Which place is cheaper, Columbia River Gorge or San Juan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Juan or Columbia River Gorge?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Juan or Columbia River Gorge? 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 Columbia River Gorge?
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.
Columbia River Gorge
Columbia River Gorge is a popular destination in the Cascade Mountains in the Pacific Northwest. The region's close proximity to Portland, which is just 30 minutes away, makes it a popular weekend destination.
The gorge is formed by the Columbia River, with an 80 mile stretch designated as a National Scenic Area. The area has many beautiful cliffs with a number of tall waterfalls and its protected status means that most new development must occur within one of the already established towns.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America, and The Best Historical Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Juan $192Columbia River Gorge $179
The average daily cost (per person) in San Juan is $192, while the average daily cost in Columbia River Gorge is $179. 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 Columbia River Gorge in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Juan $124Columbia River Gorge $89
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Juan $248Columbia River Gorge $178
Compare Hotels in San Juan and Columbia River Gorge
Looking for a hotel in San Juan or Columbia River Gorge? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Juan $14Columbia River Gorge $78
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
Is it cheaper to fly into San Juan or Columbia River Gorge?
Prices for flights to both Columbia River Gorge 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 $36Columbia River Gorge $46
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 $49Columbia River Gorge $20
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Juan $12Columbia River Gorge $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 comparing the travel costs between San Juan and Columbia River Gorge, we can see that San Juan 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 Columbia River Gorge 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 Columbia River Gorge Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Juan or Columbia River Gorge?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Columbia River Gorge. When comparing the sizes of San Juan and Columbia River Gorge, 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 Columbia River Gorge?
Columbia River Gorge 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 Columbia River Gorge in the Summer?
Both Columbia River Gorge 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, many visitors come to Columbia River Gorge in the summer for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.
San Juan is a little warmer than Columbia River Gorge in the summer. The daily temperature in San Juan averages around 28°C (83°F) in July, and Columbia River Gorge fluctuates around 68°F (20°C).
In Columbia River Gorge, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in San Juan. In the summer, San Juan often gets less sunshine than Columbia River Gorge. San Juan gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Columbia River Gorge receives 338 hours of full sun.
San Juan usually gets more rain in July than Columbia River Gorge. San Juan gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Columbia River Gorge receives 0.7 inches (18 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Juan 28°C (83°F)Columbia River Gorge 68°F (20°C)
Should I visit San Juan or Columbia River Gorge in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Juan and Columbia River Gorge. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round. Also, most visitors come to Columbia River Gorge for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In the autumn, San Juan is much warmer than Columbia River Gorge. Typically, the autumn temperatures in San Juan in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Columbia River Gorge averages at about 55°F (13°C).
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Juan usually receives more sunshine than Columbia River Gorge during autumn. San Juan gets 235 hours of sunny skies, while Columbia River Gorge receives 155 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 Columbia River Gorge. San Juan gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Columbia River Gorge receives 2.6 inches (67 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Juan 28°C (82°F)Columbia River Gorge 55°F (13°C)
Should I visit San Juan or Columbia River Gorge in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to San Juan as well as Columbia River Gorge. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Columbia River Gorge because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
The weather in Columbia River Gorge can be very cold. In January, San Juan is generally much warmer than Columbia River Gorge. Daily temperatures in San Juan average around 25°C (77°F), and Columbia River Gorge fluctuates around 40°F (4°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 Columbia River Gorge. San Juan gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Columbia River Gorge receives 86 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Columbia River Gorge. San Juan usually gets less rain in January than Columbia River Gorge. San Juan gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Columbia River Gorge receives 5.2 inches (132 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Juan 25°C (77°F)Columbia River Gorge 40°F (4°C)
Should I visit San Juan or Columbia River Gorge in the Spring?
Both Columbia River Gorge 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, the natural beauty are the main draw to Columbia River Gorge this time of year.
San Juan is much warmer than Columbia River Gorge in the spring. The daily temperature in San Juan averages around 26°C (79°F) in April, and Columbia River Gorge fluctuates around 51°F (11°C).
It's quite sunny in Columbia River Gorge. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. San Juan usually receives more sunshine than Columbia River Gorge during spring. San Juan gets 272 hours of sunny skies, while Columbia River Gorge receives 231 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, San Juan usually receives more rain than Columbia River Gorge. San Juan gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Columbia River Gorge receives 2.4 inches (61 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Juan 26°C (79°F)Columbia River Gorge 51°F (11°C)
Typical Weather for Columbia River Gorge and San Juan
| San Juan | Columbia River Gorge | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 40°F (4°C) | 5.2 inches (132 mm) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 44°F (7°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 47°F (9°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 51°F (11°C) | 2.4 inches (61 mm) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 2 inches (51 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 1.5 inches (39 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 0.7 inches (18 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 69°F (20°C) | 1 inches (25 mm) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.7 inches (44 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 55°F (13°C) | 2.6 inches (67 mm) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 46°F (8°C) | 5.4 inches (136 mm) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 40°F (5°C) | 6.1 inches (156 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.