Which place is cheaper, Boston or San Juan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Juan or Boston?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Juan or Boston? 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 Boston?
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.
Boston
Boston is one of the oldest and most historic cities in New England. It is also the capital of the state of Massachusetts and the largest city in the region. The city proper covers 48 square miles and has a population of more than 600,000. The Greater Boston area has 4.5 million people and is the tenth largest metropolitan area in the country.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Juan $192Boston $255
The average daily cost (per person) in San Juan is $192, while the average daily cost in Boston is $255. 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 Boston in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Juan $124Boston $166
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Juan $248Boston $332
Compare Hotels in San Juan and Boston
Looking for a hotel in San Juan or Boston? 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 Boston Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Juan $14Boston $37
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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Boston
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Boston are as follows:
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Taxi$35
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Subway Daily Pass$9.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Boston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Boston:
- Luxor Limo Private Transfer and City Tour: $1,195
- Private Transfer: between Manhattan and Boston: $959
- Flynn Cruiseport Private Transfer to Boston: $684
- Round trip Airport Transfer: Logan - Boston: $300
- Boston Logan Airport (BOS): Private Transfer to Boston city: $243
- Boston’s Logan International Airport to Providence – Arrival Private Transfer : $170
- Boston Airport (BOS): Transfer to Flynn Cruise Port Boston: $168
- Private Transfer in Boston (BOS) Airport/Home/Hotel/Work : $160
- Limo Private Transfer Boston to Logan International Airport : $160
- Limo Private Transfer Logan International Airport to Boston: $160
- Boston Logan Airport (BOS) to Boston - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $157
- Private Transfer between Boston Logan Airport and Boston City: $150
Is it cheaper to fly into San Juan or Boston?
Prices for flights to both Boston 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 $36Boston $49
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Boston
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Boston.
- AM Coffee Walks with Salem Food Tours: $34
- Boston's North End Pizza & History Walking Food Tour: $49
- North End Pizza Tour with 3 Slices and Cannoli: $55
- North End Food Experience with Pizza, Meats & Cheese: $68
- Boston Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $70
- Buffet Lunch or Dinner Cruise on Boston Harbor: $77
- Ultimate Food Tour of North End & Public Market: $79
- Boston's North End Small Group Food Tour : $81
- Ultimate Boston Food Tour: North End & Boston Public Market: $89
- Union Square, Somerville Neighborhood Food Tour: $90
- Boston Harbor: Gourmet Brunch or Dinner Cruise: $108
- Local Gems of the South End Neighborhood Food Tour: $110
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Juan $49Boston $33
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 Boston
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Boston are as follows:
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Two Tickets to Celtics Game$101
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Duck Tour$32
Tours and Activities in Boston
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Boston are as follows:
- "Ghosts of Boston" Walking Ghost Tour: $25
- "Witch Trials" Walking Tour in Salem: $25
- 1 If By Land Walking Tours: History Walking Tour of Boston: $45
- 1 or 2 Day Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour with Harbor Cruise Option: $46
- 1-Day Tour to Portland-Maine from Boston: $175
- 1692 Salem Day Tour: $32
- 1692 Salem Night Walking Tour: $32
- 2 Hour North End 'Little Italy' Walking Tour : $35
- 2-Hour Beacon Hill True Crime Expert Guided Tour: $35
- 90-Minute Boston Harbor Sunset Sightseeing Cruise: $48
- A Bostonian Christmas Tour: $423
- A Bostonian Christmas Tour: $216
For more ideas for your next trip, check out Free Things to Do in Boston, Must-See Monuments and Memorials In Boston, and The Best Things To Do in Boston with Kids.
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Juan $12Boston $27
Sample the Local Flavors in San Juan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Juan:
- Pinones Pub crawl in Puerto Rico: $50
Sample the Local Flavors in Boston
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Boston:
- Haunted Pub Crawl of Historic Pubs and Taverns: $30
- Boston Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- Boston Ghosts Boos and Brews Haunted Pub Crawl : $34
- Salem Booze and Brews Haunted Pub Crawl by US Ghost Adventures: $35
- Boos and Brews Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- History Pub Crawl Tour Along the Freedom Trail: $59
- Boston Small-Group Freedom Trail History Tour Pub Crawl: $60
- Guided Craft Brewery Tour with a Snack: $105
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Juan and Boston, we can see that Boston is more expensive. And not only is San Juan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Juan is in Caribbean Islands and Boston 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 would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Juan 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 Boston would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Boston than you might in San Juan.
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 Boston Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Juan or Boston?
Boston has a larger population, and is about 41% larger than the population of San Juan. When comparing the sizes of San Juan and Boston, 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 Boston?
Boston 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 Boston in the Summer?
Both Boston 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. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Boston because of the beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
San Juan is a little warmer than Boston in the summer. The daily temperature in San Juan averages around 28°C (83°F) in July, and Boston fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).
In Boston, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in San Juan. In the summer, San Juan often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Boston. San Juan gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Boston receives 304 hours of full sun.
San Juan usually gets more rain in July than Boston. San Juan gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Boston receives 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Juan 28°C (83°F)Boston 73°F (23°C)
Should I visit San Juan or Boston in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Juan and Boston. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round. Furthermore, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Boston this time of year.
In the autumn, San Juan is much warmer than Boston. Typically, the autumn temperatures in San Juan in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Boston averages at about 54°F (12°C).
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Juan usually receives more sunshine than Boston during autumn. San Juan gets 235 hours of sunny skies, while Boston receives 194 hours of full sun in the autumn.
San Juan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, San Juan usually receives more rain than Boston. San Juan gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Boston receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Juan 28°C (82°F)Boston 54°F (12°C)
Should I visit San Juan or Boston in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to San Juan as well as Boston. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Boston for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Boston. In January, San Juan is generally much warmer than Boston. Daily temperatures in San Juan average around 25°C (77°F), and Boston fluctuates around 29°F (-2°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. In the winter, San Juan often gets more sunshine than Boston. San Juan gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Boston receives 153 hours of full sun.
San Juan usually gets less rain in January than Boston. San Juan gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Boston receives 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Juan 25°C (77°F)Boston 29°F (-2°C)
Should I visit San Juan or Boston in the Spring?
Both Boston 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 visitors come to Boston in the spring for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
San Juan is much warmer than Boston in the spring. The daily temperature in San Juan averages around 26°C (79°F) in April, and Boston fluctuates around 48°F (9°C).
It's quite sunny in Boston. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. San Juan usually receives more sunshine than Boston during spring. San Juan gets 272 hours of sunny skies, while Boston receives 225 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, San Juan usually receives less rain than Boston. San Juan gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Boston receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Juan 26°C (79°F)Boston 48°F (9°C)
Typical Weather for Boston and San Juan
| San Juan | Boston | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 29°F (-2°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 30°F (-1°C) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 38°F (4°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 48°F (9°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 58°F (15°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 2.9 inches (74 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 45°F (7°C) | 4.3 inches (108 mm) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 33°F (1°C) | 3.9 inches (99 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.