Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Melbourne?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Melbourne or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Melbourne 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: Melbourne or San Juan?
Melbourne
Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia, after Sydney. It is also the capital city of the state of Victoria, in southeastern Australia. Melbourne is arguably the best city to experience culture and the arts in Australia. There is a friendly rivalry between Melbourne and Sydney over livability and popularity and Melbourne is definitely the city to visit for its parks, shopping, restaurants, galleries and theaters. Like Sydney, it is situated on the water, at the head of Port Phillip Bay. It's a beautiful city, and although it lacks the major sights that you'll find in Sydney such as the Sydney Opera House or the Harbour Bridge, you will never find yourself lacking for entertainment. It is also a wonderful base for exploring many of the nearby highlights, including Grampians National Park, The Great Ocean Road, and Phillip Island where you can view the penguin parade.
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 Scuba Diving Tours in Australia, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Australia.
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Melbourne Prices
Australia PricesSan Juan Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMelbourne $210San Juan $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Melbourne is $210, while the average daily cost in San Juan is $218. 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 Melbourne and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMelbourne $128San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMelbourne $256San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Melbourne and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Melbourne 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: Melbourne Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Melbourne $21San Juan $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melbourne
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Melbourne:
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Airport Bus$11
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Tram Ride$2.67
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melbourne
Also for Melbourne, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Yarra Valley: Hot Air Balloon with Breakfast & CBD Transfers: $377
- Mornington Peninsula - Melbourne Airport Transfers: $215
- Melbourne Airport MEL Private Transfer to Melbourne in Luxury Car: $192
- Ballarat - Melbourne Airport Transfers: $192
- Melbourne Hotel to Airport Private Departure Transfer 12 seater mini bus: $180
- Avalon Airport Transfers: $180
- Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Melbourne hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $176
- Airport Private Van Transfer to City: $172
- Melbourne Airport to City Transfer by Luxury Car: $140
- Melbourne Airport Private Transfer to City by premium vehicle: $129
- CBD to Melbourne Airport Private Transfer - 11 traveler's: $129
- Melbourne Airport to CBD Private Transfer - 11 traveler's: $126
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from San Juan to Rincon or Rincon to San Juan: $167
- Transfer TO or FROM: Airport,Cruise,Hotel in DORADO or RIO GRANDE: $70
- Transfer SJU Airport to Dorado. Hotels and Airbnb. Vice Versa One Way Trip.: $140
- San juan Puerto Rico PrivateTransfers Airport,Hotels,Cruise Ports: $67
- San Juan hotels to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $29
- San Juan Puerto Rico Private Luxury Transfers: $105
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $118
- San Juan Port to San Juan Airport (SJU)- Departure Transfer: $29
- San Juan PR Transfer in Luxury SUV (Airports,Ports,Hotel,Airbnb): $103
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $59
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan Port Arrival Private Transfer: $59
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $118
Is it cheaper to fly into Melbourne or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Melbourne 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 dayMelbourne $56San Juan $62
Typical Food Prices in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Coffee$2.81
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Pizza$4.92
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Melbourne Flavors: Queen Victoria Market Food Tour: $40
- Queen Victoria Market: 'Flavours of Australia' Food Tour: $52
- Inner North Street Food Tour: $72
- Sunset Kayak Tour with Dinner: $79
- Melbourne Sunset Kayaking Experience with Dinner: $86
- Melbourne Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $88
- Best of Little Italy Dinner Tour: $92
- Chinese Dumpling Cooking Class with a Drink: $99
- Melbourne Flavours Queen Victoria Market Food Tour: $108
- Secret Food Tour: $109
- Yarra Valley Full Day Grazing Tour: Gin, Wine, Pizza, Cheese: $125
- Spanish Hands on Cooking Class: $129
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:
- Puerto Rican Gastronomy Cooking Class: $167
- Morning Old San Juan Food Tour: $169
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $170
- Fly Dining 4 Course Sunset and City Light Dinner Over San Juan: $195
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Melbourne $29San Juan $49
Tours and Activities in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Hour Sight seeing Melbourne River Cruise on historic vessel: $27
- 1 day Puffing Billy Steam Train and Wildlife Tour from Melbourne: $157
- 1.5Hr Yarra River Crown Flames and City Lights Cruise: $317
- 2 Day Great Ocean Road Small Group Tour: $843
- 2 Days and 1 Night Great Ocean Road (Melbourne Chinese Tour): $244
- 2-Hour Farm Experience in Gateway Yarra Valley: $72
- 4 Hours Sightseeing Small Group Tour in Melbourne City: $72
- 4D3N Best Bits Victoria Sightseeing Tour: $992
- 5 Days 4 Nights: Melbourne Package tour: $1,323
- Art Tour of Melbourne: $93
- ArtVo Immersive Gallery Experience: $25
- Aussie Football MCG Matchday Experience with a Local: $158
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.
- 1 Hour Bull Maze Adventure at Toroverde Urban Park San Juan: $45
- 1 Hour Historical UTV Tour in San Juan: $200
- 2 Tours in 1 Day Rainforest and Beach Adventure with Transport: $65
- 3 Tours in 1 Day Old San Juan Rainforest and Beach with Transport: $75
- 3 in 1 Full Day Cueva Ventana, Indian Cave & Waterfall Adventure: $155
- ATV Double Rider Adventure Near San Juan - Hacienda Campo Rico: $221
- ATV Single Rider Adventure Near San Juan - Hacienda Campo Rico: $149
- Adventure Water Bike in Condado Lagoon, San Juan: $60
- Arecibo Cave Cliffside Waterfall Adventure: $139
- Bio Bay Magic and Rum Tasting Tour from San Juan: $250
- Bio Bay Night Kayak Tour with Transport from San Juan: $125
- Cave, Waterfall and River Adventure in Charco Azul from San Juan: $115
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMelbourne $18San Juan $12
Typical Alcohol Prices in Melbourne
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Melbourne from other travelers:
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Bottle of Wine$5.44
Sample the Local Flavors in Melbourne
Also in Melbourne, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Melbourne Pub Crawl: $19
- Saturday Melbourne Bar Crawl: $19
- Weekly Bar Crawl: 5 Free shots, Club Entry: $20
- Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Walking Tour: $26
- Melbourne Music Venue Pub Crawl with History + 2 Free Drinks: $26
- Rock'n'roll venues pub crawl including 2 free drinks and history: $57
- Relaxed Half Day Yarra Valley Wine Tasting Tour from Melbourne: $78
- Yarra Valley Wine Tour from Melbourne - Choc, Gin & Good Times: $85
- New Chocolate and wine tasting tour in the Yarra Valley: $89
- Yarra Valley Wine Tour w Exclusive Gin, Cider & Chocolate Tasting: $93
- Yarra Valley: Bus Wine Tour with Lunch and a Glass of Wine: $116
- Discover Hidden Wineries in Melbourne Boutique Wine Tour Series: $118
Sample the Local Flavors in San Juan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Juan:
- Old San Juan Bar Crawl: Experience Local Hotspots: $65
- Puerto Rico Tobacco Farm and Local Brewery Tour: $109
- Puerto Rico's First and Only Craft Beer Brewery Tour!: $150
When comparing the travel costs between Melbourne and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Melbourne is in Pacific and San Juan is in Caribbean Islands, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Melbourne Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Melbourne or San Juan?
Melbourne has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of San Juan. When comparing the sizes of Melbourne 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 Melbourne or San Juan?
Melbourne 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 Melbourne or San Juan in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Melbourne and San Juan. The summer months attract visitors to Melbourne because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Melbourne is generally cooler than San Juanin July. Daily temperatures in Melbourne average around 20°C (68°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. In Melbourne, it's very sunny this time of the year. Melbourne usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan during summer. Melbourne gets 271 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
In January, Melbourne usually receives less rain than San Juanin July. Melbourne gets 45 mm (1.8 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 JulyMelbourne 20°C (68°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Melbourne or San Juan in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Melbourne as well as San Juan. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Melbourne this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
Melbourne is much colder than San Juan in the autumn. The daily temperature in Melbourne averages around 15°C (60°F) in April, and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in October.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. In the autumn, Melbourne often gets less sunshine than San Juanin October. Melbourne gets 170 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in San Juan. Melbourne usually gets less rain in April than San Juanin October. Melbourne gets 50 mm (2 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 OctoberMelbourne 15°C (60°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Melbourne or San Juan in the Winter?
Both San Juan and Melbourne are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Melbourne 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.
In the winter, Melbourne is much colder than San Juan. Typically, the winter temperatures in Melbourne in July average around 9°C (49°F), and San Juan averages at about 25°C (77°F)in January.
It's quite sunny in San Juan. Melbourne usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during winter. Melbourne gets 139 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
In July, Melbourne usually receives less rain than San Juanin January. Melbourne gets 43 mm (1.7 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 JanuaryMelbourne 9°C (49°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Melbourne or San Juan in the Spring?
Both San Juan and Melbourne during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Melbourne in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
In October, Melbourne is generally much colder than San Juanin April. Daily temperatures in Melbourne average around 14°C (57°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Melbourne. In the spring, Melbourne often gets less sunshine than San Juanin April. Melbourne gets 216 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun.
Melbourne usually gets less rain in October than San Juanin April. Melbourne gets 62 mm (2.4 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 AprilMelbourne 14°C (57°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Melbourne
| Melbourne | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 20°C (68°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 19°C (65°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 13°C (55°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 10°C (50°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 9°C (49°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 10°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (53°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (57°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (61°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 18°C (65°F) | 47 mm (1.9 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.