Which place is cheaper, San Juan 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 San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Phuket 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: Phuket or San Juan?
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.
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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand.
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Phuket Prices
Thailand PricesSan Juan Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPhuket $136San Juan $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Phuket is $136, while the average daily cost in San Juan is $218. 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 San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPhuket $63San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPhuket $126San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Phuket and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Phuket 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: Phuket Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Phuket $12San Juan $14
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:
- Phuket Jet Ski Adventure and Island Hopping with Transfers: $232
- Phuket Airport to Koh Lanta any hotel Private transfer: $188
- Phuket any hotel to Koh lanta Private transfer: $181
- Flying Hanuman Ziplining Experience in Phuket with Return Transfer: $169
- Flying Hanuman Ziplines 42 platforms with Transfer RoundTrips: $157
- Private Transfer from Krabi to Phuket, Khao Lak and More: $147
- Phi Phi Khai and Bamboo Island Sunrise with Transfer from Phuket: $144
- Private Phuket Airport Transfer to Hotels: $140
- Private Airport Arrival Transfer : Airport to Hotel in Krabi: $132
- ATV Bike 1 hr+ Skyline Adventure 28 platforms with free Transfer: $132
- Departure Private Transfers from Phuket City to Phuket Airport HKT: $129
- Phuket Airport Transfers : Phuket City to Phuket Airport HKT in Luxury Van: $129
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Departure Transfer from Old San Juan to to SJU Airport by Car: $86
- Double ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $289
- HandyCap Airport Transfer to Isla Verde, Condado or Ocean Park: $100
- Luxury Puerto Rico Private Transfers: $220
- One-way transfer from SJU Airport to Cruise Port or Vice Versa: $65
- Premium Transfer Service FROM or TO Rio Grande Puerto Rico: $50
- Private Transfer Airport SJU to Old San Juan Vice versa One way: $65
- Private Transfer from SJU Airport to Humacao Hotels: $180
- Private Transfer from San Juan Airport (SJU) to Ponce Cruise Port: $77
- Private Transfer in San Juan: $75
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 11Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $103
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 14Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $124
Is it cheaper to fly into Phuket or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan 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 $42San Juan $62
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 San Juan
For San Juan, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- FlyDining: 4 Course Sunset & City Light Dinner Over Old San Juan: $159
- Morning Old San Juan Food Tour: $169
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $170
- Savor the Sunset: Old San Juan Walking Food Tour: $179
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Phuket $48San Juan $49
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:
- 1 Hour Phuket ATV on Tour + Big Buddha: $44
- 1-Hour Quad Bike ATV Ride – Ultimate Adventure: $60
- 12 Islands Overnight Tour: $203
- 2x Snorkelling Phi Phi, Maiton, Maya Bay, khai islands tour: $72
- 3 Fun Dives King Cruiser Wreck and Koh DokMai for Certified diver: $170
- 3 Hour Zipline Adventure Park Experience: 65 Platforms: $106
- 3 Khai Islands Snorkeling Tour by Speed Boat: $43
- 3-Island Speedboat Tour: Racha Noi, Racha Yai & Maiton: $113
- 4 Element Day with Zipline Adventure Expedition: $78
- 4 Hours Jet Ski Experience Hopping To 9 Islands in Phuket: $261
- 4 Hours and 50km Jet Ski Tour to 6 Phuket Islands: $246
- 4 Waters Eco Adventure from Phuket Including Lunch: $155
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.
- The Ultimate Self-Guided Hidden Gems Tour in Puerto Rico: $5.00
- Transportation in San Juan, Isla verde, Condado, Hotels, Cruises & Airbnb's SJU: $14
- Outdoor Salsa Class Experience in San Juan: $19
- San Juan Ghost Tour: Shrieks in the Sugarcane: $26
- Old San Juan Tour in Spanish: $30
- Paddleboard Adventure: Explore Marine Life in Condado Lagoon: $32
- SJU Airport to San Juan Cruise Port or return: $33
- VIP San Juan Salsa Night Experience at Luxury Condado Beach: $35
- San Juan Guided Turtle Snorkel Tour and Complimentary Videos: $45
- Legacy Tour at Casa BACARDÍ in Puerto Rico: $45
- 1 Hour Bull Maze Adventure at Toroverde Urban Park San Juan: $45
- Top Rated El Yunque Rainforest & Waterslide – SmallGroup Tour: $45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPhuket $7.15San Juan $12
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 San Juan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Juan:
- Old San Juan Bar Crawl: Experience Local Hotspots: $65
- Puerto Rico Tobacco Farm and Local Brewery Tour: $109
- Puerto Rico's First and Only Craft Beer Brewery Tour!: $150
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Phuket and San Juan, we can see that San Juan 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 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 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 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 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 San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Phuket or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Phuket. When comparing the sizes of Phuket and San Juan, 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 San Juan?
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 Phuket or San Juan in the Summer?
Both San Juan and Phuket during the summer 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 San Juan year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Phuket. Phuket usually gets more rain in July than San Juan. Phuket gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Phuket. In the summer, Phuket often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Phuket gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun.
In July, Phuket is generally around the same temperature as San Juan. Daily temperatures in Phuket average around 28°C (82°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPhuket 28°C (82°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Phuket or San Juan in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Phuket and San Juan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Phuket year-round. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
December to March in Phuket is the dry season. Also, June to October is the rainy season in Phuket. San Juan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Phuket gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Phuket usually receives more rain than San Juan. Phuket gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. Phuket usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during autumn. Phuket gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Phuket is around the same temperature as San Juan in the autumn. The daily temperature in Phuket averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPhuket 27°C (81°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Phuket or San Juan in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Phuket as well as San Juan. Phuket attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
Also, December to March in Phuket is the dry season. Phuket usually gets less rain in January than San Juan. Phuket gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Phuket this time of the year. In the winter, Phuket often gets more sunshine than San Juan. Phuket gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Phuket is around the same temperature as San Juan. Typically, the winter temperatures in Phuket in January average around 28°C (82°F), and San Juan averages at about 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPhuket 28°C (82°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Phuket or San Juan in the Spring?
Both San Juan and Phuket are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Phuket throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The rainy season in Phuket is June to October. It's quite rainy in Phuket. In April, Phuket usually receives more rain than San Juan. Phuket gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in San Juan. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Phuket. Phuket usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during spring. Phuket gets 249 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Phuket is generally around the same temperature as San Juan. Daily temperatures in Phuket average around 29°C (84°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPhuket 29°C (84°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Phuket
| Phuket | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.