Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Havana?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Havana 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 Havana and San Juan can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Havana or San Juan?
Havana
The city of Havana is at the top of most peoples' bucket list - mostly because of the allure of a forbidden land. Before the Communist revolution, Cuba was a popular tourist destination. Since it has reopened in the 1990s, it has drawn tourists from all over the world (except the US).
This capital city is a land trapped in the past. With 50 years of neglect, when you step off the plane, prepare to step back in time. A trip to Havana is meant for those with truly open minds - and when they arrive they'll be swept away.
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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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHavana $65San Juan $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Havana is $65, 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 Havana and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHavana $40San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHavana $80San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Havana and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Havana 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.Havana $19San Juan $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Havana
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Havana:
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Short Taxi Ride$0.68
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
- From Private Transfer to Ceiba Ferry Terminal: $99
- HandyCap Airport Transfer to Isla Verde, Condado or Ocean Park: $100
- HandyCap Transfer Airport to Dorado, Rio Grande or Luquillo: $270
- Luquillo Puerto Rico to/from San Juan Airport Private Transfer: $110
- Old Walking Tour with Shopping and Hotel Transfer: $70
- One-way transfer from SJU Airport to Cruise Port or Vice Versa: $55
- Oneway Transfer- San Juan (SJU,hotel,airbnb,port) to Dorado City: $68
- Private Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to San Juan Airport: $22
- Private Taxi Transfer from San Juan Airport (SJU) to Dorado PR: $110
- Private Transfer from SJU Airport to San Juan / Rio Grande: $108
- Private Transfer from San Juan Airport (SJU) to Ponce Cruise Port: $81
Is it cheaper to fly into Havana or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Havana 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 dayHavana $10San Juan $36
Typical Food Prices in Havana
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Havana:
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Pizza$0.03
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:
- From Pinones Beach & Bar Hopping Food Tour: $50
- Piñones Bar Crawl and Beach Hop Food Tour with Drinks: $56
- Puerto Rican food tasting and beginner cooking Tour: $79
- Elevated Dinner Experience (4 Courses) City Lights & Ocean Breeze: $155
- Old San Juan Sunset Food Tour with Drinks: $156
- Savor the Sunset: Old San Juan Walk and Food Tour: $159
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $170
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Havana $11San Juan $49
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 Tour with Audio Guide: $14
- Group Transportation in airport, cruise ships, hotels, bnb's in San Juan, PR: $20
- Legends of Puerto Rico Haunted Walking Tour: $20
- Old Breathtaking Historic Walking Tour: $25
- History, Legends, & Highlights Guided Walking Tour: $30
- Old San Juan Walking Tour with a Certified Guide: $30
- Old San Juan Walking Tour with a Local Certified Guide: $30
- Old San Juan History & Culture Guided Walking Tour: $35
- Old San Juan Walking Tour: $39
- Urban Park Sky Bull Zipline Experience: $39
- Guided Old Town Walking Tour: $39
- Old San Juan City Walking Tour: $39
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHavana $5.76San Juan $12
Typical Alcohol Prices in Havana
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Havana:
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Mojito$0.15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Havana and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Havana much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Havana would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Havana 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 Havana.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Havana Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Havana or San Juan?
Havana has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of San Juan. When comparing the sizes of Havana 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 Havana 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 Havana or San Juan in the Summer?
Both San Juan and Havana during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Havana because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
Havana usually gets less rain in July than San Juan. Havana gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the summer, Havana is around the same temperature as San Juan. Typically, the summer temperatures in Havana in July average around 27°C (81°F), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHavana 27°C (81°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Havana or San Juan in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Havana and San Juan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Havana year-round. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
San Juan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Havana usually receives less rain than San Juan. Havana gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In October, Havana is generally cooler than San Juan. Daily temperatures in Havana average around 25°C (77°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHavana 25°C (77°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Havana or San Juan in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Havana as well as San Juan. Havana attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
Havana usually gets less rain in January than San Juan. Havana gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
Havana is cooler than San Juan in the winter. The daily temperature in Havana averages around 21°C (70°F) in January, and San Juan fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHavana 21°C (70°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Havana or San Juan in the Spring?
Both San Juan and Havana are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Havana throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Havana usually receives less rain than San Juan. Havana gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
In the spring, Havana is around the same temperature as San Juan. Typically, the spring temperatures in Havana in April average around 24°C (75°F), and San Juan averages at about 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHavana 24°C (75°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Havana
| Havana | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°C (70°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 26°C (79°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 22°C (72°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.