Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Montanita?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Montanita or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Montanita or San Juan, 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 San Juan?
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.
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 G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontanita $96San Juan $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Montanita is $96, 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 Montanita and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontanita $41San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontanita $82San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Montanita and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Montanita 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: San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montanita $39San 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 Montanita or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan 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 $28San 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.Montanita $31San 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 dayMontanita $7.86San 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 Montanita and San Juan, we can see that San Juan 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 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 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 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 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 San Juan Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Montanita or San Juan?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Montanita or San Juan in the Summer?
Both San Juan and Montanita are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montanita throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In July, Montanita usually receives less rain than San Juan. Montanita gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
It's quite sunny in San Juan. Montanita usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during summer. Montanita gets 107 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Montanita is cooler than San Juan. Typically, the summer temperatures in Montanita in July average around 25°C (78°F), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMontanita 25°C (78°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Montanita or San Juan in the Autumn?
Both San Juan and Montanita during the autumn 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 San Juan year-round.
San Juan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Montanita usually gets less rain in October than San Juan. Montanita gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Montanita often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Montanita gets 117 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun.
In October, Montanita is generally around the same temperature as San Juan. Daily temperatures in Montanita average around 26°C (78°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMontanita 26°C (78°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Montanita or San Juan in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Montanita and San Juan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montanita year-round. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Montanita usually receives more rain than San Juan. Montanita gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. Montanita usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during winter. Montanita gets 88 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
Montanita is around the same temperature as San Juan in the winter. The daily temperature in Montanita averages around 27°C (80°F) in January, and San Juan fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMontanita 27°C (80°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Montanita or San Juan in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Montanita as well as San Juan. Montanita attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
Montanita usually gets less rain in April than San Juan. Montanita gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. In the spring, Montanita often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Montanita gets 133 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Montanita is around the same temperature as San Juan. Typically, the spring temperatures in Montanita in April average around 27°C (81°F), and San Juan averages at about 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMontanita 27°C (81°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Montanita
| Montanita | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.