Which place is cheaper, Saint John or Ponce?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ponce or Saint John?
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 Saint John 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 Saint John?
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).
Saint John
With the popularity of the Caribbean rising, many islands have become touristy and expensive – but not St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
At only nine miles long and five miles wide, St. John is the smallest of the Virgin Islands, and, many argue, the prettiest. It's the kind of place that has maintained it's cultural identity, but still welcomes visitors from all over the world. With a population of just 5,000, the residents of St. John know everyone and everything happening on the island.
This island is perfect for people who want an undisturbed island getaway at any price. Between resorts and campgrounds there is a spot for everyone on St. John.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPonce $205Saint John $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Ponce is $205, while the average daily cost in Saint John is $192. 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 Saint John in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPonce $151Saint John $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPonce $302Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Ponce and Saint John
Looking for a hotel in Ponce or Saint John? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ponce $10Saint John $49
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Ponce or Saint John?
Prices for flights to both Saint John 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 $35Saint John $56
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 Island Authentic Food Tour : $130
- Private San Juan Cooking Class with a Local Expert: $146
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ponce $56Saint John $23
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
- Guided Walking Tour in Ponce: $30
- Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $30
- 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
- Day or Sunset Tour through the Condado Lagoon. Choose Kayak or Paddleboard: $50
Tours and Activities in Saint John
Here are a few actual costs in Saint John for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- USVI: Island & Beach Tours in St. Thomas & St. John (2 Days): $199
- St. John: A Private Island Adventure Tour & Trunk Bay Beach: $627
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPonce $16Saint John $44
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 comparing the travel costs between Ponce and Saint John, we can see that Ponce is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Caribbean Islands, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ponce Expensive? and Is Saint John Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Ponce or Saint John?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Ponce or Saint John in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Ponce and Saint John. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Ponce usually receives more rain than Saint John. Ponce gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In July, Ponce is generally around the same temperature as Saint John. Daily temperatures in Ponce average around 28°C (83°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPonce 28°C (83°F)Saint John 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Ponce or Saint John in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Ponce as well as Saint John. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Saint John. Ponce receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Ponce usually gets less rain in October than Saint John. Ponce gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
Ponce is around the same temperature as Saint John in the autumn. The daily temperature in Ponce averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Saint John fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPonce 28°C (82°F)Saint John 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Ponce or Saint John in the Winter?
Both Saint John and Ponce are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Ponce usually receives more rain than Saint John. Ponce gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In the winter, Ponce is around the same temperature as Saint John. Typically, the winter temperatures in Ponce in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Saint John averages at about 26°C (78°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPonce 25°C (77°F)Saint John 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Ponce or Saint John in the Spring?
Both Saint John 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.
Ponce usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Saint John. Ponce gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
In April, Ponce is generally around the same temperature as Saint John. Daily temperatures in Ponce average around 26°C (79°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPonce 26°C (79°F)Saint John 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint John and Ponce
| Ponce | Saint John | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
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.