Which place is cheaper, San Juan del Sur or Punta del Este?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Punta del Este or San Juan del Sur, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Punta del Este with its many beaches, elegant seaside homes, yacht harbor, high-rise apartment buildings, pricey hotels, ardent night scene and glitzy restaurants is a chic beach resort town in Uruguay. Many tourists come from Brazil and Argentina, on the other side of the Rio de la Plata, to get some nice sun and lay on the beach for a weekend getaway. Punta del Este is more expensive than other areas in Uruguay and has been called the Monaco of South America. Tourist season varies wildly from totally deserted in the winter to very crowded in the summer.
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 Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Punta del Este is $98, while the average daily cost in San Juan del Sur is $53. 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 del Este and San Juan del Sur in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Punta del Este 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.
Also for Punta del Este, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both San Juan del Sur and Punta del Este 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta del Este.
Here are a few actual costs in San Juan del Sur for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Punta del Este:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Punta del Este and San Juan del Sur, we can see that Punta del Este is more expensive. And not only is San Juan del Sur much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Punta del Este 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 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 del Este would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Punta del Este 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 del Este Expensive? and Is San Juan del Sur Expensive?.
San Juan del Sur has a larger population, and is about 8% larger than the population of Punta del Este. When comparing the sizes of Punta del Este 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.
Punta del Este has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Juan del Sur experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
The summer brings many poeple to Punta del Este as well as San Juan del Sur. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan del Sur throughout the year.
In January, Punta del Este is generally cooler than San Juan del Surin July. Daily temperatures in Punta del Este average around 23°C (73°F), and San Juan del Sur fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Punta del Este this time of the year. In the summer, Punta del Este often gets more sunshine than San Juan del Surin July. Punta del Este gets 296 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan del Sur receives 175 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in San Juan del Sur. Punta del Este usually gets less rain in January than San Juan del Surin July. Punta del Este gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both San Juan del Sur and Punta del Este are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan del Sur because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Punta del Este is much colder than San Juan del Sur in the autumn. The daily temperature in Punta del Este averages around 17°C (63°F) in April, and San Juan del Sur fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in October.
Punta del Este usually receives less sunshine than San Juan del Sur during autumn. Punta del Este gets 171 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan del Sur receives 195 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Juan del Sur. In April, Punta del Este usually receives less rain than San Juan del Surin October. Punta del Este gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Both San Juan del Sur and Punta del Este during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan del Sur year-round.
In the winter, Punta del Este is much colder than San Juan del Sur. Typically, the winter temperatures in Punta del Este in July average around 10°C (50°F), and San Juan del Sur averages at about 26°C (79°F)in January.
In San Juan del Sur, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Punta del Este often gets less sunshine than San Juan del Surin January. Punta del Este gets 135 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan del Sur receives 244 hours of full sun.
Punta del Este usually gets more rain in July than San Juan del Surin January. Punta del Este gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Punta del Este and San Juan del Sur. San Juan del Sur attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Punta del Este is generally much colder than San Juan del Surin April. Daily temperatures in Punta del Este average around 16°C (61°F), and San Juan del Sur fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan del Sur this time of the year. In Punta del Este, it's very sunny this time of the year. Punta del Este usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan del Sur during spring. Punta del Este gets 248 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan del Sur receives 242 hours of full sun in the spring.
In October, Punta del Este usually receives more rain than San Juan del Surin April. Punta del Este gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Punta del Este | San Juan del Sur | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 23°C (73°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
Feb | 22°C (72°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
May | 14°C (57°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
Jun | 11°C (52°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
Jul | 10°C (50°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) |
Aug | 11°C (52°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) |
Sep | 13°C (55°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) |
Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) |
Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |