A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Saaremaa vs. San Juan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Saaremaa or San Juan?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Saaremaa or San Juan, 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.

Where Should I go: Saaremaa or San Juan?

Saaremaa

Saaremaa is the largest island in Estonia and it has a unique and rural atmosphere that makes it an interesting place to visit. Saaremaa has remained rural and frozen in time due to its isolated location, particularly during Soviet occupation when it was used as a military base. The island still has working windmills, hand placed stone walls, and old stone churches that feel like you've stepped back in time.

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 2-Week Tours from Tallinn, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Estonia.


Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Saaremaa?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Saaremaa is $150, 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 Saaremaa and San Juan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Saaremaa $42
    San Juan $124
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Saaremaa $84
    San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Saaremaa and San Juan

Looking for a hotel in Saaremaa 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.

Hotels in Saaremaa


Hotels in San Juan


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: San Juan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Saaremaa $56
    San Juan $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saaremaa

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Saaremaa:


  • Rental Car and Gas for a Day
    $40

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan

Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Double ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $289
  • Transfer in Puerto Rico with Minivan from Airport: $280
  • Transfer SJU Airport to Ponce and Juana Diaz. Hotels and Airbnb Vice Versa 1 Way: $260
  • Carabali Rain Forest Round Trip Private Taxi Transfer: $200
  • Single ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $195
  • Private Airport Transfers to Ceiba Ferry Terminal and Airport: $155
  • Transfer SJU Airport to Dorado. Hotels and Airbnb. Vice Versa One Way Trip.: $140
  • Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, 16Pax Mercedes Van, Select Zone: $130
  • Transfer from San Juan to Ponce or Ponce to San Juan: $125
  • Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 14Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $124
  • San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $120
  • Arrival Private Transfer SJU Airport to Old San Juan by Sedan: $120

Is it cheaper to fly into Saaremaa or San Juan?

Prices for flights to both San Juan and Saaremaa 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Saaremaa $74
    San Juan $62
Typical Food Prices in Saaremaa

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Saaremaa:


  • Salmon
    $1.50

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:

  • Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $165
  • FlyDining: Sunset & City Lights Dinner Over Old San Juan: $165
  • Morning Old San Juan Food Tour: $169
  • Cooking and Connecting with a Local in Puerto Rico: $173
  • Savor the Sunset: Old San Juan Walking Food Tour: $179

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Saaremaa $24
    San Juan $49

Typical Entertainment Prices in San Juan

For San Juan, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Horseback Riding Tour
    $40
  • Full Day Snorkeling Trip
    $100
  • 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.

  • Culebra Swim with Turtles Adventure and Flamenco Beach by Ferry: $130
  • El Yunque Rainforest Tour Half Day Earlybird/ Small Groups: $85
  • Full-Day Tour: El Yunque, Luquillo Beach, Bio Bay Night Kayaking: $155
  • Puerto Rican Food Experience: $99
  • "Exclusive Tour": VIP Rum Tasting at San Juan Artisan Distillers: $150
  • "Yo Soy de PfknR" Bad Bunny Party Bus Experience: $145
  • 1 Hour Historical UTV Tour in San Juan: $200
  • 2 Tours in 1 Day: Rainforest Waterslides & Beach Tour w/Transport: $60
  • 3 Tours in 1 Day: Old San Juan, Rainforest, Beach with Transport: $75
  • 30-Minute Freestyle Jet Ski Adventure in the Bay: $100
  • ATV Double Rider Adventure Near San Juan - Hacienda Campo Rico: $221
  • ATV Single Rider Adventure Near San Juan - Hacienda Campo Rico: $149

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Saaremaa $13
    San Juan $12

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
  • The Pinones Pub crawl Bar crawl : $70
  • Local Puerto Rican Rum Distillery Tour - Ron Pepon: $90
  • Puerto Rico's First and Only Craft Beer Brewery Tour! : $99


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saaremaa and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Saaremaa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saaremaa is in Europe 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 Saaremaa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Saaremaa 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 Saaremaa.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Saaremaa Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Saaremaa or San Juan?

San Juan has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Saaremaa. When comparing the sizes of Saaremaa 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.


When is the best time to visit Saaremaa or San Juan?

Saaremaa has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Juan experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Saaremaa or San Juan in the Summer?

Both San Juan and Saaremaa are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Saaremaa in the summer for the beaches, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the summer, Saaremaa is much colder than San Juan. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saaremaa in July average around 17°C (62°F), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (83°F).

It's quite sunny in San Juan. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saaremaa. Saaremaa usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan during summer. Saaremaa gets 302 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Saaremaa usually receives less rain than San Juan. Saaremaa gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Saaremaa 17°C (62°F) 
    San Juan 28°C (83°F)

Should I visit Saaremaa or San Juan in the Autumn?

Both San Juan and Saaremaa during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Saaremaa for the small town atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.

In October, Saaremaa is generally much colder than San Juan. Daily temperatures in Saaremaa average around 8°C (47°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Saaremaa often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Saaremaa gets 101 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun.

San Juan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Saaremaa usually gets less rain in October than San Juan. Saaremaa gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Saaremaa 8°C (47°F) 
    San Juan 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Saaremaa or San Juan in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Saaremaa and San Juan. The winter months attract visitors to Saaremaa because of the cuisine. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

The weather in Saaremaa can be very cold. Saaremaa is much colder than San Juan in the winter. The daily temperature in Saaremaa averages around -3°C (27°F) in January, and San Juan fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. Saaremaa usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during winter. Saaremaa gets 33 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Saaremaa usually receives less rain than San Juan. Saaremaa gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Saaremaa -3°C (27°F) 
    San Juan 25°C (77°F)

Should I visit Saaremaa or San Juan in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Saaremaa as well as San Juan. The beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty are the main draw to Saaremaa this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.

It's quite cold in Saaremaa in the spring. In the spring, Saaremaa is much colder than San Juan. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saaremaa in April average around 4°C (38°F), and San Juan averages at about 26°C (79°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. In the spring, Saaremaa often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Saaremaa gets 196 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun.

Saaremaa usually gets less rain in April than San Juan. Saaremaa gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Saaremaa 4°C (38°F) 
    San Juan 26°C (79°F)

Typical Weather for San Juan and Saaremaa

Saaremaa San Juan
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -3°C (27°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 25°C (77°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Feb -3°C (26°F) 28 mm (1.1 in) 25°C (77°F) 41 mm (1.6 in)
Mar -1°C (30°F) 30 mm (1.2 in) 26°C (78°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Apr 4°C (38°F) 29 mm (1.1 in) 26°C (79°F) 69 mm (2.7 in)
May 9°C (48°F) 32 mm (1.3 in) 27°C (81°F) 120 mm (4.7 in)
Jun 14°C (57°F) 37 mm (1.5 in) 28°C (82°F) 82 mm (3.2 in)
Jul 17°C (62°F) 51 mm (2 in) 28°C (83°F) 95 mm (3.7 in)
Aug 17°C (62°F) 62 mm (2.4 in) 28°C (83°F) 130 mm (5.1 in)
Sep 13°C (55°F) 73 mm (2.9 in) 28°C (83°F) 130 mm (5.1 in)
Oct 8°C (47°F) 67 mm (2.6 in) 28°C (82°F) 135 mm (5.3 in)
Nov 4°C (39°F) 73 mm (2.9 in) 27°C (80°F) 132 mm (5.2 in)
Dec 0°C (32°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 26°C (78°F) 92 mm (3.6 in)