Should you visit Nassau or Ponce?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Nassau or Ponce, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Nassau
There are few vacation destinations more famous than the Bahamian city of Nassau. This capital city is full of laid back locals, relaxed tourists and the iconic pastel pink government houses.
As the largest city in the Bahamas, Nassau can hold plenty of people. Not only are there hundreds of tourists on any given day, the city is also home to 260,000 people – that is 80 percent of the Bahamas' total population.
Founded around 1650, Nassau's location made it a great spot on the trade route. So great, in fact, that it also became a popular destination for pirates – including the infamous Blackbeard.
Pack light because it's going to be pretty steamy in Nassau. The climate is essentially identical to southern Florida. It is warm and humid all year with the occasional cold snap in the winter.
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).
Which city is cheaper, Ponce or Nassau?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Nassau is $151, while the average daily cost in Ponce is $164. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Nassau and Ponce in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Nassau is about $174 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
The average price for accommodation for two people in Ponce is $242. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Food
Food in Nassau costs travelers about $42 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
Ponce food costs typically run travelers around $28 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Nassau $42
Ponce $28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nassau
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nassau.
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The Original Bahamian Local Food Tour:
$46
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Island Food Tour:
$67
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Conch Salad Cooking Lesson and Tasting in Nassau:
$67
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Cooking in Paradise:
$99
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Conch & Kalik - Cooking & Drinking Two Local Favorites:
$102
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An Exquisite Evening Cooking Gourmet International Dishes With Unlimited Wine:
$108
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Island Food Tour:
$115
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Flavors of Nassau Food Tour:
$118
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Nassau Cooking Demonstration and Lunch at Graycliff Restaurant:
$179
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Authentic Bahamian Cooking Class with Lunch:
$180
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Nassau Cooking Class at Graycliff Restaurant:
$215
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Nassau is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $26 per person, per day, on local transportation in Nassau.
The average price of local transportation around Ponce is $8.00 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Nassau
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Nassau are as follows:
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Water Taxi
$8.00
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Taxi to Cable Beach
$25
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Taxi from Airport
$30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nassau
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nassau:
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Private Airport Transfers for 4 or More People:
$15
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Private Airport Transfer: Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) to Nassau:
$26
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Private Airport Transfer: Nassau to Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS):
$26
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Shared Round-Trip Transfer: Nassau Airport:
$32
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Airport Transfers:
$36
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Shared transfer from Nassau Airport to Nassau island:
$39
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Shared transfer from Nassau island to Nassau Airport:
$39
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Roundtrip Transfer to Cable Beach:
$50
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Transfer in Private Vehicle from Nassau Airport to Nassau Island:
$50
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Transfer in Private Vehicle from Nassau City to Airport:
$50
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Roundtrip Transfer to Downtown Nassau:
$60
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Private Airport Transfer for 4 People or Less:
$60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:
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Private Departure Transfer from Ponce Hotel to San Juan Cruise Port:
$228
Is it cheaper to fly into Nassau or Ponce?
Prices for flights to both Ponce and Nassau 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.
Entertainment
Entertainment and activities in Nassau typically cost an average of $29 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Ponce's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $45 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Typical Entertainment prices in Nassau
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Nassau are as follows:
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Jet Ski
$50
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4 Hr Kayak Tour
$70
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1/2 Day Snorkel Trip
$75
Tours and Activities in Nassau
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nassau are as follows:
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Nassau Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$12
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State Of The Art Virtual Reality Experiences:
$15
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Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$20
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Banana Boat Adventure:
$20
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Heritage Museum of The Bahamas Nassau Guided Tour:
$21
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RoundTrip from Cruise-ship Port to Atlantis, Atlantis Beach, Casino, Warwick,Riu:
$23
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Bahamian talk tour:
$26
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4 Hour Beach Cruiser Rental:
$26
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Dis We Culture Tour (At least 6 passengers):
$26
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Nassau Sightseeing Bus Tour:
$30
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Premium Historical island tours:
$32
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Catch a Ride from your Cruise Ship to Atlantis: Shuttle:
$32
Tours and Activities in Ponce
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ponce are as follows:
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Guided Walking Tour in Ponce:
$26
Alcohol
The average person spends about $15 on alcoholic beverages in Nassau per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
The average person spends about $13 on alcoholic beverages in Ponce per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Typical Alcohol prices in Nassau
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Nassau are as follows:
Sample the Local Flavors in Nassau
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Nassau:
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Day Drinkers Pub Crawl:
$118
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Wine Blending Class with Wine Tasting and Chocolate Factory Tour:
$179
When comparing the travel costs between Nassau and Ponce, we can see that Ponce 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. Since both cities are in Caribbean Islands, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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