Which place is cheaper, El Paso or San Juan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Juan or El Paso?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Juan or El Paso? 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 El Paso?
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.
El Paso
El Paso is a city in west Texas, along the waters of the Rio Grande. Outside the city, Franklin Mountains State Park is home to cacti and desert wildlife like coyotes and golden eagles. The park's Wyler Aerial Tramway ascends to Ranger Peak for views of the city and over to Mexico. El Paso is coming up in the world and starting to make a name for itself. A sleek new hotel has opened downtown, luring locals back to the city’s core for socializing and dining. The new Montecillo entertainment and residential district to the west is booming. The city even has a new baseball team, the El Paso Chihuahuas. And the city’s first microbrewery opened in 2015. Outdoorsy types also have it made here: there’s cycling and hiking in the largest urban park in the US, and the nearby Hueco Tanks State Park is ideal for wintertime rock climbing. Best of all is the hospitality of the locals, which makes this city of nearly 700,000 feel a whole lot smaller.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America, and The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Juan $192El Paso $161
The average daily cost (per person) in San Juan is $192, while the average daily cost in El Paso is $161. 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 El Paso in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Juan $124El Paso $81
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Juan $248El Paso $162
Compare Hotels in San Juan and El Paso
Looking for a hotel in San Juan or El Paso? 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 El Paso Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Juan $14El Paso $37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Old San Juan Sunset Cruise with Drinks & Transfer: $99
- San Juan hotels to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port: Transfer to San Juan hotel: $271
- San Juan One-way Transfer: $30
- San Juan Luxury Private Round-Trip Transfer: SJU Airport - Cruise Pier - Hotel : $50
- San Juan Airport (SJU): Private Transfer to San Juan Port: $271
- 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
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Mercedes ECO Van, Select Zone: $87
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Lexus Luxury Sedan, Select Zone: $81
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Ford Premium SUV, Select Zone: $87
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Paso
Also for El Paso, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- El Paso Airport to Truth or Consequences Round Trip Transfer: $240
- El Paso Airport (ELP) to Truth or Consequences Arrival Transfer: $120
- El Paso International Airport (ELP) to El Paso - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $81
- El Paso International Airport (ELP) to El Paso - Arrival Private Transfer : $40
- El Paso to El Paso International Airport (ELP) - Departure Private Transfer: $40
Is it cheaper to fly into San Juan or El Paso?
Prices for flights to both El Paso 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 $36El Paso $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
Typical Food Prices in El Paso
For El Paso, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Rudy's BBQ (family of 4)$40
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Juan $49El Paso $27
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.
- Full-Day Tour: El Yunque, Luquillo Beach, Bio Bay Night Kayaking: $155
- Rum Craft Cocktail Tour in San Juan: $65
- 1 or 2 Hour Puerto Rico Horseback Ride Experience!: $210
- Arte Boriken-Urban Art & Beach Sip & Paint Tour: $145
- Bioluminescent Bay Kayak Adventure from San Juan: $110
- Black Sand Beach- See The Southeast of Puerto Rico Private Tour: $150
- Carolina: ATV Adventure at Campo Rico Ranch with Guide: $136
- Cave Day Tour From San Juan: $109
- Craft Beer Private Tour in San Juan: $168
- Cruise Ship Travelers: Hike to a Hidden Puerto Rican Waterfall: $85
- Culebra Snorkeling Tour by Catamaran from Fajardo: $175
- Discover El Yunque: Half-Day Rainforest Tour: $115
Tours and Activities in El Paso
For El Paso, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Colorado Springs: Pikes Peak Jeep Tour: $115
- Downtown Historic Walking Tour: $120
- Sun City Ghost Walking Tour: $26
- Jeep Tour - Pikes Peak or Bust: $175
- Sun City Ghosts Haunted Cowboys and Outlaws Tour: $30
- UTV Adventure Tour / Rental: $249
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Juan $12El Paso $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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Juan and El Paso, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is El Paso much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Juan is in Caribbean Islands and El Paso 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 El Paso would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Paso 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 San Juan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Juan than you might in El Paso.
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 El Paso Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Juan or El Paso?
El Paso has a larger population, and is about 35% larger than the population of San Juan. When comparing the sizes of San Juan and El Paso, 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.
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.