Which place is cheaper, Ponce or Mar del Plata?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mar del Plata or Ponce?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Mar del Plata and Ponce can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Mar del Plata or Ponce?
Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata is found only 404 km southeast of the city of Buenos Aires, on the Atlantic coast. Today Mar Del Plata is Argentina‘s most well known beach resort. It has successfully married the two worlds of beach and city into a fun, cosmopolitan urban center with the presence of highly developed tourist infrastructure. Founded in 1874, Mar del Plata was at first mainly an industrial and commercial center before becoming a vacation destination for Argentinians. For a peaceful trip and intimate oceanfront promenades, avoid visiting Mar del Plata during summer time, as the gorgeous arced coastline will be crawling with visitors. But the city is more than just beaches. It also offers some culture, lively nightlife, and great food.
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 Luxury Tours to Argentina, and The Best Budget Tours to Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMar del Plata $8.78Ponce $205
The average daily cost (per person) in Mar del Plata is $8.78, 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 Mar del Plata and Ponce in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMar del Plata $3.15Ponce $151
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMar del Plata $6.30Ponce $302
Compare Hotels in Mar del Plata and Ponce
Looking for a hotel in Mar del Plata 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: Mar del Plata Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mar del Plata $2.50Ponce $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:
- Double ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $279
- Single ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $189
- Transfer SJU Airport to Humacao and Nagüabo. Vice Versa One Way Trip: $185
- Vega Baja to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $170
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to Rio Grande hotel - Arrival Private Transfer: $109
- Rio Grande hotel to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $109
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $92
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $92
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $92
- Aguadilla Hernandez Airport (BQN) to Isabela - RoundTrip Transfer: $87
- Private Transfer from San Juan City Hotels to Ponce Cruise Port: $79
- Transfer TO or FROM: Airport,Cruise,Hotel in DORADO or RIO GRANDE: $70
Is it cheaper to fly into Mar del Plata or Ponce?
Prices for flights to both Ponce and Mar del Plata 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 dayMar del Plata $3.81Ponce $35
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.Mar del Plata $2.27Ponce $56
Tours and Activities in Ponce
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ponce are as follows:
- Half-Day El Yunque Rainforest Tour from Fajardo: $65
- Scuba Boat Diving Experience in Gilligan's Island at Copamarina: $160
- 1 Hour Historical UTV Tour in San Juan: $200
- 2-Hour Private UTV Can-Am Beach Tour in San Juan, Puerto Rico: $264
- 2.5-Hour Historical Walking Tour of Old San Juan: $65
- 5 hours Tour in La Parguera Private Boat Charter: $200
- 7 Hours River Tour with Beach and Learn to Make Piña Colada : $195
- 90 Minute Portrait Photoshoot Experience in the Caribbean: $129
- ATV Adventure at Hacienda Campo Rico: $136
- Adventure Trail Tour in the foothills of the National Rainforest: $110
- Afro-Boriken-Loiza: Food, Cave & Art Tour: $140
- All Inclusive Cordillera Cay’s Sailing Catamaran Beach & Snorkeling Tour: $150
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMar del Plata $1.78Ponce $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 Mar del Plata and Ponce, we can see that Ponce is more expensive. And not only is Mar del Plata much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mar del Plata is in South 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 Mar del Plata would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mar del Plata 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 Mar del Plata.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mar del Plata Expensive? and Is Ponce Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mar del Plata or Ponce?
Mar del Plata has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Ponce. When comparing the sizes of Mar del Plata 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 Mar del Plata or Ponce?
Mar del Plata 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 Mar del Plata or Ponce in the Summer?
Both Ponce and Mar del Plata during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round.
In the summer, Mar del Plata is cooler than Ponce. Typically, the summer temperatures in Mar del Plata in January average around 20°C (69°F), and Ponce averages at about 28°C (83°F)in July.
In Ponce, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Mar del Plata. In the summer, Mar del Plata often gets less sunshine than Poncein July. Mar del Plata gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 287 hours of full sun.
Mar del Plata usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Poncein July. Mar del Plata gets 96 mm (3.8 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyMar del Plata 20°C (69°F)Ponce 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Mar del Plata or Ponce in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Mar del Plata and Ponce. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Mar del Plata is generally much colder than Poncein October. Daily temperatures in Mar del Plata average around 15°C (59°F), and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
Ponce receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Mar del Plata usually receives less rain than Poncein October. Mar del Plata gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberMar del Plata 15°C (59°F)Ponce 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Mar del Plata or Ponce in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Mar del Plata as well as Ponce. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year.
Mar del Plata is much colder than Ponce in the winter. The daily temperature in Mar del Plata averages around 9°C (47°F) in July, and Ponce fluctuates around 25°C (77°F)in January.
Mar del Plata usually gets more rain in July than Poncein January. Mar del Plata gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryMar del Plata 9°C (47°F)Ponce 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Mar del Plata or Ponce in the Spring?
Both Ponce and Mar del Plata are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Ponce because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the spring, Mar del Plata is much colder than Ponce. Typically, the spring temperatures in Mar del Plata in October average around 13°C (56°F), and Ponce averages at about 26°C (79°F)in April.
It's quite sunny in Ponce. Mar del Plata usually receives less sunshine than Ponce during spring. Mar del Plata gets 175 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
In October, Mar del Plata usually receives more rain than Poncein April. Mar del Plata gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilMar del Plata 13°C (56°F)Ponce 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Ponce and Mar del Plata
| Mar del Plata | Ponce | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 20°C (69°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 18°C (65°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 12°C (53°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 9°C (48°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 9°C (47°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 9°C (49°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 11°C (51°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (56°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (61°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 19°C (66°F) | 88 mm (3.5 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.