Which place is cheaper, San Juan del Sur or Puerto Iguazu?
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 Puerto Iguazu or San Juan del Sur?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Puerto Iguazu or San Juan del Sur? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Puerto Iguazu or San Juan del Sur?
Puerto Iguazu
Puerto Iguazu is located in the northeastern part of Argentina at the border with Paraguay and Brazil. It is a tourist city and travel destination because of its close proximity to Iguazu Falls, which is only 18 kilometers away. Much of the city's infrastructure has grown to maintain the tourist crowds that come to see the falls. The town itself has a population of slightly over 80,000.
San Juan del Sur
San Juan del Sur is a popular port destination on the Pacific coast of southwest Nicaragua. The town was once a quaint fishing village but has grown into a tourist town with activities for visitors that include surfing, fishing, and, of course, partying. The town has a population of just over 15,000, most of whom are either fishermen or involved in the tourism industry. There is also a large expat community from the United States, Canada, and Europe.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.
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Puerto Iguazu Prices
Argentina PricesSan Juan del Sur Prices
Nicaragua Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Iguazu $59San Juan del Sur $72
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Iguazu is $59, while the average daily cost in San Juan del Sur is $72. 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 Puerto Iguazu and San Juan del Sur in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Iguazu $42San Juan del Sur $26
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Iguazu $84San Juan del Sur $52
Compare Hotels in Puerto Iguazu and San Juan del Sur
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Iguazu or San Juan del Sur? 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: Puerto Iguazu Hotel Prices and San Juan del Sur Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Iguazu $3.22San Juan del Sur $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Iguazu
Also for Puerto Iguazu, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Brazilian Waterfalls Tour and Bird Park with Transfer: $112
- Estancia Las Mercedes Day Trip with Lunch & Transfers: $399
- Full-day private transfer to Iguazu Falls: $185
- Iguazú Falls Combo: Argentina & Brazil, with Transfers: $86
- Iguazu Falls Argentina Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Hotels: $22
- Iguazu Falls Argentina Brazil Duty Free Shop with Transfers: $60
- Iguazu Falls Saver Package! Both sides excursions & transfers: $79
- Private Transfer between Airport and Downtown Iguazu: $39
- Private Transfer from Puerto Iguazu Airport to Foz do Iguaçu: $83
- Private Transfer to or from Puerto Iguazu Airport IGR: $40
- Puerto Iguazú Combo: Iguazu Falls 2 Day Tours + transfers: $85
- Puerto Iguazú Round-Trip Airport Transfer: $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan del Sur
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Juan del Sur:
- Granada: One way shared transfer to San Juan del Sur: $39
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Iguazu or San Juan del Sur?
Prices for flights to both San Juan del Sur and Puerto Iguazu 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 dayPuerto Iguazu $6.59San Juan del Sur $32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Puerto Iguazu
For Puerto Iguazu, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Puerto Iguazú: Madero Tango Show with Optional Dinner: $34
- Madero Tango Show with Optional Dinner in Iguazu: $36
- Argentine Experience: Immersive Dinner & Wine Pairing in Iguazú: $75
- Iguazu Falls: The Argentine Experience Interactive Dinner: $75
- Churrascaria Rafain - Show and Dinner: $125
- Dinner Show Rafain Steakhouse from Puerto Iguazú Hotels Private Tour: $130
- Dinner Tango Show in Iguazú Falls - no transfers -: $152
- Experience Guamini Mision Dinner and Tango Show Gran Meliá Iguazú Exclusive: $155
- FD Iguazu Falls Argentinian side + Dinner Tango Show -no transfer: $211
- Rafain Steakhouse Dinner & Show: $232
- Foz do Iguaçu: Argentinean Cooking Class: $244
- Iguazu Falls: Argentina Side Tour with Dinner & Tango Show: $278
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Juan del Sur
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Juan del Sur.
- Mombacho Volcano Adventure Tour with Dinner: $235
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Iguazu $35San Juan del Sur $15
Tours and Activities in Puerto Iguazu
For Puerto Iguazu, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Iguazu Falls Argentinian Side Full-Day Tour: $18
- Hito Tres Fronters and La Aripuca City Tour: $27
- Foz do Iguaçu: Brazil/Argentina Sides Iguazu Falls Day Tour: $41
- Explore Iguazu Falls in Brazil: An Unforgettable Experience: $44
- From San Ignacio Ruins and Wanda Mines Tour: $46
- Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Tour from Puerto Iguazu: $49
- Iguazu Falls Argentine Side Tour & Ecological Train Ride: $55
- Iguazú Falls National Park Entry Ticket or Flexipass 3 days: $60
- Iguazu Falls, Argentina + Boat Option (Private Tour): $71
- Private Shopping Tour in Puerto Iguazú: $71
- Iguazu Falls Guided Tour Argentina side: $73
- Full-Day Tour to the San Ignacio Mission Ruins and Wanda Mines: $74
Tours and Activities in San Juan del Sur
Here are a few actual costs in San Juan del Sur for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- ATV Adventure Tour in San Juan del Sur, NICARAGUA: $145
- Catamaran Cruise with Meals in San Juan del Sur: $220
- Gran Nelson Xtreme Zipline Adventure: $45
- Horse Riding Adventure: $295
- Kayak and Paddle Boarding Adventure in San Juan del Sur: $105
- La Flor Beach Natural Reserve Bus Tour: $80
- Masaya Volcano Tour in Nicaragua: $130
- Mombacho Volcano Hike and Ziplining Adventure from San Juan del Sur: $159
- Private Tour to Granada Colonial City and 365 Islets: $282
- Relaxed Coastal Boat Tour in San Juan del Sur: $250
- SJDS PORT EXCURSION: Zipline and Adventure Park: $150
- San Juan del Sur Shore Excursion: Private Masaya Volcano and Catarina Tour: $201
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Iguazu $8.22San Juan del Sur $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Iguazu and San Juan del Sur, we can see that San Juan del Sur is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Iguazu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Puerto Iguazu is in South America and San Juan del Sur is in Central 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 Puerto Iguazu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Iguazu 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 del Sur would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Juan del Sur than you might in Puerto Iguazu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Puerto Iguazu Expensive? and Is San Juan del Sur Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Puerto Iguazu or San Juan del Sur?
Puerto Iguazu has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of San Juan del Sur. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Iguazu and San Juan del Sur, 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.
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.