Which place is cheaper, Ponce or Saint John's?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Saint John's or Ponce?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Saint John's or Ponce? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Saint John's or Ponce?
Saint John's
If you've been to St. John's, Antigua, you were likely on a cruise - which means you likely did not have enough time to truly experience the magic of this tiny island getaway.
St. Johns is the capital of the tiny islands of Antigua and Barbuda. Located on Antigua, this tropical city lives up to its status as a tropical paradise. With 365 beaches on the island, you can enjoy the luxury of lounging in the sand every day of the year.
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).
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint John's $222Ponce $205
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint John's is $222, while the average daily cost in Ponce is $205. 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 Saint John's and Ponce in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint John's $120Ponce $151
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint John's $240Ponce $302
Compare Hotels in Saint John's and Ponce
Looking for a hotel in Saint John's 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint John's $17Ponce $10
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint John's
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Saint John's:
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Local Bus$1.52
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Taxi From Airport$6.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint John's
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Saint John's:
- D.A.G Airport Transfers : $30
- Round-Trip Transfer between Antigua Airport and Antigua Hotels: $32
- Private One-Way Antigua Airport Transfer To/From Antigua: $45
- Shared Roundtrip Taxi Transfer from Antigua Airport to Royalton Antigua Resort: $45
- Airport Transfer from/to all resorts in Antigua - Water Inc.: $59
- Private Airport Transfers to Antigua and Barbuda: $60
- Biggvee Airport Roundtrip Transfer: $70
- VIP Meet and Greet Fast Track on Arrival at Antigua Airport - without Transfers : $74
- Antigua&Barbuda V.C.Bird Airport(ANU) to island Private Transfer: $77
- Island to Antigua&Barbuda V.C.Bird Airport(ANU)- Private Transfer: $77
- Private Transfer from Antigua island hotels to St. John's Port: $78
- Private Transfer from St. John's Port to Antigua Island Hotels: $78
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:
- Aguadilla Hernandez Airport (BQN) to Isabela - RoundTrip Transfer: $87
- Double ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $279
- Isabela / Hatillo to Aguadilla Airport(BQN) - DepartureTransfer: $44
- Private Transfer from San Juan City Hotels to Ponce Cruise Port: $79
- Private Transfers from SJU Airport to Isla Verde, Condado or San Juan área : $60
- Rio Grande hotel to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $109
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to Rio Grande hotel - Arrival Private Transfer: $109
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $92
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $92
- San Juan Departure Share Transfer: $27
- San Juan PR Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Transfer: $46
- San Juan Port to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint John's or Ponce?
Prices for flights to both Ponce and Saint John's 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 daySaint John's $68Ponce $35
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint John's
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Saint John's.
- City Lime Food Tour: Taste our culture on Antigua's only food tour in the city!: $105
- Discover the Flavors of St. Johns Food Tour: $125
- Private Art Tour or Food Tour: $150
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ponce
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ponce.
- Private Cooking Class with a Fun Local in San German, Puerto Rico: $96
- Private San Juan Cooking Class with a Local Expert: $146
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint John's $103Ponce $56
Typical Entertainment Prices in Saint John's
Here are a few typical costs in Saint John's for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entrance to the Museum of Antigua & Barbu$3.00
Tours and Activities in Saint John's
Here are a few actual costs in Saint John's for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Chariot City Tour Antigua: $20
- Antigua Shore Excursion: City of St John's Sightseeing Tour: $59
- City of St John's Sightseeing Tour: $59
- Cultural and Historical Home Tour in The Antiguan Experience : $66
- Glenmon taxi and tours: $70
- Small-Group Hiking Experience in Antigua: $70
- 2-Hours Stingray City Experience in Antigua: $73
- Antigua Historical Sites Island Tour: $75
- Kayak Eco Adventures Glass Kayak Nature and Snorkeling Tour: $75
- Authentic Antiguan Experience: $79
- TRIPLE ACTIVITY TOUR, Bike Kayak Hike, ANTIGUA : $80
- Nightlife Tour of Antigua and Barbuda: $80
Tours and Activities in Ponce
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ponce are as follows:
- Talking Buildings of Old San Juan: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Footsteps in San Juan Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $17
- Private Sunset Walking Tour in San Juan: $25
- Old San Juan Tour (1 Hour) by DUHO: $25
- Salsa Tours PR Sunset Salsa Beach Class in San Juan, Puerto Rico : $29
- Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $30
- Guided Walking Tour in Ponce: $30
- Guided City Walking Tour: $32
- La Perla Cultural Tour: $35
- Historic Old San Juan Sunset Walking Tour: $39
- Bio Bay Boat Tour with Swimming from La Parguera, Puerto Rico: $50
- Turtle spotting snorkeling adventure- no Jets : $50
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint John's $18Ponce $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
- Old San Juan Bar Crawl: Experience Local Hotspots: $65
- Local Puerto Rican Rum Distillery Tour - Ron Pepon: $90
- Rum Distillery and Old San Juan Tour: $99
When comparing the travel costs between Saint John's and Ponce, we can see that Saint John's 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. Since both cities are in Caribbean Islands, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Saint John's Expensive? and Is Ponce Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Saint John's or Ponce?
Ponce has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Saint John's. When comparing the sizes of Saint John's 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 Saint John's or Ponce?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Saint John's or Ponce in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John's and Ponce. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John's year-round. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Saint John's gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Saint John's usually receives more rain than Ponce. Saint John's gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ponce this time of the year. In Saint John's, it's very sunny this time of the year. Saint John's usually receives less sunshine than Ponce during summer. Saint John's gets 245 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
Saint John's is around the same temperature as Ponce in the summer. The daily temperature in Saint John's averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySaint John's 27°C (81°F)Ponce 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or Ponce in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Saint John's as well as Ponce. Saint John's attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Ponce. Saint John's receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Saint John's usually gets more rain in October than Ponce. Saint John's gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ponce. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint John's this time of the year. In the autumn, Saint John's often gets less sunshine than Ponce. Saint John's gets 217 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 235 hours of full sun.
In the autumn, Saint John's is around the same temperature as Ponce. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Saint John's in October average around 27°C (80°F), and Ponce averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSaint John's 27°C (80°F)Ponce 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or Ponce in the Winter?
Both Ponce and Saint John's are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John's throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Ponce because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Saint John's usually receives more rain than Ponce. Saint John's gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Ponce. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. Saint John's usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Ponce during winter. Saint John's gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Saint John's is generally around the same temperature as Ponce. Daily temperatures in Saint John's average around 24°C (76°F), and Ponce fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySaint John's 24°C (76°F)Ponce 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or Ponce in the Spring?
Both Ponce and Saint John's during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John's because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. Saint John's usually gets more rain in April than Ponce. Saint John's gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Ponce, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Saint John's. In the spring, Saint John's often gets less sunshine than Ponce. Saint John's gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 272 hours of full sun.
Saint John's is around the same temperature as Ponce in the spring. The daily temperature in Saint John's averages around 26°C (78°F) in April, and Ponce fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSaint John's 26°C (78°F)Ponce 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Ponce and Saint John's
| Saint John's | Ponce | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 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.