Which place is cheaper, La Serena or San Juan del Sur?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Juan del Sur or La Serena?
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 La Serena. 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 La Serena?
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.
La Serena
La Serena is a charming town in Northern Chile. It is Chile's second-oldest city and the thriving capital of Region IV. With its beautiful architecture, its long golden shoreline, dignified stone churches, tree-shaded avenues and pretty plazas, La Serena has everything you could ask for!
Chileans on holidays flood in the city in January and February, though it is fairly peaceful outside the summer rush. Some of the city's architecture is from the colonial era, but most is actually neocolonial thanks to president Gabriel Gonzalez Videla, born in La Serena, and her 'Plan Serena' of the late 1940s.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Chile, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Juan del Sur $53La Serena $87
The average daily cost (per person) in San Juan del Sur is $53, while the average daily cost in La Serena is $87. 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 La Serena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Juan del Sur $21La Serena $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Juan del Sur $42La Serena $84
Compare Hotels in San Juan del Sur and La Serena
Looking for a hotel in San Juan del Sur or La Serena? 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 La Serena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Juan del Sur $18La Serena $20
Is it cheaper to fly into San Juan del Sur or La Serena?
Prices for flights to both La Serena 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 $18La Serena $27
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Juan del Sur $15La Serena $24
Tours and Activities in San Juan del Sur
Here are a few actual costs in San Juan del Sur for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- ATV Adventure Tour in San Juan del Sur, NICARAGUA: $130
- Horseback Riding Tour in Playa Maderas, San Juan del Sur also in Costa Rica: $90
- Mombacho Volcano Hike and Ziplining Adventure from San Juan del Sur: $159
- SJDS PORT EXCURSION: Zipline and Adventure Park: $103
- San Juan del Sur Shore Excursion: Private Masaya Volcano and Catarina Tour: $118
- atv tour also in Costa Rica: $132
Tours and Activities in La Serena
For La Serena, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Full Day History and Flavors Tour in the Elqui Valley: $50
- La Serena and Coquimbo City Tour (SIB): $66
- La Serena and Coquimbo Guided City Tour: $76
- Full day Tour to Elqui Valley : $80
- Elqui Valley Full Day Tour: magical towns, pisco and mountains: $85
- Elqui Valley Tour from La Serena: $120
- La Serena & Coquimbo City Tour - Short excursion for cruise ships: $128
- Tour to the internationally renowned Pangue Observatory: $139
- Tour to Valle del Encanto Archeology, Petroglyphs, Flora, Fauna and Springs: $140
- Dama Island or Chañaral Navigation Tour Humboldt Penguin Reserve: $140
- Elqui Valley: Pisco Tour, Wine, Beer: $174
- Elqui Valley and Vicuña Private Tour Including Lunch: $183
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Juan del Sur $13La Serena $22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Juan del Sur and La Serena, we can see that La Serena 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 La Serena is in South 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 La Serena would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Serena 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 La Serena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Juan del Sur or La Serena?
La Serena has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of San Juan del Sur. When comparing the sizes of San Juan del Sur and La Serena, 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 La Serena?
La Serena 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 La Serena in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to San Juan del Sur as well as La Serena. San Juan del Sur attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, San Juan del Sur is generally much warmer than La Serenain January. Daily temperatures in San Juan del Sur average around 27°C (81°F), and La Serena fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in La Serena. In the summer, San Juan del Sur often gets less sunshine than La Serenain January. San Juan del Sur gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 247 hours of full sun.
San Juan del Sur receives a lot of rain in the summer. San Juan del Sur usually gets more rain in July than La Serenain January. San Juan del Sur gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuarySan Juan del Sur 27°C (81°F)La Serena 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit San Juan del Sur or La Serena in the Autumn?
Both La Serena and San Juan del Sur are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan del Sur throughout the year.
San Juan del Sur is much warmer than La Serena in the autumn. The daily temperature in San Juan del Sur averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and La Serena fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in April.
San Juan del Sur usually receives more sunshine than La Serena during autumn. San Juan del Sur gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 159 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in San Juan del Sur. In October, San Juan del Sur usually receives more rain than La Serenain April. San Juan del Sur gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilSan Juan del Sur 27°C (81°F)La Serena 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit San Juan del Sur or La Serena in the Winter?
Both La Serena and San Juan del Sur during the winter 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.
In the winter, San Juan del Sur is much warmer than La Serena. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Juan del Sur in January average around 26°C (79°F), and La Serena averages at about 12°C (54°F)in July.
It's quite sunny in San Juan del Sur. In the winter, San Juan del Sur often gets more sunshine than La Serenain July. San Juan del Sur gets 244 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 160 hours of full sun.
San Juan del Sur usually gets more rain in January than La Serenain July. San Juan del Sur gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulySan Juan del Sur 26°C (79°F)La Serena 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit San Juan del Sur or La Serena in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both San Juan del Sur and La Serena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan del Sur year-round.
In April, San Juan del Sur is generally much warmer than La Serenain October. Daily temperatures in San Juan del Sur average around 29°C (84°F), and La Serena fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
In San Juan del Sur, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Juan del Sur usually receives more sunshine than La Serena during spring. San Juan del Sur gets 242 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 190 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, San Juan del Sur usually receives more rain than La Serenain October. San Juan del Sur gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberSan Juan del Sur 29°C (84°F)La Serena 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for La Serena and San Juan del Sur
| San Juan del Sur | La Serena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Nov | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 3 mm (0.1 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.