Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Rio de Janeiro?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Rio de Janeiro and San Juan 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.
Rio de Janeiro is the most popular travel destination in Brazil. It is the second largest city in Brazil and the sixth largest in the Americas. A portion of the city has been designated a World Heritage Site. It's also famous for Carnival, it's gorgeous beaches, and world-famous landmarks. Rio's appeal as a travel destination is apparent year round due to the great weather and plenty of fun activities. The city has a wonderful natural harbor that is surrounded by Sugar Loaf Mountain, Corcovado Peak, and the hills of Tijuca, creating an absolutely breathtaking and awe-inspiring setting.
If you've ever set foot on a Caribbean cruise, you've probably spent a bit of time in San Juan, Puerto Rico. However, maybe you should consider spending more than just a port day in this beautiful and historically rich city.
As the capital and largest city in all of Puerto Rico, San Juan is home to approximately 400,000 people. Established in 1521, it is also the second oldest European-founded settlement in the Americas.
As this city fuses a historic paradise with modern day energy, it has absolutely everything to offer. Intellectual wanderers, beach bums, rainforest adventurers and radical surfers will all find plenty to do in San Juan.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Brazil, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Brazil.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Rio de Janeiro is $105, while the average daily cost in San Juan is $192. 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 Rio de Janeiro and San Juan in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Rio de Janeiro or San Juan? 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.
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rio de Janeiro:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rio de Janeiro:
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Rio de Janeiro 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.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rio de Janeiro:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rio de Janeiro.
For San Juan, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Here are a few actual costs in Rio de Janeiro for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
For San Juan, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Juan.
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rio de Janeiro:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Juan:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rio de Janeiro and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Rio de Janeiro much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Rio de Janeiro is in South America and San Juan is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Rio de Janeiro would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rio de Janeiro 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 would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Juan than you might in Rio de Janeiro.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Rio de Janeiro Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of San Juan. When comparing the sizes of Rio de Janeiro and San Juan, 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.
Rio de Janeiro has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Juan experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Both San Juan and Rio de Janeiro during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
In the summer, Rio de Janeiro is around the same temperature as San Juan. Typically, the summer temperatures in Rio de Janeiro in January average around 26°C (79°F), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (83°F)in July.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Rio de Janeiro. Rio de Janeiro usually gets more rain in January than San Juanin July. Rio de Janeiro gets 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Rio de Janeiro and San Juan. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Rio de Janeiro is generally cooler than San Juanin October. Daily temperatures in Rio de Janeiro average around 25°C (77°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
San Juan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Rio de Janeiro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Rio de Janeiro usually receives around the same amount of rain as San Juanin October. Rio de Janeiro gets 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
The winter brings many poeple to Rio de Janeiro as well as San Juan. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
Rio de Janeiro is cooler than San Juan in the winter. The daily temperature in Rio de Janeiro averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and San Juan fluctuates around 25°C (77°F)in January.
Rio de Janeiro usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as San Juanin January. Rio de Janeiro gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both San Juan and Rio de Janeiro are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the spring, Rio de Janeiro is cooler than San Juan. Typically, the spring temperatures in Rio de Janeiro in October average around 23°C (73°F), and San Juan averages at about 26°C (79°F)in April.
In October, Rio de Janeiro usually receives more rain than San Juanin April. Rio de Janeiro gets 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Rio de Janeiro | San Juan | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
May | 23°C (73°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
Aug | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
Nov | 24°C (75°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |