Which place is cheaper, Ponce or Jaco?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Jaco or Ponce, 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.
Jaco is a beach destination on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. This resort city is located in the county of Garabito in the Puntarenas province. It has a population of about 10,000 residents and a 2.5 mile long beach that is an excellent surfing destination.
Because Jaco is located on the coast, it's weather is influenced by the water. The climate is humid with a relative humidity of about 80%, but climbing to 90% in the month of June. The temperature is usually between 85 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit at night. There are distinct wet and dry seasons with August through early December being the rainy season and late December through early April being the dry season. Rain is irregular during the rest of the year.
Ponce is on the south coast of Puerto Rico. It's the second largest city on the island and has been around since 1692 when it was originally founded by Ponce de Leon's grandson Juan Ponce de Leon y Loayza. The city has several nicknames, including La Perla del Sur (The Pearl of the South), La Ciudad Senorial (The Noble, or Lordly, City), and La Ciudad de las Quenepas (Genip City).
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Jaco is $104, while the average daily cost in Ponce is $205. 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 Jaco and Ponce in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Jaco or Ponce? 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.
Also for Jaco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:
Prices for flights to both Ponce and Jaco 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.
For Jaco, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For Jaco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ponce.
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Jaco's activities, tours, and tickets:
For Jaco, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ponce are as follows:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Jaco:
Also in Ponce, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Jaco and Ponce, we can see that Ponce is more expensive. And not only is Jaco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Jaco is in Central America and Ponce 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 Jaco would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Jaco 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 Ponce would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ponce than you might in Jaco.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Jaco Expensive? and Is Ponce Expensive?.
Ponce has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Jaco. When comparing the sizes of Jaco and Ponce, 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.
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.
The summer brings many poeple to Jaco as well as Ponce. Jaco attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year.
Jaco receives a lot of rain in the summer. Jaco usually gets more rain in July than Ponce. Jaco gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Ponce 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 Ponce. In the summer, Jaco often gets less sunshine than Ponce. Jaco gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 287 hours of full sun.
In July, Jaco is generally around the same temperature as Ponce. Daily temperatures in Jaco average around 28°C (82°F), and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
Both Ponce and Jaco are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Jaco throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Ponce because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Ponce. It's quite rainy in Jaco. In October, Jaco usually receives more rain than Ponce. Jaco gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
It's quite sunny in Ponce. Jaco usually receives less sunshine than Ponce during autumn. Jaco gets 169 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 235 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Jaco is around the same temperature as Ponce in the autumn. The daily temperature in Jaco averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
Both Ponce and Jaco during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Jaco because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round.
Jaco usually gets less rain in January than Ponce. Jaco gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Ponce, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Jaco. In the winter, Jaco often gets more sunshine than Ponce. Jaco gets 264 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 240 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Jaco is around the same temperature as Ponce. Typically, the winter temperatures in Jaco in January average around 27°C (81°F), and Ponce averages at about 25°C (77°F).
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Jaco and Ponce. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Jaco year-round. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Jaco usually receives less rain than Ponce. Jaco gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ponce this time of the year. In Jaco, it's very sunny this time of the year. Jaco usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Ponce during spring. Jaco gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Jaco is generally a little warmer than Ponce. Daily temperatures in Jaco average around 29°C (85°F), and Ponce fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
Jaco | Ponce | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |