Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Grande-Terre?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Grande-Terre or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Grande-Terre or San Juan? 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: Grande-Terre or San Juan?
Grande-Terre
Grande Terre is an island that makes up the eastern half of the Guadeloupe 'mainland.' It is divided from the other half of the main Guadeloupe island, Basse Terre, by a narrow channel called Rivière Salee (or the Salt River). The island itself is characterized by rolling hills, white sand beaches, and cliffs, and its indented coastline is surrounded by coral reefs. It is home to most of Guadeloupe's farmlands and tourist resorts.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGrande-Terre $157San Juan $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Grande-Terre is $157, 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 Grande-Terre and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGrande-Terre $88San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGrande-Terre $176San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Grande-Terre and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Grande-Terre 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: Grande-Terre Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Grande-Terre $9.75San Juan $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Grande-Terre
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Grande-Terre:
- Pointe-a-Pitre Airport (PTP) to Guadeloupe island - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $159
- Departure Private Transfer from Saint-Francois to Pointe a Pitre Airport by SUV: $92
- Private Transfer from Pointe a Pitre Airport to Deshaies or Trois Riviers by SUV: $91
- Pointe-a-Pitre Airport (PTP) to Guadeloupe island hotel-Arrival Private Transfer: $79
- Private Transfer in Guadeloupe: $71
- Departure Private Transfer from Sainte-Anne to Pointe a Pitre Airport by SUV: $60
- Private Transfers (Airport, Port, Hotels) Guadeloupe : $54
- Departure Private Transfer from Le Gosier to Pointe a Pitre Airport by SUV: $51
- Arrival Private Transfer from Pointe a Pitre Airport PTP to Le Gosier by SUV: $50
- Pointe-a-Pitre Airport (PTP) to Pointe-a-Pitre - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $46
- Departure Private Transfer from Pointe a Pitre to Pointe a Pitre Airport by SUV: $41
- Arrival Private Transfer Pointe a Pitre Airport PTP to Pointe a Pitre by SUV: $41
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Carabali Rain Forest Round Trip Private Taxi Transfer: $210
- Mendoza: One-Way Private Transfer from Airport: $25
- Old Walking Tour with Shopping and Hotel Transfer: $70
- Oneway Transfer San Juan to Ceiba: Ferry, Vieques/Culebra Airport: $80
- Oneway Transfer from San Juan (SJU, hotel, airbnb, port) to Ponce: $125
- Oneway Transfer- San Juan(SJU, hotel, airbnb, port) to Río Grande: $68
- Private Airport Transfers to Ceiba Ferry Terminal and Airport: $155
- Private Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to San Juan Airport: $22
- Private Transfer from SJU Airport to San Juan / Rio Grande: $105
- Private Transportation in Puerto Rico From or To San Juan Airport(SJU) Transfers: $33
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 11Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $103
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, 16Pax Mercedes Van, Select Zone: $130
Is it cheaper to fly into Grande-Terre or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Grande-Terre 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 dayGrande-Terre $51San Juan $36
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
- Private Local Food Tour in San Juan: $275
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Grande-Terre $48San Juan $49
Tours and Activities in Grande-Terre
Here are a few actual costs in Grande-Terre for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- *Cruise Stopover* - Tropical Forest - Sainte-Anne Beach: $60
- Cruise Stopover at Village Sainte Anne and its Beach: $31
- Cruise stopover - Plage du Gosier Round trip: $15
- Full Day Private Boat Tour to the Lagoon of Guadeloupe: $232
- Full Day Tour of Guadeloupe: $157
- Guided tour by electric tuk-tuk: $49
- Photoshoot + Drone on a Caribbean paradise beach or day tour : $100
- Private Surf Lessons Tour in Guadeloupe: $97
- Private Ultralight Seaplane Experience in Guadeloupe: $169
- Stand Up Paddle Adventure in Guadeloupe: $49
- Stopover Cruise - Valombreuse Botanical Garden + Sainte-Anne Beach: $49
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
- Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $30
- Old San Juan Walking Tour with a Certified Guide: $30
- History, Legends, & Highlights Guided Walking Tour: $30
- Old San Juan Walking Tour: $39
- Old San Juan City Walking Tour: $39
- Legacy Tour at Casa BarcadÍ in Puerto Rico: $45
- Walking tour of Oaxaca City: $48
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGrande-Terre $13San 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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Grande-Terre and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Grande-Terre much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Grande-Terre would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Grande-Terre 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 Grande-Terre.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Grande-Terre Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Grande-Terre or San Juan?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Grande-Terre or San Juan in the Summer?
Both San Juan and Grande-Terre during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Grande-Terre because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Grande-Terre. Grande-Terre usually gets more rain in July than San Juan. Grande-Terre gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Grande-Terre. In the summer, Grande-Terre often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Grande-Terre gets 245 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun.
In July, Grande-Terre is generally around the same temperature as San Juan. Daily temperatures in Grande-Terre average around 27°C (81°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyGrande-Terre 27°C (81°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Grande-Terre or San Juan in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Grande-Terre and San Juan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Grande-Terre year-round. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
San Juan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Grande-Terre gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Grande-Terre usually receives more rain than San Juan. Grande-Terre gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. In Grande-Terre, it's very sunny this time of the year. Grande-Terre usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during autumn. Grande-Terre gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Grande-Terre is around the same temperature as San Juan in the autumn. The daily temperature in Grande-Terre averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGrande-Terre 27°C (80°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Grande-Terre or San Juan in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Grande-Terre as well as San Juan. Grande-Terre attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
Grande-Terre usually gets more rain in January than San Juan. Grande-Terre gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Grande-Terre this time of the year. In the winter, Grande-Terre often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan. Grande-Terre gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Grande-Terre is around the same temperature as San Juan. Typically, the winter temperatures in Grande-Terre in January average around 24°C (76°F), and San Juan averages at about 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGrande-Terre 24°C (76°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Grande-Terre or San Juan in the Spring?
Both San Juan and Grande-Terre are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Grande-Terre throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Grande-Terre. In April, Grande-Terre usually receives more rain than San Juan. Grande-Terre gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in San Juan. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Grande-Terre. Grande-Terre usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during spring. Grande-Terre gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Grande-Terre is generally around the same temperature as San Juan. Daily temperatures in Grande-Terre average around 26°C (78°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilGrande-Terre 26°C (78°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Grande-Terre
| Grande-Terre | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 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.