Which place is cheaper, San Juan or San Ignacio?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Ignacio or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Ignacio 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: San Ignacio or San Juan?
San Ignacio
So you want a tropical getaway, but also don't want to lay around with nothing to do. You want an adventure! You want relaxation and exploration.
You want to visit the small town of San Ignacio, Belize.
This section of the Cayo region is really more of a jungle than a typical Belize beach getaway. Located close the ancient Mayan ruins on the western and inland side of Belize, this town is most popular for its many outdoor adventures including hiking, climbing, and caving!
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 Budget Tours to Belize, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Ignacio $72San Juan $192
The average daily cost (per person) in San Ignacio is $72, 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 San Ignacio and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Ignacio $19San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Ignacio $38San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in San Ignacio and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in San Ignacio 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: San Ignacio Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Ignacio $3.11San Juan $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Ignacio
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Ignacio:
- From Van Transfer To Flores Peten in Guatemala: $20
- San Ignacio Hotel to Belize City Transfer: $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Carabali Rain Forest Round Trip Private Taxi Transfer: $210
- Mendoza: One-Way Private Transfer from Airport: $25
- Old Walking Tour with Shopping and Hotel Transfer: $70
- Oneway Transfer San Juan to Ceiba: Ferry, Vieques/Culebra Airport: $80
- Oneway Transfer from San Juan (SJU, hotel, airbnb, port) to Ponce: $125
- Oneway Transfer- San Juan(SJU, hotel, airbnb, port) to Río Grande: $68
- Private Airport Transfers to Ceiba Ferry Terminal and Airport: $155
- Private Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to San Juan Airport: $22
- Private Transfer from SJU Airport to San Juan / Rio Grande: $105
- Private Transportation in Puerto Rico From or To San Juan Airport(SJU) Transfers: $33
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 11Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $103
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, 16Pax Mercedes Van, Select Zone: $130
Is it cheaper to fly into San Ignacio or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and San Ignacio 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 daySan Ignacio $21San Juan $36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Ignacio
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Ignacio.
- Xunantunich & Food Tour with local chocolate experience: $150
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:
- Old San Juan Sunset Food Tour with Drinks: $156
- Savor the Sunset: Old San Juan Walk and Food Tour: $159
- City Lights Sky High Dinner Experience: $165
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $170
- Private Local Food Tour in San Juan: $275
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Ignacio $100San Juan $49
Tours and Activities in San Ignacio
Here are a few actual costs in San Ignacio for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- ATV Excursions in Cayo with Waterfalls Experience: $174
- Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour and Picnic: $125
- Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour from San Ignacio : $125
- Actun Tunichil Muknal with Local Tour guide & Belizean Lunch: $120
- Belize Cave Tubing Adventure from San Ignacio: $90
- Caracol Maya Ruins Tour Including Rio On Pools, Rio Frio Cave and a Picnic Lunch: $125
- Cave Canoeing with Local Tour Guide: $80
- Cave Tubing Adventure at Nohoch Che'en and Jaguar Paw : $115
- Cave Tubing and Zip line Adventure from San Ignacio: $144
- Cave Tubing with local tour Guide and Belizean Lunch: $90
- Deluxe Cave Tubing combo Adventure: $125
- Farm Ride plus Xunantunich tour: $90
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.
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of Historic Buildings: $5.99
- Discover Old In-App Audio Tour of History: $11
- Self-Guided Tour with Audio Guide: $14
- Group Transportation in airport, cruise ships, hotels, bnb's in San Juan, PR: $20
- Old Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $25
- Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $30
- Old San Juan Walking Tour with a Certified Guide: $30
- History, Legends, & Highlights Guided Walking Tour: $30
- Old San Juan Walking Tour: $39
- Old San Juan City Walking Tour: $39
- Legacy Tour at Casa BarcadÍ in Puerto Rico: $45
- Walking tour of Oaxaca City: $48
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Ignacio $17San Juan $12
Sample the Local Flavors in San Juan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Juan:
- Pinones Pub crawl in Puerto Rico: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Ignacio and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is San Ignacio much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Ignacio 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 San Ignacio would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Ignacio 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 San Ignacio.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Ignacio Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Ignacio or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of San Ignacio. When comparing the sizes of San Ignacio 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 San Ignacio or San Juan?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit San Ignacio or San Juan in the Summer?
Both San Juan and San Ignacio during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Ignacio because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Ignacio. San Ignacio usually gets more rain in July than San Juan. San Ignacio gets 243 mm (9.6 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in San Ignacio. In the summer, San Ignacio often gets less sunshine than San Juan. San Ignacio gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun.
In July, San Ignacio is generally around the same temperature as San Juan. Daily temperatures in San Ignacio average around 28°C (82°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Ignacio 28°C (82°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit San Ignacio or San Juan in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Ignacio and San Juan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Ignacio year-round. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
San Juan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Ignacio gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, San Ignacio usually receives more rain than San Juan. San Ignacio gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. San Ignacio usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during autumn. San Ignacio gets 196 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun in the autumn.
San Ignacio is around the same temperature as San Juan in the autumn. The daily temperature in San Ignacio averages around 26°C (80°F) in October, and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Ignacio 26°C (80°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit San Ignacio or San Juan in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to San Ignacio as well as San Juan. San Ignacio attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
San Ignacio receives a lot of rain in the winter. San Ignacio usually gets more rain in January than San Juan. San Ignacio gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. In the winter, San Ignacio often gets less sunshine than San Juan. San Ignacio gets 199 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun.
In the winter, San Ignacio is around the same temperature as San Juan. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Ignacio in January average around 24°C (74°F), and San Juan averages at about 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Ignacio 24°C (74°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit San Ignacio or San Juan in the Spring?
Both San Juan and San Ignacio are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Ignacio throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, San Ignacio usually receives less rain than San Juan. San Ignacio gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in San Juan. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Ignacio. San Ignacio usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan during spring. San Ignacio gets 256 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, San Ignacio is generally around the same temperature as San Juan. Daily temperatures in San Ignacio average around 27°C (80°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Ignacio 27°C (80°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and San Ignacio
| San Ignacio | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (80°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 243 mm (9.6 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (80°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (76°F) | 138 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.