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 $187San Juan $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Porto is $187, 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 $84San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPorto $168San 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 between Porto and Algarve with 1 stop: $558
- Private Transfer to Lisbon from Tarouca: $293
- Private Transfer to Porto from Tarouca: $135
- Funchal to Porto Moniz: Volcanic Pools Day Transfer: $70
- Service Transfer Airport to Porto or Vila Nova de Gaia: $64
- Madeira: Porto da Cruz to Machico Hiking Tour with Transfer: $39
- Transfer Oporto - Aeroport / Up to 4 passengers: $30
- Porto Airport Transfer: $24
- Madeira: Vereda do Larano Trail One-Way Transfer Service: $23
- Porto Airport: Transfer to/from Valenca Do Minho Station: $12
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
- Transfer in Puerto Rico with Minivan from Airport: $280
- Transfer SJU Airport to Ponce and Juana Diaz. Hotels and Airbnb Vice Versa 1 Way: $260
- Carabali Rain Forest Round Trip Private Taxi Transfer: $200
- Single ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $195
- 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
- Transfer from San Juan to Ponce or Ponce to San Juan: $125
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 14Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $124
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $120
- Arrival Private Transfer SJU Airport to Old San Juan by Sedan: $120
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 $74San 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:
- Porto Food & Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch or Dinner Option: $94
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:
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $165
- FlyDining: Sunset & City Lights Dinner Over Old San Juan: $165
- Morning Old San Juan Food Tour: $169
- Cooking and Connecting with a Local in Puerto Rico: $173
- Savor the Sunset: Old San Juan Walking Food Tour: $179
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Porto $30San Juan $49
Tours and Activities in Porto
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Porto.
- 3 Hour Tuk tuk Tour in Porto: $215
- 3-Hour Porto Highlights on a Electric Bike Guided Tour: $52
- Aveiro and Costa Nova Half Day Tour from Porto with Boat Ride: $55
- Braga & Guimarães Small Group Tour: Lunch & All Tickets Included: $167
- Breathtaking Nature in Gerês Park - Private tour from Porto: $130
- Daytime Sailing Adventure near Lagos and Luz!: $167
- Douro Sunset Sailboat Experience in Porto: $70
- Douro Valley : 2 wineries, Tastings, Lunch & Scenic River Cruise: $161
- Douro Valley Tour: 2 Vineyard Visits, River Cruise, Winery Lunch: $113
- Douro Valley and Régua Panoramic Cruise with Lunch from Porto: $92
- Douro Valley: Historical Sites, Wine Experience, Lunch & Cruise: $106
- Douro: luxury & private tour with picnic lunch at Quinta da Roêda: $293
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.
- Culebra Swim with Turtles Adventure and Flamenco Beach by Ferry: $130
- El Yunque Rainforest Tour Half Day Earlybird/ Small Groups: $85
- Full-Day Tour: El Yunque, Luquillo Beach, Bio Bay Night Kayaking: $155
- Puerto Rican Food Experience: $99
- "Exclusive Tour": VIP Rum Tasting at San Juan Artisan Distillers: $150
- "Yo Soy de PfknR" Bad Bunny Party Bus Experience: $145
- 1 Hour Historical UTV Tour in San Juan: $200
- 2 Tours in 1 Day: Rainforest Waterslides & Beach Tour w/Transport: $60
- 3 Tours in 1 Day: Old San Juan, Rainforest, Beach with Transport: $75
- 30-Minute Freestyle Jet Ski Adventure in the Bay: $100
- ATV Double Rider Adventure Near San Juan - Hacienda Campo Rico: $221
- ATV Single Rider Adventure Near San Juan - Hacienda Campo Rico: $149
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPorto $22San Juan $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Porto
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Porto:
- Luxury Yacht Cruise with Wine Tasting & Snacks: $54
- Port Wine Tour | 3 Cellars | 7 Tastings | 12 Participants Maximum: $60
- Port Wine Lodges Tour Including 7 Port Wine Tastings (English): $62
- Authentic Food and Wine Tour in Porto by Food Lover Tour: $81
- Douro Valley Tour: Wine Tasting, Cruise and Lunch from Porto : $96
- Douro Valley Wine Tour: 3 Vineyard Visits, Wine Tastings, Lunch: $113
- Complete Douro Valley Wine Tour with Lunch, Wine Tastings and River Cruise: $118
- Douro Valley Half-Day Wine Tour with Winery and Lunch From Porto: $131
- Authentic Small Group Douro Wine Tour with Lunch & River Cruise: $131
- Small Group Douro Valley Wine Tour with Lunch and Cruise: $149
- Douro Valley Small-Group Tour with Wine Tasting, Lunch and Boat: $150
- Douro Valley Tour - 3 Wine tastings, Lunch & river Cruise: $152
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
- The Pinones Pub crawl Bar crawl : $70
- Local Puerto Rican Rum Distillery Tour - Ron Pepon: $90
- Puerto Rico's First and Only Craft Beer Brewery Tour! : $99
When comparing the travel costs between Porto and San Juan, we can see that San Juan 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. Even though Porto is in Europe and San Juan is in Caribbean Islands, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
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.