Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Guayaquil?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Guayaquil or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Guayaquil 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: Guayaquil or San Juan?
Guayaquil
Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city and seaport. From a tourist perspective, the city acts primarily as a transportation gateway to the country and the Galapagos Islands. While the city can be skipped altogether, should you have a free day to spend here, there are a few noteworthy things to do, as well as some terrific dining and nightlife options. Guayaquil’s main tourist attraction is Las Penas, a hill with old, colorfully painted buildings at the north end of the Malecon, where you can walk the 400 steps to the lighthouse at the top for good views of the city. The neighborhood is filled with cafes, bars, restaurants, and art galleries and is relatively safe. Other important sights include the Malecon 2000, a massive urban development project that has brought new life to the riverside in the city center and the Parque Seminario, filled with fountains, trees and iguanas, located at 10 de Agosto Ave and Chile Ave.
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 G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuayaquil $95San Juan $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Guayaquil is $95, 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 Guayaquil and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuayaquil $32San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuayaquil $64San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Guayaquil and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Guayaquil 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: Guayaquil Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guayaquil $15San Juan $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guayaquil
Also for Guayaquil, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private transfer Guayaquil - Montañita: $250
- Guayaquil Airport (GYE): Transfer to Guayaquil hotels: $129
- Transfer Cuenca - Guayaquil (or Vice versa) With Visit To Cajas National Park: $128
- Private Transfer from Guayaquil Airport(GYE) to Manta Cruise Port: $98
- Private Transfer from Guayaquil Airport(GYE) to Manta Cruise Port: $89
- Guayaquil Airport Private Transfer Service: $80
- Guayaquil Airport(GYE) to Guayaquil - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $59
- Guayaquil Airport (GYE) to Guayaquil hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $52
- Shared transfer from Hotel to Airport in Guayaquil: $47
- Shared transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel: $47
- Transfer from Guayaquil airport to the hotel and vice versa: $30
- Guayaquil Airport GYE to Guayaquil city -Arrival Private Transfer: $30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Old San Juan Sunset Cruise with Drinks & Transfer: $99
- San Juan hotels to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port: Transfer to San Juan hotel: $271
- San Juan Airport (SJU): Private Transfer to San Juan Port: $271
- 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
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Mercedes ECO Van, Select Zone: $87
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Lexus Luxury Sedan, Select Zone: $81
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Ford Premium SUV, Select Zone: $87
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, 16Pax Mercedes Van, Select Zone: $130
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 11Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $103
Is it cheaper to fly into Guayaquil or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Guayaquil 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 dayGuayaquil $29San Juan $36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guayaquil
For Guayaquil, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Half Day Guayaquil Culinary Adventure, Cacao Cooking Class: $185
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.Guayaquil $21San Juan $49
Tours and Activities in Guayaquil
For Guayaquil, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1-hour Pacari Wine and Chocolate Tasting Experience: $20
- City Tour Guayaquil: $40
- City Tour around Guayaquil: $75
- Cocoa and Gastronomy Tour at Hacienda CacaoyMango: $155
- Dolphin Watching Experience in Puerto El Morro from Guayaquil: $165
- Exclusive private luxury cocoa experience: $187
- From Cloud Forest/Waterfalls Private Tour & Lunch: $159
- From Montañita: Paragliding Experience: $55
- Full Day Ayangue Tour with Snorkeling in The Pelado's Islote: $295
- Full Day Private Churute Mangroves Reserve and Cocoa Farm Tour: $255
- Full Day Zhagal Thermal Baths Tour from Guayaquil: $263
- Full day private tour Mangroves, dolphins and birds from guayaquil : $215
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.
- Rum Craft Cocktail Tour in San Juan: $65
- 1 or 2 Hour Puerto Rico Horseback Ride Experience!: $210
- Bioluminescent Bay Kayak Adventure from San Juan: $110
- Carolina: ATV Adventure at Campo Rico Ranch with Guide: $136
- Cave Day Tour From San Juan: $109
- Cruise Ship Travelers: Hike to a Hidden Puerto Rican Waterfall: $85
- Culebra Beach Day Tour with Snorkeling from San Juan by Ferry: $200
- Culebra Snorkeling Tour by Catamaran from Fajardo: $175
- Discover El Yunque: Half-Day Rainforest Tour: $115
- Discover Old In-App Audio Tour of History: $11
- El Yunque National RainForest: Tour with Nature walk: $75
- El Yunque Rainforest Guided Day Tour from San Juan: $85
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuayaquil $17San Juan $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Guayaquil
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Guayaquil:
- Wine Tasting Experience with Tasting Menu: $55
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 Guayaquil and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Guayaquil much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Guayaquil is in South America 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 Guayaquil would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guayaquil 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 Guayaquil.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Guayaquil Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Guayaquil or San Juan?
Guayaquil has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of San Juan. When comparing the sizes of Guayaquil 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 Guayaquil or San Juan?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Guayaquil or San Juan in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Guayaquil and San Juan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Guayaquil year-round. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Guayaquil gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Guayaquil usually receives more rain than San Juan. Guayaquil gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In the summer, Guayaquil is cooler than San Juan. Typically, the summer temperatures in Guayaquil in July average around 23°C (73°F), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyGuayaquil 23°C (73°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Guayaquil or San Juan in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Guayaquil as well as San Juan. Guayaquil attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in San Juan. Guayaquil usually gets less rain in October than San Juan. Guayaquil gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In October, Guayaquil is generally cooler than San Juan. Daily temperatures in Guayaquil average around 23°C (73°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGuayaquil 23°C (73°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Guayaquil or San Juan in the Winter?
Both San Juan and Guayaquil are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Guayaquil 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 Guayaquil. In January, Guayaquil usually receives more rain than San Juan. Guayaquil gets 190 mm (7.5 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Guayaquil is a little warmer than San Juan in the winter. The daily temperature in Guayaquil averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and San Juan fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGuayaquil 28°C (82°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Guayaquil or San Juan in the Spring?
Both San Juan and Guayaquil during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Guayaquil 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 Guayaquil. Guayaquil usually gets more rain in April than San Juan. Guayaquil gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the spring, Guayaquil is around the same temperature as San Juan. Typically, the spring temperatures in Guayaquil in April average around 28°C (82°F), and San Juan averages at about 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilGuayaquil 28°C (82°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Guayaquil
| Guayaquil | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 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.