A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Paris vs. Ponce for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Paris or Ponce?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Paris or Ponce? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Paris or Ponce?

Paris

Paris is a dream destination for many people. It's location on the river Seine contributes to its stunning beauty and you can spend many days wandering through its wonderfully diverse neighborhoods. It's known as a city of culture, fashion, food and fun. There is never a shortage of entertainment and activities around town and a highlight of many people's trips to Paris is to explore the city at night, when it truly comes to life. It is not hard to see why this city has received the nickname as the "City of Lights."

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 Historical Tours in France, and The Best 10-Day Tours in France.


Which place is cheaper, Ponce or Paris?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Paris is $311, while the average daily cost in Ponce is $230. 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 Paris and Ponce in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Paris $180
    Ponce $151
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Paris $360
    Ponce $302
Compare Hotels in Paris and Ponce

Looking for a hotel in Paris 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.

Hotels in Paris


Hotels in Ponce


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: Paris Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Paris $25
    Ponce $10
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Paris

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Paris are as follows:


  • Metro
    $7.51
  • Train from Airport
    $11
  • Metro tickets
    $7.98
  • Train
    $23

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paris

Also for Paris, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private transfer from/to CDG, ORLY airports <=> DISNEYLAND: $24
  • Private One-Way Transfer: City of Paris: $38
  • Private Arrival Transfer from Train Station to Hotel in Paris: $42
  • Private Transfer Arrival and Departure Orly Airport ORY: $44
  • Transfer from Roissy CDG or Orly Airport to PARIS: $44
  • CDG Airport to City Centre|Hotels Private Arrival Transfer: $45
  • Shuttle Arrival Transfer from Paris Airport to Hotel/ Apartment: $46
  • Transfer Sedan CDG/ORLY Disneyland Paris Magic Upon Arrival: $48
  • Bus Transfer : Paris to the Palace of Versailles Round-Trip : $48
  • Paris Private Arrival Transfer: Railway Station to Hotel: $48
  • Transfer From/To Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG): $48
  • Charles de Gaulle Airport(CDG) Private One-Way Transfers: $50

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:

  • Transfer SJU Airport to Humacao and Nagüabo. Vice Versa One Way Trip: $185
  • Vega Baja to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $170
  • Rio Grande hotel to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $109
  • 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
  • Private Transfers from SJU Airport to Isla Verde, Condado or San Juan área : $60
  • San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
  • San Juan PR Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Transfer: $46
  • Isabela / Hatillo to Aguadilla Airport(BQN) - DepartureTransfer: $44
  • San Juan Departure Share Transfer: $27

Is it cheaper to fly into Paris or Ponce?

Prices for flights to both Ponce and Paris 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Paris $85
    Ponce $61
Typical Food Prices in Paris

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Paris:


  • Ice Cream
    $9.39
  • Breakfast
    $8.21
  • Breakfast for 2
    $35
  • Dinner on River Cruise
    $101
  • Dinner
    $67
  • Cheese
    $15

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paris

For Paris, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Authentic Indian Dinner in Paris : $65
  • Paris Capitaine Fracasse 3 Course Seine River Dinner Cruise: $68
  • Paris Seine River dinner cruise from Alexandre III bridge: $70
  • Paris Prestige Dinner Cruise from Eiffel Tower Area: $74
  • Paris en Scene 3 Course Seine River Dinner Cruise: $77
  • Paris Vegan Street Food Tour: $77
  • Paris Food Tour: $82
  • Seine River Sightseeing Cruise and Dinner at Le Bistro Parisien: $84
  • #1 Montmartre Pastries & Chocolate Food Tour with 6+ Tastings: $89
  • Champagne & Oysters Paris Food Tour: $96
  • Dinner Paris by Night EN Bus Panoramic: $101
  • Amazing Sweet Crêpe Cooking Class Paris: $105

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ponce

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ponce.

  • Latin Night with Dinner and Local Music with Transportation: $59
  • Puerto Rico Art and Wine Dinner with One Way Transportation: $89
  • Private Cooking Class with a Fun Local in San German, Puerto Rico: $96
  • Private Half-Day Island Authentic Food Tour : $130

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Paris $89
    Ponce $56
Typical Entertainment Prices in Paris

For Paris, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Louvre Entry for Two
    $21
  • Admission to Pantheon
    $5.87
  • Catacombs (2)
    $27

Tours and Activities in Paris

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Paris.

  • Paris Hidden Gems: Self Guided Secret Spots Tour: $0.57
  • Paris Montmartre Free Walking Tour in English : $2.86
  • Paris - Free Walking Tour in English (Tip-Based): $3.56
  • Paris - Latin Quarter Free Tour in English (Tip-Based): $3.56
  • Paris Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $3.57
  • Rude Bastards Tour of Paris: $3.59
  • Montmartre Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $4.76
  • Central Paris Highlights Walking Tour: $4.76
  • Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Paris: $4.80
  • Marais Walk Self Guided Audio Tour: $5.36
  • Paris (Marais District) Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $5.77
  • Paris (Montmartre) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $5.77

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
  • 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
  • 8 Hours Private Tours in Puerto Rico: $150
  • Adventure in Cave and the Guayaney Spring: $99
  • Afro-Boriken-Loiza: Food, Cave & Art Tour: $140
  • Aguadilla 6 Hour Local Tour: $150
  • Camuy Caves Experience Tour with transportation: $130
  • Cave Hopping Tour: $198
  • Caves Coastlines and Beach; Cueva del Indio, Arecibo Adventure : $125

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Paris $29
    Ponce $16
Typical Alcohol Prices in Paris

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Paris are as follows:


  • Wine
    $16

Sample the Local Flavors in Paris

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Paris:

  • Original Paris Pub Crawl : $24
  • Paris Nation wine tasting: $46
  • Paris St Germain Wine Tasting: $46
  • Vegan Wine Tasting in Paris right next to Père Lachaise: $54
  • Wine Tasting in Paris right next to Père Lachaise & l'Atelier des lumières: $54
  • Wine tasting Paris Saint Germain des Pres: $56
  • Cheese and Wine Tasting in the Latin Quarter with Chef Alex: $58
  • Natural Wine Tasting with Cheese Pairings in Paris: $72
  • French Wine Tasting and Pairing Experience in Montmartre: $90
  • The only Paris Wine Tasting experience you need to do - 2 hours : $95
  • Left Bank Gastronomy & Wine tour with a Culinary School : $113
  • Walk & Wine Tour in the Latin Quarter: $118

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


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Paris and Ponce, we can see that Paris is more expensive. And not only is Ponce much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Paris is in Europe 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 Ponce would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ponce 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 Paris would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Paris than you might in Ponce.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Paris Expensive? and Is Ponce Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Paris or Ponce?

Paris has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Ponce. When comparing the sizes of Paris and Ponce, 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 Paris or Ponce?

Paris has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Ponce experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Paris or Ponce in the Summer?

Both Ponce and Paris during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Paris in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round.

In the summer, Paris is cooler than Ponce. Typically, the summer temperatures in Paris in July average around 20°C (68°F), and Ponce averages at about 28°C (83°F).

In Ponce, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Paris. In the summer, Paris often gets less sunshine than Ponce. Paris gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 287 hours of full sun.

Paris usually gets less rain in July than Ponce. Paris gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Paris 20°C (68°F) 
    Ponce 28°C (83°F)

Should I visit Paris or Ponce in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Paris and Ponce. Most visitors come to Paris for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In October, Paris is generally much colder than Ponce. Daily temperatures in Paris average around 13°C (56°F), and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ponce this time of the year. Paris usually receives less sunshine than Ponce during autumn. Paris gets 127 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 235 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Ponce receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Paris usually receives less rain than Ponce. Paris gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Paris 13°C (56°F) 
    Ponce 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Paris or Ponce in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Paris as well as Ponce. The winter months attract visitors to Paris because of the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year.

The weather in Paris can be very cold. Paris is much colder than Ponce in the winter. The daily temperature in Paris averages around 5°C (40°F) in January, and Ponce fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ponce. In the winter, Paris often gets less sunshine than Ponce. Paris gets 62 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 240 hours of full sun.

Paris usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Ponce. Paris gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Paris 5°C (40°F) 
    Ponce 25°C (77°F)

Should I visit Paris or Ponce in the Spring?

Both Ponce and Paris are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Paris this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to Ponce because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the spring, Paris is much colder than Ponce. Typically, the spring temperatures in Paris in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Ponce averages at about 26°C (79°F).

It's quite sunny in Ponce. Paris usually receives less sunshine than Ponce during spring. Paris gets 172 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Paris usually receives less rain than Ponce. Paris gets 50 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Paris 11°C (52°F) 
    Ponce 26°C (79°F)

Typical Weather for Ponce and Paris

Paris Ponce
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 5°C (40°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 25°C (77°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Feb 6°C (42°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) 25°C (77°F) 41 mm (1.6 in)
Mar 8°C (47°F) 52 mm (2.1 in) 26°C (78°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Apr 11°C (52°F) 50 mm (1.9 in) 26°C (79°F) 69 mm (2.7 in)
May 15°C (59°F) 62 mm (2.4 in) 27°C (81°F) 120 mm (4.7 in)
Jun 18°C (64°F) 53 mm (2.1 in) 28°C (82°F) 82 mm (3.2 in)
Jul 20°C (68°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 28°C (83°F) 95 mm (3.7 in)
Aug 20°C (67°F) 46 mm (1.8 in) 28°C (83°F) 130 mm (5.1 in)
Sep 17°C (63°F) 53 mm (2.1 in) 28°C (83°F) 130 mm (5.1 in)
Oct 13°C (56°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 28°C (82°F) 135 mm (5.3 in)
Nov 8°C (47°F) 57 mm (2.2 in) 27°C (80°F) 132 mm (5.2 in)
Dec 5°C (42°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 26°C (78°F) 92 mm (3.6 in)