Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Huaraz?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Huaraz 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 Huaraz and San Juan can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Huaraz or San Juan?
Huaraz
Huaraz is a large town in the Cordillera Blanca region of Peru's Central Sierra. Huaraz stands tall at 3100m; travellers from Lima might need a day or two to acclimatize to the change in atmosphere. Nearly wiped out by the earthquake of 1970, the town of 100,000 blends a mix of modern and native culture. Huarez is first and foremost a trekking metropolis. During high season the streets buzz with hundreds of backpackers and adventurers freshly returned from arduous hikes or planning their next expedition. The town has many markets, shops, quality restaurants and hopping bars catering to tourist and local needs. Mountain adventures in the off-season can be equally rewarding, but the vibe is calmer and some places go into hibernation once the rains set in.
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 Peru, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Peru.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHuaraz $50San Juan $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Huaraz is $50, 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 Huaraz and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHuaraz $20San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHuaraz $40San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Huaraz and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Huaraz 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: Huaraz Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Huaraz $10San Juan $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Huaraz
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Huaraz are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$2.17
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
- Mendoza: One-Way Private Transfer from Airport: $25
- Old Walking Tour with Shopping and Hotel Transfer: $70
- Oneway Transfer San Juan to Ceiba: Ferry, Vieques/Culebra Airport: $80
- Oneway Transfer from San Juan (SJU, hotel, airbnb, port) to Ponce: $125
- Oneway Transfer- San Juan(SJU, hotel, airbnb, port) to Río Grande: $68
- Private Airport Transfers to Ceiba Ferry Terminal and Airport: $155
- Private Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to San Juan Airport: $22
- Private Transfer from SJU Airport to San Juan / Rio Grande: $105
- Private Transportation in Puerto Rico From or To San Juan Airport(SJU) Transfers: $33
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 11Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $103
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, 16Pax Mercedes Van, Select Zone: $130
Is it cheaper to fly into Huaraz or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Huaraz 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 dayHuaraz $18San Juan $36
Typical Food Prices in Huaraz
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Huaraz:
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Lunch$5.97
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Chips$1.49
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
- Private Local Food Tour in San Juan: $275
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Huaraz $19San Juan $49
Typical Entertainment Prices in Huaraz
Here are a few typical costs in Huaraz for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Climbing Gear$17
Tours and Activities in Huaraz
Here are a few actual costs in Huaraz for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 3-day tour to Parón, Llanganuco and Laguna 69 from Huaraz: $150
- 69 Lake Tour of Peru: $26
- Ancash: Adventure and Climbing to Mountain Alpamayo |6D-5N|: $3,303
- Ancash: Nevado pastors and puyas Raymondi Tour | Full Day |: $40
- Ancash: Trek and Adventure to Quillcayhuanca |3Days-2Nights|: $410
- From Ancash: Fantastic tour Huaraz/Nevado Pastoruri |4D-3N|: $192
- From Ancash: Huaraz Adventure with meals |3Days-2Nights|: $142
- From Ancash: Tour Huaraz with Puya Raymondi |4Days-3Nights|: $197
- From Ancash: Tour fantastic in Huaraz |2Days-1Night|: $92
- From Ancash: Tour in Huaraz with tickets and Hotel |5D-4N|: $250
- From Huaraz | Live an adventure between mountains and lakes: $214
- From Huaraz || Full day tour Laguna 69 in -Cordillera Blanca: $36
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
- History, Legends, & Highlights Guided Walking Tour: $30
- Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $30
- Old San Juan Walking Tour with a Certified Guide: $30
- Old San Juan City Walking Tour: $39
- Old San Juan Walking Tour: $39
- Legacy Tour at Casa BarcadÍ in Puerto Rico: $45
- Walking tour of Oaxaca City: $48
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHuaraz $15San Juan $12
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 Huaraz and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Huaraz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Huaraz is in South America 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 Huaraz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Huaraz 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 Huaraz.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Huaraz Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Huaraz or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Huaraz. When comparing the sizes of Huaraz 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 Huaraz 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 Huaraz or San Juan in the Summer?
Both San Juan and Huaraz during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Huaraz because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
Huaraz usually gets less rain in July than San Juan. Huaraz gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
Huaraz can be very cold during summer. Huaraz is much colder than San Juan in the summer. The daily temperature in Huaraz averages around 3°C (37°F) in July, and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHuaraz 3°C (37°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Huaraz or San Juan in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Huaraz and San Juan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Huaraz 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, Huaraz usually receives less rain than San Juan. Huaraz gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
The weather in Huaraz can be very cold. In the autumn, Huaraz is much colder than San Juan. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Huaraz in October average around 4°C (39°F), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHuaraz 4°C (39°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Huaraz or San Juan in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Huaraz as well as San Juan. Huaraz attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
Huaraz receives a lot of rain in the winter. Huaraz usually gets more rain in January than San Juan. Huaraz gets 122 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In January, Huaraz is generally much colder than San Juan. Daily temperatures in Huaraz average around 7°C (45°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHuaraz 7°C (45°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Huaraz or San Juan in the Spring?
Both San Juan and Huaraz are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Huaraz throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Huaraz usually receives more rain than San Juan. Huaraz gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Huaraz is much colder than San Juan in the spring. The daily temperature in Huaraz averages around 6°C (43°F) in April, and San Juan fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHuaraz 6°C (43°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Huaraz
| Huaraz | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 7°C (45°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 8°C (46°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 7°C (45°F) | 126 mm (5 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 6°C (43°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 5°C (41°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 4°C (39°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 3°C (37°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 3°C (37°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 3°C (37°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 4°C (39°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 5°C (41°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 6°C (43°F) | 112 mm (4.4 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.