A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Hamburg vs. San Juan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Hamburg or San Juan?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Hamburg and San Juan can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Hamburg or San Juan?

Hamburg

Hamburg is most noted for its port, which is the largest in Germany and the second busiest in Europe. Despite it's size, it is actually located about 100 kilometers from the North Sea on the River Elbe. The popularity of this port has given Hamburg the nickname as Germany's Gateway to the World. The city itself is the second largest in Germany and the metropolitan area has a population of over 4 million people.

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 10-Day Tours from Berlin, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Berlin.


Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Hamburg?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Hamburg is $166, 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 Hamburg and San Juan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Hamburg $63
    San Juan $124
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Hamburg $126
    San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Hamburg and San Juan

Looking for a hotel in Hamburg 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.

Hotels in Hamburg


Hotels in San Juan


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: Hamburg Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Hamburg $34
    San Juan $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Hamburg

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Hamburg:


  • Short Distance Ubahn Ticket
    $1.99

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hamburg

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hamburg:

  • Hamburg Airport (HAM): Private Transfer to Hamburg hotels: $291
  • Rickmer Rickmers Museum Guided Tour with Transfers : $291
  • Rickmer Rickmers Museum Guided Tour with Transfers: $287
  • Private Transfer From Hamburg City to Berlin City: $267
  • Private Transfer from Hamburg to Bremen with an English Speaking Driver: $256
  • Private Transfer From Hamburg To Bremen With a 2 Hour Stop: $255
  • Hamburg Airport (HAM) to Hamburg - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $250
  • Private Transfer From Hamburg to Hannover, English Speaking Driver: $231
  • Private Transfer from Hamburg Airport(HAM) to Ostseekai Kiel Port: $206
  • Hamburg hotels to Ostseekai Kiel Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $204
  • Private Transfer from Hamburg City to Ostseekai Kiel Cruise Port: $204
  • Hamburg Airport (HAM) to Ostseekai Kiel Port - Arrival Transfer: $204

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: $76
  • Arrival Private Transfer SJU Airport to Old San Juan by Sedan: $120
  • Carabali Rain Forest Round Trip Private Taxi Transfer: $200
  • Departure Transfer from Old San Juan to to SJU Airport by Car: $86
  • Double ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $289
  • Premium Transfer in Airport, Hotel, Airbnb, Cruise: $25
  • Private Airport Transfers to Ceiba Ferry Terminal and Airport: $155
  • Private Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to San Juan Airport: $22
  • Private Transfer Puerto Rico:To or From Airports, Hotels &Cruises: $33
  • Private Transfer from SJU Airport to Cruise Port Roundtrip Servic: $109
  • Private Transfer from SJU Airport to San Juan / Rio Grande: $115
  • Private Transfer from or to San Juan and Ceiba Ferry: $93

Is it cheaper to fly into Hamburg or San Juan?

Prices for flights to both San Juan and Hamburg 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Hamburg $70
    San Juan $62
Typical Food Prices in Hamburg

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Hamburg:


  • Pink Thai Soup Dinner and Spring Rolls
    $18
  • Currywurst and Pommes Frites
    $5.87
  • Donner Kebab and Coke
    $7.04
  • Traditional Hamburg Dinner w/ Beer
    $18
  • Donner Kebab Lunch
    $4.69
  • Sandwich and Coffee Break
    $7.04
  • Fish Sandwich from Fish Market
    $4.11
  • Coffee and Donut
    $4.69

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hamburg

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hamburg.

  • St George's Culinary Food Tour: $52
  • Sternschanze kulinarisch: Die Food Tour: $52
  • St. Pauli kulinarisch – Die Food Tour: $53
  • Elbphilharmonie Plaza and HafenCity Food Tour: $63
  • Elbphilharmonie Plaza and HafenCity Food Tour: $63
  • Hamburg Traditional Food Tour: Full Meal and Drinks: $90
  • Hamburg Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $109
  • Hamburg Food Tour with Full Meal & Drinks by Do Eat Better : $130
  • Hamburg Private Food Tours with a Local: 100% Personalized : $200
  • St. Pauli: Guided Food Tour with 5 Tastings: $529
  • The Wilhelmsburg Food Tour: $529

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Hamburg $46
    San Juan $49
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hamburg

Here are a few typical costs in Hamburg for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Tower at St. Michael's Church
    $4.11

Tours and Activities in Hamburg

Here are a few actual costs in Hamburg for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • "Cruise in the City" - Sailing Yacht Event, Hamburg/Elbe: $88
  • 1 Hour Kiez Speed Tour for Adults: $20
  • 1-Day Hop-on/Hop-off Bus Tour of Hamburg Line D: $25
  • 10 secrets of Hamburg's old town - exciting scavenger hunt tour: $37
  • 11 Hamburg insider tips on your self-guided audio tour: $12
  • 2 Hours Guided Hamburg Segway Night Tour: $102
  • 2 Hours Hamburg E-scooter Tour: $81
  • 2 Hours Hamburg Night Segway Tour: $93
  • 2 Hours Hamburg Segway Tour: $81
  • 3 Hour Guided Hamburg Segway Tour: $101
  • 3 Hours Hamburg E-Scooter Tour: $93
  • 3 Hours Hamburg Segway Tour: $93

Typical Entertainment Prices in San Juan

For San Juan, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Horseback Riding Tour
    $40
  • Full Day Snorkeling Trip
    $100
  • 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
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Hamburg $20
    San Juan $12

Sample the Local Flavors in Hamburg

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Hamburg:

  • The wildest Pub Crawl in Hamburg: $23
  • Original Hamburg Pub Crawl Sex & Crime St. Pauli Tour: $24
  • Original Hamburg Pub Crawl Sex & Crime St. Pauli Tour: $24
  • Night Pub Crawl through the Reeperbahn: $29
  • Pub Crawl Hamburg - Ladies Night: $30
  • Pub Crawl - Drink & Dare: $30
  • Reeperbahn Pub Crawl with Shots and Games: $35
  • Hamburg Pub Crawl with Free Welcome Drinks and Club Entry: $36
  • Private Pub Crawl in Hamburg with The Crawl Co: $36
  • Reeperbahn pub crawl with insider-guide & shots: $317
  • Bachelor party Pub crawl & party for your bachelor party: $423

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 Hamburg and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Hamburg much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Hamburg 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 Hamburg would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hamburg 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 Hamburg.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hamburg Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Hamburg or San Juan?

Hamburg has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of San Juan. When comparing the sizes of Hamburg 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 Hamburg or San Juan?

Hamburg 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 Hamburg or San Juan in the Summer?

Both San Juan and Hamburg during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Hamburg for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.

In the summer, Hamburg is much colder than San Juan. Typically, the summer temperatures in Hamburg in July average around 17°C (62°F), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (83°F).

In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Hamburg. In the summer, Hamburg often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Hamburg gets 207 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun.

Hamburg usually gets less rain in July than San Juan. Hamburg gets 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Hamburg 17°C (62°F) 
    San Juan 28°C (83°F)

Should I visit Hamburg or San Juan in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Hamburg and San Juan. The autumn months attract visitors to Hamburg because of the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In October, Hamburg is generally much colder than San Juan. Daily temperatures in Hamburg average around 10°C (50°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. Hamburg usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during autumn. Hamburg gets 101 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun in the autumn.

San Juan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Hamburg usually receives less rain than San Juan. Hamburg gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Hamburg 10°C (50°F) 
    San Juan 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Hamburg or San Juan in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Hamburg as well as San Juan. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Hamburg this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.

It's quite cold in Hamburg in the winter. Hamburg is much colder than San Juan in the winter. The daily temperature in Hamburg averages around 0°C (33°F) in January, and San Juan fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. In the winter, Hamburg often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Hamburg gets 42 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun.

Hamburg usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as San Juan. Hamburg gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Hamburg 0°C (33°F) 
    San Juan 25°C (77°F)

Should I visit Hamburg or San Juan in the Spring?

Both San Juan and Hamburg are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Hamburg for the natural beauty. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the spring, Hamburg is much colder than San Juan. Typically, the spring temperatures in Hamburg in April average around 8°C (46°F), and San Juan averages at about 26°C (79°F).

It's quite sunny in San Juan. Hamburg usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during spring. Hamburg gets 161 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Hamburg usually receives less rain than San Juan. Hamburg gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Hamburg 8°C (46°F) 
    San Juan 26°C (79°F)

Typical Weather for San Juan and Hamburg

Hamburg San Juan
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 0°C (33°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 25°C (77°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Feb 1°C (34°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 25°C (77°F) 41 mm (1.6 in)
Mar 4°C (39°F) 56 mm (2.2 in) 26°C (78°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Apr 8°C (46°F) 51 mm (2 in) 26°C (79°F) 69 mm (2.7 in)
May 12°C (54°F) 57 mm (2.3 in) 27°C (81°F) 120 mm (4.7 in)
Jun 15°C (60°F) 74 mm (2.9 in) 28°C (82°F) 82 mm (3.2 in)
Jul 17°C (62°F) 82 mm (3.2 in) 28°C (83°F) 95 mm (3.7 in)
Aug 17°C (62°F) 70 mm (2.8 in) 28°C (83°F) 130 mm (5.1 in)
Sep 14°C (57°F) 70 mm (2.8 in) 28°C (83°F) 130 mm (5.1 in)
Oct 10°C (50°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 28°C (82°F) 135 mm (5.3 in)
Nov 5°C (41°F) 71 mm (2.8 in) 27°C (80°F) 132 mm (5.2 in)
Dec 2°C (35°F) 72 mm (2.8 in) 26°C (78°F) 92 mm (3.6 in)