Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Isla de Ometepe?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Isla de Ometepe or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Isla de Ometepe or San Juan, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Isla de Ometepe or San Juan?
Isla de Ometepe
Ometepe is a dramatically beautiful island in Lake Nicaragua in the country of Nicaragua. The island is the largest in the lake and is formed by two dramatic twin volcanoes that climb high from the water's surface. The two volcanoes are Concepcion and Maderas, and they are joined by an isthmus to make one island with an area of 276 square kilometers. The island is 31 kilometers long and between 5 and 10 kilometers wide. There are several small settlements on the island as well as a few coffee plantations. It is also one of the top sights in the country and makes for a unique travel destination.
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 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIsla de Ometepe $34San Juan $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Isla de Ometepe is $34, 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 Isla de Ometepe and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIsla de Ometepe $13San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIsla de Ometepe $26San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Isla de Ometepe and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Isla de Ometepe 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.Isla de Ometepe $11San Juan $14
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
- Mendoza: One-Way Private Transfer from Airport: $25
- Private Transportation in Puerto Rico From or To San Juan Airport(SJU) Transfers: $33
- San Juan hotels to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- Oneway Transfer- San Juan(SJU, hotel, airbnb, port) to Río Grande: $68
- Old Walking Tour with Shopping and Hotel Transfer: $70
- Roundtrip-Transfer from: SJU Airport,Cruises and Hotels in Puerto Rico LuxurySUV: $70
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Tesla Y Luxury SUV, Select Zone: $77
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Tesla S Lux Sedan, Select Zone: $79
- Oneway Transfer San Juan to Ceiba: Ferry, Vieques/Culebra Airport: $80
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Lexus Luxury Sedan, Select Zone: $81
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Ford Premium SUV, Select Zone: $87
Is it cheaper to fly into Isla de Ometepe or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Isla de Ometepe 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 dayIsla de Ometepe $13San Juan $36
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.Isla de Ometepe $13San Juan $49
Tours and Activities in Isla de Ometepe
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Isla de Ometepe are as follows:
- A great tour day for the ISLAND OF OMETEPE.: $80
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
- Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $30
- Old San Juan Walking Tour with a Certified Guide: $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
- Walking tour of Oaxaca City: $48
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIsla de Ometepe $8.85San 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 Isla de Ometepe and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Isla de Ometepe much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Isla de Ometepe is in Central 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 Isla de Ometepe would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Isla de Ometepe 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 Isla de Ometepe.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Isla de Ometepe Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Isla de Ometepe 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 Isla de Ometepe or San Juan in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Isla de Ometepe as well as San Juan. Isla de Ometepe attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
Isla de Ometepe receives a lot of rain in the summer. Isla de Ometepe usually gets more rain in July than San Juan. Isla de Ometepe gets 144 mm (5.7 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. In the summer, Isla de Ometepe often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Isla de Ometepe gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun.
Isla de Ometepe is around the same temperature as San Juan in the summer. The daily temperature in Isla de Ometepe averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyIsla de Ometepe 27°C (81°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Isla de Ometepe or San Juan in the Autumn?
Both San Juan and Isla de Ometepe are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Isla de Ometepe throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Juan. It's quite rainy in Isla de Ometepe. In October, Isla de Ometepe usually receives more rain than San Juan. Isla de Ometepe gets 197 mm (7.8 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. Isla de Ometepe usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during autumn. Isla de Ometepe gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In the autumn, Isla de Ometepe is around the same temperature as San Juan. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Isla de Ometepe in October average around 27°C (81°F), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberIsla de Ometepe 27°C (81°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Isla de Ometepe or San Juan in the Winter?
Both San Juan and Isla de Ometepe during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Isla de Ometepe because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
Isla de Ometepe usually gets less rain in January than San Juan. Isla de Ometepe gets 4 mm (0.2 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. It's quite sunny in Isla de Ometepe. In the winter, Isla de Ometepe often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan. Isla de Ometepe gets 244 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun.
In January, Isla de Ometepe is generally around the same temperature as San Juan. Daily temperatures in Isla de Ometepe average around 26°C (79°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryIsla de Ometepe 26°C (79°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Isla de Ometepe or San Juan in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Isla de Ometepe and San Juan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Isla de Ometepe year-round. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Isla de Ometepe usually receives less rain than San Juan. Isla de Ometepe gets 6 mm (0.2 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 Isla de Ometepe, it's very sunny this time of the year. Isla de Ometepe usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during spring. Isla de Ometepe gets 242 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
Isla de Ometepe is around the same temperature as San Juan in the spring. The daily temperature in Isla de Ometepe averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and San Juan fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilIsla de Ometepe 29°C (84°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Isla de Ometepe
| Isla de Ometepe | San Juan | |||
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| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 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.