Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Hamilton?
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 Hamilton or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Hamilton 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: Hamilton or San Juan?
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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Hamilton Prices
Bermuda PricesSan Juan Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHamilton $0.00San Juan $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Hamilton is $0.00, 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 Hamilton and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHamilton -San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHamilton $0.00San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Hamilton and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Hamilton 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.Hamilton -San Juan $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer in Puerto Rico with Minivan from Airport: $280
- Transfer from San Juan to Ponce or Ponce to San Juan: $125
- Transfer SJU Airport to Ponce and Juana Diaz. Hotels and Airbnb Vice Versa 1 Way: $260
- Transfer SJU Airport to Dorado. Hotels and Airbnb. Vice Versa One Way Trip.: $140
- Single ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $195
- San Juan hotels to San Juan PR Cruise Port - Departure Transfer: $30
- San Juan Puerto Rico Private Transfers: $105
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $119
- San Juan Port to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $60
- San Juan Luxury Private Round-Trip Transfer: SJU Airport - Cruise Pier - Hotel : $80
- SJU Airport Private Transfer to Dorado: $115
- Roundtrip-Transfer in Puerto Rico: From Airports, Hotels, Cruises: $71
Is it cheaper to fly into Hamilton or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Hamilton 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 dayHamilton -San Juan $62
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hamilton
For Hamilton, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Bermuda: Flavour & Flair Food Tour: $134
- Bermuda: Sites and Bites Food Tour: $134
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 Food Tour with 7 Tastings of Authentic Local Flavors: $139
- Private San Juan Cooking Class with a Local Expert: $146
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $165
- FlyDining: 4 Courses Dinner with City Lights & Ocean Breeze: $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.Hamilton -San Juan $49
Tours and Activities in Hamilton
For Hamilton, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Bermuda: After Hours Tasting Experience: $169
- Bermuda: Culture & Cuisine Tour: $134
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.
- Culebra Swim with Turtles Adventure and Flamenco Beach by Ferry: $130
- El Yunque Rainforest Tour Half Day Earlybird/ Small Groups: $85
- Rum Craft Cocktail Tour in San Juan: $65
- "Yo Soy de PfknR" Bad Bunny Party Bus Experience: $145
- 1 Hour Historical UTV Tour in San Juan: $200
- 1-Hour Freestyle Jet Ski Adventure in the Bay: $150
- 2 Tours in 1 Day: Rainforest Waterslides & Beach Tour w/Transport: $60
- 3 Tours in 1 Day: Old San Juan, Rainforest, Beach with Transport: $75
- ATV Double Rider Adventure Near San Juan - Hacienda Campo Rico: $221
- ATV Single Rider Adventure Near San Juan - Hacienda Campo Rico: $149
- Bio Bay Night Kayak Tour with Transport from San Juan: $115
- Bioluminescent Bay Chiliboats Waterbike Tour in La Parguera: $79
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHamilton -San 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
- Puerto Rico's First and Only Craft Beer Brewery Tour! : $99
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hamilton and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Hamilton much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hamilton would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hamilton 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 Hamilton.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hamilton Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hamilton or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 460 times larger than the population of Hamilton. When comparing the sizes of Hamilton 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.
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.