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

Should you visit Jekyll Island 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 Jekyll Island 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: Jekyll Island or San Juan?

Jekyll Island

Jekyll Island, located just off the coast of the U.S. state of Georgia, has become a popular vacation destination for beach-goers and adventure seekers alike as one of the state's "Golden Isles." The historic district is full of late nineteenth-early twentieth century buildings to explore, and the places left to nature are full of beauty and are inhabited by an array of local wildlife.

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 from Los Angeles, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Jekyll Island?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Jekyll Island is $156, 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 Jekyll Island and San Juan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Jekyll Island $88
    San Juan $124
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Jekyll Island $176
    San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Jekyll Island and San Juan

Looking for a hotel in Jekyll Island 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 Jekyll Island


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: Jekyll Island Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Jekyll Island $41
    San Juan $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan

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

  • Old San Juan Sunset Cruise with Drinks & Transfer: $99
  • San Juan hotels to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
  • San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port: Transfer to San Juan hotel: $271
  • San Juan One-way Transfer: $30
  • San Juan Luxury Private Round-Trip Transfer: SJU Airport - Cruise Pier - Hotel : $50
  • San Juan Airport (SJU): Private Transfer to San Juan Port: $271
  • 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
  • Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Mercedes ECO Van, Select Zone: $87
  • 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 Jekyll Island or San Juan?

Prices for flights to both San Juan and Jekyll Island 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
    Jekyll Island $45
    San 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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Jekyll Island $10
    San Juan $49

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.

  • Full-Day Tour: El Yunque, Luquillo Beach, Bio Bay Night Kayaking: $155
  • Rum Craft Cocktail Tour in San Juan: $65
  • 1 or 2 Hour Puerto Rico Horseback Ride Experience!: $210
  • Arte Boriken-Urban Art & Beach Sip & Paint Tour: $145
  • Bioluminescent Bay Kayak Adventure from San Juan: $110
  • Black Sand Beach- See The Southeast of Puerto Rico Private Tour: $150
  • Carolina: ATV Adventure at Campo Rico Ranch with Guide: $136
  • Cave Day Tour From San Juan: $109
  • Craft Beer Private Tour in San Juan: $168
  • Cruise Ship Travelers: Hike to a Hidden Puerto Rican Waterfall: $85
  • Culebra Snorkeling Tour by Catamaran from Fajardo: $175
  • Discover El Yunque: Half-Day Rainforest Tour: $115

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Jekyll Island $6.43
    San 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 Jekyll Island and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Jekyll Island much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Jekyll Island is in North 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 Jekyll Island would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Jekyll Island 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 Jekyll Island.

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



When is the best time to visit Jekyll Island or San Juan?

Jekyll Island has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Juan experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Jekyll Island or San Juan in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Jekyll Island and San Juan. Many travelers come to Jekyll Island for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the summer, Jekyll Island is around the same temperature as San Juan. Typically, the summer temperatures in Jekyll Island in July average around 82°F (28°C), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (83°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. In Jekyll Island, it's very sunny this time of the year. Jekyll Island usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan during summer. Jekyll Island gets 286 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.

Jekyll Island gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Jekyll Island usually receives more rain than San Juan. Jekyll Island gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Jekyll Island 82°F (28°C) 
    San Juan 28°C (83°F)

Should I visit Jekyll Island or San Juan in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Jekyll Island as well as San Juan. Many visitors come to Jekyll Island in the autumn for the hiking trails and the shopping scene. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.

In October, Jekyll Island is generally cooler than San Juan. Daily temperatures in Jekyll Island average around 70°F (21°C), and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Jekyll Island this time of the year. In the autumn, Jekyll Island often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Jekyll Island gets 214 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in San Juan. Jekyll Island usually gets less rain in October than San Juan. Jekyll Island gets 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Jekyll Island 70°F (21°C) 
    San Juan 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Jekyll Island or San Juan in the Winter?

Both San Juan and Jekyll Island are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Jekyll Island for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Jekyll Island is much colder than San Juan in the winter. The daily temperature in Jekyll Island averages around 53°F (12°C) in January, and San Juan fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

It's quite sunny in San Juan. Jekyll Island usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during winter. Jekyll Island gets 191 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Jekyll Island usually receives more rain than San Juan. Jekyll Island gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Jekyll Island 53°F (12°C) 
    San Juan 25°C (77°F)

Should I visit Jekyll Island or San Juan in the Spring?

Both San Juan and Jekyll Island during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to Jekyll Island because of the beaches. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.

In the spring, Jekyll Island is cooler than San Juan. Typically, the spring temperatures in Jekyll Island in April average around 68°F (20°C), and San Juan averages at about 26°C (79°F).

In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Jekyll Island. In the spring, Jekyll Island often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan. Jekyll Island gets 285 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun.

Jekyll Island usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as San Juan. Jekyll Island gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Jekyll Island 68°F (20°C) 
    San Juan 26°C (79°F)

Typical Weather for San Juan and Jekyll Island

Jekyll Island San Juan
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 53°F (12°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm) 25°C (77°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Feb 56°F (13°C) 3.9 inches (100 mm) 25°C (77°F) 41 mm (1.6 in)
Mar 62°F (17°C) 3.7 inches (93 mm) 26°C (78°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Apr 68°F (20°C) 2.8 inches (72 mm) 26°C (79°F) 69 mm (2.7 in)
May 74°F (24°C) 3.7 inches (93 mm) 27°C (81°F) 120 mm (4.7 in)
Jun 80°F (27°C) 5.7 inches (146 mm) 28°C (82°F) 82 mm (3.2 in)
Jul 82°F (28°C) 5.4 inches (137 mm) 28°C (83°F) 95 mm (3.7 in)
Aug 82°F (28°C) 7.8 inches (199 mm) 28°C (83°F) 130 mm (5.1 in)
Sep 79°F (26°C) 7.1 inches (180 mm) 28°C (83°F) 130 mm (5.1 in)
Oct 70°F (21°C) 2.9 inches (73 mm) 28°C (82°F) 135 mm (5.3 in)
Nov 62°F (17°C) 2.2 inches (55 mm) 27°C (80°F) 132 mm (5.2 in)
Dec 56°F (13°C) 2.7 inches (69 mm) 26°C (78°F) 92 mm (3.6 in)


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