A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Hue vs. San Juan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Hue 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 Hue 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: Hue or San Juan?

Hue

Hue is a major city in central Vietnam and was historically the imperial capital. The city was the base for the imperial Nguyen Dynasty, which ruled from 1802 to 1945. During the Vietnam War the city faced many challenges. It was conquered by the Viet Cong and held for 24 days. During this time about 3,000 people were slaughtered for their political views, education level, or religious affiliation.

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 Sightseeing Tours in Vietnam, and The Best Cultural Tours in Vietnam.


Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Hue?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Hue is $56, 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 Hue and San Juan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Hue $22
    San Juan $124
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Hue $44
    San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Hue and San Juan

Looking for a hotel in Hue 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.

Hotels in Hue


Hotels in San Juan


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: Hue Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Hue $12
    San Juan $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Hue

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Hue:


  • Cyclo
    $0.45
  • Short Taxi Ride
    $0.83
  • Taxi Ride to Tombs
    $13

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hue

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hue:

  • Full-Day Hue Tour by Military Jeep Including One-Way Transfer to Hoi An: $190
  • Golden Bridge Trip with Guide, Lunch &transfer from Chan May Port: $159
  • Private Transfer From Hue To Phong Nha: $135
  • Hue to Hoi An Jeep Tour Private Transfer via Hai Van Pass 1 Way: $125
  • Private transfer from Hue to Hoi An with fabulous stops: $125
  • Hoi An: Hue Transfer stop An Bang Ghost town, Hai Van Pass: $122
  • Hue Transfer to Hoi An Via Hai Van Pass & Golden Bridge: $114
  • Private Transfer from Hue Phu Bai Airport (HUI) to Chan May Port: $101
  • Private Transfer: Hoi An City Center - Hue City Center: $100
  • Private car transfer from Hue to Da nang or Hoi An via Hai van Pass: $98
  • Hue to Hoi An Private Transfer: Sightseeing with English Driver: $96
  • Da Nang Airport: Private Transfer to/from Hue City: $94

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan

Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to San Juan Airport: $22
  • Premium Transfer in Airport, Hotel, Airbnb, Cruise: $25
  • San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan - Arrival Private Transfer: $28
  • San Juan hotels to San Juan PR Cruise Port - Departure Transfer: $30
  • San Juan One-way Transfer - Cruise, SJU, Hotels, Airbnb: $30
  • Private Transfer Puerto Rico:To or From Airports, Hotels &Cruises: $33
  • Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, Tesla 3 Luxury Sedan.: $56
  • San Juan Port to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $60
  • San juan Puerto Rico PrivateTransfers Airport,Hotels,Cruise Ports: $66
  • Roundtrip-Transfer from: SJU Airport,Cruises and Hotels in Puerto Rico LuxurySUV: $70
  • Roundtrip-Transfer in Puerto Rico: From Airports, Hotels, Cruises: $71
  • Airport Transfer to Cruise Ships, Hotels, Airbnb in San Juan: $76

Is it cheaper to fly into Hue or San Juan?

Prices for flights to both San Juan and Hue 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Hue $25
    San Juan $62
Typical Food Prices in Hue

Some typical examples of dining costs in Hue are as follows:


  • River Night Market Dinner (for Two)
    $7.58
  • Two Sugarcane Drinks
    $0.76
  • Quick Lunch (for Two)
    $2.08
  • Sitdown Dinner (for Two)
    $4.17

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hue

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hue.

  • Hue Food Tour by Walking or Cyclo or Motorbike with Driver: $21
  • Walking Street Food tour in Hue: $26
  • Hue Walking Street Food Tour: $27
  • Hue City: Cyclo, Market Tour & Cooking Class at Madam Thu: $27
  • Eat Like a Local with a Local Hue Food Tour : $30
  • Home Cooking Class and Dinner with Local Chef in Hue City: $31
  • HUE : NIGHT WALKING AND STREET FOOD TOUR: $31
  • Hue : Cooking Class with Local Family: $33
  • Street Food Tour with a Local Guide: $33
  • Cooking Class with Local Family: $33
  • Hue : Night Street Food Tour with a Local Guide: $33
  • Guided Local Food Tour with Tastings: $33

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Hue $11
    San Juan $49
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hue

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Hue are as follows:


  • Boat Ride
    $7.39
  • Bicycle Rental (One Day)
    $1.06
  • Imperial Citadel Entrance
    $3.03
  • Massage at Institute for the Blind
    $1.52

Tours and Activities in Hue

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hue are as follows:

  • Bach Ma National Park Adventure Trekking Day Trip from Hue: $56
  • Hoi An Guided Bus Tour via 4 Stops from Hue with entry ticket : $18
  • 12 Hours Experience Different Hue: $179
  • 13 Days Private Tour Highlights of Cambodia & Vietnam: $4,980
  • 2 Day Nature Tour in Tam Giang Lagoon & Bach Ma National Park: $245
  • 2025 Journey to Paradise Cave — An Adventure's Paradise : $57
  • 3,5-Hours Hue Imperial Walking Tour with Guide with Local Gifts: $28
  • 3-Hour Hue Royal Palace Small Group Guided Walking Tour: $23
  • 6 Hours All Inclusive Hue Green Biking Private Tour: $98
  • All Inclusive Deluxe Hue City Group Tour - Max 12 pax: $63
  • Bach Ma National Park Day Trek Private Tour from Hue: $95
  • Bach Ma National Park Tour From Hue City : $39

Typical Entertainment Prices in San Juan

For San Juan, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Horseback Riding Tour
    $40
  • Full Day Snorkeling Trip
    $100
  • 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.

  • Transportation in San Juan, Isla verde, Condado, Hotels, Cruises & Airbnb's SJU: $14
  • San Juan Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $17
  • Eco Friendly Farming Tour to Explore Dorado's Most Beautiful Farm: $20
  • Discover Superb Self-Guided Audio Tour: $20
  • Group Transportation in airport, cruise ships, hotels, bnb's in San Juan, PR: $23
  • Old San Juan Walking Tour with a Local Certified Guide: $25
  • San Juan Ghost Tour: Shrieks in the Sugarcane: $32
  • Old San Juan Walking Tour: $39
  • Old San Juan City Walking Tour: $39
  • Historic Old San Juan Sunset Walking Tour: $39
  • Top Rated El Yunque Rainforest & Waterslide – VIP SmallGroup Tour: $45
  • Ron del Barrilito Heritage Skip-the-Line Tour: $46

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Hue $5.49
    San Juan $12
Typical Alcohol Prices in Hue

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Hue:


  • Beer
    $0.95

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 Hue and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Hue much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Hue 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 Hue would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hue 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 Hue.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hue Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Hue or San Juan?

San Juan has a larger population, and is about 46% larger than the population of Hue. When comparing the sizes of Hue 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 Hue 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 Hue or San Juan in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Hue as well as San Juan. Hue attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.

Also, March to August in Hue is the dry season. September to December in Hue is the rainy season. Hue usually gets less rain in July than San Juan. Hue gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Hue this time of the year. In the summer, Hue often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Hue gets 242 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun.

In the summer, Hue is around the same temperature as San Juan. Typically, the summer temperatures in Hue in July average around 29°C (85°F), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (83°F).


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Hue 29°C (85°F) 
    San Juan 28°C (83°F)

Should I visit Hue or San Juan in the Autumn?

Both San Juan and Hue are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Hue throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

The rainy season in Hue is September to December. It rains a lot this time of the year in San Juan. It's quite rainy in Hue. In October, Hue usually receives more rain than San Juan. Hue gets 613 mm (24.1 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

It's quite sunny in San Juan. Hue usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during autumn. Hue gets 158 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Hue is generally around the same temperature as San Juan. Daily temperatures in Hue average around 25°C (78°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Hue 25°C (78°F) 
    San Juan 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Hue or San Juan in the Winter?

Both San Juan and Hue during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Hue because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.

March to August is the dry season in Hue. It rains a lot this time of the year in Hue. Hue usually gets more rain in January than San Juan. Hue gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Hue often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Hue gets 136 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun.

Hue is cooler than San Juan in the winter. The daily temperature in Hue averages around 22°C (71°F) in January, and San Juan fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Hue 22°C (71°F) 
    San Juan 25°C (77°F)

Should I visit Hue or San Juan in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Hue and San Juan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Hue year-round. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In April, Hue usually receives less rain than San Juan. Hue gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. In Hue, it's very sunny this time of the year. Hue usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during spring. Hue gets 210 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.

In the spring, Hue is around the same temperature as San Juan. Typically, the spring temperatures in Hue in April average around 26°C (80°F), and San Juan averages at about 26°C (79°F).


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Hue 26°C (80°F) 
    San Juan 26°C (79°F)

Typical Weather for San Juan and Hue

Hue 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)