Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Roatan?
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 Roatan or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Roatan and San Juan. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Roatan or San Juan?
Roatan
Your next great vacation lies just thirty miles off the north coast of Honduras. Right above the world's largest coral reef is the island of Roatan. As a popular tourist attraction and standard cruise destination, it's not uncommon to see tons of Americans during your trip. In fact, the cruising industry has had huge impact on the island's culture. While ships are in port, traffic will be heavier and prices may go up. Because of the growth of tourism, most locals speak both Spanish and English.
San Juan
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 Adventure Tours to Honduras, and The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras.
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Roatan Prices
Honduras PricesSan Juan Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRoatan $42San Juan $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Roatan is $42, while the average daily cost in San Juan is $218. 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 Roatan and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRoatan $10San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRoatan $20San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Roatan and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Roatan 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Roatan Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Roatan $17San Juan $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:
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Water Taxi$3.95
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Roatan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Roatan:
- Private Transfer from Honduras Roatan Airport (RTB) to Roatan Hotels: $153
- King Kong Extreme Zipline, City Tour and Transfer: $130
- Mahogany Bay Cruise Port to Roatan Island hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $123
- South Side Horseback Riding, Beach Break & Roundway Transfer: $120
- Honduras Roatan Airport (RTB) to Roatan -Round-Trip Transfer: $113
- Roatan Private Transfers: Airport, Cruise Port or Hotel: $110
- Roatan East End Cultural Experience, Island Lunch & Private Transfer: $99
- West Bay Beach Day Pass & Private Transfer – Roatán: $89
- Let's Go Native Roatan City Cultural Tour, Transfer: $80
- Mahogany Bay Cruise Port to Roatan - Arrival Private Transfer: $57
- Ultimate West Bay Beach Day: Pass & Transfers Included: $55
- Transfers to West End by night from hotels in West Bay or Sandy Bay: $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan - Arrival Private Transfer: $27
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan Arrival Private Transfer: $29
- San Juan Port to San Juan Airport (SJU)- Departure Transfer: $29
- Premium Transfer Service FROM or TO Rio Grande Puerto Rico: $50
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan Port Arrival Private Transfer: $59
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $59
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, Tesla 3 Luxury Sedan.: $63
- One-way transfer from SJU Airport to Cruise Port or Vice Versa: $65
- Private Transfer Airport SJU to Old San Juan Vice versa One way: $65
- Transfer TO or FROM: Airport,Cruise,Hotel in DORADO or RIO GRANDE: $70
- Private Transfer in San Juan: $75
- Private Transfer from San Juan Airport (SJU) to Ponce Cruise Port: $77
Is it cheaper to fly into Roatan or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Roatan 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 dayRoatan $15San Juan $62
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Roatan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Roatan.
- Roatan Cooking Class and Cultural Experience: $125
- Cooking classes from a Local!: $245
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Juan
For San Juan, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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- Morning Old San Juan Food Tour: $169
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $170
- Savor the Sunset: Old San Juan Walking Food Tour: $179
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Roatan $25San Juan $49
Tours and Activities in Roatan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Roatan are as follows:
- 1 Stop Snorkel Adventure with Beach Break: $45
- 2 Hour Zip Lining Private Tour in Mahogany Bay: $65
- 3-Hours Private Tour in Roatan with Pick Up: $66
- 4 Hours Private Tour with Snorkel Experience in Roatan: $50
- ATV & community adventure, Mangrove tour, food tasting and Beach: $139
- ATV Adventure , Zip Line , Horseback Ride Combo Tour: $175
- ATV-Off Road + Roatan City Tour: $120
- Atv Island Tour: $140
- Catamaran Cruise, Open Bar, Food and Snorkeling: $165
- Cruise Friendly Sloths, Monkeys JungleZipline Adventure in Roatán: $125
- Cruise Ship Family Chocolate Factory, Sloths & Monkeys, Beach, Transportation: $70
- Cruise Travelers West Bay Beach Break with Island Tour in Roatan: $50
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Juan
For San Juan, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Horseback Riding Tour$40
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Full Day Snorkeling Trip$100
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1 Hr Windsurfing Lesson$75
Tours and Activities in San Juan
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Juan.
- The Ultimate Self-Guided Hidden Gems Tour in Puerto Rico: $5.00
- Transportation in San Juan, Isla verde, Condado, Hotels, Cruises & Airbnb's SJU: $14
- Outdoor Salsa Class Experience in San Juan: $19
- San Juan Ghost Tour: Shrieks in the Sugarcane: $26
- Old San Juan Tour in Spanish: $30
- Paddleboard Adventure: Explore Marine Life in Condado Lagoon: $32
- SJU Airport to San Juan Cruise Port or return: $33
- VIP San Juan Salsa Night Experience at Luxury Condado Beach: $35
- San Juan Guided Turtle Snorkel Tour and Complimentary Videos: $45
- Legacy Tour at Casa BACARDÍ in Puerto Rico: $45
- 1 Hour Bull Maze Adventure at Toroverde Urban Park San Juan: $45
- Top Rated El Yunque Rainforest & Waterslide – SmallGroup Tour: $45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRoatan $6.56San Juan $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Roatan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Roatan:
- Bar Crawl Tour in West End Village by Pedibike- Let the Good Times Roll: $80
Sample the Local Flavors in San Juan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Juan:
- Old San Juan Bar Crawl: Experience Local Hotspots: $65
- Puerto Rico Tobacco Farm and Local Brewery Tour: $109
- Puerto Rico's First and Only Craft Beer Brewery Tour!: $150
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Roatan and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Roatan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Roatan is in Central 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 Roatan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Roatan 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 Roatan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Roatan Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Roatan or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Roatan. When comparing the sizes of Roatan 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.
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.