Which place is cheaper, Santa Cruz or Ponce?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ponce or Santa Cruz?
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 Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz?
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).
Santa Cruz
On the central coast of California in between Monterey Bay and San Jose lies Santa Cruz, California, a laid-back coastal college town with a reputation of locals open to liberal views and accepting of alternative lifestyles. Among its residents are University of California, Santa Cruz students, a large artist colony, and professional surfers.
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 $205Santa Cruz $126
The average daily cost (per person) in Ponce is $205, while the average daily cost in Santa Cruz is $126. 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 Santa Cruz in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPonce $151Santa Cruz $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPonce $302Santa Cruz $122
Compare Hotels in Ponce and Santa Cruz
Looking for a hotel in Ponce or Santa Cruz? 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: Santa Cruz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ponce $10Santa Cruz $40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:
- San Juan Departure Share Transfer: $27
- Isabela / Hatillo to Aguadilla Airport(BQN) - DepartureTransfer: $44
- San Juan PR Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Transfer: $46
- San Juan hotels to San Juan PR Cruise Port - Departure Transfer: $46
- San Juan Port to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- Private Transfers from SJU Airport to Isla Verde, Condado or San Juan área : $60
- San juan Puerto Rico PrivateTransfers Airport,Hotels,Cruise Ports: $60
- Transfer TO or FROM: Airport,Cruise,Hotel in DORADO or RIO GRANDE: $70
- Private Transfer from San Juan City Hotels to Ponce Cruise Port: $79
- Aguadilla Hernandez Airport (BQN) to Isabela - RoundTrip Transfer: $87
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $92
Is it cheaper to fly into Ponce or Santa Cruz?
Prices for flights to both Santa Cruz 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 $35Santa Cruz $41
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ponce $56Santa Cruz $18
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 Santa Cruz
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santa Cruz are as follows:
- Santa Cruz Must Sees: A Self-Guided Driving Tour: $3.99
- Self Guided UC Santa Cruz Walking Tour: Unlock Secret Stories : $20
- Santa Cruz:City Scavenger Hunt Tour with Remote Guide: $25
- Capitola Private 2-Hour Walking Tour: $30
- Half Day Private Beach Tour in Santa Cruz: $35
- Santa Cruz Guided E-Bike Ride & Most Fun Ebike Tour: $120
- Santa Cruz Family Friendly Guided E-bike Tour: $120
- Santa Cruz 2Hour Guided E-bike Tour for Small Groups: $120
- Mermaid Experience & Photoshoot: $190
- Capitola Watercolor Journaling Experience: $297
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPonce $16Santa Cruz $8.57
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 Santa Cruz
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Santa Cruz:
- Sidecar Wine Tour with Guide and Wine Tasting: $199
- Private Brewery Tour: $500
- Private Custom Wine Tour with Hotel Pickup: $750
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ponce and Santa Cruz, we can see that Ponce is more expensive. And not only is Santa Cruz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ponce is in Caribbean Islands and Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ponce Expensive? and Is Santa Cruz Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ponce or Santa Cruz?
Ponce has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Santa Cruz. When comparing the sizes of Ponce and Santa Cruz, 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 Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz in the Summer?
Both Santa Cruz and Ponce are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Santa Cruz in the summer for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Ponce is generally a little warmer than Santa Cruz. Daily temperatures in Ponce average around 28°C (83°F), and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 67°F (19°C).
In July, Ponce usually receives more rain than Santa Cruz. Ponce gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.1 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPonce 28°C (83°F)Santa Cruz 67°F (19°C)
Should I visit Ponce or Santa Cruz in the Autumn?
Both Santa Cruz and Ponce during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Ponce because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, most visitors come to Santa Cruz for the hiking trails and the shopping scene during these months.
Ponce is much warmer than Santa Cruz in the autumn. The daily temperature in Ponce averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Ponce. Ponce usually gets more rain in October than Santa Cruz. Ponce gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPonce 28°C (82°F)Santa Cruz 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Ponce or Santa Cruz in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Ponce and Santa Cruz. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Santa Cruz because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Ponce is much warmer than Santa Cruz. Typically, the winter temperatures in Ponce in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Santa Cruz averages at about 51°F (10°C).
In January, Ponce usually receives less rain than Santa Cruz. Ponce gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPonce 25°C (77°F)Santa Cruz 51°F (10°C)
Should I visit Ponce or Santa Cruz in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Ponce as well as Santa Cruz. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the beaches are the main draw to Santa Cruz this time of year.
In April, Ponce is generally much warmer than Santa Cruz. Daily temperatures in Ponce average around 26°C (79°F), and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).
Ponce usually gets more rain in April than Santa Cruz. Ponce gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 1 inches (26 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPonce 26°C (79°F)Santa Cruz 58°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for Santa Cruz and Ponce
| Ponce | Santa Cruz | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 51°F (10°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 55°F (13°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 58°F (14°C) | 1 inches (26 mm) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 62°F (16°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 65°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (1 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 67°F (20°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.8 inches (21 mm) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 51°F (10°C) | 2.1 inches (53 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.