A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers San Juan vs. Hope for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit San Juan or Hope?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit San Juan or Hope? 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 Hope?

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.

Hope

Hope, located in British Columbia, Canada, is a small town in the far east of the Fraser Valley. It's at the cross section of several major highways making it a pass through point for many visitors to the area. Hope is also the location of the filming of the 1980's film Rambo: First Blood, a fact which many locals take much pride in.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Vancouver, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada.


Which place is cheaper, Hope or San Juan?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in San Juan is $192, while the average daily cost in Hope is $31. 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 Hope in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    San Juan $124
    Hope $8.89
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    San Juan $248
    Hope $18
Compare Hotels in San Juan and Hope

Looking for a hotel in San Juan or Hope? 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.

Hotels in San Juan


Hotels in Hope


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 Hope Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    San Juan $14
    Hope -

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan

Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • San Juan Airport (SJU): Private Transfer to San Juan Port: $271
  • San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port: Transfer to San Juan hotel: $271
  • Carabali Rain Forest Round Trip Private Taxi Transfer: $210
  • Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, 16Pax Mercedes Van, Select Zone: $130
  • Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 14Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $124
  • Private Transfer from SJU Airport to San Juan / Rio Grande: $105
  • Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 11Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $103
  • Old San Juan Sunset Cruise with Drinks & Transfer: $99
  • Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Mercedes ECO Van, Select Zone: $87
  • Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Ford Premium SUV, Select Zone: $87
  • Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Lexus Luxury Sedan, Select Zone: $81
  • Oneway Transfer San Juan to Ceiba: Ferry, Vieques/Culebra Airport: $80

Is it cheaper to fly into San Juan or Hope?

Prices for flights to both Hope 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    San Juan $36
    Hope $22

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    San Juan $49
    Hope -
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Juan

For San Juan, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Horseback Riding Tour
    $40
  • Full Day Snorkeling Trip
    $100
  • 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 Hope

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Hope.

  • Vancouver to Sun Peaks 2 days outdoor adventure tour: $1,242

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    San Juan $12
    Hope $10

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 Hope, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Hope much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Juan is in Caribbean Islands and Hope 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 Hope would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hope 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 Hope.

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 Hope Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, San Juan or Hope?

San Juan has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Hope. When comparing the sizes of San Juan and Hope, 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 Hope?

Hope 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 Hope in the Summer?

Both Hope and San Juan are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.

San Juan is much warmer than Hope in the summer. The daily temperature in San Juan averages around 28°C (83°F) in July, and Hope fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

In July, San Juan usually receives more rain than Hope. San Juan gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Hope receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    San Juan 28°C (83°F) 
    Hope 18°C (64°F)

Should I visit San Juan or Hope in the Autumn?

Both Hope and San Juan during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the autumn, San Juan is much warmer than Hope. Typically, the autumn temperatures in San Juan in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Hope averages at about 10°C (51°F).

Hope gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in San Juan. San Juan usually gets less rain in October than Hope. San Juan gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Hope receives 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    San Juan 28°C (82°F) 
    Hope 10°C (51°F)

Should I visit San Juan or Hope in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both San Juan and Hope. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.

Hope can be very cold during winter. In January, San Juan is generally much warmer than Hope. Daily temperatures in San Juan average around 25°C (77°F), and Hope fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

Hope receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, San Juan usually receives less rain than Hope. San Juan gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Hope receives 201 mm (7.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    San Juan 25°C (77°F) 
    Hope 3°C (37°F)

Should I visit San Juan or Hope in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to San Juan as well as Hope. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

San Juan is much warmer than Hope in the spring. The daily temperature in San Juan averages around 26°C (79°F) in April, and Hope fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).

It's quite rainy in Hope. San Juan usually gets less rain in April than Hope. San Juan gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Hope receives 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    San Juan 26°C (79°F) 
    Hope 9°C (49°F)

Typical Weather for Hope and San Juan

San Juan Hope
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 25°C (77°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 3°C (37°F) 201 mm (7.9 in)
Feb 25°C (77°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 5°C (41°F) 164 mm (6.4 in)
Mar 26°C (78°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) 7°C (44°F) 145 mm (5.7 in)
Apr 26°C (79°F) 69 mm (2.7 in) 9°C (49°F) 114 mm (4.5 in)
May 27°C (81°F) 120 mm (4.7 in) 12°C (54°F) 89 mm (3.5 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 82 mm (3.2 in) 15°C (60°F) 67 mm (2.6 in)
Jul 28°C (83°F) 95 mm (3.7 in) 18°C (64°F) 51 mm (2 in)
Aug 28°C (83°F) 130 mm (5.1 in) 18°C (64°F) 53 mm (2.1 in)
Sep 28°C (83°F) 130 mm (5.1 in) 15°C (59°F) 85 mm (3.4 in)
Oct 28°C (82°F) 135 mm (5.3 in) 10°C (51°F) 156 mm (6.1 in)
Nov 27°C (80°F) 132 mm (5.2 in) 6°C (43°F) 222 mm (8.7 in)
Dec 26°C (78°F) 92 mm (3.6 in) 3°C (37°F) 217 mm (8.5 in)


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