Which place is cheaper, Maui or Ponce?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ponce or Maui?
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 Maui 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 Maui?
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).
Maui
Who hasn't spent at least one Monday morning fantasizing about holding a mai tai on a Hawaiian beach? A trip to Maui may be just what we all have in mind, but it's so much more than a drink on a sandy towel.
At over 700 square miles, the island of Maui is the second largest of the Hawaiian islands with a small population of just over 140,000 people. The island enjoys approximately two seasons a year with a mild climate just about everywhere. Rough living, right?
Voted "Best Island in the World" by many in the travel industry, Maui is the center for whale watching, relaxing on the beach, snorkeling, and the home of a large and lush rainforest.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPonce $205Maui $275
The average daily cost (per person) in Ponce is $205, while the average daily cost in Maui is $275. 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 Maui in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPonce $151Maui $141
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPonce $302Maui $282
Compare Hotels in Ponce and Maui
Looking for a hotel in Ponce or Maui? 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: Maui Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ponce $10Maui $62
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 Maui
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Maui:
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Maui Airport to Hotel: $13
- Private Arrival Transfer from Maui Kahului Airport OGG: $31
- Private Departure Transfer to Maui Kahului Airport OGG: $78
- Private Transfer from Lahaina Cruise Port to Kahului Airport(OGG): $80
- Private Transfer from Lahaina Cruise Port to Maui city hotels: $80
- Private Transfer from Maui City Hotels to Lahaina Cruise Port: $80
- Maui Kahului Airport (OGG) to Maui hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $85
- Maui to Maui Kahului Airport (OGG) - Departure Private Transfer: $85
- Private transfer: Kahului Airport (OGG) to Kahului: $99
- Private transfer: Kahului to Kahului Airport (OGG): $99
- Maui Kahului Airport (OGG) to Maui - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $170
- Private Customizable Island Tour with Transfer: $500
Is it cheaper to fly into Ponce or Maui?
Prices for flights to both Maui 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 $35Maui $94
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 Maui
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Maui.
- From Ma'alaea Harbor: Sunset Dinner Cruise Aboard the Quicksilver: $120
- From Ma'alaea Harbor: Thanksgiving Dinner Cruise Aboard Calypso: $130
- Ma'alaea Harbor: Sunset Prime Rib or Mahi Mahi Dinner Cruise : $140
- Premium Sunset Dinner Cruise from Ka’anapali Beach: $154
- South Gilligans' Island Luau with Dinner and Drinks: $166
- Mystery Puzzle Food Tour in Lahaina for 2 People: $170
- Premium Dinner Cruise: Four Course Dining Experience - Ma'alaea: $170
- Maui Sunset Luau Dinner Cruise from Ma'alaea Harbor aboard Pride of Maui: $187
- Haleakala's Best Sunset Tour with Dinner: $210
- Wailele Luau Including Fire and Knife Performance plus Dinner: $219
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ponce $56Maui $38
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
Tours and Activities in Maui
Here are a few actual costs in Maui for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- South Beach Parks Self-Guided Driving Tour: $12
- Ultimate Self-Driving Audio Tour of Road to Hana, Maui: $17
- Kahului: Self-Driving Audio Tour of Road to Hana: $17
- Self-Guided Audio Tours - Full Island: $20
- Maui Bundle: 6 In-App Driving And Walking Audio Tours: $30
- All Hawaii Self-Guided Driving Tours Bundle: $40
- Reefdancer Semi-Sub Boat Cruise from Lahaina Harbor: $54
- Small-Group Ghost Walking Tour in Maui: $59
- Taste of Hawaii: A Maui Farm Tour: $69
- Maui Pineapple Farm Tour in Haliimaile: $75
- Hali'imaile: Pineapple Farm Tour: $75
- 3 Hours Guided Koa Kai Snorkel Adventure & Sunset Combo: $83
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPonce $16Maui $41
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 Maui
Also in Maui, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Goat Farm, Distillery, & Glass-Blowing Tour w/ Tasting: $224
- Maui Tour : Iao Valley, Hawaiian Distillery and Lavender Farm Tour: $300
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ponce and Maui, we can see that Maui 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 Maui 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 Maui would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Maui 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 Maui Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Ponce or Maui?
Maui 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 Maui in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Ponce and Maui. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Maui in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
Ponce is around the same temperature as Maui in the summer. The daily temperature in Ponce averages around 28°C (83°F) in July, and Maui fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Maui this time of the year. In Ponce, it's very sunny this time of the year. Ponce usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Maui during summer. Ponce gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Maui receives 290 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Ponce usually receives more rain than Maui. Ponce gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Maui receives 0.4 inches (10 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPonce 28°C (83°F)Maui 79°F (26°C)
Should I visit Ponce or Maui in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Ponce as well as Maui. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Maui for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In the autumn, Ponce is around the same temperature as Maui. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Ponce in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Maui averages at about 78°F (26°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Maui. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ponce this time of the year. In the autumn, Ponce often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Maui. Ponce gets 235 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Maui receives 245 hours of full sun.
Ponce receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Ponce usually gets more rain in October than Maui. Ponce gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Maui receives 1.2 inches (31 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPonce 28°C (82°F)Maui 78°F (26°C)
Should I visit Ponce or Maui in the Winter?
Both Maui 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, the winter months attract visitors to Maui because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Ponce is generally a little warmer than Maui. Daily temperatures in Ponce average around 25°C (77°F), and Maui fluctuates around 72°F (22°C).
It's quite sunny in Maui. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ponce. Ponce usually receives more sunshine than Maui during winter. Ponce gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Maui receives 217 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Maui. In January, Ponce usually receives less rain than Maui. Ponce gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Maui receives 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPonce 25°C (77°F)Maui 72°F (22°C)
Should I visit Ponce or Maui in the Spring?
Both Maui 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, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Maui this time of year.
Ponce is a little warmer than Maui in the spring. The daily temperature in Ponce averages around 26°C (79°F) in April, and Maui fluctuates around 74°F (24°C).
In Maui, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Ponce. In the spring, Ponce often gets more sunshine than Maui. Ponce gets 272 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Maui receives 231 hours of full sun.
Ponce usually gets more rain in April than Maui. Ponce gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Maui receives 1.8 inches (47 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPonce 26°C (79°F)Maui 74°F (24°C)
Typical Weather for Maui and Ponce
| Ponce | Maui | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 74°F (24°C) | 1.8 inches (47 mm) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 0.8 inches (20 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 78°F (25°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 79°F (26°C) | 0.4 inches (10 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 80°F (26°C) | 0.5 inches (13 mm) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 79°F (26°C) | 0.4 inches (9 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 78°F (26°C) | 1.2 inches (31 mm) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 3.3 inches (83 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.