Which place is cheaper, Bangor or San Juan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Juan or Bangor?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Juan or Bangor? 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: San Juan or Bangor?
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.
Bangor
Located along the Penobscot River in the U.S. State of Maine, modern Bangor really took off as a center for lumber and shipbuilding industries. Logs could easily be floated down-river to be processed and shipped from port on the Atlantic Ocean 30 miles downstream. Eventually lumbering turned to pulp and paper and shipping turned to railroads, but Bangor remains a city symbolic of industry. The city also has much to offer in shopping and entertainment with bookstores, cafes, restaurants, galleries, and museums located in the downtown area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Juan $192Bangor $197
The average daily cost (per person) in San Juan is $192, while the average daily cost in Bangor is $197. 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 and Bangor in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Juan $124Bangor $114
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Juan $248Bangor $228
Compare Hotels in San Juan and Bangor
Looking for a hotel in San Juan or Bangor? 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 Hotel Prices and Bangor Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Juan $14Bangor $36
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to San Juan Airport: $22
- Mendoza: One-Way Private Transfer from Airport: $25
- San Juan One-way Transfer: $30
- San Juan hotels to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- San Juan Luxury Private Round-Trip Transfer: SJU Airport - Cruise Pier - Hotel : $50
- Oneway Transfer- San Juan(SJU, hotel, airbnb, port) to Río Grande: $68
- Old Walking Tour with Shopping and Hotel Transfer: $70
- Roundtrip-Transfer from: SJU Airport,Cruises and Hotels in Puerto Rico LuxurySUV: $70
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Tesla Y Luxury SUV, Select Zone: $77
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Tesla S Lux Sedan, Select Zone: $79
- Oneway Transfer San Juan to Ceiba: Ferry, Vieques/Culebra Airport: $80
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Lexus Luxury Sedan, Select Zone: $81
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bangor
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bangor:
- Private Transfer from Bangor Airport(BGR) to Rockland Cruise Port: $69
- Private Transfer from Bangor city hotels to Rockland Cruise Port: $69
Is it cheaper to fly into San Juan or Bangor?
Prices for flights to both Bangor and San Juan 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 $36Bangor $54
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Juan $49Bangor $45
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
- Old San Juan Walking Tour with a Certified Guide: $30
- History, Legends, & Highlights Guided Walking Tour: $30
- Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $30
- Old San Juan Walking Tour: $39
- Old San Juan City Walking Tour: $39
- Legacy Tour at Casa BarcadÍ in Puerto Rico: $45
- Ron del Barrilito Skip-the-Line Heritage Tour Ticket: $46
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bangor
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Bangor are as follows:
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Children's Museum (for 4)$32
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Juan $12Bangor $23
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 comparing the travel costs between San Juan and Bangor, we can see that Bangor 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. Even though San Juan is in Caribbean Islands and Bangor is in North America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Juan Expensive? and Is Bangor Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Juan or Bangor?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Bangor. When comparing the sizes of San Juan and Bangor, 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 or Bangor?
Bangor has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Juan experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit San Juan or Bangor in the Summer?
Both Bangor and San Juan during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Bangor for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, San Juan is generally a little warmer than Bangor. Daily temperatures in San Juan average around 28°C (83°F), and Bangor fluctuates around 69°F (21°C).
San Juan usually gets more rain in July than Bangor. San Juan gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Bangor receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Juan 28°C (83°F)Bangor 69°F (21°C)
Should I visit San Juan or Bangor in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Juan and Bangor. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Bangor because of the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere.
San Juan is much warmer than Bangor in the autumn. The daily temperature in San Juan averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Bangor fluctuates around 48°F (9°C).
San Juan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, San Juan usually receives more rain than Bangor. San Juan gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Bangor receives 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Juan 28°C (82°F)Bangor 48°F (9°C)
Should I visit San Juan or Bangor in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to San Juan as well as Bangor. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Bangor this time of year.
It's quite cold in Bangor in the winter. In the winter, San Juan is much warmer than Bangor. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Juan in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Bangor averages at about 18°F (-8°C).
San Juan usually gets less rain in January than Bangor. San Juan gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Bangor receives 3 inches (77 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Juan 25°C (77°F)Bangor 18°F (-8°C)
Should I visit San Juan or Bangor in the Spring?
Both Bangor and San Juan are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Bangor for the small town charm.
In April, San Juan is generally much warmer than Bangor. Daily temperatures in San Juan average around 26°C (79°F), and Bangor fluctuates around 43°F (6°C).
In April, San Juan usually receives less rain than Bangor. San Juan gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Bangor receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Juan 26°C (79°F)Bangor 43°F (6°C)
Typical Weather for Bangor and San Juan
| San Juan | Bangor | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 18°F (-8°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 20°F (-6°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 31°F (-1°C) | 3.1 inches (80 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 43°F (6°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 3.4 inches (85 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 69°F (21°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 67°F (20°C) | 3.4 inches (85 mm) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 59°F (15°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 48°F (9°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 37°F (3°C) | 4.6 inches (116 mm) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 24°F (-5°C) | 4 inches (100 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.