Which place is cheaper, Ponce or Recife?
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 Recife or Ponce?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Recife and Ponce can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Recife or Ponce?
Recife
One of the largest cities on Brazil's northeast coast, Recife is also the capital of the state of Pernambuco. The city gets its name from the Portuguese word for "reef," as it was built around a landscape of natural reef beaches. Many people visit to enjoy these beaches, experience the culture, and explore the history of this important Brazilian city.
Ponce
Ponce is on the south coast of Puerto Rico. It's the second largest city on the island and has been around since 1692 when it was originally founded by Ponce de Leon's grandson Juan Ponce de Leon y Loayza. The city has several nicknames, including La Perla del Sur (The Pearl of the South), La Ciudad Senorial (The Noble, or Lordly, City), and La Ciudad de las Quenepas (Genip City).
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Brazil, and The Best Budget Tours to Brazil.
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Recife Prices
Brazil PricesPonce Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRecife $209Ponce $230
The average daily cost (per person) in Recife is $209, while the average daily cost in Ponce is $230. 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 Recife and Ponce in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRecife $84Ponce $151
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRecife $168Ponce $302
Compare Hotels in Recife and Ponce
Looking for a hotel in Recife or Ponce? 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: Recife Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Recife $8.13Ponce $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Recife
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Recife:
- Private Transfer from Olinda to Recife (REC) Airport: $50
- Departure Transfer from Olinda to Recife Airport: $100
- Private Transfer from Igarassu to Recife (REC) Airport : $111
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:
- San Juan Departure Share Transfer: $27
- Isabela / Hatillo to Aguadilla Airport(BQN) - DepartureTransfer: $44
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- San Juan PR Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Transfer: $46
- Private Transfers from SJU Airport to Isla Verde, Condado or San Juan área : $60
- Transfer TO or FROM: Airport,Cruise,Hotel in DORADO or RIO GRANDE: $70
- Private Transfer from San Juan City Hotels to Ponce Cruise Port: $79
- Aguadilla Hernandez Airport (BQN) to Isabela - RoundTrip Transfer: $87
- Rio Grande hotel to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $109
- Vega Baja to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $170
- Transfer SJU Airport to Humacao and Nagüabo. Vice Versa One Way Trip: $185
Is it cheaper to fly into Recife or Ponce?
Prices for flights to both Ponce and Recife 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 dayRecife $117Ponce $61
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ponce
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ponce.
- Latin Night with Dinner and Local Music with Transportation: $59
- Puerto Rico Art and Wine Dinner with One Way Transportation: $89
- Private Cooking Class with a Fun Local in San German, Puerto Rico: $96
- Private Half-Day Island Authentic Food Tour : $130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Recife $11Ponce $56
Tours and Activities in Recife
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Recife are as follows:
- Olinda Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.48
Tours and Activities in Ponce
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ponce are as follows:
- Private Sunset Walking Tour in San Juan: $25
- Guided Walking Tour in Ponce: $30
- Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $30
- La Perla Cultural Tour: $35
- Prive Tours in Puerto Rico: $40
- Las Tinajas Waterfall: Guided Short Hike Adventure from Fajardo: $55
- Walking Guided Tour of History and Myths of Old San Juan : $60
- 2.5-Hour Historical Walking Tour of Old San Juan: $65
- Half-Day El Yunque Rainforest Tour from Fajardo: $65
- Half-Day Small-Group River Experience in El Yunque with Local : $68
- El Yunque Rainforest, Waterslides & Beach Tour from San Juan: $75
- Party Bus Experience in San Juan, Puerto Rico: $79
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRecife -Ponce $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Ponce
Also in Ponce, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Artisan Puertorrican Winery and Distillery Tour: $50
When comparing the travel costs between Recife and Ponce, we can see that Ponce 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 Recife is in South America and Ponce 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 Recife Expensive? and Is Ponce Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Recife or Ponce?
Recife has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Ponce. When comparing the sizes of Recife and Ponce, 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 Recife or Ponce?
Recife has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Ponce experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Recife or Ponce in the Summer?
Both Ponce and Recife are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Recife because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Plenty of visitors come to Ponce because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Recife is around the same temperature as Ponce in the summer. The daily temperature in Recife averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (83°F)in July.
It's quite sunny in Ponce. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Recife. Recife usually receives less sunshine than Ponce during summer. Recife gets 246 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
It's quite rainy in Recife. In January, Recife usually receives more rain than Poncein July. Recife gets 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the summer. The rainy season in Recife is March to August.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyRecife 26°C (79°F)Ponce 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Recife or Ponce in the Autumn?
Both Ponce and Recife during the autumn are popular places to visit. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Recife this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round.
In the autumn, Recife is around the same temperature as Ponce. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Recife in April average around 26°C (79°F), and Ponce averages at about 28°C (82°F)in October.
In Ponce, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Recife often gets less sunshine than Poncein October. Recife gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 235 hours of full sun.
Ponce gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Recife. Recife usually gets more rain in April than Poncein October. Recife gets 338 mm (13.3 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberRecife 26°C (79°F)Ponce 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Recife or Ponce in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Recife and Ponce. Many travelers come to Recife for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Recife is generally around the same temperature as Poncein January. Daily temperatures in Recife average around 24°C (76°F), and Ponce fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ponce this time of the year. Recife usually receives less sunshine than Ponce during winter. Recife gets 170 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
Recife gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Recife usually receives more rain than Poncein January. Recife gets 388 mm (15.3 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter. Also, March to August is the rainy season in Recife.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryRecife 24°C (76°F)Ponce 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Recife or Ponce in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Recife as well as Ponce. Many visitors come to Recife in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year.
Recife is around the same temperature as Ponce in the spring. The daily temperature in Recife averages around 25°C (77°F) in October, and Ponce fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in April.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ponce. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Recife this time of the year. In the spring, Recife often gets less sunshine than Poncein April. Recife gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 272 hours of full sun.
Recife usually gets less rain in October than Poncein April. Recife gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, October to December in Recife is the dry season.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilRecife 25°C (77°F)Ponce 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Ponce and Recife
| Recife | Ponce | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 257 mm (10.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 338 mm (13.3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 25°C (78°F) | 319 mm (12.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 378 mm (14.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (76°F) | 388 mm (15.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 205 mm (8.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (76°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 57 mm (2.2 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.