Which place is cheaper, Austin or Ponce?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ponce or Austin?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Ponce and Austin can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Ponce or Austin?
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).
Austin
Located in the Texas Hill Country, Austin is the capital city of the state. It is a relatively small city with a compact downtown area and many sprawling suburbs stretching out along the interstate. Austin prides itself on its eclectic culture and alternative vibe which is epitomized by the city's unofficial slogan "Keep Austin Weird." The University of Texas at Austin is also located downtown. The school's large student population helps give the city a youthful feel with a lively nightlife and no shortage of activities on weekends. The city is also the self proclaimed live music capital of the country. As such, it has many music venues and bars, most of which are clustered around the 6th Street area downtown. There are also many free outdoor concerts, particularly during the summer months.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, and The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPonce $205Austin $142
The average daily cost (per person) in Ponce is $205, while the average daily cost in Austin is $142. 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 Ponce and Austin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPonce $151Austin $56
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPonce $302Austin $112
Compare Hotels in Ponce and Austin
Looking for a hotel in Ponce or Austin? 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: Austin Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ponce $10Austin $47
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:
- Aguadilla Hernandez Airport (BQN) to Isabela - RoundTrip Transfer: $87
- Double ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $279
- 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 Airport (SJU) to Rio Grande hotel - Arrival Private Transfer: $109
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $92
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $92
- San Juan Departure Share Transfer: $27
- San Juan PR Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Transfer: $46
- San Juan Port to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Austin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Austin:
- Private Transfer Between Airport and Hotels: $80
- Austin-Bergstrom Airport (AUS) to Austin City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $96
- Austin Airport Group Pickup / Transfer up to 1 hour away.: $150
Is it cheaper to fly into Ponce or Austin?
Prices for flights to both Austin and Ponce 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 dayPonce $35Austin $35
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ponce
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ponce.
- Private Cooking Class with a Fun Local in San German, Puerto Rico: $96
- Private Half-Day Food Tour : $130
- Private San Juan Cooking Class with a Local Expert: $146
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Austin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Austin.
- Famous Texas BBQ & Food Tour in Austin: $89
- Famous Texas BBQ & Food Tour in Austin: $89
- Austin South Congress Walking Food Tour for Small Groups: $95
- Secret Food Tour: $97
- Austin Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $99
- Secret Food Tour of South Congress: $107
- The Brunch Bus: Food Tour with a Live Band on Board the Bus!: $125
- Private Guided Food Tour of Austin Neighborhoods: $150
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ponce $56Austin $28
Tours and Activities in Ponce
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ponce are as follows:
- Talking Buildings of Old San Juan: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Footsteps in San Juan Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $17
- Private Sunset Walking Tour in San Juan: $25
- Old San Juan Tour (1 Hour) by DUHO: $25
- Salsa Tours PR Sunset Salsa Beach Class in San Juan, Puerto Rico : $29
- Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $30
- Guided Walking Tour in Ponce: $30
- Guided City Walking Tour: $32
- La Perla Cultural Tour: $35
- Historic Old San Juan Sunset Walking Tour: $39
- Bio Bay Boat Tour with Swimming from La Parguera, Puerto Rico: $50
- Turtle spotting snorkeling adventure- no Jets : $50
Typical Entertainment Prices in Austin
Here are a few typical costs in Austin for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Austin Duck Tour$31
Tours and Activities in Austin
Here are a few actual costs in Austin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Round Rock by Operation City Quest: $10
- Austin,TX: Murder Mystery Detective Experience: $15
- Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $15
- Austin Trails Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $21
- Downtown Austin Haunted History Tour: $24
- The Ghosts of Austin Walking Tour: $25
- Family-Friendly Ghosts of Austin Tour: $25
- Ha Ha Haunted Austin Walking Ghost Tour: $26
- Private 1 Hour Axe Throwing Experience in Texas: $27
- Haunted Austin Walking History Tour: $28
- City and Hill Country Non-Stop Tour in a Mercedes: $30
- Forest Mindfulness and Embodiment Experience: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPonce $16Austin $28
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
- Old San Juan Bar Crawl: Experience Local Hotspots: $65
- Local Puerto Rican Rum Distillery Tour - Ron Pepon: $90
- Rum Distillery and Old San Juan Tour: $99
Sample the Local Flavors in Austin
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Austin:
- Austin Bar Hunt: Sixth Street Spree: Austin Bar Crawl: $12
- Austin Haunted Pub Crawl Walking Tour: $30
- Haunted Pub Crawl Walking Tour: $30
- Downtown Austin Live Music Pub Crawl: $35
- Downtown Live Music Pub Crawl: $35
- Austin Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $44
- From Texas Hill Country Brewery & Distillery Shuttle: $65
- Private Austin Brewery Tour by Pedicab with All-Inclusive Beer Flight Option: $70
- 4-Hour Austin Signature Brewery Tour: $100
- The Brew Bus: Austin Brewery Tour with Live Band: $125
- Half-Day Private Texas Hill Country Wine Tour from Austin: $143
- Brewery 5K Fun Run, BBQ, and Texas History Museum in Austin : $175
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ponce and Austin, we can see that Ponce is more expensive. And not only is Austin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ponce is in Caribbean Islands and Austin is in North 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 Austin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Austin 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 Austin.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ponce Expensive? and Is Austin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ponce or Austin?
Austin has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Ponce. When comparing the sizes of Ponce and Austin, 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 Ponce or Austin?
Austin 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 Ponce or Austin in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Ponce and Austin. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Austin because of the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Ponce is generally around the same temperature as Austin. Daily temperatures in Ponce average around 28°C (83°F), and Austin fluctuates around 87°F (30°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Austin this time of the year. In Ponce, it's very sunny this time of the year. Ponce usually receives less sunshine than Austin during summer. Ponce gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Austin receives 318 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Ponce usually receives more rain than Austin. Ponce gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Austin receives 1.9 inches (48 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPonce 28°C (83°F)Austin 87°F (30°C)
Should I visit Ponce or Austin in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Ponce as well as Austin. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Austin this time of year.
Ponce is a little warmer than Austin in the autumn. The daily temperature in Ponce averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Austin fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Austin. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ponce this time of the year. In the autumn, Ponce often gets more sunshine than Austin. Ponce gets 235 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Austin receives 214 hours of full sun.
Ponce receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Ponce usually gets more rain in October than Austin. Ponce gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Austin receives 3 inches (77 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPonce 28°C (82°F)Austin 73°F (23°C)
Should I visit Ponce or Austin in the Winter?
Both Austin and Ponce are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Austin for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Ponce is much warmer than Austin. Typically, the winter temperatures in Ponce in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Austin averages at about 51°F (11°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ponce. Ponce usually receives more sunshine than Austin during winter. Ponce gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Austin receives 163 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Ponce usually receives more rain than Austin. Ponce gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Austin receives 1.9 inches (48 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPonce 25°C (77°F)Austin 51°F (11°C)
Should I visit Ponce or Austin in the Spring?
Both Austin and Ponce during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Ponce because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Austin in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In April, Ponce is generally a little warmer than Austin. Daily temperatures in Ponce average around 26°C (79°F), and Austin fluctuates around 71°F (22°C).
In Austin, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Ponce. In the spring, Ponce often gets more sunshine than Austin. Ponce gets 272 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Austin receives 209 hours of full sun.
Ponce usually gets less rain in April than Austin. Ponce gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Austin receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPonce 26°C (79°F)Austin 71°F (22°C)
Typical Weather for Austin and Ponce
| Ponce | Austin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 51°F (11°C) | 1.9 inches (48 mm) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 55°F (13°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.9 inches (48 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 71°F (22°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 4 inches (101 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 83°F (29°C) | 3.1 inches (80 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 87°F (30°C) | 1.9 inches (48 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 87°F (31°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 82°F (28°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 2 inches (52 mm) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
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.