Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Porto?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Porto or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Porto and San Juan can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Porto or San Juan?
Porto
Porto is the second largest city in Portugal. It is also the capital of the Northern Region and a hub for commercial and industrial activity. The city is not as large as you might expect, with a population of only about 300,000 residents, but the metropolitan area has a population of about 2.5 million. This includes nearby cities such as Gaia, Matosinhos, Maia and Gondomar.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Portugal, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Portugal.
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Porto Prices
Portugal PricesSan Juan Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPorto $185San Juan $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Porto is $185, while the average daily cost in San Juan is $218. 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 Porto and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPorto $83San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPorto $166San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Porto and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Porto 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: Porto Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Porto $24San Juan $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Porto
Also for Porto, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private transfer from Santiago de Compostela to Oporto: $544
- Private Airport Transfer from Porto to Vigo: $296
- Porto Airport: Transfer to/from Coimbra Center: $291
- Private Transfer to Lisbon from Tarouca: $289
- Private Transfer from Porto Airport to Santiago de Compostela: $283
- Private Geres National Park Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $269
- Private transfer from Oporto to Lisbon or Lisbon to Oporto: $265
- From Private Transfer to Lisbon with up to 3 Stops: $265
- Private Transfer from Porto to Lisbon: $265
- From Transfer to Lisbon with up to 3 City Stops: $265
- Porto to Lisbon Private Transfer with Up to 3 Sightseeing Stops: $251
- Transfer- Porto to Lisbon (or reverse) with optional stops: $248
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Double ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $289
- HandyCap Transfer Airport to Dorado, Rio Grande or Luquillo: $270
- Luxury Puerto Rico Private Transfers: $220
- Private Transfer: SJU Airport or Port to Humacao and Nagüabo: $200
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to Ponce hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $200
- Private Transfer from SJU Airport to Humacao Hotels: $180
- Transfer from San Juan to Rincon or Rincon to San Juan: $167
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to Rio Grande hotel – Round-Trip Private Transfer: $165
- Private Airport Transfers to Ceiba Ferry Terminal and Airport: $155
- Transfer SJU Airport to Dorado. Hotels and Airbnb. Vice Versa One Way Trip.: $140
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, 16Pax Mercedes Van, Select Zone: $130
- Private Transfer from or to San Juan and Ponce: $125
Is it cheaper to fly into Porto or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Porto 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 dayPorto $73San Juan $62
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Porto
For Porto, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Pastel de Nata Cooking Class with Porto Wine (Sé do Porto): $41
- Porto Food Tour Market Tapas and Port Wine Cellar Experience: $71
- Dinner with Fado and Portuguese Traditional Music: $71
- Bolhão Market Guided Food Tour: $77
- Private Fabulist Food Tour: $83
- Taste of the Ocean Authentic Porto Seafood Tour: $83
- Authentic Porto Small Group Food Tour with Local Tastings: $87
- 4 Hour Traditional Aveiro Portuguese Food Tour: $88
- Porto Food Tour: $88
- Private Walking Food Tour with Tastings: $100
- Fado Tour with Guide, Dinner & Live Show in Porto: $100
- Authentic Porto Food Tour & Market Experience: $101
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:
- Puerto Rican Gastronomy Cooking Class: $167
- Morning Old San Juan Food Tour: $169
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $170
- Fly Dining 4 Course Sunset and City Light Dinner Over San Juan: $195
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Porto $29San Juan $49
Tours and Activities in Porto
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Porto.
- 1 Day Tour to Douro Valley from Porto: $224
- 1 Day Tour to Passages and Bridge 516 Arouca: $106
- 2 Hour City Highlights Segway Guided Experience in Proto: $88
- 3 Hour Complete Porto City Tour: $234
- 3 Hour Porto Highlights on a Electric Bike Guided Tour: $47
- 3-Hour Cano-Rafting Tour on the Paiva River: $47
- 3-Hour Guided Walking Tour of Porto: $26
- 3-Hour Private Walking Tour of Porto: $88
- 3D Fun Art Museum Porto Ticket: $15
- 516 Arouca Bridge & Paiva Walkways Tour with Lunch from Porto: $122
- 516 Arouca Bridge, Paiva Walkways and Aveiro Tour: $136
- AVEIRO COSTA NOVA AND COIMBRA Private Tour from Porto: $216
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.
- 1 Hour Bull Maze Adventure at Toroverde Urban Park San Juan: $45
- 1 Hour Historical UTV Tour in San Juan: $200
- 2 Tours in 1 Day Rainforest and Beach Adventure with Transport: $65
- 3 Tours in 1 Day Old San Juan Rainforest and Beach with Transport: $75
- 3 in 1 Full Day Cueva Ventana, Indian Cave & Waterfall Adventure: $155
- ATV Double Rider Adventure Near San Juan - Hacienda Campo Rico: $221
- ATV Single Rider Adventure Near San Juan - Hacienda Campo Rico: $149
- Adventure Water Bike in Condado Lagoon, San Juan: $60
- Arecibo Cave Cliffside Waterfall Adventure: $139
- Bio Bay Magic and Rum Tasting Tour from San Juan: $250
- Bio Bay Night Kayak Tour with Transport from San Juan: $125
- Cave, Waterfall and River Adventure in Charco Azul from San Juan: $115
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPorto $21San Juan $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Porto
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Porto:
- Crazy Pub Crawl with 9 Drinks, Free Shots, Wild Games +VIP: $14
- Porto Pub Crawl With Unlimited Beer: $21
- Private visit with wine tasting in Alijó Douro: $24
- Chocolate and Wine Tasting Activity in Matosinhos Portugal: $25
- Pub Crawl Porto: $25
- Poças Guided Visit and Port Wine Tasting with Pastel de Nata: $27
- Premium wine tasting at Quinta das Arcas: $28
- Wine tasting of 5 Port Wines with a Sommelier: $29
- Fado Concert with Port Wine Tasting at Quinta da Boeira: $29
- Port : Cockburn's Port Lodge Tour & Main Room Wine Tasting: $31
- Porto Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour with Wine tasting & Night tour: $32
- Cálem Cellar Tour, Live Fado Show and Wine Tasting: $33
Sample the Local Flavors in San Juan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Juan:
- Old San Juan Bar Crawl: Experience Local Hotspots: $65
- Puerto Rico Tobacco Farm and Local Brewery Tour: $109
- Puerto Rico's First and Only Craft Beer Brewery Tour!: $150
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Porto and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Porto much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Porto is in Europe and San Juan is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Porto would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Porto 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 San Juan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Juan than you might in Porto.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Porto Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Porto or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 68% larger than the population of Porto. When comparing the sizes of Porto 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 Porto or San Juan?
Porto has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Juan experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Porto or San Juan in the Summer?
Both San Juan and Porto are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Porto for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Porto is cooler than San Juan in the summer. The daily temperature in Porto averages around 21°C (69°F) in July, and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
It's quite sunny in San Juan. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Porto. Porto usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan during summer. Porto gets 308 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Porto usually receives less rain than San Juan. Porto gets 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPorto 21°C (69°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Porto or San Juan in the Autumn?
Both San Juan and Porto during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Porto because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
In the autumn, Porto is much colder than San Juan. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Porto in October average around 17°C (62°F), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (82°F).
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Porto often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Porto gets 184 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun.
San Juan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Porto. Porto usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as San Juan. Porto gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPorto 17°C (62°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Porto or San Juan in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Porto and San Juan. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Porto this time of year. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Porto is generally much colder than San Juan. Daily temperatures in Porto average around 10°C (50°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. Porto usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during winter. Porto gets 124 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
Porto gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Porto usually receives more rain than San Juan. Porto gets 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPorto 10°C (50°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Porto or San Juan in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Porto as well as San Juan. Many travelers come to Porto for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
Porto is much colder than San Juan in the spring. The daily temperature in Porto averages around 14°C (56°F) in April, and San Juan fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Porto this time of the year. In the spring, Porto often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Porto gets 217 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun.
Porto receives a lot of rain in the spring. Porto usually gets more rain in April than San Juan. Porto gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPorto 14°C (56°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Porto
| Porto | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (50°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 11°C (51°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (54°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (56°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 16°C (60°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (69°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 20°C (69°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (67°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (62°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 11°C (51°F) | 176 mm (6.9 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.