Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Miami?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Miami 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 Miami and San Juan can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Miami or San Juan?
Miami
Miami is a popular tourist destination and a modern city in South Florida. It has beautiful white beaches, crystal blue waters, cosmopolitan neighborhoods, impressive shopping, and excellent dining opportunities. It is also a gateway to the Florida Keys, which is another popular destination in South Florida.
Miami is the second most populated city in Florida and the metropolitan area is the most populated in the state with more than 5.4 million people. It's also the 7th largest metro area in the country. The city sits between the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Everglades to the west. It covers 110 miles north to south but is a narrow 20 miles east to west.
Miami sits at a low latitude, giving it a subtropical savannah climate. There are two seasons; the warm and dry season between November and April and the hot and wet season between May and October. The coldest months are between December and March when highs are in the upper 70 or low 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The summer months have highs in the upper 80s or 90s and lows in the mid 70s with high humidity.
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 United States of America, and The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMiami $206San Juan $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Miami is $206, 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 Miami and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMiami $132San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMiami $264San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Miami and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Miami 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: Miami Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Miami $38San Juan $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Miami
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Miami are as follows:
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Car Rental for a Day$18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Miami
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Miami:
- Transfer to West Palm Beach: $420
- From Miami Beach: Roundtrip Bimini Ferry and Hotel Transfers: $289
- From Miami Airport - Private Transfer to Hotels and Homes: $265
- From Miami - Private Transfer from Miami Hotels to Airport: $265
- Private Transfer from Miami Airport to Hotel and Vice Versa: $255
- Round Trip Motorcoach Transfer to Key West from Miami: $245
- Transfer from Miami Hotel or Miami Port to Fort Lauderdale Airport or Hotel: $210
- Guided Tour with Transfer from Cruise Port to Airport: $184
- Shared Tour in Miami with Transfer: $170
- Private transfer from Miami hotel to Port of Miami: $160
- Transfer from Miami Airport to Miami Hotel or Miami Port: $160
- Transfer from Miami Airport to Hotel or Port Miami.: $160
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Carabali Rain Forest Round Trip Private Taxi Transfer: $210
- Mendoza: One-Way Private Transfer from Airport: $25
- Old Walking Tour with Shopping and Hotel Transfer: $70
- Oneway Transfer San Juan to Ceiba: Ferry, Vieques/Culebra Airport: $80
- Oneway Transfer- San Juan(SJU, hotel, airbnb, port) to Río Grande: $68
- Private Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to San Juan Airport: $22
- Private Transfer from SJU Airport to San Juan / Rio Grande: $105
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 11Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $103
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 14Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $124
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, 16Pax Mercedes Van, Select Zone: $130
- 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 Miami or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Miami 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 dayMiami $41San Juan $36
Typical Food Prices in Miami
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Miami:
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Lunch with Drinks (for 2)$45
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David's Cafe Lunch (for 1)$16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Miami
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Miami.
- The Ultimate Little Havana Food Tour: $64
- Wynwood Street Art, Culture, Donuts & Walking Food Tour: $65
- South Beach Food Tour: $70
- A Taste of South Beach Food Tour: $70
- Little Havana Walking Food Tour: $75
- South Beach Miami Food & Fun Art Deco Food Tour : $79
- Wynwood Walls Art District Food Tour: $80
- Mango's Tropical Cafe Dinner & Show: $98
- Mango's Dinner and Show Ticket: $98
- Miami Dinner Party w/ Night Club Experience: $100
- Guided Small Group Little Havana Food Tour: $124
- Ukrainian cooking class in Miami: $125
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Miami $31San Juan $49
Tours and Activities in Miami
Here are a few actual costs in Miami for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cultural Brunch Experience in Miami: $125
- Miami's Most Authentic Walking Tour of Little Havana: $39
- South Beach Walking Tour- A Journey through Food and History: $67
- 1 Day Key West Tour from Miami Florida: $175
- 1 Hour Jet Ski Experience in Miami Beach Florida: $95
- 1 Hour Star Island Segway Tour: $74
- 1-Hour Private Miami Photoshoot Experience: $65
- 1HR Boat Tour Around Miami Celebrities Mansion: $65
- 2 HR Miami Lights & Skyline Private Night Tour for up to 6 people: $299
- 2 Hours Private Walking Tour in Miami Beach: $273
- 2 hrs Miami Private Boat Tour with Cooler, Ice, Bluetooth Stereo: $75
- 2-Day Key West and Miami South Beach Tour: $100
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.
- 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
- History, Legends, & Highlights Guided Walking Tour: $30
- Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMiami $22San Juan $12
Typical Alcohol Prices in Miami
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Miami are as follows:
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Evening at a Bar$32
Sample the Local Flavors in Miami
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Miami:
- Miami Bar Crawl: $25
- Ghosts, Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Small-Group Brewery Golf Cart Tour of Wynwood with a Local Guide: $59
- Wynwood Graffiti Brewery Golf Cart Tour: $63
- Wynwood Party Bike Bar Crawl: $64
- Wynwood Party Bike Bar Crawl: $64
- Wynwood Bar Crawl: $100
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 comparing the travel costs between Miami and San Juan, we can see that Miami 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 Miami is in North America 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 Miami Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Miami or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 9% larger than the population of Miami. When comparing the sizes of Miami 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 Miami or San Juan?
Miami 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 Miami or San Juan in the Summer?
Both San Juan and Miami during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Miami for the beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
Miami is around the same temperature as San Juan in the summer. The daily temperature in Miami averages around 83°F (28°C) in July, and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Miami. In the summer, Miami often gets more sunshine than San Juan. Miami gets 316 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Miami. Miami usually gets more rain in July than San Juan. Miami gets 5.9 inches (149 mm) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMiami 83°F (28°C)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Miami or San Juan in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Miami and San Juan. The autumn months attract visitors to Miami because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, Miami is around the same temperature as San Juan. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Miami in October average around 78°F (26°C), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (82°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. In Miami, it's very sunny this time of the year. Miami usually receives more sunshine than San Juan during autumn. Miami gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun in the autumn.
San Juan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Miami gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Miami usually receives around the same amount of rain as San Juan. Miami gets 5.6 inches (143 mm) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMiami 78°F (26°C)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Miami or San Juan in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Miami as well as San Juan. The shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Miami this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
In January, Miami is generally cooler than San Juan. Daily temperatures in Miami average around 67°F (20°C), and San Juan fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Miami this time of the year. In the winter, Miami often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan. Miami gets 243 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun.
Miami usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as San Juan. Miami gets 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMiami 67°F (20°C)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Miami or San Juan in the Spring?
Both San Juan and Miami are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Miami for the beaches and the activities around the city. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Miami is around the same temperature as San Juan in the spring. The daily temperature in Miami averages around 75°F (24°C) in April, and San Juan fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
It's quite sunny in San Juan. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Miami. Miami usually receives more sunshine than San Juan during spring. Miami gets 300 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Miami usually receives more rain than San Juan. Miami gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMiami 75°F (24°C)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Miami
| Miami | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 67°F (20°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 68°F (20°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 72°F (22°C) | 2.4 inches (61 mm) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 75°F (24°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 79°F (26°C) | 6.4 inches (162 mm) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 81°F (27°C) | 9.4 inches (238 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 83°F (28°C) | 5.9 inches (149 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 83°F (28°C) | 7.5 inches (191 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 82°F (28°C) | 7.6 inches (194 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 78°F (26°C) | 5.6 inches (143 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 73°F (23°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 69°F (21°C) | 1.9 inches (48 mm) | 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.