Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Lisbon?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Lisbon or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Lisbon or San Juan? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Lisbon or San Juan?
Lisbon
Portugal's capital city of Lisbon continues to grow in popularity as a travel destination. The cultural scene has come to life in recent years and the city itself is stunningly beautiful. It sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and is made up of hills that create a dramatic and scenic layout. The city has many white-bleached limestone buildings, narrow alleyways, and a laidback charm that appeals to visitors.
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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in Portugal, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Portugal.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLisbon $140San Juan $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Lisbon is $140, 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 Lisbon and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLisbon $63San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLisbon $126San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Lisbon and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Lisbon 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: Lisbon Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lisbon $26San Juan $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lisbon
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Lisbon:
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Taxi Ride$6.96
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lisbon
Also for Lisbon, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Lisbon to Seville private transfer one way max 6 persons: $743
- Full Day Tour - Transfer to Porto from Lisbon with Stops: $727
- Full Day Tour - Transfer to Algarve from Lisbon with Stops: $673
- Lisboa - Porto Private Transfer, with 2 visits on the way: $635
- One-way Private Transfer to/from Lisbon Airport - Faro: $592
- Lisbon Private transfer to Porto 1-Way Transfer max 6 person: $573
- From the Algarve to Lisbon; Guided transfer with extra Wow!: $560
- To/From the Lisbon Airport: Faro Private Transfer: $538
- One-way Private Transfer to/from Lisbon Airport - Lagos: $538
- One-way Private Transfer to/from Lisbon Airport and Portimão: $538
- One-way Private Transfer to/from Lisbon Airport - Albufeira: $538
- Porto: Private Transfer Between Porto City and Lisbon City: $537
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: $272
- 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: $272
- 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 Lisbon or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Lisbon 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 dayLisbon $45San Juan $36
Typical Food Prices in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Coffee$2.68
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Soirée Rivage - Sunset cruise with dinner and Party: $25
- Hard Rock Cafe Lisbon with Set Lunch or Dinner : $28
- Tapas Food Tour: $38
- Fado Show and Portuguese Dinner: $48
- Lisbon Food Tour: $53
- Alfama Tour and Live Fado with Traditional Dinner: $54
- 2-Hour Pastel de Nata Cooking Class: $54
- Cooking Pastel de Nata with a glass of wine !: $54
- Legendary Beer Dinner: $54
- Pastel de Nata Cooking Class in Lisbon: $55
- No Diet Club - Unique food tour in Lisbon with many Tastings: $62
- Original Morning Food Tour: $64
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lisbon $26San Juan $49
Tours and Activities in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Óbidos - Nazaré - Mafra (National Palace of Mafra)Private tour from Lisbon: $217
- 2-Hour Night Sailing Tour in Lisbon with a Drink: $49
- Private Walking Tour - Wandering Around Lisbon: $93
- Private day tour Serra da Estrela cheese factory bread museum: $210
- Saint George Castle Guided Tour from Lisbon: $34
- Sintra or Cascais Half-day Private Tour - The real portuguese essence!: $120
- Street Art Walking Tour in Lisbon - Parque das Nações: $16
- The Heart of Lisbon- History & coffee experience: $66
- Évora & Arroiolos Small-Group Full Day Tour : $109
- Évora Tour: $164
- Évora Tour - Évora Town and Surroundings Private Tour: $244
- Évora Unveiled: A Half-Day Discovery| Premium Private Experience : $109
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.
- 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
- Arenales Caves, Waterfall & River Swimming Adventure: $140
- 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
- Craft Beer Private Tour in San Juan: $168
- Cruise Ship Travelers: Hike to a Hidden Puerto Rican Waterfall: $85
- Culebra Beach Day Tour with Snorkeling from San Juan by Ferry: $200
- Culebra Snorkeling Tour by Catamaran from Fajardo: $175
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLisbon $20San Juan $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Lisbon
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lisbon:
- Pub Crawl with Open Bar, Shots, & VIP Club Entry: $17
- Pub Crawl with Unlimited Drinks and VIP Club Entry: $18
- Pub Crawl Lisbon - 1 Hour of Unlimited Beer and Sangria and more!: $19
- 1-Hour Portuguese Wine Tasting Session: $20
- Lisbon Pub Crawl: $21
- Pub Crawl with Open Bar and VIP Club Entry: $21
- Lisbon Pub Crawl: $22
- Lisbon Wild Pub Crawl : $22
- Private Bar Crawl in Lisbon: $22
- Pub Crawl Walking Tour with Shots and Drinking Games: $22
- Beer Tasting in a Classic Brewery: $27
- Pub Crawl Lisbon: $27
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 Lisbon and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Lisbon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Lisbon is in Europe 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 Lisbon would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lisbon 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 Lisbon.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lisbon Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lisbon or San Juan?
Lisbon has a larger population, and is about 24% larger than the population of San Juan. When comparing the sizes of Lisbon 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 Lisbon or San Juan?
Lisbon 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 Lisbon or San Juan in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Lisbon and San Juan. The summer months attract visitors to Lisbon because of the beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the summer, Lisbon is cooler than San Juan. Typically, the summer temperatures in Lisbon in July average around 23°C (73°F), 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 Lisbon, it's very sunny this time of the year. Lisbon usually receives more sunshine than San Juan during summer. Lisbon gets 352 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Lisbon usually receives less rain than San Juan. Lisbon gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLisbon 23°C (73°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Lisbon or San Juan in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Lisbon as well as San Juan. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Lisbon this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
In October, Lisbon is generally cooler than San Juan. Daily temperatures in Lisbon average around 19°C (66°F), 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 Lisbon this time of the year. In the autumn, Lisbon often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Lisbon gets 213 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in San Juan. Lisbon usually gets less rain in October than San Juan. Lisbon gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLisbon 19°C (66°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Lisbon or San Juan in the Winter?
Both San Juan and Lisbon are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Lisbon for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Lisbon is much colder than San Juan in the winter. The daily temperature in Lisbon averages around 12°C (53°F) in January, and San Juan fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
It's quite sunny in San Juan. Lisbon usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during winter. Lisbon gets 144 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
It's quite rainy in Lisbon. In January, Lisbon usually receives more rain than San Juan. Lisbon gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLisbon 12°C (53°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Lisbon or San Juan in the Spring?
Both San Juan and Lisbon during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Lisbon in the spring for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
In the spring, Lisbon is much colder than San Juan. Typically, the spring temperatures in Lisbon in April average around 16°C (60°F), 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 Lisbon. In the spring, Lisbon often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Lisbon gets 235 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun.
Lisbon usually gets less rain in April than San Juan. Lisbon gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLisbon 16°C (60°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Lisbon
| Lisbon | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 12°C (53°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (58°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (74°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (59°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 108 mm (4.3 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.