Which place is cheaper, Ponce or Saint Simons?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Saint Simons or Ponce?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Saint Simons 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 Simons or Ponce?
Saint Simons
Located just off the coast of southern Georgia, Saint Simons Island is the largest of the state’s renowned "Golden Isle's." Visitors are drawn to the Island for its warm climate, beaches, variety of outdoor activities, shops and restaurants, historical sites, and its natural environment. With most of the natural marsh and woodlands to the north and the commercial attractions centralized in the south, Saint Simons has a little taste of everything for all who come to see it.
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).
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, and The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint Simons $176Ponce $205
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint Simons is $176, 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 Simons and Ponce in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint Simons $100Ponce $151
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint Simons $200Ponce $302
Compare Hotels in Saint Simons and Ponce
Looking for a hotel in Saint Simons 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Saint Simons Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint Simons $49Ponce $10
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 Simons or Ponce?
Prices for flights to both Ponce and Saint Simons 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 Simons $48Ponce $35
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 Half-Day Food Tour : $130
- Private San Juan Cooking Class with a Local Expert: $146
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint Simons $16Ponce $56
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 Simons $60Ponce $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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint Simons and Ponce, we can see that Ponce is more expensive. And not only is Saint Simons much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint Simons is in North America and Ponce 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 Saint Simons would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Saint Simons 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 Ponce would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ponce than you might in Saint Simons.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Saint Simons Expensive? and Is Ponce Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Saint Simons or Ponce?
Ponce has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Saint Simons. When comparing the sizes of Saint Simons 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 Simons or Ponce?
Saint Simons has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Ponce experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Saint Simons or Ponce in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Simons and Ponce. Many visitors come to Saint Simons in the summer for the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the summer, Saint Simons is around the same temperature as Ponce. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint Simons in July average around 82°F (28°C), and Ponce averages at about 28°C (83°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ponce this time of the year. In Saint Simons, it's very sunny this time of the year. Saint Simons usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Ponce during summer. Saint Simons gets 286 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
Saint Simons gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Saint Simons usually receives more rain than Ponce. Saint Simons gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while Ponce receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySaint Simons 82°F (28°C)Ponce 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Saint Simons or Ponce in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Saint Simons as well as Ponce. Most visitors come to Saint Simons for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year.
In October, Saint Simons is generally cooler than Ponce. Daily temperatures in Saint Simons average around 70°F (21°C), and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ponce. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint Simons this time of the year. In the autumn, Saint Simons often gets less sunshine than Ponce. Saint Simons gets 214 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 235 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Ponce. Saint Simons usually gets less rain in October than Ponce. Saint Simons gets 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain, while Ponce receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSaint Simons 70°F (21°C)Ponce 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Saint Simons or Ponce in the Winter?
Both Ponce and Saint Simons are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Saint Simons because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Plenty of visitors come to Ponce because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Saint Simons is much colder than Ponce in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint Simons averages around 53°F (12°C) in January, and Ponce fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
It's quite sunny in Ponce. Saint Simons usually receives less sunshine than Ponce during winter. Saint Simons gets 191 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Saint Simons usually receives more rain than Ponce. Saint Simons gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Ponce receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySaint Simons 53°F (12°C)Ponce 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Saint Simons or Ponce in the Spring?
Both Ponce and Saint Simons during the spring are popular places to visit. The beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty are the main draw to Saint Simons this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round.
In the spring, Saint Simons is cooler than Ponce. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint Simons in April average around 68°F (20°C), and Ponce averages at about 26°C (79°F).
In Ponce, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Saint Simons. In the spring, Saint Simons often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Ponce. Saint Simons gets 285 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 272 hours of full sun.
Saint Simons usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Ponce. Saint Simons gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Ponce receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSaint Simons 68°F (20°C)Ponce 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Ponce and Saint Simons
| Saint Simons | Ponce | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 53°F (12°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 56°F (13°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 62°F (17°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 68°F (20°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 74°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 80°F (27°C) | 5.7 inches (146 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 82°F (28°C) | 5.4 inches (137 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 82°F (28°C) | 7.8 inches (199 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 79°F (26°C) | 7.1 inches (180 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 70°F (21°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 62°F (17°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 56°F (13°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | 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.