Which place is cheaper, San Juan del Sur or Negril?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Negril or San Juan del Sur?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Negril and San Juan del Sur. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Negril or San Juan del Sur?
Negril
Negril is a town in western Jamaica known for its miles of white sand beaches and cliffs. It is certainly one of the more laid back towns on the island yet still attracts a lot of tourists. The hotels are as close to the water as you can get, and the sand gets whiter and whiter the further away from populated areas you get. The water is unbelievably clear and warm in Negril!
San Juan del Sur
San Juan del Sur is a popular port destination on the Pacific coast of southwest Nicaragua. The town was once a quaint fishing village but has grown into a tourist town with activities for visitors that include surfing, fishing, and, of course, partying. The town has a population of just over 15,000, most of whom are either fishermen or involved in the tourism industry. There is also a large expat community from the United States, Canada, and Europe.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNegril $139San Juan del Sur $53
The average daily cost (per person) in Negril is $139, while the average daily cost in San Juan del Sur is $53. 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 Negril and San Juan del Sur in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNegril $106San Juan del Sur $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNegril $212San Juan del Sur $42
Compare Hotels in Negril and San Juan del Sur
Looking for a hotel in Negril or San Juan del Sur? 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: Negril Hotel Prices and San Juan del Sur Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Negril $8.71San Juan del Sur $18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Negril
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Negril:
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Taxi From Airport$14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Negril
Also for Negril, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Round Trip Transfer from Montego Bay to Grand Palladium: $105
- Airport Round-Trip Transfers To Negril From Sangster’s International Airport : $90
- Airport transfers, private tours and excursions in Jamaica : $80
- Azul Negril Resort Airport Transfer : $53
- Club Kingston VIP Lounge & Fast Track with Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer: $112
- Comfortable Montego Bay Airport to Grand Palladium Transfer: $23
- Comfortable Montego Bay Airport to Negril Resorts Transfer: $33
- From Montego Bay Airport (MBJ): Private Transfer to Negril: $105
- Fun Holiday Beach Resort Montego Bay Airport Transfer: $205
- Grand Palladium Airport Transfer: $37
- Grand Palladium Private Airport Transfer: $48
- Grand Palladium Private Transfers from MBJ Airport: $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Negril or San Juan del Sur?
Prices for flights to both San Juan del Sur and Negril 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 dayNegril $23San Juan del Sur $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Negril
For Negril, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Club2727 Nightlife Experience with Optional Dinner in Montego Bay: $60
- The Jungle Nightclub Experience with Optional Dinner in Negril: $85
- Zimbali Mountain Cooking Studio: $105
- Local food tour and local fields : $164
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Negril $27San Juan del Sur $15
Typical Entertainment Prices in Negril
For Negril, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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2 Hr Horseback Ride$44
Tours and Activities in Negril
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Negril.
- Cruise Ship Excursion in Montego Bay : $41
- From Negril/Palladium: Negril Beach and Ricks Cafe Tour: $49
- Private Glass Bottom Boat Sight Seeing Tour Jamaica: $58
- Buddle's Taxi and Tours : $60
- Blue Hole Mineral Springs, Rick's Café, and Shopping Combo Tour: $75
- Negril Beach and Catamaran Cruise: $79
- Negril guided day tour:7 mile beach and sunset at Ricks Cafe: $80
- Ricks Cafe Sunset Catamaran Cruise Negril Palladium Montego Bay: $85
- Jamwest JamCulture Tour from Negril: $89
- Bob Marley Birth Place Nine Mile Day Tour: $94
- Negril Catamaran Adults Only Cruise, Snorkeling and Rick's Cafe from Negril: $110
- Must Do-Accompong Town Maroon Village Tour & Celebration from Negril: $112
Tours and Activities in San Juan del Sur
Here are a few actual costs in San Juan del Sur for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- ATV Adventure Tour in San Juan del Sur, NICARAGUA: $130
- Mombacho Volcano Hike and Ziplining Adventure from San Juan del Sur: $159
- SJDS PORT EXCURSION: Zipline and Adventure Park: $103
- San Juan del Sur Shore Excursion: Private Masaya Volcano and Catarina Tour: $118
- atv tour also in Costa Rica: $132
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNegril $10San Juan del Sur $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Negril and San Juan del Sur, we can see that Negril is more expensive. And not only is San Juan del Sur much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Negril is in Caribbean Islands and San Juan del Sur is in Central America, 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 San Juan del Sur would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Juan del Sur 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 Negril would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Negril than you might in San Juan del Sur.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Negril Expensive? and Is San Juan del Sur Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Negril or San Juan del Sur?
San Juan del Sur has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Negril. When comparing the sizes of Negril and San Juan del Sur, 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 Negril or San Juan del Sur?
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 Negril or San Juan del Sur in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Negril as well as San Juan del Sur. Negril attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan del Sur throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in San Juan del Sur. Negril receives a lot of rain in the summer. Negril usually gets more rain in July than San Juan del Sur. Negril gets 176 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Negril this time of the year. In the summer, Negril often gets more sunshine than San Juan del Sur. Negril gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan del Sur receives 175 hours of full sun.
Negril is around the same temperature as San Juan del Sur in the summer. The daily temperature in Negril averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and San Juan del Sur fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyNegril 27°C (81°F)San Juan del Sur 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Negril or San Juan del Sur in the Autumn?
Both San Juan del Sur and Negril are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Negril throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan del Sur because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Juan del Sur. It's quite rainy in Negril. In October, Negril usually receives more rain than San Juan del Sur. Negril gets 222 mm (8.7 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Negril. Negril usually receives more sunshine than San Juan del Sur during autumn. Negril gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan del Sur receives 195 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In the autumn, Negril is around the same temperature as San Juan del Sur. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Negril in October average around 27°C (81°F), and San Juan del Sur averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberNegril 27°C (81°F)San Juan del Sur 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Negril or San Juan del Sur in the Winter?
Both San Juan del Sur and Negril during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Negril because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan del Sur year-round.
Negril usually gets more rain in January than San Juan del Sur. Negril gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
In San Juan del Sur, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Negril. In the winter, Negril often gets less sunshine than San Juan del Sur. Negril gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan del Sur receives 244 hours of full sun.
In January, Negril is generally around the same temperature as San Juan del Sur. Daily temperatures in Negril average around 25°C (77°F), and San Juan del Sur fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryNegril 25°C (77°F)San Juan del Sur 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Negril or San Juan del Sur in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Negril and San Juan del Sur. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Negril year-round. San Juan del Sur attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Negril gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Negril usually receives more rain than San Juan del Sur. Negril gets 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan del Sur this time of the year. In Negril, it's very sunny this time of the year. Negril usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan del Sur during spring. Negril gets 225 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan del Sur receives 242 hours of full sun in the spring.
Negril is cooler than San Juan del Sur in the spring. The daily temperature in Negril averages around 26°C (79°F) in April, and San Juan del Sur fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilNegril 26°C (79°F)San Juan del Sur 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan del Sur and Negril
| Negril | San Juan del Sur | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 205 mm (8.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 188 mm (7.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 222 mm (8.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 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.