Which place is cheaper, Fairbanks or Ponce?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ponce or Fairbanks?
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 Fairbanks 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 Fairbanks?
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).
Fairbanks
Fairbanks is the only 'city' in the interior region of Alaska, and the largest settlement for hundreds of miles, but it has many characteristics of a small town where everyone seems to know everyone. Because the city sits at the nexus of some truly epic routes - north to the Arctic, east to Canada and south to Denali - you'll almost inevitably end up spending time here, and that time is rarely boring. The residential streets of compact downtown are pretty as a picture, and during winter, this is ground zero for viewing the aurora borealis.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPonce $205Fairbanks $272
The average daily cost (per person) in Ponce is $205, while the average daily cost in Fairbanks is $272. 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 Fairbanks in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPonce $151Fairbanks $154
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPonce $302Fairbanks $308
Compare Hotels in Ponce and Fairbanks
Looking for a hotel in Ponce or Fairbanks? 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: Fairbanks Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ponce $10Fairbanks $66
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:
- Vega Baja to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $170
- Transfer TO or FROM: Airport,Cruise,Hotel in DORADO or RIO GRANDE: $70
- Transfer SJU Airport to Humacao and Nagüabo. Vice Versa One Way Trip: $185
- Single ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $189
- San juan Puerto Rico PrivateTransfers Airport,Hotels,Cruise Ports: $60
- San Juan hotels to San Juan PR Cruise Port - Departure Transfer: $46
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $92
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- San Juan Port to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- San Juan PR Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Transfer: $46
- San Juan Departure Share Transfer: $27
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $92
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Fairbanks
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Fairbanks:
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Full Tank of Gas$90
Is it cheaper to fly into Ponce or Fairbanks?
Prices for flights to both Fairbanks 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 $35Fairbanks $63
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
Typical Food Prices in Fairbanks
For Fairbanks, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two at Pike's Landing$63
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Totem Inn Breakfast for Two$46
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Fairbanks
For Fairbanks, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Best Northern Lights Aurora Adventure FREE Portraits & Hot Pizza : $300
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ponce $56Fairbanks $65
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
- 1 Hour Historical UTV Tour in San Juan: $200
- 2-Hour Private UTV Can-Am Beach Tour in San Juan, Puerto Rico: $264
- 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
- 90 Minute Portrait Photoshoot Experience in the Caribbean: $129
- ATV Adventure at Hacienda Campo Rico: $136
- Adventure Trail Tour in the foothills of the National Rainforest: $110
- Afro-Boriken-Loiza: Food, Cave & Art Tour: $140
- All Inclusive Cordillera Cay’s Sailing Catamaran Beach & Snorkeling Tour: $150
Typical Entertainment Prices in Fairbanks
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Fairbanks's activities, tours, and tickets:
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The Riverboat Discovery Trip$55
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1 Day Mountain Bike Rental$27
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Canoe Rental with Pickup$56
Tours and Activities in Fairbanks
For Fairbanks, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Fairbanks, AK: Murder Mystery Detective Experience: $15
- Gold Dredge 8 Historic Train Tour: $58
- Riverboat Cruise and Local Village Tour: $95
- Dog Sledding and Mushing Experience in North Pole: $99
- Summer Mushing Cart Ride & Kennel Tour: $100
- Dog Sledding and Mushing Experience: $105
- From Northern Lights & Murphy Dome Tour: $120
- Aurora Chaser Tour: $125
- Budget Aurora Borealis tour, Fairbanks, Alaska : $125
- 3 Hour Ice Fishing Experience: $135
- Fairbanks Heritage Sightseeing Tour: $140
- Fairbanks Autumn/Winter City Tour: $140
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPonce $16Fairbanks $27
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ponce and Fairbanks, we can see that Fairbanks is more expensive. And not only is Ponce much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ponce is in Caribbean Islands and Fairbanks 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 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 Fairbanks would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Fairbanks 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 Ponce Expensive? and Is Fairbanks Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ponce or Fairbanks?
Ponce has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Fairbanks. When comparing the sizes of Ponce and Fairbanks, 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 Fairbanks?
Fairbanks 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 Fairbanks in the Summer?
Both Fairbanks and Ponce during the summer 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 Fairbanks in the summer for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Ponce is much warmer than Fairbanks. Typically, the summer temperatures in Ponce in July average around 28°C (83°F), and Fairbanks averages at about 64°F (18°C).
Ponce usually gets more rain in July than Fairbanks. Ponce gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Fairbanks receives 2 inches (51 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPonce 28°C (83°F)Fairbanks 64°F (18°C)
Should I visit Ponce or Fairbanks in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Ponce and Fairbanks. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round. Also, most visitors come to Fairbanks for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
Fairbanks can be very cold during autumn. In October, Ponce is generally much warmer than Fairbanks. Daily temperatures in Ponce average around 28°C (82°F), and Fairbanks fluctuates around 27°F (-3°C).
Ponce gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Ponce usually receives more rain than Fairbanks. Ponce gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Fairbanks receives 0.9 inches (22 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPonce 28°C (82°F)Fairbanks 27°F (-3°C)
Should I visit Ponce or Fairbanks in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Ponce as well as Fairbanks. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Fairbanks because of the skiing, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
The weather in Fairbanks can be very cold. Ponce is much warmer than Fairbanks in the winter. The daily temperature in Ponce averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Fairbanks fluctuates around -9°F (-23°C).
Ponce usually gets more rain in January than Fairbanks. Ponce gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Fairbanks receives 0.5 inches (13 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPonce 25°C (77°F)Fairbanks -9°F (-23°C)
Should I visit Ponce or Fairbanks in the Spring?
Both Fairbanks and Ponce are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year. Also, the natural beauty are the main draw to Fairbanks this time of year.
It's quite cold in Fairbanks in the spring. In the spring, Ponce is much warmer than Fairbanks. Typically, the spring temperatures in Ponce in April average around 26°C (79°F), and Fairbanks averages at about 32°F (0°C).
In April, Ponce usually receives more rain than Fairbanks. Ponce gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Fairbanks receives 0.4 inches (9 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPonce 26°C (79°F)Fairbanks 32°F (0°C)
Typical Weather for Fairbanks and Ponce
| Ponce | Fairbanks | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | -9°F (-23°C) | 0.5 inches (13 mm) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | -2°F (-19°C) | 0.4 inches (11 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 13°F (-11°C) | 0.5 inches (12 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 32°F (0°C) | 0.4 inches (9 mm) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 50°F (10°C) | 0.6 inches (16 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 62°F (16°C) | 1.4 inches (36 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 2 inches (51 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 58°F (15°C) | 2.2 inches (57 mm) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 47°F (8°C) | 0.9 inches (24 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 27°F (-3°C) | 0.9 inches (22 mm) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 4°F (-15°C) | 0.9 inches (22 mm) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | -5°F (-21°C) | 0.9 inches (23 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.