Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Gainesville?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Gainesville or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Gainesville or San Juan, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Gainesville or San Juan?
Gainesville
Home to the University of Florida as well as Santa Fe College, the town of Gainesville has all of the shopping, entertainment, and restaurants that you could want in a college town - plus easy access to a number of outdoor adventures from canoeing, diving, and kayaking to birding, fishing, hiking, and biking. Some of the top features include the Butterfly Rainforest, the Florida Museum of Natural History, the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, and Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park.
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 2-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGainesville $221San Juan $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Gainesville is $221, 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 Gainesville and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGainesville $119San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGainesville $238San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Gainesville and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Gainesville 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: Gainesville Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Gainesville $40San Juan $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to San Juan Airport: $22
- Mendoza: One-Way Private Transfer from Airport: $25
- San Juan One-way Transfer: $30
- San Juan hotels to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- San Juan Luxury Private Round-Trip Transfer: SJU Airport - Cruise Pier - Hotel : $50
- Oneway Transfer- San Juan(SJU, hotel, airbnb, port) to Río Grande: $68
- Old Walking Tour with Shopping and Hotel Transfer: $70
- 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
- Oneway Transfer San Juan to Ceiba: Ferry, Vieques/Culebra Airport: $80
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Lexus Luxury Sedan, Select Zone: $81
Is it cheaper to fly into Gainesville or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Gainesville 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 dayGainesville $70San Juan $36
Typical Food Prices in Gainesville
Some typical examples of dining costs in Gainesville are as follows:
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Diner Breakfast for Two$17
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Lunch at Chop Stix (for 2)$24
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.Gainesville $44San Juan $49
Typical Entertainment Prices in Gainesville
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Gainesville are as follows:
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Manatee Tour for Two$98
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Tour Guide Tip$5.00
Tours and Activities in Gainesville
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Gainesville are as follows:
- Butterfly Rainforest at Florida Museum of Natural History Ticket: $15
- Private Snorkeling Tour in Florida Springs: $250
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Gainesville by Operation City Quest: $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.
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of Historic Buildings: $5.99
- Discover Old In-App Audio Tour of History: $11
- Self-Guided Tour with Audio Guide: $14
- Group Transportation in airport, cruise ships, hotels, bnb's in San Juan, PR: $20
- Old Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $25
- Old San Juan Walking Tour with a Certified Guide: $30
- History, Legends, & Highlights Guided Walking Tour: $30
- Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $30
- Old San Juan Walking Tour: $39
- Old San Juan City Walking Tour: $39
- Legacy Tour at Casa BarcadÍ in Puerto Rico: $45
- Ron del Barrilito Skip-the-Line Heritage Tour Ticket: $46
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGainesville $49San 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 comparing the travel costs between Gainesville and San Juan, we can see that Gainesville is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Gainesville is in North America and San Juan is in Caribbean Islands, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Gainesville Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Gainesville or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Gainesville. When comparing the sizes of Gainesville 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 Gainesville or San Juan?
Gainesville 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 Gainesville or San Juan in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Gainesville as well as San Juan. Many visitors come to Gainesville in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
Gainesville is around the same temperature as San Juan in the summer. The daily temperature in Gainesville averages around 81°F (27°C) in July, and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
Gainesville receives a lot of rain in the summer. Gainesville usually gets more rain in July than San Juan. Gainesville gets 6.8 inches (174 mm) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyGainesville 81°F (27°C)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Gainesville or San Juan in the Autumn?
Both San Juan and Gainesville are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Gainesville for the shopping scene during these months. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the autumn, Gainesville is cooler than San Juan. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Gainesville in October average around 71°F (22°C), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (82°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Juan. In October, Gainesville usually receives less rain than San Juan. Gainesville gets 2 inches (51 mm) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn. June to November in Gainesville is the hurricane season.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGainesville 71°F (22°C)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Gainesville or San Juan in the Winter?
Both San Juan and Gainesville during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Gainesville because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
In January, Gainesville is generally much colder than San Juan. Daily temperatures in Gainesville average around 54°F (12°C), and San Juan fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
Gainesville usually gets more rain in January than San Juan. Gainesville gets 2.9 inches (75 mm) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGainesville 54°F (12°C)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Gainesville or San Juan in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Gainesville and San Juan. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Gainesville is cooler than San Juan in the spring. The daily temperature in Gainesville averages around 69°F (20°C) in April, and San Juan fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
In April, Gainesville usually receives less rain than San Juan. Gainesville gets 2 inches (50 mm) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring. The hurricane season in Gainesville is June to November.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilGainesville 69°F (20°C)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Gainesville
| Gainesville | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 54°F (12°C) | 2.9 inches (75 mm) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 57°F (14°C) | 4.5 inches (115 mm) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 63°F (17°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 69°F (20°C) | 2 inches (50 mm) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 75°F (24°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 80°F (26°C) | 6.8 inches (174 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 81°F (27°C) | 6.8 inches (174 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 8.3 inches (211 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 78°F (26°C) | 5.5 inches (139 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 71°F (22°C) | 2 inches (51 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 63°F (17°C) | 2.4 inches (61 mm) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 56°F (14°C) | 2.9 inches (74 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.