Which place is cheaper, Hood River or San Juan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Juan or Hood River?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Juan or Hood River? 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 Hood River?
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.
Hood River
The city of Hood River is the seat of Hood River County, Oregon, United States. It is a port on the Columbia River, and is named for the nearby Hood River. The dynamic town of Hood River is one of the best windsurfing and kiteboarding destinations in the world. Strong river currents, prevailing westerly winds and a vast body of water provide the perfect conditions for these wind sports, attracting sometimes hundreds of photogenic enthusiasts who zip back and forth across the wide Columbia River.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, and The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Juan $192Hood River $145
The average daily cost (per person) in San Juan is $192, while the average daily cost in Hood River is $145. 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 Hood River in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Juan $124Hood River $78
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Juan $248Hood River $156
Compare Hotels in San Juan and Hood River
Looking for a hotel in San Juan or Hood River? 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 Hood River Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Juan $14Hood River $46
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
Is it cheaper to fly into San Juan or Hood River?
Prices for flights to both Hood River 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 $36Hood River $40
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 $49Hood River $18
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 Hood River
For Hood River, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Gift Basket Factory Tour: $31
- Orchard Tour: $31
- Railbikes Experience: $211
- Portland: Multnomah Falls Scenic Air Tour: $199
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Juan $12Hood River $19
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 Hood River, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Hood River much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Juan is in Caribbean Islands and Hood River 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 Hood River would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hood River 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 Hood River.
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 Hood River Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Juan or Hood River?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Hood River. When comparing the sizes of San Juan and Hood River, 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 Hood River?
Hood River 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 Hood River in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both San Juan and Hood River. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round. Also, the hiking and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Hood River this time of year.
In the summer, San Juan is a little warmer than Hood River. Typically, the summer temperatures in San Juan in July average around 28°C (83°F), and Hood River averages at about 68°F (20°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Hood River this time of the year. In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Juan usually receives less sunshine than Hood River during summer. San Juan gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Hood River receives 338 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, San Juan usually receives more rain than Hood River. San Juan gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Hood River receives 0.7 inches (18 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Juan 28°C (83°F)Hood River 68°F (20°C)
Should I visit San Juan or Hood River in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to San Juan as well as Hood River. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Hood River for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, San Juan is generally much warmer than Hood River. Daily temperatures in San Juan average around 28°C (82°F), and Hood River fluctuates around 55°F (13°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. In the autumn, San Juan often gets more sunshine than Hood River. San Juan gets 235 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hood River receives 155 hours of full sun.
San Juan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Juan usually gets more rain in October than Hood River. San Juan gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Hood River receives 2.6 inches (67 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Juan 28°C (82°F)Hood River 55°F (13°C)
Should I visit San Juan or Hood River in the Winter?
Both Hood River and San Juan are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Hood River in the winter for the skiing, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Hood River can get quite cold in the winter. San Juan is much warmer than Hood River in the winter. The daily temperature in San Juan averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Hood River fluctuates around 40°F (4°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. San Juan usually receives more sunshine than Hood River during winter. San Juan gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Hood River receives 86 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Hood River. In January, San Juan usually receives less rain than Hood River. San Juan gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Hood River receives 5.2 inches (132 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Juan 25°C (77°F)Hood River 40°F (4°C)
Should I visit San Juan or Hood River in the Spring?
Both Hood River and San Juan during the spring 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, most visitors come to Hood River for the natural beauty during these months.
In the spring, San Juan is much warmer than Hood River. Typically, the spring temperatures in San Juan in April average around 26°C (79°F), and Hood River averages at about 51°F (11°C).
In Hood River, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in San Juan. In the spring, San Juan often gets more sunshine than Hood River. San Juan gets 272 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hood River receives 231 hours of full sun.
San Juan usually gets more rain in April than Hood River. San Juan gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Hood River receives 2.4 inches (61 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Juan 26°C (79°F)Hood River 51°F (11°C)
Typical Weather for Hood River and San Juan
| San Juan | Hood River | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.