Which place is cheaper, Ponce or Ghent?
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 Ghent or Ponce?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Ghent and Ponce. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Ghent or Ponce?
Ghent
Ghent is a large city in the northern part of Belgium (the Flanders region) with a population of about 250,000. This city was one of the most powerful cities in Europe during the Middle Ages, which is portrayed today, mostly through architecture. There is a large university in Ghent with over 60,000 students, and a large portion of the population are young students. However, among the natives and students, there are also many foreigners and artists that you will find walking the streets of the city. Ghent is also Belgium's second largest port city.
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 Cultural Tours in Belgium, and The Best Budget Tours to Belgium.
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Ghent Prices
Belgium PricesPonce Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGhent $168Ponce $230
The average daily cost (per person) in Ghent is $168, 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 Ghent and Ponce in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGhent $84Ponce $151
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGhent $168Ponce $302
Compare Hotels in Ghent and Ponce
Looking for a hotel in Ghent 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: Ghent Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ghent $22Ponce $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:
- San Juan Departure Share Transfer: $27
- Isabela / Hatillo to Aguadilla Airport(BQN) - DepartureTransfer: $44
- 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
- Private Transfers from SJU Airport to Isla Verde, Condado or San Juan área : $60
- Transfer TO or FROM: Airport,Cruise,Hotel in DORADO or RIO GRANDE: $70
- Private Transfer from San Juan City Hotels to Ponce Cruise Port: $79
- Aguadilla Hernandez Airport (BQN) to Isabela - RoundTrip Transfer: $87
- Rio Grande hotel to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $109
- Vega Baja to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $170
- Transfer SJU Airport to Humacao and Nagüabo. Vice Versa One Way Trip: $185
Is it cheaper to fly into Ghent or Ponce?
Prices for flights to both Ponce and Ghent 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 dayGhent $70Ponce $61
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ghent
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ghent.
- Walking Food Tour in Ghent: $93
- Walking food tour: Introduction to Ghent through food: $109
- Small-Group Food Tour in Ghent by Bike: $178
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.Ghent $10Ponce $56
Tours and Activities in Ghent
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ghent are as follows:
- Gastronomic Walking Tour of Gent - Tasters included: $3.57
- Historical Walking Tour: Legends of Gent: $3.57
- Evening Tour of the Dark Side of Gent: $3.57
- Ghent Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $7.75
- Ghent Walking Tour with Audioguide on Your Smartphone: $8.34
- Pub Trail an adventure full of surprises: $13
- Hidden A Self-Guided Audio Tour Of The Flemish City: $15
- Escape Tour Gent -selfguided citygame- and find the secret exit!: $24
- Discover Ghent with a self-guided Outside Escape city game tour!: $30
- TV like Ultimate Quiz Experience in Ghent: $30
- Ghent Beer Guided Walking Tour: $54
- Bicycle tour in historic Ghent: $54
Tours and Activities in Ponce
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ponce are as follows:
- Private Sunset Walking Tour in San Juan: $25
- Guided Walking Tour in Ponce: $30
- Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $30
- La Perla Cultural Tour: $35
- Prive Tours in Puerto Rico: $40
- Las Tinajas Waterfall: Guided Short Hike Adventure from Fajardo: $55
- Walking Guided Tour of History and Myths of Old San Juan : $60
- 2.5-Hour Historical Walking Tour of Old San Juan: $65
- Half-Day El Yunque Rainforest Tour from Fajardo: $65
- Half-Day Small-Group River Experience in El Yunque with Local : $68
- El Yunque Rainforest, Waterslides & Beach Tour from San Juan: $75
- Party Bus Experience in San Juan, Puerto Rico: $79
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGhent $21Ponce $16
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 Ghent and Ponce, we can see that Ponce is more expensive. And not only is Ghent much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ghent 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 Ghent would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ghent 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 Ghent.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ghent Expensive? and Is Ponce Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ghent or Ponce?
Ghent has a larger population, and is about 52% larger than the population of Ponce. When comparing the sizes of Ghent 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 Ghent or Ponce?
Ghent 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 Ghent or Ponce in the Summer?
Both Ponce and Ghent are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Ghent for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Plenty of visitors come to Ponce because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the summer, Ghent is much colder than Ponce. Typically, the summer temperatures in Ghent in July average around 17°C (63°F), and Ponce averages at about 28°C (83°F).
It's quite sunny in Ponce. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ghent. Ghent usually receives less sunshine than Ponce during summer. Ghent gets 202 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Ghent usually receives less rain than Ponce. Ghent gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyGhent 17°C (63°F)Ponce 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Ghent or Ponce in the Autumn?
Both Ponce and Ghent during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Ghent because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round.
In October, Ghent is generally much colder than Ponce. Daily temperatures in Ghent average around 12°C (54°F), and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
In Ponce, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Ghent often gets less sunshine than Ponce. Ghent gets 105 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 235 hours of full sun.
Ponce gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Ghent usually gets less rain in October than Ponce. Ghent gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGhent 12°C (54°F)Ponce 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Ghent or Ponce in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Ghent and Ponce. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Ghent this time of year. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
It's quite cold in Ghent in the winter. Ghent is much colder than Ponce in the winter. The daily temperature in Ghent averages around 3°C (38°F) in January, and Ponce fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ponce this time of the year. Ghent usually receives less sunshine than Ponce during winter. Ghent gets 47 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Ghent usually receives around the same amount of rain as Ponce. Ghent gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGhent 3°C (38°F)Ponce 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Ghent or Ponce in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Ghent as well as Ponce. Many travelers come to Ghent for the natural beauty. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year.
In the spring, Ghent is much colder than Ponce. Typically, the spring temperatures in Ghent in April average around 8°C (47°F), and Ponce averages at about 26°C (79°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ponce. In the spring, Ghent often gets less sunshine than Ponce. Ghent gets 158 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 272 hours of full sun.
Ghent usually gets less rain in April than Ponce. Ghent gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilGhent 8°C (47°F)Ponce 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Ponce and Ghent
| Ghent | Ponce | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (38°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (38°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (42°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 8°C (47°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (63°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 18°C (64°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 16°C (60°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 12°C (54°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 75 mm (2.9 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 5°C (40°F) | 71 mm (2.8 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.