Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Hoi An?
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 Hoi An or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Hoi An and San Juan. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Hoi An or San Juan?
Hoi An
Located just south of the city of Da Nang, Hoi An is famous for it's beautiful old town. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Unfortunately, since its designation as a World Heritage Site in 1999, mass tourism has grown and the city has felt the growing pains. Most of the homes and shops in the old town are now used for commercial purposes. The city is still quaint, but the old town is lined with tailor shops, souvenir stores, and restaurants. Foreigners are required to purchase a ticket to enter the old town of Hoi An (120,000 VND, about $5).
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Vietnam, and The Best Historical Tours in Vietnam.
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Hoi An Prices
Vietnam PricesSan Juan Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHoi An $51San Juan $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Hoi An is $51, 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 Hoi An and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHoi An $20San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHoi An $40San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Hoi An and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Hoi An 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: Hoi An Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hoi An $18San Juan $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Hoi An
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Hoi An are as follows:
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Taxi From Danang to Hoi An$8.34
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Bus From Hoi An Bus Station to Town$0.57
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hoi An
Also for Hoi An, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Hue Private Car with Driver for Customizable Trip & Transfer: $7.09
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 Puerto Rico PrivateTransfers Airport,Hotels,Cruise Ports: $66
- 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: $120
- San Juan Port to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $60
- San Juan One-way Transfer - Cruise, SJU, Hotels, Airbnb: $30
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan - Arrival Private Transfer: $28
Is it cheaper to fly into Hoi An or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Hoi An 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 dayHoi An $16San Juan $62
Typical Food Prices in Hoi An
For Hoi An, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner at Bamboo Village (for Two)$13
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$3.79
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Casual Dinner (for Two)$7.58
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hoi An $12San Juan $49
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hoi An
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Hoi An's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Golf (for Two)$140
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Short Boat Ride$1.52
Tours and Activities in Hoi An
For Hoi An, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Cruiseship Tour to MY SON HOLYLAND - DA NANG CITY From Chan May or Tien Sa Port: $179
- Cruiseship Trip from TIEN SA or CHAN MAY Port to MY SON HOLYLAND & DA NANG City: $154
- Cruiseship Trip from TIEN SA or CHAN MAY Port to MY SON HOLYLAND & HOI AN City: $154
- Cruiseship Trip to GOLDEN BRIDGE & MY SON SANCTUARY from CHAN MAY orTIEN SA Port: $189
- Cruiseship Trip to My Son Sanctuary & GOLDEN BRIDGE from TIEN SA orCHAN MAY Port: $200
- Hoi An Experience 3 Hours Wood Carving Class with Local Artist: $47
- Hue : Shuttle bus from Hue to Hoi An and sightseeing: $16
- Hue-Da Nang-Hoi An Bus Tour with English Guide & Sightseeing: $22
- Hue: Half-Day Tour with Optional Dragon Boat Perfume River: $28
- My Son - Danang from Tien Sa cruise harbor: $150
- My Son - Danang from Tien Sa cruise harbor: $180
- My Son - Hoi An Full Day Private Tour With Meals: $75
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
- Full-Day Tour: El Yunque, Luquillo Beach, Bio Bay Night Kayaking: $155
- Puerto Rican Food Experience: $99
- "Exclusive Tour": VIP Rum Tasting at San Juan Artisan Distillers: $150
- "Yo Soy de PfknR" Bad Bunny Party Bus Experience: $145
- 1 Hour Historical UTV Tour in San Juan: $200
- 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
- 30-Minute Freestyle Jet Ski Adventure in the Bay: $100
- ATV Double Rider Adventure Near San Juan - Hacienda Campo Rico: $221
- ATV Single Rider Adventure Near San Juan - Hacienda Campo Rico: $149
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHoi An $8.59San Juan $12
Typical Alcohol Prices in Hoi An
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Hoi An are as follows:
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Bottle of Wine$9.10
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 Hoi An and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Hoi An much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Hoi An 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 Hoi An would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hoi An 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 Hoi An.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hoi An Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hoi An or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Hoi An. When comparing the sizes of Hoi An 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 Hoi An or San Juan?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Hoi An or San Juan in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Hoi An and San Juan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Hoi An year-round. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
February to July in Hoi An is the dry season. Also, September to January is the rainy season in Hoi An. In July, Hoi An usually receives less rain than San Juan. Hoi An gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. In Hoi An, it's very sunny this time of the year. Hoi An usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during summer. Hoi An gets 242 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
Hoi An is around the same temperature as San Juan in the summer. The daily temperature in Hoi An averages around 29°C (85°F) in July, and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHoi An 29°C (85°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Hoi An or San Juan in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Hoi An as well as San Juan. Hoi An attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in San Juan. Hoi An receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Hoi An usually gets more rain in October than San Juan. Hoi An gets 613 mm (24.1 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. In the autumn, Hoi An often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Hoi An gets 158 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun.
In the autumn, Hoi An is around the same temperature as San Juan. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Hoi An in October average around 25°C (78°F), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHoi An 25°C (78°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Hoi An or San Juan in the Winter?
Both San Juan and Hoi An are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Hoi An 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 Hoi An is February to July. The rainy season in Hoi An is September to January. It's quite rainy in Hoi An. In January, Hoi An usually receives more rain than San Juan. Hoi An gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in San Juan. Hoi An usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during winter. Hoi An gets 136 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Hoi An is generally cooler than San Juan. Daily temperatures in Hoi An average around 22°C (71°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHoi An 22°C (71°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Hoi An or San Juan in the Spring?
Both San Juan and Hoi An during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Hoi An because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
Hoi An usually gets less rain in April than San Juan. Hoi An gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Hoi An. In the spring, Hoi An often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Hoi An gets 210 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun.
Hoi An is around the same temperature as San Juan in the spring. The daily temperature in Hoi An averages around 26°C (80°F) in April, and San Juan fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHoi An 26°C (80°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Hoi An
| Hoi An | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 22°C (71°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 23°C (73°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (85°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (85°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 331 mm (13 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 613 mm (24.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 24°C (76°F) | 376 mm (14.8 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 223 mm (8.8 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.