Which place is cheaper, Key West or San Juan del Sur?
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 San Juan del Sur or Key West?
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 San Juan del Sur and Key West. 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: San Juan del Sur or Key West?
San Juan del Sur
San Juan del Sur is a popular port destination on the Pacific coast of southwest Nicaragua. The town was once a quaint fishing village but has grown into a tourist town with activities for visitors that include surfing, fishing, and, of course, partying. The town has a population of just over 15,000, most of whom are either fishermen or involved in the tourism industry. There is also a large expat community from the United States, Canada, and Europe.
Key West
Key West is both a city and an island as well as the southern most Florida Key. It is also the southern most city in the continental United States. The island is only about four miles long and one mile wide. The total land mass covers just 4.2 square miles. The most famous street in town is Duval Street, which runs just 1.1 miles from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean. There are 14 blocks. The size of the island doubled during the 1950s when many of the salt ponds along the eastern side of the island were filled in.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America.
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San Juan del Sur Prices
Nicaragua PricesKey West Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Juan del Sur $66Key West $832
The average daily cost (per person) in San Juan del Sur is $66, while the average daily cost in Key West is $832. 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 Juan del Sur and Key West in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Juan del Sur $21Key West $132
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Juan del Sur $42Key West $264
Compare Hotels in San Juan del Sur and Key West
Looking for a hotel in San Juan del Sur or Key West? 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 Juan del Sur Hotel Prices and Key West Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Juan del Sur $17Key West $51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan del Sur
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Juan del Sur:
- Granada: One way shared transfer to San Juan del Sur: $39
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Key West
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Key West:
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Rental Car for One Day$38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Key West
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Key West:
- Key West Int Airport (EYW) to Key West - Arrival Private Transfer: $164
- Key West Int Airport EYW to Key West Hotels Arrival Transfer: $156
- Key West hotels to Key West Int Airport (EYW) Departure Transfer: $156
- Key West to Key West Airport (EYW) - Departure Private Transfer: $164
- One Way Airport Transfer Service: $54
- Private Transfer from Key West Airport (EYW) to Key West Port: $113
- Private Transfer from Key West hotels to Key West Cruise Port: $114
Is it cheaper to fly into San Juan del Sur or Key West?
Prices for flights to both Key West and San Juan del Sur 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 Juan del Sur $32Key West $667
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Key West
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Key West.
- Sunset Dinner Cruise with Open Bar & Live Music: $74
- Exploring and Walking Food Tour of Cayo Hueso: $80
- Key West Cooking Show Chef Demonstration with Meal: $81
- Cooking Show Chef Demonstration with Meal: $81
- Key West Sunset Cruise: Dinner, Live Music & Drinks Included: $84
- Southernmost Food & Cultural Walking Tour by Key West Food Tours: $90
- Key West Sunset Buffet Dinner Cruise with Open Bar and Live Music: $100
- Secret Walking Food Tour: $115
- Sunset Sail Full Bar, Live Music & Dinner & Early Morning Snorkeling: $160
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Juan del Sur $15Key West $33
Tours and Activities in Key West
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Key West are as follows:
- Hemingway's Key West Self Guided Walking Audio Tour: $8.00
- Key West Pirate Exploration Game and Tour: $8.99
- Key West Smartphone guided Ghost Walking Tour App/GPS/EMF Reader: $9.75
- Florida Key West Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $9.99
- Key West GPS Audio Tour: From Seaside Village to Micro State: $12
- Key West’s Old Town Treasures: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
- Mel Fisher Maritime Museum Admission Ticket: $18
- Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum Tickets: $19
- Skip the Line: Mel Fisher Maritime Museum Admission Ticket and Audio Tour: $20
- Key West Aquarium Tickets: $23
- Key West Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour and Game: $25
- Truman Little White House Guided Tour Ticket: $26
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Juan del Sur $13Key West $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Key West
Also in Key West, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Key West Bar Crawl: $15
- Key West Haunted Pub Crawl and Ghost Tour with Free T-Shirt: $32
- Bone Island Haunted Pub Crawl: $32
- Key West Haunted Pub Crawl Walking Tour: $35
- Haunted Pub Crawl Walking Tour: $35
- 2.5-Hour Duval Street Pub Crawl: $43
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Juan del Sur and Key West, we can see that Key West is more expensive. And not only is San Juan del Sur much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Juan del Sur is in Central America and Key West is in North America, 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 Juan del Sur would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Juan del Sur 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 Key West would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Key West than you might in San Juan del Sur.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Juan del Sur Expensive? and Is Key West Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Juan del Sur or Key West?
Key West has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of San Juan del Sur. When comparing the sizes of San Juan del Sur and Key West, 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 Juan del Sur or Key West?
Key West has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Juan del Sur experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit San Juan del Sur or Key West in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both San Juan del Sur and Key West. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan del Sur year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Key West for the beaches, snorkeling, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.
San Juan del Sur is around the same temperature as Key West in the summer. The daily temperature in San Juan del Sur averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Key West fluctuates around 84°F (29°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Key West this time of the year. San Juan del Sur usually receives less sunshine than Key West during summer. San Juan del Sur gets 175 hours of sunny skies, while Key West receives 328 hours of full sun in the summer.
San Juan del Sur gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, San Juan del Sur usually receives more rain than Key West. San Juan del Sur gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Key West receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Juan del Sur 27°C (81°F)Key West 84°F (29°C)
Should I visit San Juan del Sur or Key West in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to San Juan del Sur as well as Key West. San Juan del Sur attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Key West in the autumn for the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, San Juan del Sur is around the same temperature as Key West. Typically, the autumn temperatures in San Juan del Sur in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Key West averages at about 80°F (27°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Key West. In the autumn, San Juan del Sur often gets less sunshine than Key West. San Juan del Sur gets 195 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Key West receives 258 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Key West. San Juan del Sur receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Juan del Sur usually gets more rain in October than Key West. San Juan del Sur gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Key West receives 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain this time of the year. Also, the hurricane season in Key West is June to November.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Juan del Sur 27°C (81°F)Key West 80°F (27°C)
Should I visit San Juan del Sur or Key West in the Winter?
Both Key West and San Juan del Sur are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan del Sur throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Key West for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months.
In January, San Juan del Sur is generally a little warmer than Key West. Daily temperatures in San Juan del Sur average around 26°C (79°F), and Key West fluctuates around 70°F (21°C).
It's quite sunny in Key West. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan del Sur. San Juan del Sur usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Key West during winter. San Juan del Sur gets 244 hours of sunny skies, while Key West receives 252 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, San Juan del Sur usually receives less rain than Key West. San Juan del Sur gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Key West receives 1.7 inches (43 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Juan del Sur 26°C (79°F)Key West 70°F (21°C)
Should I visit San Juan del Sur or Key West in the Spring?
Both Key West and San Juan del Sur during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan del Sur because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Key West because of the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.
San Juan del Sur is a little warmer than Key West in the spring. The daily temperature in San Juan del Sur averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Key West fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).
In Key West, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in San Juan del Sur. In the spring, San Juan del Sur often gets less sunshine than Key West. San Juan del Sur gets 242 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Key West receives 326 hours of full sun.
San Juan del Sur usually gets less rain in April than Key West. San Juan del Sur gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Key West receives 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain this time of the year. Keep in mind that June to November is the hurricane season in Key West.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Juan del Sur 29°C (84°F)Key West 77°F (25°C)
Typical Weather for Key West and San Juan del Sur
| San Juan del Sur | Key West | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 70°F (21°C) | 1.7 inches (43 mm) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 71°F (21°C) | 1.4 inches (36 mm) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 74°F (23°C) | 1.7 inches (42 mm) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 0.8 inches (21 mm) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 81°F (27°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 83°F (28°C) | 4.5 inches (114 mm) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) | 84°F (29°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) | 84°F (29°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 83°F (29°C) | 5.7 inches (144 mm) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 80°F (27°C) | 5.1 inches (129 mm) |
| Nov | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 2 inches (50 mm) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 1.4 inches (35 mm) |
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.