Which place is cheaper, San Juan del Sur or Punta Cana?
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 Punta Cana or San Juan del Sur?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Punta Cana 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: Punta Cana or San Juan del Sur?
Punta Cana
Punta Cana, located on the easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic, is renowned for its stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, and vibrant culture. This Caribbean paradise offers a diverse range of experiences that cater to all types of travelers, whether you're on a tight budget, seeking thrilling activities, exploring local cuisine, or figuring out the best ways to get around.
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 Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.
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Punta Cana Prices
Dominican Republic PricesSan Juan del Sur Prices
Nicaragua Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPunta Cana $180San Juan del Sur $71
The average daily cost (per person) in Punta Cana is $180, while the average daily cost in San Juan del Sur is $71. 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 Punta Cana and San Juan del Sur in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPunta Cana $101San Juan del Sur $26
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPunta Cana $202San Juan del Sur $52
Compare Hotels in Punta Cana and San Juan del Sur
Looking for a hotel in Punta Cana 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: Punta Cana Hotel Prices and San Juan del Sur Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Punta Cana $6.77San Juan del Sur $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Cana
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Punta Cana:
- “Private Airport Transfer to La Romana & Bayahibe from Punta Cana: $47
- “Round-Trip Private Transfer: Punta Cana Airport ↔ Uvero Alto ”: $27
- Affordable Private Airport Transfer in Punta Cana: $15
- Affordable Private SUBURBAN Transfer from Punta Cana Airport: $6.50
- Airport (PUJ) Private transfers, Transportation Punta Cana Hotels: $23
- Airport Transfer from/to Uvero Alto to Punta Cana: $30
- Airport Transfers to Punta Cana / Bavaro and Uvero Alto Hotels: $32
- Arrive in Punta Cana Like a Star – VIP Escalade Luxury Transfer: $47
- Bayahibe - Coco Bongo Punta Cana Entry ticket Open Bar & transfer: $140
- Budget Punta Cana Airport Transfers-Cap Cana, Bavaro, Uvero Alto: $6.50
- Caribbean Holiday Services Transfer: $90
- Caribbean Holiday Services Transfer: $35
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 Punta Cana or San Juan del Sur?
Prices for flights to both San Juan del Sur and Punta Cana 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 dayPunta Cana $68San Juan del Sur $32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Punta Cana
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Punta Cana.
- Half Day Punta Cana Food Tour Including Transportation: $35
- Origen Tasting Adventure Dinner or Lunch of 8 Courses Dom Cuisine: $85
- Punta Cana Nightlife and Street Food Tour with Hotel Pickup: $95
- "PRIVATE"- Wild Dominican Sancocho Cooking Adventure!: $99
- Punta Cana Buggy Ride with Dinner and Taino Party: $139
- Sunset Buggies Adventure with Dinner from Punta Cana: $145
- Dinner in the Sky Experience in Punta Cana: $149
- Punta Cana Jungle Night Tour with Cave Swim and Dinner: $160
- Night Buggy Tour with Cenote Swim & Dinner Combo: $190
- Punta Cana Buggy Ride and Taino Party with Dinner: $230
- Punta Cana Buggy Ride, Dinner and Taino Party: $294
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
- ATV Adventure with Lunch and Dinner: $500
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Punta Cana $31San Juan del Sur $15
Typical Entertainment Prices in Punta Cana
Here are a few typical costs in Punta Cana for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Dune Buggy Adventure$54
Tours and Activities in Punta Cana
Here are a few actual costs in Punta Cana for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Private Souvenirs Shopping Tour from Punta Cana: $4.00
- Tour de Compras: Chocolate, Café y Artesanías en Punta Cana.: $5.00
- Santo Domingo: Panoramic tour to Punta Cana with Buggy Ride: $5.00
- Shopping Tour In Don Lucas Cigar Factory, Rum tasting, Cocoa factory, Souvenirs: $5.00
- Punta Cana Souvenir Shopping Tour with Pickup: $6.00
- Cigar Purchase Tour From Punta Cana with Transportation Included: $10
- Souvenir Shopping Tour in Punta Cana. Transportation Included: $10
- Souvenir Shopping Tour in Punta Cana Transportation Included: $10
- Cigar Shopping Tour in Punta Cana with Transportation Included: $10
- Buggies adventure in Macau and Cenote: $20
- Buggy and ATV Tour in Punta Cana: $20
- ATV and Buggy Adventure with Water Cave and Beach in Punta Cana: $21
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:
- Ride the sky and Epic bicycle zipline tour: $45
- ATV Adventure at Lake Nicaragua in San Juan del Sur: $75
- Kayak and Paddle Boarding Adventure in San Juan del Sur: $105
- Surfing Adventure Morning in San Juan del Sur: $105
- Surf and Paradise View Tour in San Juan del Sur: $129
- Masaya Volcano Tour in Nicaragua: $130
- ATV Adventure Tour in San Juan del Sur, NICARAGUA: $145
- SJDS PORT EXCURSION: Zipline and Adventure Park: $150
- Volcano Day Tour with Meals: $158
- Mombacho Volcano Hike and Ziplining Adventure from San Juan del Sur: $159
- San Juan del Sur Shore Excursion: Private Masaya Volcano and Catarina Tour: $201
- Catamaran Cruise with Meals in San Juan del Sur: $220
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPunta Cana $11San Juan del Sur $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Punta Cana and San Juan del Sur, we can see that Punta Cana is more expensive. And not only is San Juan del Sur much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Punta Cana is in Caribbean Islands 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 San Juan del Sur would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Juan del Sur 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 Punta Cana would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Punta Cana than you might in San Juan del Sur.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Punta Cana Expensive? and Is San Juan del Sur Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Punta Cana or San Juan del Sur?
Punta Cana has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of San Juan del Sur. When comparing the sizes of Punta Cana 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.