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

Should you visit Ponce or Los Angeles?

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 Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles?

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).

Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California is probably one of the most well known cities in the United States. It is the second most populated metro area in the country with more than 17 million people. The city's diversity is wide reaching, giving it a character that is unique from any other place in the country. LA has many world famous sights and neighborhoods including Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, and Santa Monica, but there is really so much more to this city.

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.


Which place is cheaper, Los Angeles or Ponce?

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 Ponce is $230, while the average daily cost in Los Angeles is $299. 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 Los Angeles in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ponce $151
    Los Angeles $138
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ponce $302
    Los Angeles $276
Compare Hotels in Ponce and Los Angeles

Looking for a hotel in Ponce or Los Angeles? 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 Ponce


Hotels in Los Angeles


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: Ponce Hotel Prices and Los Angeles Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ponce $10
    Los Angeles $40

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
  • Taxi Transfer from San Juan to Ceiba Ferry Terminal 14 Passengers: $300
  • 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
  • San Juan Departure Share Transfer: $27
  • Rio Grande hotel to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $109
  • Private Transfers from SJU Airport to Isla Verde, Condado or San Juan área : $60
  • Private Transfer from San Juan City Hotels to Ponce Cruise Port: $79
  • Isabela / Hatillo to Aguadilla Airport(BQN) - DepartureTransfer: $44
  • Aguadilla Hernandez Airport (BQN) to Isabela - RoundTrip Transfer: $87

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Los Angeles

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Los Angeles:


  • Hotel Parking for a Day
    $22
  • Taxi to Airport
    $55

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Los Angeles

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

  • Private Group Transfer From or To Los Angeles LAX Airport: $15
  • Private Intercity Transfer from and to Los Angeles: $15
  • LAX Airport Private Transfer to/from Downtown: $32
  • Los Angeles:Private Airport Transfers to/from LA or Disney: $36
  • Private Transfer Los Angeles Airport LAX From To LA: $36
  • Private Transfer to/from Los Angeles LAX Airport: $36
  • Los Angeles Airport (LAX) to Los Angeles - Arrival Private Transfer: $39
  • Los Angeles to Los Angeles Airport (LAX) - Departure Private Transfer: $39
  • Private Departure Transfer to Los Angeles Airport LAX: $39
  • John Wayne Airports Private Hotel Transfer up to 5 passengers: $40
  • Private Departure Transfer to Burbank Airport (BUR): $40
  • Los Angeles Airport (LAX) to Anaheim - Arrival Private Transfer: $43

Is it cheaper to fly into Ponce or Los Angeles?

Prices for flights to both Los Angeles 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Ponce $61
    Los Angeles $104

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

Typical Food Prices in Los Angeles

For Los Angeles, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Mexican Dinner (family of 4)
    $32
  • Burritos for Two
    $15
  • Coffee and Danish
    $7.70

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Los Angeles

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

  • Silver Lake Food Tour with Comedian Foodie Guide!: $59
  • Santa Monica Sweet Treats Food Tour: Donuts, Churros, and More: $70
  • Fun Gyoza Cooking Class With a Local Chef: $75
  • Japanese Gyoza Cooking Class at a Local Brewery in LA: $75
  • Silverlake Food Tour with Comedian Guide: $85
  • Los Angeles : Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $85
  • Los Angeles Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $86
  • Downtown Los Angeles Food Tour: $89
  • LA Food Tour: 6 Iconic Downtown Tastings & Secret Dish: $92
  • 6 Authentic Tastings of Venice Beach Food Tour: $99
  • LA Chinatown & Olvera St. Food Tour with To Live and Dine in LA: $99
  • Hollywood Food Tour with To Live and Dine in LA Food Tours: $104

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ponce $56
    Los Angeles $83

Tours and Activities in Ponce

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ponce are as follows:

  • Scuba Boat Diving Experience in Gilligan's Island at Copamarina: $160
  • 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
  • Aguadilla 6 Hour Local Tour: $150
  • Arecibo Triple Tour Indian Caves Waterfalls and Nature : $71
  • Bioluminescent Bay Boat Tour Transport Snack and Snorkeling: $250
  • Cave Hopping Tour: $198
  • Cave, Bats and Boas Night Tour - Puerto Rico: $160
  • Caves Coastlines and Beach; Cueva del Indio, Arecibo Adventure: $80
  • Coffee Lovers Tour in Puerto Rico: $130

Typical Entertainment Prices in Los Angeles

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Los Angeles's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Santa Monica Pier Rides (family of 4)
    $37
  • Bowling
    $13
  • Hollywood Tour for Two
    $30
  • Six Flags for 2
    $96

Tours and Activities in Los Angeles

For Los Angeles, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Self-Guided Walking Tour in Los Angeles' Best-Kept Secrets: $3.41
  • Secrets of Venice Boardwalk: Self-Guided Puzzle Adventure in LA: $4.83
  • Venice Beach: Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
  • Pasadena Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $5.00
  • Santa Monica: Self-guided Bike Tour App - Audio + Written: $5.00
  • Los Angeles Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $5.00
  • Griffith Park Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
  • Podcast Tour: Diaspora in the Jewel City - Armenian Glendale: $5.46
  • Podcast Tour Los Angeles Architecture of Hollywoods Golden Age: $5.46
  • West Hollywood Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $6.00
  • Podcast Tour: Showtime - How the Lakers Staged Modern Los Angeles: $6.83
  • LA Little Tokyo to Olvera St Smartphone (App/GPS) Walking Tour: $7.50

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ponce $16
    Los Angeles $15

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

Sample the Local Flavors in Los Angeles

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Los Angeles:

  • LA Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $29
  • LA Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
  • Hollywood Distillery Tour and Tasting: $30
  • Drag Bar Crawl with Drink in Los Angeles: $39
  • LA : Drag Highlights - Bar Crawl & Show – Drinks Included!: $50
  • Santa Monica's Only Winery: Sommelier Guided Wine Tasting: $50
  • Fun Gnocchi Making Class at a Local Brewery in Los Angeles: $75
  • Malibu: Vintage VW Sightseeing Tour and Wine Tasting: $195


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ponce and Los Angeles, we can see that Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Ponce or Los Angeles?

Los Angeles has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Ponce. When comparing the sizes of Ponce and Los Angeles, 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 Los Angeles?

Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles in the Summer?

Both Los Angeles 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 travelers come to Los Angeles for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Ponce is a little warmer than Los Angeles. Typically, the summer temperatures in Ponce in July average around 28°C (83°F), and Los Angeles averages at about 72°F (22°C).

Ponce usually gets more rain in July than Los Angeles. Ponce gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Los Angeles receives 0 inches (0 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Ponce 28°C (83°F) 
    Los Angeles 72°F (22°C)

Should I visit Ponce or Los Angeles in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Ponce and Los Angeles. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round. Also, many visitors come to Los Angeles in the autumn for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.

In October, Ponce is generally much warmer than Los Angeles. Daily temperatures in Ponce average around 28°C (82°F), and Los Angeles fluctuates around 64°F (18°C).

Ponce gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Ponce usually receives more rain than Los Angeles. Ponce gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Los Angeles receives 0.6 inches (15 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Ponce 28°C (82°F) 
    Los Angeles 64°F (18°C)

Should I visit Ponce or Los Angeles in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Ponce as well as Los Angeles. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to Los Angeles for the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine during these months.

Ponce is much warmer than Los Angeles in the winter. The daily temperature in Ponce averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Los Angeles fluctuates around 55°F (13°C).

Ponce usually gets less rain in January than Los Angeles. Ponce gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Los Angeles receives 3.1 inches (79 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Ponce 25°C (77°F) 
    Los Angeles 55°F (13°C)

Should I visit Ponce or Los Angeles in the Spring?

Both Los Angeles 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 spring months attract visitors to Los Angeles because of the beaches and the activities around the city.

In the spring, Ponce is much warmer than Los Angeles. Typically, the spring temperatures in Ponce in April average around 26°C (79°F), and Los Angeles averages at about 61°F (16°C).

In April, Ponce usually receives more rain than Los Angeles. Ponce gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Los Angeles receives 1 inches (25 mm) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Ponce 26°C (79°F) 
    Los Angeles 61°F (16°C)

Typical Weather for Los Angeles and Ponce

Ponce Los Angeles
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 25°C (77°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 55°F (13°C) 3.1 inches (79 mm)
Feb 25°C (77°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 55°F (13°C) 3 inches (76 mm)
Mar 26°C (78°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) 57°F (14°C) 2.8 inches (71 mm)
Apr 26°C (79°F) 69 mm (2.7 in) 61°F (16°C) 1 inches (25 mm)
May 27°C (81°F) 120 mm (4.7 in) 63°F (17°C) 0.4 inches (10 mm)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 82 mm (3.2 in) 66°F (19°C) 0.1 inches (3 mm)
Jul 28°C (83°F) 95 mm (3.7 in) 72°F (22°C) 0 inches (0 mm)
Aug 28°C (83°F) 130 mm (5.1 in) 72°F (22°C) 0 inches (0 mm)
Sep 28°C (83°F) 130 mm (5.1 in) 70°F (21°C) 0.2 inches (5 mm)
Oct 28°C (82°F) 135 mm (5.3 in) 64°F (18°C) 0.6 inches (15 mm)
Nov 27°C (80°F) 132 mm (5.2 in) 63°F (17°C) 1.2 inches (31 mm)
Dec 26°C (78°F) 92 mm (3.6 in) 57°F (14°C) 2.6 inches (66 mm)