Which place is cheaper, Ponce or Phuket?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Phuket or Ponce?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Phuket 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: Phuket or Ponce?
Phuket
Phuket Island is the holiday gem of southern Thailand. Known for its beaches and resorts, the island brings in a massive amount of travelers from all over the world, year round. Although the beaches are beautiful, Phuket has also become more westernized and tourist-oriented in recent decades, leaving many travelers to venture elsewhere to find that amazing beach with a more authentic Thai vibe. However, Phuket Island is quite large, and hidden gems can still be found.
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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand.
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Phuket Prices
Thailand PricesPonce Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPhuket $136Ponce $230
The average daily cost (per person) in Phuket is $136, 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 Phuket and Ponce in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPhuket $63Ponce $151
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPhuket $126Ponce $302
Compare Hotels in Phuket and Ponce
Looking for a hotel in Phuket 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Phuket Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Phuket $12Ponce $10
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Phuket
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Phuket:
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Longtail Taxi (for Two)$9.21
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Taxi from Airport to Phuket Town$7.67
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phuket
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phuket:
- Private Transfers to/from Phuket Intl. Airport(HKT): $14
- Phuket Airport Transfer (SHA Plus): $15
- Private Phuket Airport Transfer to Hotel and Vice Versa: $16
- Phuket Private Transfer from/to Phuket Airport HKT (one way): $16
- (Privet)Phuket Transfer: $17
- One Way Cruise Transfer from Phuket to Phi Phi – Multiple Classes: $17
- Phuket Airport Arrival Transfer – Domestic & International: $19
- Phuket Private Transfer To or From Phuket Hotel by Van & WiFi: $19
- Phuket Int Airport (HKT) to Phuket - Arrival Private Transfer: $20
- Phuket Hotel to Airport Shared Arrival Transfer: $22
- Phuket Hotel to Airport Shared Departure Transfer: $22
- Private PHUKET Arrival Transfer - Phuket Airport to Phuket Hotels: $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:
- Aguadilla Hernandez Airport (BQN) to Isabela - RoundTrip Transfer: $87
- Isabela / Hatillo to Aguadilla Airport(BQN) - DepartureTransfer: $44
- Private Transfer from San Juan City Hotels to Ponce Cruise Port: $79
- Private Transfers from SJU Airport to Isla Verde, Condado or San Juan área : $60
- Rio Grande hotel to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $109
- San Juan Departure Share Transfer: $27
- San Juan PR Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Transfer: $46
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- Vega Baja to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $170
Is it cheaper to fly into Phuket or Ponce?
Prices for flights to both Ponce and Phuket 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 dayPhuket $42Ponce $61
Typical Food Prices in Phuket
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Phuket:
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Casual Dinner (for Two)$8.87
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$5.22
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$13
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Thai Noodles$2.76
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Bananas$0.77
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Pizza (for Two)$9.21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phuket
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Phuket.
- One Day Experience Cooking at Phuket Patong Thailand: $28
- Phuket City Tour with Sunset and Thai Cooking: $49
- Phuket 10+ Tastings Food Tour & Charming Old Town: $52
- 3-Hour Authentic Thai Cooking Experience: $53
- Phuket Express Thai Cooking Course with Authentic Recipes: $53
- Simply Thai Cooking Experience: $56
- Authentic Thai Cooking Class by Suuko Wellness Spa: $56
- Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $56
- Vegetarian Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $58
- Baba Tastes Phuket Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Southern Flavors Phuket Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Phuket Coral Island and Sunset Dinner by Luxury Catamaran: $59
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Phuket $48Ponce $56
Typical Entertainment Prices in Phuket
Here are a few typical costs in Phuket for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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One Day Boat Tour$28
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Scuba Diving (Two Dives)$77
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Thai Oil Massage$20
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Surfboard Rental$9.21
Tours and Activities in Phuket
Here are a few actual costs in Phuket for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Phuket Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
- Self Guided Scavenger Hunts and Gamified Tours: $6.20
- Oto Indoor Play Park Entrance Ticket in Phuket: $7.83
- Phuket Self Guided Island Tour: $8.24
- Phuket Tour with Wat Chalong, Karon View Point, Old Town: $15
- Feed Me Banana Elephant Experience Short Activity: $16
- Phuket Rock Beach Swing Tickets: $16
- Phuket Circus : The Adrenaline Rush Show Tickets (Aqua Circus): $17
- Phuket Bird Park Admission Ticket: $18
- Half Day Phuket City tour + Hotel Pick Up and Drop Off: $19
- Phang Nga Bay Skywalk at Samet Nangshe Admission Ticket: $20
- VAR Live Phuket Virtual Reality Action and Adventure Games Ticket: $21
Tours and Activities in Ponce
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ponce are as follows:
- Private Sunset Walking Tour in San Juan: $25
- Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $30
- Guided Walking Tour in Ponce: $30
- Prive Tours in Puerto Rico: $40
- Walking Guided Tour of History and Myths of Old San Juan : $60
- Half-Day Small-Group River Experience in El Yunque with Local : $68
- Explore El Yunque and Historic Castle in Old San Juan Tour: $69
- Island Escape Rainforest to Castles Tour: $70
- Arecibo Triple Tour Indian Caves Waterfalls and Nature : $71
- Party Bus Experience in San Juan, Puerto Rico: $79
- Puerto Rico Countryside Tour with Visit to Waterfall: $79
- Caves Coastlines and Beach; Cueva del Indio, Arecibo Adventure: $80
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPhuket $7.15Ponce $16
Typical Alcohol Prices in Phuket
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Phuket from other travelers:
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Cocktails (for Two)$6.14
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Beer$2.61
Sample the Local Flavors in Phuket
Also in Phuket, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl Rooftop, Bars, GoGo & 3 Clubs with Shots: $19
- Phuket Guided Pub Crawl: $29
- Chalong Bay Rum Distillery Experience and Lunch: $53
- Phuket Real City Tour with Rum Cocktail Distillery: $88
- Big Buddha & The Distillery Phuket: $134
- Phuket Rum Distillery Cocktail Workshop And Wat Chalong Temple: $172
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 Phuket and Ponce, we can see that Ponce is more expensive. And not only is Phuket much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Phuket is in Asia 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 Phuket would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Phuket 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 Phuket.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Phuket Expensive? and Is Ponce Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Phuket or Ponce?
Ponce has a larger population, and is about 71% larger than the population of Phuket. When comparing the sizes of Phuket 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 Phuket or Ponce?
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 Phuket or Ponce in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Phuket and Ponce. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Phuket year-round. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Phuket gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Phuket usually receives more rain than Ponce. Phuket gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ponce this time of the year. In Phuket, it's very sunny this time of the year. Phuket usually receives less sunshine than Ponce during summer. Phuket gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
Phuket is around the same temperature as Ponce in the summer. The daily temperature in Phuket averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPhuket 28°C (82°F)Ponce 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Phuket or Ponce in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Phuket as well as Ponce. Phuket attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year.
Also, December to March in Phuket is the dry season. June to October in Phuket is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Ponce. Phuket receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Phuket usually gets more rain in October than Ponce. Phuket gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ponce. In the autumn, Phuket often gets less sunshine than Ponce. Phuket gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 235 hours of full sun.
In the autumn, Phuket is around the same temperature as Ponce. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Phuket in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Ponce averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPhuket 27°C (81°F)Ponce 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Phuket or Ponce in the Winter?
Both Ponce and Phuket are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Phuket throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Ponce because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Phuket is December to March. In January, Phuket usually receives less rain than Ponce. Phuket gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Ponce. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Phuket. Phuket usually receives more sunshine than Ponce during winter. Phuket gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Phuket is generally around the same temperature as Ponce. Daily temperatures in Phuket average around 28°C (82°F), and Ponce fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPhuket 28°C (82°F)Ponce 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Phuket or Ponce in the Spring?
Both Ponce and Phuket during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Phuket because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round.
June to October is the rainy season in Phuket. It rains a lot this time of the year in Phuket. Phuket usually gets more rain in April than Ponce. Phuket gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Ponce, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Phuket. In the spring, Phuket often gets less sunshine than Ponce. Phuket gets 249 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 272 hours of full sun.
Phuket is around the same temperature as Ponce in the spring. The daily temperature in Phuket averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Ponce fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPhuket 29°C (84°F)Ponce 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Ponce and Phuket
| Phuket | Ponce | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 318 mm (12.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 279 mm (11 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 399 mm (15.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 304 mm (12 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 62 mm (2.4 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.