Which place is cheaper, Koh Phi Phi or San Juan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit San Juan or Koh Phi Phi?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Juan or Koh Phi Phi? 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 Koh Phi Phi?
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.
Koh Phi Phi
The islands of Koh Phi Phi, off the coast of southwestern Thailand, are very popular with travelers because of their unrivaled tropical scenery, clear blue waters, relaxing atmosphere, and undersea attractions. However, in the last decade, Koh Phi Phi has seen a huge surge in tourism, adding to the crowds and pollution of the main (and only populated) island, known as Koh Phi Phi Don.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Thailand, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Thailand.
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San Juan Prices
Puerto Rico PricesKoh Phi Phi Prices
Thailand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Juan $218Koh Phi Phi $92
The average daily cost (per person) in San Juan is $218, while the average daily cost in Koh Phi Phi is $92. 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 Koh Phi Phi in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Juan $124Koh Phi Phi $48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Juan $248Koh Phi Phi $96
Compare Hotels in San Juan and Koh Phi Phi
Looking for a hotel in San Juan or Koh Phi Phi? 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 Koh Phi Phi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Juan $14Koh Phi Phi $7.64
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Double ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $289
- HandyCap Transfer Airport to Dorado, Rio Grande or Luquillo: $270
- Luxury Puerto Rico Private Transfers: $220
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to Ponce hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $202
- Private Transfer: SJU Airport or Port to Humacao and Nagüabo: $200
- Private Transfer from SJU Airport to Humacao Hotels: $180
- Transfer from San Juan to Rincon or Rincon to San Juan: $167
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to Rio Grande hotel – Round-Trip Private Transfer: $166
- Private Airport Transfers to Ceiba Ferry Terminal and Airport: $155
- Private Luxury transfer - SJU, Hotel, Airbnb - Car seat available: $145
- Transfer SJU Airport to Dorado. Hotels and Airbnb. Vice Versa One Way Trip.: $140
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, 16Pax Mercedes Van, Select Zone: $130
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Phi Phi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Phi Phi:
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Ferry to Maya Beach (for 2)$16
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Longboat Taxi$3.03
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Phi Phi
Also for Koh Phi Phi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Phuket Phi phi Maya Bay Khai Island Diving Transfer & Buffet: $89
- Easy Island Transfer from Phi Phi Island to Koh Tao: $77
- Phi Phi to Koh Samui Smooth Transfer by Speedboat Bus Catamaran: $70
- Koh Phi Phi to Krabi VIP Speed Boat Transfer: $46
- Krabi to Phi Phi Island Scenic Round Trip Ferry Transfer Service: $42
- Smooth Round Trip Ferry Transfer from Krabi to Phi Phi Island: $37
- Speedboat Transfer Phi Phi Tonsai to Phuket with Dropoff Service: $28
- Phi Phi Island to Phuket Speedboat Transfer: $26
Is it cheaper to fly into San Juan or Koh Phi Phi?
Prices for flights to both Koh Phi Phi 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 $62Koh Phi Phi $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:
- Authentic San Juan Guided Walking Food Tour with Pina Colada: $109
- Private Puerto Rican Cooking Class in San Juan for Groups: $146
- Morning Old San Juan Food Tour: $169
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $170
- FlyDining: 4 Courses Dinner with City Lights & Ocean Breeze: $185
- Fly Dining 4 Course Sunset or City Lights Dinner Over San Juan: $185
Typical Food Prices in Koh Phi Phi
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Phi Phi:
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Crepe$1.82
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Sit Down Lunch$10
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Casual Lunch$6.36
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Coconut Donut$0.30
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Lunch at Mexican Restaurant (for 2)$12
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Sit Down Dinner$15
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Juan $49Koh Phi Phi $50
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.
- 1 Hour Bull Maze Adventure at Toroverde Urban Park San Juan: $45
- 1 Hour Historical UTV Tour in San Juan: $200
- 2 Tours in 1 Day Rainforest and Beach Adventure with Transport: $65
- 3 Tours in 1 Day Old San Juan Rainforest and Beach with Transport: $75
- 3 in 1 Full Day Cueva Ventana, Indian Cave & Waterfall Adventure: $155
- ATV Double Rider Adventure Near San Juan - Hacienda Campo Rico: $221
- ATV Single Rider Adventure Near San Juan - Hacienda Campo Rico: $149
- Adventure Water Bike in Condado Lagoon, San Juan: $60
- Arecibo Cave Cliffside Waterfall Adventure: $139
- Arecibo Indian Cave Coastal Adventure: $65
- Bio Bay Magic and Rum Tasting Tour from San Juan: $250
- Bio Bay Night Kayak Tour with Transport from San Juan: $125
Typical Entertainment Prices in Koh Phi Phi
For Koh Phi Phi, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Kayak Rental$9.08
Tours and Activities in Koh Phi Phi
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Phi Phi.
- 6 Hours Private Tour Around Phi Phi Islands From Phi Phi: $186
- Activities In & Around Phuket: Full Day Customizable Tour: $110
- Banana Beach Premium: Shared Tour: $133
- Early Bird Phi Phi Islands Tour From Phi Phi by Speedboat: $47
- Experience Koh Phi Phi by Private Longtail Boat: $70
- Ferry from Phi Phi Islands to Phuket with Dropoff Service by Royal Jet Cruiser: $15
- From Phi Phi: Morning/Afternoon Phi Phi Island Tour Longtail Boat: $23
- Half Day Tour Around Phi Phi Islands By Private Longtail Boat From Phi Phi: $132
- Half-Day Phi Phi Tour with Maya Bay By Longtail Boat From Phi Phi: $19
- Koh Phi Phi to Phuket by Phi Phi Cruiser: $21
- Phi Phi 7 Islands Full-Day Tour From Phi Phi by Longtail Boat: $31
- Phi Phi Half Day Longtail Boat Tour to Maya Bay and Snorkeling: $23
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Juan $12Koh Phi Phi $6.27
Sample the Local Flavors in San Juan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Juan:
- Old San Juan Bar Crawl: Experience Local Hotspots: $65
- Puerto Rico Tobacco Farm and Local Brewery Tour: $109
- Puerto Rico's First and Only Craft Beer Brewery Tour!: $150
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Phi Phi
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Koh Phi Phi from other travelers:
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Mojito Bucket$15
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Banana Daiquiri$6.05
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Juan and Koh Phi Phi, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Koh Phi Phi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Juan is in Caribbean Islands and Koh Phi Phi is in Asia, 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 Koh Phi Phi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Phi Phi 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 Koh Phi Phi.
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 Koh Phi Phi Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Juan or Koh Phi Phi?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 420 times larger than the population of Koh Phi Phi. When comparing the sizes of San Juan and Koh Phi Phi, 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 Koh Phi Phi?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit San Juan or Koh Phi Phi in the Summer?
Both Koh Phi Phi 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. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Phi Phi because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Phi Phi. In July, San Juan usually receives less rain than Koh Phi Phi. San Juan gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Koh Phi Phi receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
It's quite sunny in Koh Phi Phi. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. San Juan usually receives more sunshine than Koh Phi Phi during summer. San Juan gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Phi Phi receives 206 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, San Juan is around the same temperature as Koh Phi Phi. Typically, the summer temperatures in San Juan in July average around 28°C (83°F), and Koh Phi Phi averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Juan 28°C (83°F)Koh Phi Phi 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit San Juan or Koh Phi Phi in the Autumn?
Both Koh Phi Phi 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Phi Phi year-round.
December to March is the dry season in Koh Phi Phi. May to November is the rainy season in Koh Phi Phi. Koh Phi Phi 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 Koh Phi Phi. San Juan gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Koh Phi Phi receives 304 mm (12 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in San Juan. In the autumn, San Juan often gets more sunshine than Koh Phi Phi. San Juan gets 235 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Phi Phi receives 181 hours of full sun.
In October, San Juan is generally around the same temperature as Koh Phi Phi. Daily temperatures in San Juan average around 28°C (82°F), and Koh Phi Phi fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Juan 28°C (82°F)Koh Phi Phi 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit San Juan or Koh Phi Phi in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both San Juan and Koh Phi Phi. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round. Koh Phi Phi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
December to March in Koh Phi Phi is the dry season. In January, San Juan usually receives more rain than Koh Phi Phi. San Juan gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Koh Phi Phi receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Koh Phi Phi this time of the year. In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Juan usually receives less sunshine than Koh Phi Phi during winter. San Juan gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Phi Phi receives 287 hours of full sun in the winter.
San Juan is around the same temperature as Koh Phi Phi in the winter. The daily temperature in San Juan averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Koh Phi Phi fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Juan 25°C (77°F)Koh Phi Phi 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit San Juan or Koh Phi Phi in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to San Juan as well as Koh Phi Phi. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Phi Phi throughout the year.
May to November in Koh Phi Phi is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Koh Phi Phi. San Juan usually gets less rain in April than Koh Phi Phi. San Juan gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Koh Phi Phi receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Koh Phi Phi. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. In the spring, San Juan often gets more sunshine than Koh Phi Phi. San Juan gets 272 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Phi Phi receives 249 hours of full sun.
In the spring, San Juan is around the same temperature as Koh Phi Phi. Typically, the spring temperatures in San Juan in April average around 26°C (79°F), and Koh Phi Phi averages at about 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Juan 26°C (79°F)Koh Phi Phi 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Phi Phi and San Juan
| San Juan | Koh Phi Phi | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 318 mm (12.5 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 279 mm (11 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 399 mm (15.7 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 304 mm (12 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
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.