Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Mandeville?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mandeville or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Mandeville 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: Mandeville or San Juan?
Mandeville
Mandeville is a small, quiet town in the mountains of Jamaica with a population of about 50,000. The town is situated on a plateau west of Kingston. It is the largest town in the parish of Manchester and the fifth largest urban center in the country.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMandeville $81San Juan $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Mandeville is $81, 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 Mandeville and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMandeville $38San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMandeville $76San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Mandeville and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Mandeville 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: San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mandeville $31San 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: $270
- San Juan Airport (SJU): Private Transfer to San Juan Port: $270
- 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
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, 16Pax Mercedes Van, Select Zone: $130
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 11Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $103
Is it cheaper to fly into Mandeville or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Mandeville 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 dayMandeville $24San 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
- Private Local Food Tour in San Juan: $275
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mandeville $8.31San Juan $49
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.
- Rum Craft Cocktail Tour in San Juan: $65
- 1 or 2 Hour Puerto Rico Horseback Ride Experience!: $210
- Bioluminescent Bay Kayak Adventure from San Juan: $110
- Carolina: ATV Adventure at Campo Rico Ranch with Guide: $136
- Cave Day Tour From San Juan: $109
- 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
- Discover El Yunque: Half-Day Rainforest Tour: $115
- Discover Old In-App Audio Tour of History: $11
- El Yunque National RainForest: Tour with Nature walk: $75
- El Yunque Rainforest Guided Day Tour from San Juan: $85
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMandeville $6.51San 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 Mandeville and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Mandeville much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mandeville would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mandeville 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 Mandeville.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mandeville Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mandeville or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Mandeville. When comparing the sizes of Mandeville 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 Mandeville or San Juan?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Mandeville or San Juan in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Mandeville and San Juan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mandeville year-round. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Mandeville usually receives less rain than San Juan. Mandeville gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. In Mandeville, it's very sunny this time of the year. Mandeville usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during summer. Mandeville gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Mandeville is generally around the same temperature as San Juan. Daily temperatures in Mandeville average around 29°C (83°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMandeville 29°C (83°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Mandeville or San Juan in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Mandeville as well as San Juan. Mandeville attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in San Juan. Mandeville receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Mandeville usually gets more rain in October than San Juan. Mandeville gets 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mandeville this time of the year. In the autumn, Mandeville often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan. Mandeville gets 233 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun.
Mandeville is around the same temperature as San Juan in the autumn. The daily temperature in Mandeville averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMandeville 28°C (82°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Mandeville or San Juan in the Winter?
Both San Juan and Mandeville are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Mandeville throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Mandeville usually receives more rain than San Juan. Mandeville gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in San Juan. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mandeville. Mandeville usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan during winter. Mandeville gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, Mandeville is around the same temperature as San Juan. Typically, the winter temperatures in Mandeville in January average around 26°C (79°F), and San Juan averages at about 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMandeville 26°C (79°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Mandeville or San Juan in the Spring?
Both San Juan and Mandeville during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Mandeville because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
Mandeville usually gets less rain in April than San Juan. Mandeville gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Mandeville. In the spring, Mandeville often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Mandeville gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun.
In April, Mandeville is generally around the same temperature as San Juan. Daily temperatures in Mandeville average around 26°C (80°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMandeville 26°C (80°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Mandeville
| Mandeville | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 104 mm (4.1 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.