Which place is cheaper, San Juan 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 San Juan?
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 San Juan can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Mar del Plata or San Juan?
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.
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 Luxury Tours to Argentina, and The Best Budget Tours to Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMar del Plata $8.78San Juan $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Mar del Plata is $8.78, 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 Mar del Plata and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMar del Plata $3.15San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMar del Plata $6.30San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Mar del Plata and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Mar del Plata 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: Mar del Plata Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mar del Plata $2.50San Juan $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- San Juan Airport (SJU): Private Transfer to San Juan Port: $271
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port: Transfer to San Juan hotel: $271
- Carabali Rain Forest Round Trip Private Taxi Transfer: $210
- Private Airport Transfers to Ceiba Ferry Terminal and Airport: $155
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, 16Pax Mercedes Van, Select Zone: $130
- Oneway Transfer from San Juan (SJU, hotel, airbnb, port) to Ponce: $125
- Private Transfer from SJU Airport to San Juan / Rio Grande: $105
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 11Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $103
- Old San Juan Sunset Cruise with Drinks & Transfer: $99
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Mercedes ECO Van, Select Zone: $87
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Ford Premium SUV, Select Zone: $87
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Lexus Luxury Sedan, Select Zone: $81
Is it cheaper to fly into Mar del Plata or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan 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 $3.81San 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.Mar del Plata $2.27San 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 dayMar del Plata $1.78San 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 Mar del Plata and San Juan, we can see that San Juan 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 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 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 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 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 San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mar del Plata or San Juan?
Mar del Plata has a larger population, and is about 32% larger than the population of San Juan. When comparing the sizes of Mar del Plata 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 Mar del Plata or San Juan?
Mar del Plata 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 Mar del Plata or San Juan in the Summer?
Both San Juan and Mar del Plata are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Mar del Plata is cooler than San Juan in the summer. The daily temperature in Mar del Plata averages around 20°C (69°F) in January, and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (83°F)in July.
It's quite sunny in San Juan. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mar del Plata. Mar del Plata usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during summer. Mar del Plata gets 221 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
In January, Mar del Plata usually receives around the same amount of rain as San Juanin July. Mar del Plata gets 96 mm (3.8 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 January and JulyMar del Plata 20°C (69°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Mar del Plata or San Juan in the Autumn?
Both San Juan and Mar del Plata during the autumn are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
In the autumn, Mar del Plata is much colder than San Juan. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Mar del Plata in April average around 15°C (59°F), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (82°F)in October.
San Juan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Mar del Plata usually gets less rain in April than San Juanin October. Mar del Plata gets 67 mm (2.6 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 April and OctoberMar del Plata 15°C (59°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Mar del Plata or San Juan in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Mar del Plata and San Juan. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Mar del Plata is generally much colder than San Juanin January. Daily temperatures in Mar del Plata average around 9°C (47°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
In July, Mar del Plata usually receives more rain than San Juanin January. Mar del Plata gets 63 mm (2.5 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 July and JanuaryMar del Plata 9°C (47°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Mar del Plata or San Juan in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Mar del Plata as well as San Juan. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
Mar del Plata is much colder than San Juan in the spring. The daily temperature in Mar del Plata averages around 13°C (56°F) in October, and San Juan fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in April.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. In the spring, Mar del Plata often gets less sunshine than San Juanin April. Mar del Plata gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun.
Mar del Plata usually gets more rain in October than San Juanin April. Mar del Plata gets 78 mm (3.1 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 October and AprilMar del Plata 13°C (56°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Mar del Plata
| Mar del Plata | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.