Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Ponce?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ponce or San Juan?
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 San Juan 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 San Juan?
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).
San Juan
If you've ever set foot on a Caribbean cruise, you've probably spent a bit of time in San Juan, Puerto Rico. However, maybe you should consider spending more than just a port day in this beautiful and historically rich city.
As the capital and largest city in all of Puerto Rico, San Juan is home to approximately 400,000 people. Established in 1521, it is also the second oldest European-founded settlement in the Americas.
As this city fuses a historic paradise with modern day energy, it has absolutely everything to offer. Intellectual wanderers, beach bums, rainforest adventurers and radical surfers will all find plenty to do in San Juan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPonce $205San Juan $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Ponce is $205, while the average daily cost in San Juan 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 San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPonce $151San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPonce $302San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Ponce and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Ponce or San Juan? 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: San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ponce $10San Juan $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:
- Double ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $279
- Transfer SJU Airport to Humacao and Nagüabo. Vice Versa One Way Trip: $185
- Single ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $179
- Vega Baja to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $170
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to Rio Grande hotel - Arrival Private Transfer: $109
- Rio Grande hotel to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $109
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $92
- 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
- Aguadilla Hernandez Airport (BQN) to Isabela - RoundTrip Transfer: $87
- Private Transfer from San Juan City Hotels to Ponce Cruise Port: $79
- Transfer TO or FROM: Airport,Cruise,Hotel in DORADO or RIO GRANDE: $70
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to San Juan Airport: $22
- San Juan One-way Transfer (Cruise, SJU, Hotels, Airbnb): $30
- One-way transfer from SJU Airport to Cruise Port or Vice Versa: $55
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, Tesla 3 Luxury Sedan.: $56
- Oneway Transfer- San Juan from/to Rio Grande or Loiza: $68
- Oneway Transfer- San Juan (SJU,hotel,airbnb,port) to Dorado City: $68
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Tesla Y Luxury SUV, Select Zone: $69
- Old Walking Tour with Shopping and Hotel Transfer: $70
- Airport Private Transfer from/to City Hotels: $70
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Tesla S Lux Sedan, Select Zone: $71
- Transfer from San Juan to Ceiba (Vieques/Culebra) or Fajardo: $80
- Private Transfer from San Juan to Humacao: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Ponce or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan 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 $35San Juan $36
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Juan
For San Juan, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- From Pinones Beach & Bar Hopping Food Tour: $50
- Piñones Bar Crawl and Beach Hop Food Tour with Drinks: $56
- Puerto Rican food tasting and beginner cooking Tour: $79
- Elevated Dinner Experience (4 Courses) City Lights & Ocean Breeze: $132
- Old San Juan Sunset Food Tour with Drinks: $156
- Savor the Sunset: Old San Juan Walk and Food Tour: $159
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $170
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ponce $56San Juan $49
Tours and Activities in Ponce
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ponce are as follows:
- El Yunque Rainforest Tour Earlybird/ Small Groups: $89
- 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
- 8 Hours Private Tours in Puerto Rico: $150
- 90 Minute Portrait Photoshoot Experience in the Caribbean: $129
- Adventure Trail Tour in the foothills of the National Rainforest: $110
- Afro-Boriken-Loiza: Food, Cave & Art Tour: $140
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Juan
For San Juan, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Horseback Riding Tour$40
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Full Day Snorkeling Trip$100
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1 Hr Windsurfing Lesson$75
Tours and Activities in San Juan
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Juan.
- Self-Guided Tour with Audio Guide: $14
- Old Breathtaking Historic Walking Tour: $17
- Group Transportation in airport, cruise ships, hotels, bnb's in San Juan, PR: $20
- Legends of Puerto Rico Haunted Walking Tour: $20
- History, Legends, & Highlights Guided Walking Tour: $30
- Old San Juan Walking Tour with a Certified Guide: $30
- Old San Juan Walking Tour with a Local Certified Guide: $30
- Old San Juan History & Culture Guided Walking Tour: $35
- Guided Old Town Walking Tour: $39
- Urban Park Sky Bull Zipline Experience: $39
- Old San Juan City Walking Tour: $39
- Old San Juan Walking Tour: $39
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPonce $16San Juan $12
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 San Juan, 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 San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ponce or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Ponce. When comparing the sizes of Ponce and San Juan, 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 San Juan?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Ponce or San Juan in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Ponce as well as San Juan. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
Ponce usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as San Juan. Ponce gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ponce this time of the year. In the summer, Ponce often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan. Ponce gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun.
In July, Ponce is generally around the same temperature as San Juan. Daily temperatures in Ponce average around 28°C (83°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPonce 28°C (83°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Ponce or San Juan in the Autumn?
Both San Juan and Ponce are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Juan. It's quite rainy in Ponce. In October, Ponce usually receives around the same amount of rain as San Juan. Ponce gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
It's quite sunny in San Juan. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ponce. Ponce usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan during autumn. Ponce gets 235 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Ponce is around the same temperature as San Juan in the autumn. The daily temperature in Ponce averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPonce 28°C (82°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Ponce or San Juan in the Winter?
Both San Juan and Ponce during the winter 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 San Juan year-round.
Ponce usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as San Juan. Ponce gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Ponce. In the winter, Ponce often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan. Ponce gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Ponce is around the same temperature as San Juan. Typically, the winter temperatures in Ponce in January average around 25°C (77°F), and San Juan averages at about 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPonce 25°C (77°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Ponce or San Juan in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Ponce and San Juan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Ponce usually receives around the same amount of rain as San Juan. Ponce gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan 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 San Juan during spring. Ponce gets 272 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Ponce is generally around the same temperature as San Juan. Daily temperatures in Ponce average around 26°C (79°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPonce 26°C (79°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Ponce
| Ponce | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 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.