Which place is cheaper, Williamsburg or Ponce?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ponce or Williamsburg?
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 Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg?
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).
Williamsburg
In southeast Virginia, Williamsburg is a historic city that was the capital of Virginia during the 1700's. It's now a popular tourist destination in the state because it has managed to recreate its past in a theme park like setting. Perhaps the most famous attraction in the city is "Colonial Williamsburg," an outdoor museum that recreates an 18th century town with working tradesmen and functioning jobs. You can purchase a one day pass to the area for $36 and multiple day passes at a slight discount. Exhibits in the area include observing a court proceeding, seeing the Governor's Palace, and witnessing the impact of the American Revolution on the area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Photography Tours in United States of America, and The Best Camping Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPonce $205Williamsburg $112
The average daily cost (per person) in Ponce is $205, while the average daily cost in Williamsburg is $112. 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 Williamsburg in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPonce $151Williamsburg $66
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPonce $302Williamsburg $132
Compare Hotels in Ponce and Williamsburg
Looking for a hotel in Ponce or Williamsburg? 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: Williamsburg Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ponce $10Williamsburg $11
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 Williamsburg?
Prices for flights to both Williamsburg 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 $35Williamsburg $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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Williamsburg
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Williamsburg.
- Taste of Williamsburg Food Tour by Junket: $79
- Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $84
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ponce $56Williamsburg $34
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 Williamsburg
Here are a few actual costs in Williamsburg for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Williamsburg by Wacky Walks: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure Self-Guided City Game: $10
- Colonial Self-Guided Walking Tour: $15
- Colonial Williamsburg Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $15
- Williamsburg East Ghost Tour: $16
- Yorktown Battlefield Self-Guided Driving Tour: $17
- The Original Ghosts of Williamsburg Tour: $20
- The Original Ghost of Williamsburg Candlelight Walking Tour: $20
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Williamsburg by Zombie Scavengers: $20
- Colonial Christmas Walking Tour: $20
- Yorktown Hallowed Ground Candlelight Walking Tour: $20
- Colonial Williamsburg & Yorktown Self-Guided Audio Tour Bundle: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPonce $16Williamsburg -
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 Williamsburg
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Williamsburg:
- Colonial Ghosts Boos and Brews Haunted Pub Crawl : $35
- The Murder Tour and Pub Crawl: $48
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ponce and Williamsburg, we can see that Ponce is more expensive. And not only is Williamsburg much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ponce is in Caribbean Islands and Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ponce Expensive? and Is Williamsburg Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ponce or Williamsburg?
Ponce has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Williamsburg. When comparing the sizes of Ponce and Williamsburg, 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 Williamsburg?
Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Ponce and Williamsburg. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Williamsburg for the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Ponce is around the same temperature as Williamsburg. Typically, the summer temperatures in Ponce in July average around 28°C (83°F), and Williamsburg averages at about 78°F (26°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg during summer. Ponce gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Williamsburg receives 279 hours of full sun in the summer.
Williamsburg receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Ponce usually receives less rain than Williamsburg. Ponce gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Williamsburg receives 4.7 inches (120 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPonce 28°C (83°F)Williamsburg 78°F (26°C)
Should I visit Ponce or Williamsburg in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Ponce as well as Williamsburg. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Williamsburg in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Ponce is generally much warmer than Williamsburg. Daily temperatures in Ponce average around 28°C (82°F), and Williamsburg fluctuates around 61°F (16°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Williamsburg. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ponce this time of the year. In the autumn, Ponce often gets more sunshine than Williamsburg. Ponce gets 235 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Williamsburg receives 211 hours of full sun.
Ponce receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Ponce usually gets more rain in October than Williamsburg. Ponce gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Williamsburg receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPonce 28°C (82°F)Williamsburg 61°F (16°C)
Should I visit Ponce or Williamsburg in the Winter?
Both Williamsburg 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, most visitors come to Williamsburg for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Williamsburg can be very cold during winter. Ponce is much warmer than Williamsburg in the winter. The daily temperature in Ponce averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Williamsburg fluctuates around 38°F (4°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ponce. Ponce usually receives more sunshine than Williamsburg during winter. Ponce gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Williamsburg receives 168 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Ponce usually receives less rain than Williamsburg. Ponce gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Williamsburg receives 3.6 inches (93 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPonce 25°C (77°F)Williamsburg 38°F (4°C)
Should I visit Ponce or Williamsburg in the Spring?
Both Williamsburg 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. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Williamsburg because of the natural beauty.
In the spring, Ponce is much warmer than Williamsburg. Typically, the spring temperatures in Ponce in April average around 26°C (79°F), and Williamsburg averages at about 57°F (14°C).
In Williamsburg, 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 Williamsburg. Ponce gets 272 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Williamsburg receives 253 hours of full sun.
Ponce usually gets less rain in April than Williamsburg. Ponce gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Williamsburg receives 3 inches (76 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPonce 26°C (79°F)Williamsburg 57°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for Williamsburg and Ponce
| Ponce | Williamsburg | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 38°F (4°C) | 3.6 inches (93 mm) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 41°F (5°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 49°F (9°C) | 4.2 inches (106 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 66°F (19°C) | 4 inches (102 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 74°F (24°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 78°F (26°C) | 4.7 inches (120 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 78°F (25°C) | 4.7 inches (120 mm) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 4.6 inches (118 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 61°F (16°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 43°F (6°C) | 3.5 inches (90 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.