Which place is cheaper, San Juan del Sur or Recife?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Recife or San Juan del Sur?
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 San Juan del Sur 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 San Juan del Sur?
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.
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 Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Brazil, The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRecife $166San Juan del Sur $53
The average daily cost (per person) in Recife is $166, 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 Recife and San Juan del Sur in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRecife $88San Juan del Sur $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRecife $176San Juan del Sur $42
Compare Hotels in Recife and San Juan del Sur
Looking for a hotel in Recife 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: Recife Hotel Prices and San Juan del Sur Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Recife $8.47San Juan del Sur $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Recife
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Recife:
- Departure Transfer from Olinda to Recife Airport: $100
- Instituto Ricardo Brennand with transfers from Recife: $41
- Private Transfer from Igarassu to Recife (REC) Airport : $101
- Private Transfer from Olinda to Recife (REC) Airport: $46
- Private Transfer from Recife to Carneiros Beach: $114
- Private Transfer from Recife to Olinda: $46
- Private Transfer from Recife to Serrambi Beach: $101
- Private Transfer from Recife to Tamandare Beach: $114
- Recife Boat Tour with Transfers: $72
- Airport to Maragogi Hotels Private Transfer: $85
- Airport to Porto de Galinhas Transfer: $65
- Shared Transfer from Recife to Cabo de Santo Agostinho: $33
Is it cheaper to fly into Recife or San Juan del Sur?
Prices for flights to both San Juan del Sur 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 $70San Juan del Sur $18
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Recife $11San Juan del Sur $15
Tours and Activities in Recife
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Recife are as follows:
- Recife (Historic Centre) Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $7.65
- Olinda Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.82
- City Tour Recife & Olinda: $27
- Colonial North Coast beaches - Full-Day Tour: $35
- Olinda City Tour and Instituto Ricardo Brennand: $94
- City Tour Recife with Catamaran included: $150
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:
- Horseback Riding Tour in Playa Maderas, San Juan del Sur also in Costa Rica: $90
- SJDS PORT EXCURSION: Zipline and Adventure Park: $103
- San Juan del Sur Shore Excursion: Private Masaya Volcano and Catarina Tour: $118
- ATV Adventure Tour in San Juan del Sur, NICARAGUA: $130
- atv tour also in Costa Rica: $132
- Mombacho Volcano Hike and Ziplining Adventure from San Juan del Sur: $159
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRecife -San Juan del Sur $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Recife and San Juan del Sur, we can see that Recife is more expensive. And not only is San Juan del Sur much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Recife 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 Recife would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Recife 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 Recife Expensive? and Is San Juan del Sur Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Recife or San Juan del Sur?
Recife has a larger population, and is about 190 times larger than the population of San Juan del Sur. When comparing the sizes of Recife 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.
When is the best time to visit Recife or San Juan del Sur?
Recife 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.
Should I visit Recife or San Juan del Sur in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Recife and San Juan del Sur. San Juan del Sur attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Recife is around the same temperature as San Juan del Sur in the summer. The daily temperature in Recife averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and San Juan del Sur fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in July.
In Recife, it's very sunny this time of the year. Recife usually receives more sunshine than San Juan del Sur during summer. Recife gets 246 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan del Sur receives 175 hours of full sun in the summer.
San Juan del Sur receives a lot of rain in the summer. Recife gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Recife usually receives less rain than San Juan del Surin July. Recife gets 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyRecife 26°C (79°F)San Juan del Sur 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Recife or San Juan del Sur in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Recife as well as San Juan del Sur. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan del Sur throughout the year.
In the autumn, Recife is around the same temperature as San Juan del Sur. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Recife in April average around 26°C (79°F), and San Juan del Sur averages at about 27°C (81°F)in October.
In the autumn, Recife often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan del Surin October. Recife gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan del Sur receives 195 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in San Juan del Sur. Recife receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Recife usually gets more rain in April than San Juan del Surin October. Recife gets 338 mm (13.3 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberRecife 26°C (79°F)San Juan del Sur 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Recife or San Juan del Sur in the Winter?
Both San Juan del Sur and Recife are popular destinations to visit in the winter 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.
In July, Recife is generally around the same temperature as San Juan del Surin January. Daily temperatures in Recife average around 24°C (76°F), and San Juan del Sur fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
It's quite sunny in San Juan del Sur. Recife usually receives less sunshine than San Juan del Sur during winter. Recife gets 170 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan del Sur receives 244 hours of full sun in the winter.
It's quite rainy in Recife. In July, Recife usually receives more rain than San Juan del Surin January. Recife gets 388 mm (15.3 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryRecife 24°C (76°F)San Juan del Sur 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Recife or San Juan del Sur in the Spring?
Both San Juan del Sur and Recife during the spring are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan del Sur year-round.
Recife is cooler than San Juan del Sur in the spring. The daily temperature in Recife averages around 25°C (77°F) in October, and San Juan del Sur fluctuates around 29°C (84°F)in April.
In San Juan del Sur, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Recife. In the spring, Recife often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan del Surin April. Recife gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan del Sur receives 242 hours of full sun.
Recife usually gets more rain in October than San Juan del Surin April. Recife gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilRecife 25°C (77°F)San Juan del Sur 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan del Sur and Recife
| Recife | San Juan del Sur | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 257 mm (10.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 338 mm (13.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| May | 25°C (78°F) | 319 mm (12.5 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 378 mm (14.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (76°F) | 388 mm (15.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 205 mm (8.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (76°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 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.