Which place is cheaper, Norfolk or Ponce?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ponce or Norfolk?
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 Norfolk 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 Norfolk?
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).
Norfolk
The city of Norfolk in the U.S. state of Virginia is a port city holding a large Navy and shipping presence in its harbor. With a long history as a strategic military point, Norfolk is home to the largest Navy base in the world, Naval Station Norfolk. Other attractions include opportunities for dining, shopping, and entertainment as well as many parks and memorials.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPonce $205Norfolk $166
The average daily cost (per person) in Ponce is $205, while the average daily cost in Norfolk is $166. 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 Norfolk in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPonce $151Norfolk $84
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPonce $302Norfolk $168
Compare Hotels in Ponce and Norfolk
Looking for a hotel in Ponce or Norfolk? 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: Norfolk Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ponce $10Norfolk $54
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 Norfolk
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Norfolk:
- Bamville Transportation (Private & Airport Transfers): $275
Is it cheaper to fly into Ponce or Norfolk?
Prices for flights to both Norfolk 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 $35Norfolk $49
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 Norfolk
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Norfolk.
- Norfolk Buffet Dinner Cruise : $101
- Buffet Dinner Cruise: $101
- Norfolk Father's Day Buffet Dinner Cruise: $126
- Norfolk Mother's Day Signature Dinner Cruise: $169
- Norfolk 4th of July Buffet Dinner Cruise: $182
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ponce $56Norfolk $14
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 Norfolk
Here are a few actual costs in Norfolk for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Experience the season with a scavenger hunt in Norfolk with Holly Jolly Hunt: $20
- Skip the Line: Virginia Living Museum Admission Ticket: $22
- Neon District Contemporary Art Walking Tour: $32
- Virginia Zoo & Battleship Wisconsin Combo Ticket: $38
- Electric Bike Rental Downtown Norfolk (self guided tour) : $60
- Elizabeth River Candlelit Buffet Lunch Cruise: $67
- Norfolk Buffet Brunch Cruise : $84
- Elizabeth River Sunday Buffet Brunch Cruise: $95
- Norfolk Father's Day Buffet Brunch Cruise: $104
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPonce $16Norfolk $10
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 Norfolk, we can see that Ponce is more expensive. And not only is Norfolk much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ponce is in Caribbean Islands and Norfolk 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 Norfolk would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Norfolk 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 Norfolk.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ponce Expensive? and Is Norfolk Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ponce or Norfolk?
Norfolk has a larger population, and is about 54% larger than the population of Ponce. When comparing the sizes of Ponce and Norfolk, 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 Norfolk?
Norfolk 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 Norfolk in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Ponce and Norfolk. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Norfolk in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Ponce is generally around the same temperature as Norfolk. Daily temperatures in Ponce average around 28°C (83°F), and Norfolk fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Norfolk 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 Norfolk during summer. Ponce gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Norfolk receives 279 hours of full sun in the summer.
Norfolk receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Ponce usually receives less rain than Norfolk. Ponce gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Norfolk receives 5.7 inches (145 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPonce 28°C (83°F)Norfolk 79°F (26°C)
Should I visit Ponce or Norfolk in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Ponce as well as Norfolk. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Norfolk for the shopping scene during these months.
Ponce is much warmer than Norfolk in the autumn. The daily temperature in Ponce averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Norfolk fluctuates around 62°F (16°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Norfolk. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ponce this time of the year. In the autumn, Ponce often gets more sunshine than Norfolk. Ponce gets 235 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Norfolk receives 211 hours of full sun.
Ponce receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Ponce usually gets more rain in October than Norfolk. Ponce gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Norfolk receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPonce 28°C (82°F)Norfolk 62°F (16°C)
Should I visit Ponce or Norfolk in the Winter?
Both Norfolk 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 Norfolk because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
The weather in Norfolk can be very cold. In the winter, Ponce is much warmer than Norfolk. Typically, the winter temperatures in Ponce in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Norfolk averages at about 39°F (4°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ponce. Ponce usually receives more sunshine than Norfolk during winter. Ponce gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Norfolk receives 168 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Ponce usually receives less rain than Norfolk. Ponce gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Norfolk receives 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPonce 25°C (77°F)Norfolk 39°F (4°C)
Should I visit Ponce or Norfolk in the Spring?
Both Norfolk 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.
In April, Ponce is generally much warmer than Norfolk. Daily temperatures in Ponce average around 26°C (79°F), and Norfolk fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).
In Norfolk, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Ponce. In the spring, Ponce often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Norfolk. Ponce gets 272 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Norfolk receives 253 hours of full sun.
Ponce usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Norfolk. Ponce gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Norfolk receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPonce 26°C (79°F)Norfolk 58°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for Norfolk and Ponce
| Ponce | Norfolk | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 39°F (4°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 41°F (5°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 49°F (10°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 58°F (14°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 74°F (24°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 79°F (26°C) | 5.7 inches (145 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 78°F (25°C) | 5.9 inches (150 mm) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 4.2 inches (107 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 62°F (16°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 53°F (12°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 44°F (7°C) | 3.1 inches (79 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.