A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Ponce vs. Vancouver for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Ponce or Vancouver?

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 Vancouver 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 Vancouver?

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).

Vancouver

Vancouver is a beautiful and cosmopolitan city in Western Canada. It is also the largest city in British Columbia, and is dramatically positioned between the coast and mountains. It's a very international city, with a high level of energy and countless activites that you can enjoy while you're in town. In addition to offering all of the activities and entertainment of a modern city, it is also in jumping off distance to any number of outdoor activities.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Vancouver, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada.


Which place is cheaper, Vancouver or Ponce?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Ponce is $205, while the average daily cost in Vancouver is $141. 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 Vancouver in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ponce $151
    Vancouver $87
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ponce $302
    Vancouver $174
Compare Hotels in Ponce and Vancouver

Looking for a hotel in Ponce or Vancouver? 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.

Hotels in Ponce


Hotels in Vancouver


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: Vancouver Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ponce $10
    Vancouver $12

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:

  • Double ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $279
  • Single ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $189
  • Transfer SJU Airport to Humacao and Nagüabo. Vice Versa One Way Trip: $185
  • 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

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vancouver

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vancouver are as follows:


  • SkyTrain from Airport
    $6.35
  • Taxi from Airport to Downtown
    $21
  • 15 min Taxi Ride
    $8.71
  • SkyTrain DayPass
    $6.53

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vancouver

Also for Vancouver, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Departure Transfer to Vancouver Airport (YVR): $32
  • Vancouver Airport-Cypress/Grouse Mountain Private Transfer: $38
  • Vancouver Airport (YVR) to White Rock - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
  • White Rock to Vancouver Airport (YVR) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
  • Canada Place Port to Vancouver Airport(YVR) - Departure Transfer : $55
  • Vancouver Airport (YVR) to Canada Place Port - Arrival Transfer: $55
  • City Highlights Tour with Hotel Transfers: $61
  • Vancouver to Victoria: Ferry with Bus Transfer: $73
  • Vancouver to Victoria, Coach Bus Transfer: $74
  • Private Transfer from Canada Place Cruise Terminal to any Hotel: $74
  • Vancouver Airport (YVR) to Whistler - Arrival Private Transfer: $76
  • Vancouver to Victoria - Vancouver Hotel Pickup - Coach Bus Transfer: $83

Is it cheaper to fly into Ponce or Vancouver?

Prices for flights to both Vancouver 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Ponce $35
    Vancouver $31

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 Vancouver

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Vancouver:


  • All You Can Eat Sushi Lunch
    $8.80

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vancouver

For Vancouver, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • A Wok Around Food Tour of the Granville Island Public Market: $84
  • The Gastown Experience Walking Food Tour: $85
  • Gastown Historic Walking Food Tour: $100
  • Vancouver Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $100
  • North Vancouver Shipyards Food Tour: $108
  • Vancouver Authentic Chinese Food Tour: $134
  • VIP Granville Island Market Vancouver - Walking Food Tour: $138
  • Authentic Asian Eats Walking Food Tour: $142
  • 3-Hour Bowen Island Boat Cruise with Dinner: $153
  • Vancouver Evening Dinner Cruise: $157
  • Granville Island Uncorked Walking Food Tour: $161
  • Bowen Island Dinner and Zodiac Boat Tour by Vancouver Water Adventures: $163

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ponce $56
    Vancouver $36

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

Tours and Activities in Vancouver

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vancouver.

  • Vancouver self-guided tour App - multilingual AudioGuide: $4.28
  • Self-Guided Smartphone Walking Tour of Gastown: $4.74
  • Self-Guided Smartphone Walking Tour of Gastown: $4.82
  • Discover Stanley Park with a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.11
  • Fort Langley: a Film & Television Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.19
  • Discover Stanley Park with a Smartphone Audio Tour: $5.19
  • Cycling the Seawall: A Self-Guided Audio Tour Along the Stanley Park Seawall: $5.46
  • Historic Walking Tours of Vancouver with Then & Now Images!: $6.68
  • Walking Tour Along Stanley Park's Seawall: $6.68
  • Vancouver Downtown: Espionage Adventure Outdoor Escape Game: $6.94
  • Self-Guided Smartphone Tour of Stanley Park: $7.30
  • Self-Guided Smartphone Walking Tours of Stanley Park: $7.42

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ponce $16
    Vancouver $16

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 Vancouver

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Vancouver:

  • Vancouver - Granville Pub Crawl ROUTE B: $18
  • Gastown Pub Crawl: $22
  • Vancouver - Granville Pub Crawl: $26
  • 3.5-Hour Craft Brewery Tour: $84
  • Fraser Valley Wine Tour with a light Lunch from Vancouver: $134
  • Vancouver Wine Tour (Fraser Valley): $134
  • From Half-Day Fraser Valley Wine Tour: $138
  • Taste of the Valley Wine Tour: $148
  • Stawamus Chief Hike and Local Brewery Tasting: $164
  • Fraser Valley & White Rock Premium Public Wine Tour: $166
  • Stawamus Chief Hike & Local Brewery Tasting : $167
  • Full-Day Private Fraser Valley Wine Tour from Vancouver: $189


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ponce and Vancouver, we can see that Ponce is more expensive. And not only is Vancouver much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ponce is in Caribbean Islands and Vancouver 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 Vancouver would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vancouver 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 Vancouver.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ponce Expensive? and Is Vancouver Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Ponce or Vancouver?

Vancouver has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Ponce. When comparing the sizes of Ponce and Vancouver, 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 Vancouver?

Vancouver 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 Vancouver in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Ponce as well as Vancouver. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In July, Ponce is generally much warmer than Vancouver. Daily temperatures in Ponce average around 28°C (83°F), and Vancouver fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vancouver. 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 Vancouver. Ponce gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vancouver receives 296 hours of full sun.

Ponce usually gets more rain in July than Vancouver. Ponce gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Ponce 28°C (83°F) 
    Vancouver 18°C (64°F)

Should I visit Ponce or Vancouver in the Autumn?

Both Vancouver and Ponce are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year.

Ponce is much warmer than Vancouver in the autumn. The daily temperature in Ponce averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Vancouver fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ponce. Ponce usually receives more sunshine than Vancouver during autumn. Ponce gets 235 hours of sunny skies, while Vancouver receives 124 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Vancouver. It's quite rainy in Ponce. In October, Ponce usually receives less rain than Vancouver. Ponce gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Ponce 28°C (82°F) 
    Vancouver 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Ponce or Vancouver in the Winter?

Both Vancouver 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.

Vancouver can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Ponce is much warmer than Vancouver. Typically, the winter temperatures in Ponce in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Vancouver averages at about 4°C (40°F).

It's quite sunny in Ponce. In the winter, Ponce often gets more sunshine than Vancouver. Ponce gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vancouver receives 55 hours of full sun.

Vancouver gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Ponce usually gets less rain in January than Vancouver. Ponce gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Ponce 25°C (77°F) 
    Vancouver 4°C (40°F)

Should I visit Ponce or Vancouver in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Ponce and Vancouver. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round.

In April, Ponce is generally much warmer than Vancouver. Daily temperatures in Ponce average around 26°C (79°F), and Vancouver fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).

In Ponce, it's very sunny this time of the year. Ponce usually receives more sunshine than Vancouver during spring. Ponce gets 272 hours of sunny skies, while Vancouver receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.

Vancouver receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Ponce usually receives less rain than Vancouver. Ponce gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Ponce 26°C (79°F) 
    Vancouver 9°C (49°F)

Typical Weather for Vancouver and Ponce

Ponce Vancouver
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 25°C (77°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 4°C (40°F) 167 mm (6.6 in)
Feb 25°C (77°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 6°C (42°F) 179 mm (7.1 in)
Mar 26°C (78°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) 7°C (45°F) 142 mm (5.6 in)
Apr 26°C (79°F) 69 mm (2.7 in) 9°C (49°F) 110 mm (4.3 in)
May 27°C (81°F) 120 mm (4.7 in) 13°C (55°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 82 mm (3.2 in) 16°C (60°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
Jul 28°C (83°F) 95 mm (3.7 in) 18°C (64°F) 54 mm (2.1 in)
Aug 28°C (83°F) 130 mm (5.1 in) 18°C (64°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Sep 28°C (83°F) 130 mm (5.1 in) 15°C (59°F) 73 mm (2.9 in)
Oct 28°C (82°F) 135 mm (5.3 in) 11°C (51°F) 164 mm (6.5 in)
Nov 27°C (80°F) 132 mm (5.2 in) 7°C (44°F) 234 mm (9.2 in)
Dec 26°C (78°F) 92 mm (3.6 in) 4°C (40°F) 198 mm (7.8 in)