Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Hanoi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Hanoi 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 Hanoi 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: Hanoi or San Juan?
Hanoi
Hanoi is the chaotic capital of Vietnam, and it serves as a great introduction to the country for many travelers. It's the second largest city in the country after Saigon and is an interesting combination of East meets West. There's traditional Vietnamese culture with subtle influences brought by the French. The city continues to grow and change rapidly and it's easy to get lost amidst the chaos.
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 Adventure Tours to Vietnam, and The Best Eco Tours in Vietnam.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHanoi $48San Juan $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Hanoi is $48, 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 Hanoi and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHanoi $25San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHanoi $50San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Hanoi and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Hanoi 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: Hanoi Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hanoi $6.79San Juan $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Hanoi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Hanoi:
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Taxi to Bus Station$1.18
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Shuttle Bus From Airport (for Two)$3.15
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Local Bus Ride (for Two)$0.39
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Short Taxi Ride$1.34
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Short Motorbike Ride (10 Minutes)$0.79
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hanoi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hanoi:
- Halong Bay: 3-Day 2-Night 4-Star Cruise with Transfer: $450
- Private Transfer to/from Sapa: $352
- Transfer to Sapa Private car: $300
- Luxury Halong Bay Cruise 2 Days-1 Night with 5 Star included transfer & pick up: $290
- 3-Day Halong Bay Cruise with Round-trip Transfer From Hanoi: $285
- 3-Day Hanoi - Ninh Binh - Halong Bay 5-Star Cruise & Transfer: $280
- 25 Minutes Scenic Halong Seaplane from Hanoi Transfer Expressway: $280
- Halong Bay Cruise 3D2N - Kayaking Explorer & Round-trip transfer from Hanoi: $280
- Private Sapa tour 3 days transfer from Hanoi by limousine overnight 3 star hotel: $264
- Hanoi Private Transfer from Hanoi (HAN) Airport to Vinh City: $258
- Halong Bay 2 Days - 1 Night with 5 Star Cruise included transfer & pick up: $254
- Overnight Halong Bay Cruise Including Transfer Service and Kayaking or Bamboo Boat Activities: $250
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
- Old Walking Tour with Shopping and Hotel Transfer: $70
- Oneway Transfer San Juan to Ceiba: Ferry, Vieques/Culebra Airport: $80
- Oneway Transfer- San Juan(SJU, hotel, airbnb, port) to Río Grande: $68
- Private Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to San Juan Airport: $22
- Private Transfer from SJU Airport to San Juan / Rio Grande: $105
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 11Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $103
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 14Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $124
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, 16Pax Mercedes Van, Select Zone: $130
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Ford Premium SUV, Select Zone: $87
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Lexus Luxury Sedan, Select Zone: $81
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Mercedes ECO Van, Select Zone: $87
Is it cheaper to fly into Hanoi or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Hanoi 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 dayHanoi $13San Juan $36
Typical Food Prices in Hanoi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Hanoi:
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High End Dinner (for Two)$11
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$4.33
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Bowl of Pho$0.79
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Italian Dinner (for Food)$6.10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hanoi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hanoi.
- Private Traditional Vietnamese Food Cooking Class in Hanoi : $5.00
- Hanoi free food tour - Old Quarter food walking tour: $5.00
- Street Food Tour (Group/Individual): $5.11
- (Group/Individual) HANOI STREET FOOD TOUR : $5.13
- Hanoi Street Food Tour Visit Train Street Add Old Quarter: $19
- Hanoi Walking Street Food Tour: $20
- Street Food Tour By Walking: $21
- Walking Street Food Tour Small Group with Local Guide: $22
- Hanoi Street Food Tour: $22
- Hanoi street food tour small group tour: $22
- Hanoi Street Food Tour: $23
- Mad Monkey Hoi An Cooking Class & Bamboo Boats: $23
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hanoi $8.38San Juan $49
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hanoi
Here are a few typical costs in Hanoi for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Puppet Theater$1.57
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The Hanoi Hilton Entrance$1.57
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National History Museum$1.57
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Puppet Theater Ticket$2.75
Tours and Activities in Hanoi
Here are a few actual costs in Hanoi for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day Luxury Arcady Cruise Tour from Hanoi by Express Limousine: $75
- 2 Day Golden Bay Cruise Explore Halong Bay from Hanoi: $220
- 2 Day Oasis Bay Cruise Explore Halong Bay from Hanoi: $228
- 2 Day Private Guided Tour in Pu Luong Nature Hanoi: $169
- 4 Days 3 Nights Ha Giang Loop Tour from Hanoi by Sleeper Bus: $235
- 4 Hours and 30 Minutes Historical Hanoi Army Jeep Tour: $58
- 5 Days Motorbike Tour in Ha Giang Loop From Hanoi: $265
- Beautiful Female Riders Vespa Red River Countryside Tour 5 Hours: $65
- Explore Hoa Lu, Tam Coc and Ninh Binh in a Day Tour from Hanoi: $85
- From Halong Bay by Scenic Seaplane and Luxury Day Cruise: $230
- Full Day Tour To Trang An Complex & Bai Dinh Temple: $97
- Full Day Tour in Hanoi City: $35
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
- Old San Juan Walking Tour with a Certified Guide: $30
- Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $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
- Ron del Barrilito Skip-the-Line Heritage Tour Ticket: $46
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHanoi $7.58San Juan $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Hanoi
Also in Hanoi, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Hanoi Beer and Brewery Tour: $48
- Half-Day Guided Tour Australian Beef with Wine Tasting & Rickshaw in Hanoi: $106
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 Hanoi and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Hanoi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Hanoi 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 Hanoi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hanoi 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 Hanoi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hanoi Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hanoi or San Juan?
Hanoi has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of San Juan. When comparing the sizes of Hanoi 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 Hanoi 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 Hanoi or San Juan in the Summer?
Both San Juan and Hanoi during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Hanoi because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
May to September is the rainy season in Hanoi. It rains a lot this time of the year in Hanoi. Hanoi usually gets more rain in July than San Juan. Hanoi gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In July, Hanoi is generally around the same temperature as San Juan. Daily temperatures in Hanoi average around 29°C (84°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHanoi 29°C (84°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Hanoi or San Juan in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Hanoi and San Juan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Hanoi year-round. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
November to April in Hanoi is the dry season. San Juan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Hanoi gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Hanoi usually receives less rain than San Juan. Hanoi gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Hanoi is cooler than San Juan in the autumn. The daily temperature in Hanoi averages around 25°C (77°F) in October, and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHanoi 25°C (77°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Hanoi or San Juan in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Hanoi as well as San Juan. Hanoi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
Hanoi usually gets less rain in January than San Juan. Hanoi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the winter, Hanoi is cooler than San Juan. Typically, the winter temperatures in Hanoi in January average around 17°C (63°F), and San Juan averages at about 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHanoi 17°C (63°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Hanoi or San Juan in the Spring?
Both San Juan and Hanoi are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Hanoi throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Hanoi is November to April. The rainy season in Hanoi is May to September. It's quite rainy in Hanoi. In April, Hanoi usually receives more rain than San Juan. Hanoi gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
In April, Hanoi is generally around the same temperature as San Juan. Daily temperatures in Hanoi average around 24°C (75°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHanoi 24°C (75°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Hanoi
| Hanoi | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 17°C (63°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 21°C (70°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 24°C (75°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (84°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 22°C (72°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 18°C (64°F) | 30 mm (1.2 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.