Which place is cheaper, Ponce or Montanita?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Montanita or Ponce?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Montanita or Ponce, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Montanita or Ponce?
Montanita
Montanita is a small village located on Manglaralto parish along the southern coast of Ecuador. The Pacific Coast of Ecuador is lined with beach towns, either small villages with local fisherman or larger towns more set up for foreign travellers like Montanita. With one of the best beaches in Ecuador, one of the best surf breaks in the region, and a great laid-back atmosphere Montanita is a great little getaway, especially for the hippies of the world. It has also become a popular weekend destination for English teachers and Spanish students coming from Guayaquil and Quito. The beachfront village of Montanita has a laid-back atmosphere and steady stream of cosmopolitan backpackers, with as many South Americans as gringos.
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 G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontanita $96Ponce $205
The average daily cost (per person) in Montanita is $96, 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 Montanita and Ponce in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontanita $41Ponce $151
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontanita $82Ponce $302
Compare Hotels in Montanita and Ponce
Looking for a hotel in Montanita 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montanita $39Ponce $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 Montanita or Ponce?
Prices for flights to both Ponce and Montanita 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 dayMontanita $28Ponce $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.Montanita $31Ponce $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 dayMontanita $7.86Ponce $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 Montanita and Ponce, we can see that Ponce is more expensive. And not only is Montanita much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montanita 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 Montanita would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Montanita 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 Montanita.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Montanita Expensive? and Is Ponce Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Montanita or Ponce?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Montanita or Ponce in the Summer?
Both Ponce and Montanita during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Montanita because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round.
Montanita usually gets less rain in July than Ponce. Montanita gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Ponce, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Montanita often gets less sunshine than Ponce. Montanita gets 107 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 287 hours of full sun.
In July, Montanita is generally cooler than Ponce. Daily temperatures in Montanita average around 25°C (78°F), and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMontanita 25°C (78°F)Ponce 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Montanita or Ponce in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Montanita and Ponce. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montanita year-round. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Ponce receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Montanita usually receives less rain than Ponce. Montanita gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ponce this time of the year. Montanita usually receives less sunshine than Ponce during autumn. Montanita gets 117 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 235 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Montanita is around the same temperature as Ponce in the autumn. The daily temperature in Montanita averages around 26°C (78°F) in October, and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMontanita 26°C (78°F)Ponce 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Montanita or Ponce in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Montanita as well as Ponce. Montanita attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year.
Montanita usually gets more rain in January than Ponce. Montanita gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ponce. In the winter, Montanita often gets less sunshine than Ponce. Montanita gets 88 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 240 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Montanita is around the same temperature as Ponce. Typically, the winter temperatures in Montanita in January average around 27°C (80°F), and Ponce averages at about 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMontanita 27°C (80°F)Ponce 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Montanita or Ponce in the Spring?
Both Ponce and Montanita are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montanita throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Ponce because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Montanita usually receives less rain than Ponce. Montanita gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Ponce. Montanita usually receives less sunshine than Ponce during spring. Montanita gets 133 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Montanita is generally around the same temperature as Ponce. Daily temperatures in Montanita average around 27°C (81°F), and Ponce fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMontanita 27°C (81°F)Ponce 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Ponce and Montanita
| Montanita | Ponce | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 26°C (79°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (78°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (78°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 26°C (78°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (78°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 15 mm (0.6 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.