Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Halong Bay?
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 Halong Bay or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Halong Bay and San Juan can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Halong Bay or San Juan?
Halong Bay
Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the north of Vietnam, near the Chinese border. Known for its thousands of beautiful limestone karsts and stalactite-filled caves, it is one of the most visited destinations in Vietnam. If you appreciate natural scenery and want an adventure at sea, you'll love cruising among more than 1,900 islands in Ha Long Bay.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Ho Chi Minh City, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Hanoi.
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Halong Bay Prices
Vietnam PricesSan Juan Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHalong Bay $66San Juan $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Halong Bay is $66, 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 Halong Bay and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHalong Bay $27San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHalong Bay $54San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Halong Bay and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Halong Bay 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: San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Halong Bay $13San Juan $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Halong Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Halong Bay:
- Private Halong Bay Day Tour: Transfer, Lunch, Guide, Entrance Fee: $300
- Halong Bay 2D1N 5-Star Cruise–Transfer, Food & Island Adventures: $239
- PRIVATE TRANSFER BETWEEN HANOI and HAI PHONG CITY(DCAR LIMOUSINE): $200
- 2 Day Halong Bay Cruise from Hanoi by Expressway Transfer: $199
- Dragon 5Star HaLong Cruise 2D1N Included Transfer from Hanoi: $195
- 2D/1N at 5 STAR CRUISES: Transfer,Meals, Cave, Island & Beach: $185
- Oasis Bay Party Cruise for Young Travelers with Transfer Included: $185
- 2D/1N at AQUAMARINE CRUISES: Transfer,Meals, Cave, Island & Beach: $170
- Private Transfers FROM/to Ninh Binh TO/from Cat Ba island: $119
- Private Transfer: From Ha Long Bay to Ninh Binh: $110
- Hanoi Private Transfer from Tuan Chau Island to Hanoi (HAN) airport: $103
- Hai Phong airport transfer to Halong Bay with private car 7 seat from Hai Phong: $100
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer to Cruise Ships, Hotels, Airbnb in San Juan: $85
- Arrival Private Transfer SJU Airport to Old San Juan by Sedan: $120
- Departure Transfer from Old San Juan to to SJU Airport by Car: $86
- Double ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $289
- HandyCap Transfer Airport to Dorado, Rio Grande or Luquillo: $270
- Luxury Puerto Rico Private Transfers: $220
- One-way transfer from SJU Airport to Cruise Port or Vice Versa: $65
- Private Transfer Puerto Rico:To or From Airports, Hotels &Cruises: $33
- Private Transfer San Juan from or to SJU Airport, Hotel, Cruises: $16
- Private Transfer from San Juan Airport (SJU) to Ponce Cruise Port: $77
- Private Transfer from or to San Juan and Ponce: $125
- Private Transfer from or to San Juan and Rio Grande: $68
Is it cheaper to fly into Halong Bay or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Halong Bay 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 dayHalong Bay $26San Juan $62
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Halong Bay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Halong Bay.
- Sunset and Bioluminescent Kayaking Tour in Lan Ha Bay with Dinner: $37
- Catherine Horizon - Top Luxury - The Best Day & Dinner Cruise: $70
- Halong Bay Luxury Dinner Cruise - Ambassador: $79
- Cooking class on floating village: $100
- Best 2D1N Lan Ha Bay Cruise: BBQ dinner, Viet Hai Ancient Village: $210
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:
- FlyDining: 4 Course Sunset & City Light Dinner Over Old San Juan: $159
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $165
- FlyDining: 4 Courses Dinner with City Lights & Ocean Breeze: $165
- Morning Old San Juan Food Tour: $169
- Savor the Sunset: Old San Juan Walking Food Tour: $179
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Halong Bay $16San Juan $49
Tours and Activities in Halong Bay
Here are a few actual costs in Halong Bay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 07 Hours Explore Halong Bay on La Casta Cruises: $62
- 2 Day Horror Cruise from Halong city: $214
- 2 Day Navy Peak Trekking, Viethai Village and Ha Long Bay Cruise: $155
- 2 Days 1 Night Halong Bay Classic Wooden Cruise: $199
- 2 Days 1 Night Lan Ha Bay Adventure: $139
- 2 Days 1 Night Lan Ha, Ha Long Bay Tour With Licensed Guide: $129
- 2 Days 1 Night Luxury Cruise in Lan Ha Bay from Hanoi: $219
- 2 Days 1 Night on Lan Ha Bay at Daiichi Boutique Cruise: $131
- 2 Days Amazing Halong Bay Cruise starting from Tuan Chau Harbor: $155
- 2 Days Arcady Cruise Halong from Halong: $217
- 2 Days Cruise Tour in Halong Bay from Halong: $180
- 2 Days Exploring Bai Tu Long Bay on Cruise: $221
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.
- The Ultimate Self-Guided Hidden Gems Tour in Puerto Rico: $5.00
- Transportation in San Juan, Isla verde, Condado, Hotels, Cruises & Airbnb's SJU: $14
- San Juan Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $17
- Outdoor Salsa Class Experience in San Juan: $19
- Discover Superb Self-Guided Audio Tour: $20
- Paddleboard Adventure: Explore Marine Life in Condado Lagoon: $32
- SJU Airport to San Juan Cruise Port or return: $33
- VIP Glow San Juan Salsa Night Experience at Luxury Condado Beach: $35
- San Juan Cruise Port: Puerto Rico Artisan Rum Tasting: $39
- Old San Juan Walking Tour: $39
- Historic Old San Juan Sunset Walking Tour: $39
- San Juan Guided Turtle Snorkel Tour and Complimentary Videos: $45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHalong Bay $12San 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
- Bacardi Rum Distillery and Old San Juan Tour: $99
- Puerto Rico Tobacco Farm and Local Brewery Tour: $109
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Halong Bay and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Halong Bay much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Halong Bay is in Asia 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 Halong Bay would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Halong Bay 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 Halong Bay.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Halong Bay Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
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.