Which place is cheaper, Ponce or La Paz?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit La Paz or Ponce?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between La Paz and Ponce 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: La Paz or Ponce?
La Paz
La Paz is the capital of Baja California Sur, Mexico. It has a population of about 215,000 people and is a significant commercial center for the region. The city has a good economy and a high standard of living when compared to much of Mexico. Much of the economy is focused on eco-tourism and there are many protected marine environments in the area.
Ponce
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 Mexico, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Mexico.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLa Paz $118Ponce $205
The average daily cost (per person) in La Paz is $118, 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 La Paz and Ponce in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLa Paz $52Ponce $151
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLa Paz $104Ponce $302
Compare Hotels in La Paz and Ponce
Looking for a hotel in La Paz 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: La Paz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.La Paz $22Ponce $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Paz
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Paz:
- Roundtrip Transfer to La Paz International Airport: $73
- La Paz Airport to Costa Baja Private Roundtrip Transfer: $89
- La Paz Int. Airport (LAP): Private Transfer to La Paz hotels: $174
- Private Transfer from La Paz to Cabo San Lucas: $240
- La Paz Airport: Private Roundtrip Transfer to La Ventan: $259
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:
- San Juan Departure Share Transfer: $27
- Isabela / Hatillo to Aguadilla Airport(BQN) - DepartureTransfer: $44
- San Juan PR Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Transfer: $46
- San Juan hotels to San Juan PR Cruise Port - Departure Transfer: $46
- San Juan Port to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- Private Transfers from SJU Airport to Isla Verde, Condado or San Juan área : $60
- San juan Puerto Rico PrivateTransfers Airport,Hotels,Cruise Ports: $60
- Transfer TO or FROM: Airport,Cruise,Hotel in DORADO or RIO GRANDE: $70
- Private Transfer from San Juan City Hotels to Ponce Cruise Port: $79
- Aguadilla Hernandez Airport (BQN) to Isabela - RoundTrip Transfer: $87
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $92
Is it cheaper to fly into La Paz or Ponce?
Prices for flights to both Ponce and La Paz 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 dayLa Paz $38Ponce $35
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Paz
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Paz.
- 4 Hours of Guided La Paz Street Food Tour: $81
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ponce
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ponce.
- Private Cooking Class with a Fun Local in San German, Puerto Rico: $96
- Private Half-Day Food Tour : $130
- Private San Juan Cooking Class with a Local Expert: $146
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.La Paz $13Ponce $56
Tours and Activities in La Paz
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Paz are as follows:
- Transparent Boat Tour with Mushroom Rock: $64
- Pearls of Pearl Farm Experience: $64
- Half Day Sandboarding and Paddleboarding Experience in La Paz: $81
- Unique Mexican Spirits Tasting & Pairing Experience: $85
- Sunset Sandboarding at La Paz Dunes Tour: $89
- City Tour & Beaches from La Paz: $91
- Supercombo 2-Day City Tour: $105
- Half Day Private Tour of the Beaches of La Paz: $113
- From Los Cabos: City Tour La Paz, Balandra and Todos Santos: $115
- holy spirit island tour: $116
- Los Cabos Tour from La Paz: $119
- Snorkel Tour with Whale Shark in La Paz: $119
Tours and Activities in Ponce
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ponce are as follows:
- Talking Buildings of Old San Juan: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Footsteps in San Juan Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $17
- Private Sunset Walking Tour in San Juan: $25
- Old San Juan Tour (1 Hour) by DUHO: $25
- Salsa Tours PR Sunset Salsa Beach Class in San Juan, Puerto Rico : $29
- Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $30
- Guided Walking Tour in Ponce: $30
- Guided City Walking Tour: $32
- La Perla Cultural Tour: $35
- Historic Old San Juan Sunset Walking Tour: $39
- Bio Bay Boat Tour with Swimming from La Parguera, Puerto Rico: $50
- Turtle spotting snorkeling adventure- no Jets : $50
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLa Paz $12Ponce $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Ponce
Also in Ponce, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Artisan Puertorrican Winery and Distillery Tour: $50
- Old San Juan Bar Crawl: Experience Local Hotspots: $65
- Local Puerto Rican Rum Distillery Tour - Ron Pepon: $90
- Rum Distillery and Old San Juan Tour: $99
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between La Paz and Ponce, we can see that Ponce is more expensive. And not only is La Paz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since La Paz is in North 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 La Paz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Paz 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 La Paz.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is La Paz Expensive? and Is Ponce Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, La Paz or Ponce?
La Paz has a larger population, and is about 12% larger than the population of Ponce. When comparing the sizes of La Paz 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.
When is the best time to visit La Paz or Ponce?
La Paz has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Ponce experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit La Paz or Ponce in the Summer?
Both Ponce and La Paz are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to La Paz because of the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences. Plenty of visitors come to Ponce because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
La Paz is around the same temperature as Ponce in the summer. The daily temperature in La Paz averages around 30°C (86°F) in July, and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
It's quite sunny in Ponce. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in La Paz. La Paz usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Ponce during summer. La Paz gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, La Paz usually receives less rain than Ponce. La Paz gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLa Paz 30°C (86°F)Ponce 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit La Paz or Ponce in the Autumn?
Both Ponce and La Paz during the autumn are popular places to visit. The shopping scene are the main draw to La Paz this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round.
In the autumn, La Paz is around the same temperature as Ponce. Typically, the autumn temperatures in La Paz in October average around 27°C (80°F), and Ponce averages at about 28°C (82°F).
In Ponce, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in La Paz. In the autumn, La Paz often gets more sunshine than Ponce. La Paz gets 272 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 235 hours of full sun.
Ponce gets a good bit of rain this time of year. La Paz usually gets less rain in October than Ponce. La Paz gets 13 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLa Paz 27°C (80°F)Ponce 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit La Paz or Ponce in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both La Paz and Ponce. Many travelers come to La Paz for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, La Paz is generally cooler than Ponce. Daily temperatures in La Paz average around 18°C (65°F), and Ponce fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ponce this time of the year. In La Paz, it's very sunny this time of the year. La Paz usually receives less sunshine than Ponce during winter. La Paz gets 200 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, La Paz usually receives less rain than Ponce. La Paz gets 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLa Paz 18°C (65°F)Ponce 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit La Paz or Ponce in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to La Paz as well as Ponce. Many visitors come to La Paz in the spring for the beaches. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year.
La Paz is cooler than Ponce in the spring. The daily temperature in La Paz averages around 23°C (73°F) in April, and Ponce fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ponce. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in La Paz this time of the year. In the spring, La Paz often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Ponce. La Paz gets 292 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 272 hours of full sun.
La Paz usually gets less rain in April than Ponce. La Paz gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLa Paz 23°C (73°F)Ponce 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Ponce and La Paz
| La Paz | Ponce | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 18°C (65°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 19°C (66°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 20°C (69°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 23°C (73°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (86°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 30°C (87°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 30°C (85°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 20°C (67°F) | 21 mm (0.8 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.