (74°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 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.