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

Should you visit Lyon or San Juan?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Lyon 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: Lyon or San Juan?

Lyon

Lyon, located within the region of Southeastern France, is France's third largest city in terms of population, with just over 500,000 inhabitants. This makes the city large, yet still small and personable enough to be explored properly in a short visit. Known as the gastronomic capital of Europe, your culinary needs are exceptionally well catered to here, and for those with historical and cultural interests, you will never be at a loss for new things to do and see.

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 10-Day Tours from Paris, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Paris.


Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Lyon?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Lyon is $134, 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 Lyon and San Juan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Lyon $57
    San Juan $124
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Lyon $114
    San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Lyon and San Juan

Looking for a hotel in Lyon 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 Lyon


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: Lyon Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Lyon $18
    San Juan $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lyon

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lyon:


  • Funiculaire
    $5.57
  • Hop-on Hop-off Tourist Bus
    $20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lyon

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lyon:

  • Superior Private Transfer From Lyon City to Geneva City: $297
  • Private Direct Transfer from Lyon to Geneva: $274
  • Private Transfer Grenoble Airport GNB - Grenoble Ski Resort: $230
  • Lyon St Exupery Airport to Courchevel/Les Arcs - Arrival Transfer: $181
  • Lyon Saint Exupery Airport to Meribel - Arrival Private Transfer: $180
  • Lyon Saint Exupery Airport(LYS) to Alpe d'Huez - Arrival Transfer: $164
  • Lyon Exupery Airport to Les Deux La Clusaz Round Trip Transfer: $143
  • Lyon Private Transfer from Lyon city centre to Lyon (LYS) Airport: $131
  • Private Transfer: Lyon to Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS): $125
  • Private Transfer: (LYS) Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport to Lyon: $124
  • Transfer Privé Lyon saint exupery airport to lyon : $120
  • Lyon : Private Transfer from/to Lyon Saint-Exupery Airport: $118

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
  • San Juan One-way Transfer: $30
  • San Juan hotels to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
  • San Juan Luxury Private Round-Trip Transfer: SJU Airport - Cruise Pier - Hotel : $50
  • 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 Lyon or San Juan?

Prices for flights to both San Juan and Lyon 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
    Lyon $44
    San Juan $36
Typical Food Prices in Lyon

Some typical examples of dining costs in Lyon are as follows:


  • Pastry
    $1.82

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lyon

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lyon.

  • Street Food Tour: $65
  • Croix-Rousse District Vegan Food Tour with Tastings: $65
  • Lyon Street Food Tour : $66
  • 3h Lyon Vegan Food Tour: $66
  • Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $67
  • Afternoon Old Town Food tour: $77
  • Lyon 2.5-Hour Dinner Cruise: $81
  • Cultural Walking Food Tour in the Vieux Lyon District: $86
  • Lyon Old Town Half-Day Walking Food Tour with Local Specialties Tasting & Lunch: $93
  • Old Town Food Tour: $97
  • Guided Food Tour with Tastings and Wine: $102
  • Guided Evening Food Tour: $102

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.
    Lyon $22
    San Juan $49
Typical Entertainment Prices in Lyon

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Lyon are as follows:


  • Lunch for 2
    $48

Tours and Activities in Lyon

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lyon are as follows:

  • 1 or 2-Hour Pedicab tour of Lyon: $27
  • 1-hour tourist walk with guide: $38
  • Access to a Self-Guided Tour to Traboules de Croix-Rousse: $8.77
  • Alternative Tour: Murals and Hidden Frescoes of Lyon: $46
  • An unusual city tour with sketches: $65
  • Audio-Guided Tour of the United States Quarter and Painted Walls: $11
  • Audio-guided tour of Old Lyon: $11
  • Audio-guided tour of the Fourvière and the Sacred Hill: $11
  • Beaujolais Wine Discovery - Private Tour - Half Day: $253
  • Beaujolais Wines & Castles - Private Tour - Half Day: $269
  • Best Intro Tour of Lyon with a Local: $142
  • Cheese and Wine Accord Tour at Château de Champ-Renard: $55

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.

  • 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
  • Old San Juan Walking Tour with a Certified Guide: $30
  • Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $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
  • Ron del Barrilito Skip-the-Line Heritage Tour Ticket: $46

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Lyon $25
    San Juan $12
Typical Alcohol Prices in Lyon

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Lyon from other travelers:


  • Drinks for 2
    $7.29
  • Bottle of Wine
    $16

Sample the Local Flavors in Lyon

Also in Lyon, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Beaujolais Segway Tour with Wine Tasting: $65
  • Guided tour of Beaujolais by electric bike and wine tasting: $98
  • Lyon Old Town Food & Wine Tasting Tour including a Bouchon Lyonnais : $99
  • Lyon Music & Wine tasting: $104
  • From Beaujolais Region Wine Tour with Tastings: $107
  • Golden Stones Beaujolais Wine Tasting Trip from Lyon: $107
  • Beaujolais: Half-Day Wine Tour: $107
  • From Wine tasting and visits of the Beaujolais: $107
  • Half-Day Côte-Rotie Wine Tasting Tour: $107
  • Lyon : Music & Wine tasting tour: $108
  • Beaujolais Half Day Wine Tasting Tour: $109
  • Golden stones Beaujolais Wine Tour with Tastings from Lyon: $109

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 Lyon and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Lyon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Lyon 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 Lyon would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lyon 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 Lyon.

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


Which is Bigger, Lyon or San Juan?

Lyon has a larger population, and is about 13% larger than the population of San Juan. When comparing the sizes of Lyon 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 Lyon or San Juan?

Lyon 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 Lyon or San Juan in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Lyon as well as San Juan. Many visitors come to Lyon in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.

In July, Lyon is generally cooler than San Juan. Daily temperatures in Lyon average around 22°C (71°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Lyon this time of the year. In the summer, Lyon often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan. Lyon gets 285 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun.

Lyon usually gets less rain in July than San Juan. Lyon gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Lyon 22°C (71°F) 
    San Juan 28°C (83°F)

Should I visit Lyon or San Juan in the Autumn?

Both San Juan and Lyon are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Lyon for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Lyon is much colder than San Juan in the autumn. The daily temperature in Lyon averages around 14°C (56°F) in October, and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

It's quite sunny in San Juan. Lyon usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during autumn. Lyon gets 127 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in San Juan. In October, Lyon usually receives less rain than San Juan. Lyon gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Lyon 14°C (56°F) 
    San Juan 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Lyon or San Juan in the Winter?

Both San Juan and Lyon during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Lyon because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.

The weather in Lyon can be very cold. In the winter, Lyon is much colder than San Juan. Typically, the winter temperatures in Lyon in January average around 4°C (39°F), and San Juan averages at about 25°C (77°F).

In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Lyon often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Lyon gets 62 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun.

Lyon usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as San Juan. Lyon gets 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Lyon 4°C (39°F) 
    San Juan 25°C (77°F)

Should I visit Lyon or San Juan in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Lyon and San Juan. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Lyon this time of year. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In April, Lyon is generally much colder than San Juan. Daily temperatures in Lyon average around 11°C (53°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. Lyon usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during spring. Lyon gets 174 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Lyon usually receives around the same amount of rain as San Juan. Lyon gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Lyon 11°C (53°F) 
    San Juan 26°C (79°F)

Typical Weather for San Juan and Lyon

Lyon San Juan
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 4°C (39°F) 55 mm (2.1 in) 25°C (77°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Feb 6°C (42°F) 54 mm (2.1 in) 25°C (77°F) 41 mm (1.6 in)
Mar 8°C (47°F) 62 mm (2.4 in) 26°C (78°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Apr 11°C (53°F) 65 mm (2.6 in) 26°C (79°F) 69 mm (2.7 in)
May 15°C (60°F) 85 mm (3.4 in) 27°C (81°F) 120 mm (4.7 in)
Jun 19°C (66°F) 75 mm (3 in) 28°C (82°F) 82 mm (3.2 in)
Jul 22°C (71°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 28°C (83°F) 95 mm (3.7 in)
Aug 21°C (70°F) 75 mm (3 in) 28°C (83°F) 130 mm (5.1 in)
Sep 18°C (65°F) 75 mm (3 in) 28°C (83°F) 130 mm (5.1 in)
Oct 14°C (56°F) 78 mm (3.1 in) 28°C (82°F) 135 mm (5.3 in)
Nov 8°C (46°F) 70 mm (2.8 in) 27°C (80°F) 132 mm (5.2 in)
Dec 4°C (40°F) 57 mm (2.3 in) 26°C (78°F) 92 mm (3.6 in)