Which place is cheaper, New York City or Ponce?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ponce or New York City?
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 New York City 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 New York City?
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).
New York City
The most populated city in the United States, New York City, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River and encompasses both the island of Manhattan as well as the surrounding land on Long Island, most of which is known as Brooklyn. It's a cultural, culinary, theatrical, and art center that has much to offer domestic and international travelers alike. The city covers an area of 305 square miles and has a population of about 8.2 million people in the city proper with 18.7 million in the metropolitan area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, and The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPonce $205New York City $326
The average daily cost (per person) in Ponce is $205, while the average daily cost in New York City is $326. 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 New York City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPonce $151New York City $175
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPonce $302New York City $350
Compare Hotels in Ponce and New York City
Looking for a hotel in Ponce or New York City? 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: New York City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ponce $10New York City $49
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 New York City
Some typical examples of transportation costs in New York City are as follows:
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Subway$4.50
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Taxi Ride$8.00
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Subway$2.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in New York City
Also for New York City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Manhattan: Bus Transfer from/to Newark Airport: $21
- New York: 1-Way Transfer to/from JFK & Grand Central Station: $27
- Midtown/Lower Manhattan -JFK: Private Airport Departure Transfers: $29
- Newark Liberty International Airport: One-Way Private Transfer to / from NYC: $34
- Private Departure Transfers from Upper Manhattan to JFK Airport: $34
- Manhattan to EWR: One Way Shared Departure Transfer: $34
- EWR to Manhattan: One Way Shared Arrival Transfer: $34
- Manhattan to LGA: One Way Shared Departure Transfer: $34
- LGA to Manhattan: One Way Shared Arrival Transfer: $34
- Manhattan to JFK: One Way Shared Departure Transfer : $34
- NYC: One-Way Shared Transfer to or from Newark Airport: $36
- NYC: One-Way Transfer to/from JFK Airport and Manhattan: $36
Is it cheaper to fly into Ponce or New York City?
Prices for flights to both New York City 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 $35New York City $50
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 New York City
For New York City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Gelato$7.50
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Snacks for Two at Yankees Game$34
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Coffee$6.53
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Smoothie$6.95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in New York City
For New York City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- New York, Queens Culinary Stroll : Food Tour on Foot: $26
- Lower East Side and Essex Market Multicultural Food Tour: $39
- Half-Day Private Pizza Crawl in Manhattan: $40
- New York City Pizza Crawl: Best of Manhattan route: $41
- Ultimate Greenwich Village NYC Food Tour: $63
- NYC: Greenwich Village Guided Food Tour: $63
- Pizza Walking Tour of Downtown Brooklyn: $65
- West Village Pizza Walk: $65
- Greenwich Village NYC Pizza Walking Tour: $65
- East Village NYC Pizza Walking Tour: $65
- Downtown Brooklyn Pizza Walking Tour: $65
- East Village Pizza Walk: $65
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ponce $56New York City $180
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 New York City
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New York City's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Comedy Show Tickets$56
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City Map$8.00
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Broadway Musical$111
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Broadway Show Program$10
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Magazine$6.99
Tours and Activities in New York City
For New York City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Central Park NYC: First Discovery Walk and Reading Tour: $3.21
- Brooklyn Bridge Self-Guided Bike or Walking Tour Application: $5.00
- Central Park: Self-guided Bike Tour App - Audio + Written: $5.00
- Self Guided Central Park Bike or Walking Tour Application: $5.00
- New York City's Financial District: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.34
- Broadway: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of the World's Iconic Theatre District: $5.39
- New York World's Fair Site: Explore its utopian future on an audio tour: $5.39
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in New York: $5.45
- Central Park Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Self Guided "Central Park Movie Tour" Solo Walking Tour in New York City: $6.75
- Private Haunted and Historic Audio Tour in Greenwich Village: $6.95
- Self-Guided Tour of the Museum at Eldridge Street: $7.50
For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Things to do in New York City with Kids, Things to Do in Central Park in NYC, and The Best Museums in New York City.
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPonce $16New York City $29
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 New York City
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New York City:
- NYC West Village Pub Crawl: $19
- NYC Pub Crawl and Rooftop Clubbing Experience: $29
- NYC: Brooklyn Nightlife Pub Crawl: $34
- New York Rooftop Pub Crawl: $39
- NYC: Manhattan's Only Whiskey Distillery Tour & Tasting: $42
- Little Italy Prohibition Pub Crawl: $64
- Lower East Side Prohibition Pub Crawl: $74
- Guided Brooklyn Craft Brewery Tour: $99
- 1920s Schooner Sail with Wine Tasting: $139
- Full day Long Island Brewery Tour : $150
- Long Island Wine Tour from Manhattan (3 Wineries & Tasty Lunch): $159
- Snow Tubing and Brewery Day Trip From NYC: $159
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ponce and New York City, we can see that New York City 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 New York City 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 New York City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New York City 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 New York City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ponce or New York City?
New York City has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Ponce. When comparing the sizes of Ponce and New York City, 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 New York City?
New York City 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 New York City in the Summer?
Both New York City 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. Furthermore, many travelers come to New York City for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Ponce is generally a little warmer than New York City. Daily temperatures in Ponce average around 28°C (83°F), and New York City fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).
New York City gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Ponce usually gets less rain in July than New York City. Ponce gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while New York City receives 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPonce 28°C (83°F)New York City 77°F (25°C)
Should I visit Ponce or New York City in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Ponce and New York City. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to New York City in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Ponce is much warmer than New York City in the autumn. The daily temperature in Ponce averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and New York City fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).
Ponce gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Ponce usually receives more rain than New York City. Ponce gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPonce 28°C (82°F)New York City 57°F (14°C)
Should I visit Ponce or New York City in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Ponce as well as New York City. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to New York City for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine during these months.
New York City can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Ponce is much warmer than New York City. Typically, the winter temperatures in Ponce in January average around 25°C (77°F), and New York City averages at about 31°F (-1°C).
Ponce usually gets less rain in January than New York City. Ponce gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPonce 25°C (77°F)New York City 31°F (-1°C)
Should I visit Ponce or New York City in the Spring?
Both New York City 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 New York City because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In April, Ponce is generally much warmer than New York City. Daily temperatures in Ponce average around 26°C (79°F), and New York City fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).
In April, Ponce usually receives less rain than New York City. Ponce gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.8 inches (98 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPonce 26°C (79°F)New York City 52°F (11°C)
Typical Weather for New York City and Ponce
| Ponce | New York City | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 31°F (-1°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 33°F (1°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 42°F (6°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 3.8 inches (98 mm) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 4.5 inches (114 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 47°F (8°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 36°F (2°C) | 3.4 inches (88 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.