Which place is cheaper, San Juan 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 San Juan?
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 San Juan. 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 San Juan?
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.
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 Cultural Tours in Belgium, and The Best Budget Tours to Belgium.
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Ghent Prices
Belgium PricesSan Juan Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGhent $168San Juan $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Ghent is $168, 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 Ghent and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGhent $84San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGhent $168San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Ghent and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Ghent 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: Ghent Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ghent $22San 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
- Premium Transfer in Airport, Hotel, Airbnb, Cruise: $25
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan - Arrival Private Transfer: $28
- San Juan hotels to San Juan PR Cruise Port - Departure Transfer: $30
- San Juan One-way Transfer - Cruise, SJU, Hotels, Airbnb: $30
- Private Transfer Puerto Rico:To or From Airports, Hotels &Cruises: $33
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, Tesla 3 Luxury Sedan.: $56
- San Juan Port to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $60
- San juan Puerto Rico PrivateTransfers Airport,Hotels,Cruise Ports: $66
- Roundtrip-Transfer from: SJU Airport,Cruises and Hotels in Puerto Rico LuxurySUV: $70
- Roundtrip-Transfer in Puerto Rico: From Airports, Hotels, Cruises: $71
- Airport Transfer to Cruise Ships, Hotels, Airbnb in San Juan: $76
Is it cheaper to fly into Ghent or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan 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 $70San Juan $62
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 San Juan
For San Juan, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ghent $10San Juan $49
Tours and Activities in Ghent
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ghent are as follows:
- Explore History and Family Walking Tour in Mons: $245
- Bicycle tour in historic Ghent: $54
- Charlie's Private Beer Tour (Ghent) : $179
- Charlie's Private Chocolate Tour (Ghent): $198
- Charlie's Private Highlights Tour (Ghent): $149
- Charlie's Private Off The Beaten Path Tour (Ghent): $209
- Charlie's Private Tasting Tour (Ghent): $239
- Charlie's famous Chocolate Tour (Ghent): $56
- Charlie's famous Tasting Tour (Ghent): $70
- Discover Ghent with a self-guided Outside Escape city game tour!: $30
- Escape Tour Gent -selfguided citygame- and find the secret exit!: $24
- Evening Tour of the Dark Side of Gent: $3.57
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.
- Transportation in San Juan, Isla verde, Condado, Hotels, Cruises & Airbnb's SJU: $14
- San Juan Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $17
- Eco Friendly Farming Tour to Explore Dorado's Most Beautiful Farm: $20
- Discover Superb Self-Guided Audio Tour: $20
- Group Transportation in airport, cruise ships, hotels, bnb's in San Juan, PR: $23
- Old San Juan Walking Tour with a Local Certified Guide: $25
- San Juan Ghost Tour: Shrieks in the Sugarcane: $32
- Old San Juan Walking Tour: $39
- Old San Juan City Walking Tour: $39
- Historic Old San Juan Sunset Walking Tour: $39
- Top Rated El Yunque Rainforest & Waterslide – VIP SmallGroup Tour: $45
- Ron del Barrilito Heritage Skip-the-Line Tour: $46
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGhent $21San 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
- The Pinones Pub crawl Bar crawl : $70
- Local Puerto Rican Rum Distillery Tour - Ron Pepon: $90
- Puerto Rico's First and Only Craft Beer Brewery Tour! : $99
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ghent and San Juan, we can see that San Juan 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 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 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 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 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 San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ghent or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 81% larger than the population of Ghent. When comparing the sizes of Ghent 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 Ghent or San Juan?
Ghent 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 Ghent or San Juan in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Ghent as well as San Juan. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Ghent this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
Ghent is much colder than San Juan in the summer. The daily temperature in Ghent averages around 17°C (63°F) in July, and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ghent this time of the year. In the summer, Ghent often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Ghent gets 202 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun.
Ghent usually gets less rain in July than San Juan. Ghent gets 66 mm (2.6 in) 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 JulyGhent 17°C (63°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Ghent or San Juan in the Autumn?
Both San Juan and Ghent are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Ghent for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the autumn, Ghent is much colder than San Juan. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Ghent in October average around 12°C (54°F), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (82°F).
It's quite sunny in San Juan. Ghent usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during autumn. Ghent gets 105 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Juan. In October, Ghent usually receives less rain than San Juan. Ghent gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGhent 12°C (54°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Ghent or San Juan in the Winter?
Both San Juan and Ghent during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Ghent in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
Ghent can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Ghent is generally much colder than San Juan. Daily temperatures in Ghent average around 3°C (38°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Ghent often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Ghent gets 47 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun.
Ghent usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as San Juan. Ghent gets 59 mm (2.3 in) 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 JanuaryGhent 3°C (38°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Ghent or San Juan in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Ghent and San Juan. Most visitors come to Ghent for the natural beauty during these months. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Ghent is much colder than San Juan in the spring. The daily temperature in Ghent averages around 8°C (47°F) in April, and San Juan fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. Ghent usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during spring. Ghent gets 158 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Ghent usually receives less rain than San Juan. Ghent gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilGhent 8°C (47°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Ghent
| Ghent | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.