Which place is cheaper, Juneau or San Juan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Juan or Juneau?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Juan or Juneau? 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 Juneau?
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.
Juneau
Juneau, Alaska is the capital city of the state, and it is also one of the most beautiful cities. Juneau is surrounded by two large mountains and a channel, so it is the only state capital not accessible by train or car. It is lined with small streets, including what is locally known as "stair streets" which can only be accessed by foot and include walking up 100-300 stairs, depending on which level you're going to. Luckily, most of the sights and stores are on the lower level, though. The only real structures located on the stair streets are residential buildings. Juneau is the most visited city in Alaska, but its population is just over 33,000. Its economy is based mostly on government, tourism, fishing, and mining.
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 $192Juneau $160
The average daily cost (per person) in San Juan is $192, while the average daily cost in Juneau is $160. 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 Juneau in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Juan $124Juneau $88
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Juan $248Juneau $176
Compare Hotels in San Juan and Juneau
Looking for a hotel in San Juan or Juneau? 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 Juneau Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Juan $14Juneau $38
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Juneau
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Juneau:
- Private Arrival Transfer from Juneau Airport (JNU): $48
- Private Departure Transfer to Juneau Airport (JNU): $48
Is it cheaper to fly into San Juan or Juneau?
Prices for flights to both Juneau 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 $36Juneau $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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Juan $49Juneau $17
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 Juneau
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Juneau are as follows:
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1 Day Bike Rental$25
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Admission to Alaska State Museum$5.00
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Glacier Gardens$22
Tours and Activities in Juneau
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Juneau are as follows:
- 3 Hours Fishing Experience Class in Juneau: $225
- 3.5 Hour Crowd-Skipping Whale Tour in Juneau Alaska: $189
- Alpine Zipline Adventure in Juneau, AK: $245
- Five-Star Juneau Pedicab Private Tour: $200
- From Fly-In Norris Glacier Hike and Packraft Tour: $850
- From Whale Watching Cruise with Snacks: $132
- Historic Gold Mining and Panning Adventure: $99
- Historic Gold Panning Adventure & Salmon Bake: $139
- Juneau City Tour: $52
- Juneau Underground Gold Mine and Panning Experience: $79
- Juneau Whale Watching Adventure: $189
- Juneau, The Last Frontier Self Guided (Smart Phone App/GPS) Audio Walking Tour: $6.75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Juan $12Juneau $16
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 Juneau, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Juneau much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Juan is in Caribbean Islands and Juneau 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 Juneau would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Juneau 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 Juneau.
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 Juneau Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Juan or Juneau?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Juneau. When comparing the sizes of San Juan and Juneau, 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 Juneau?
Juneau 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 Juneau in the Summer?
Both Juneau 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, the hiking and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Juneau this time of year.
In the summer, San Juan is much warmer than Juneau. Typically, the summer temperatures in San Juan in July average around 28°C (83°F), and Juneau averages at about 56°F (13°C).
It's quite sunny in San Juan. In the summer, San Juan often gets more sunshine than Juneau. San Juan gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Juneau receives 179 hours of full sun.
Juneau gets a good bit of rain this time of year. San Juan usually gets less rain in July than Juneau. San Juan gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Juneau receives 4.2 inches (106 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Juan 28°C (83°F)Juneau 56°F (13°C)
Should I visit San Juan or Juneau in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Juan and Juneau. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round. Also, many travelers come to Juneau for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, San Juan is generally much warmer than Juneau. Daily temperatures in San Juan average around 28°C (82°F), and Juneau fluctuates around 42°F (6°C).
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Juan usually receives more sunshine than Juneau during autumn. San Juan gets 235 hours of sunny skies, while Juneau receives 69 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Juneau receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Juan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, San Juan usually receives less rain than Juneau. San Juan gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Juneau receives 7.8 inches (199 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Juan 28°C (82°F)Juneau 42°F (6°C)
Should I visit San Juan or Juneau in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to San Juan as well as Juneau. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many visitors come to Juneau in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Juneau can get quite cold in the winter. San Juan is much warmer than Juneau in the winter. The daily temperature in San Juan averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Juneau fluctuates around 24°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 Juneau. San Juan gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Juneau receives 87 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Juneau. San Juan usually gets less rain in January than Juneau. San Juan gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Juneau receives 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Juan 25°C (77°F)Juneau 24°F (-4°C)
Should I visit San Juan or Juneau in the Spring?
Both Juneau 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, most visitors come to Juneau for the natural beauty during these months.
Juneau can be very cold during spring. In the spring, San Juan is much warmer than Juneau. Typically, the spring temperatures in San Juan in April average around 26°C (79°F), and Juneau averages at about 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 Juneau during spring. San Juan gets 272 hours of sunny skies, while Juneau receives 185 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, San Juan usually receives around the same amount of rain as Juneau. San Juan gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Juneau receives 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Juan 26°C (79°F)Juneau 40°F (4°C)
Typical Weather for Juneau and San Juan
| San Juan | Juneau | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 24°F (-4°C) | 4.6 inches (116 mm) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 28°F (-2°C) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 33°F (0°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 40°F (4°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 47°F (8°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 53°F (12°C) | 3.1 inches (80 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 56°F (13°C) | 4.2 inches (106 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 55°F (13°C) | 5.3 inches (135 mm) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 49°F (10°C) | 7 inches (179 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 42°F (6°C) | 7.8 inches (199 mm) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 32°F (-0°C) | 4.9 inches (123 mm) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 27°F (-3°C) | 4.4 inches (113 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.