Which place is cheaper, Koh Tao 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 Tao?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Juan or Koh Tao? 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 Tao?
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 Tao
With a name that literally means, "Turtle Island," Koh Tao, Thailand is the type of vacation spot divers dream of. There is the faintest current and a buffet of dive sites and shops.
This tiny island hosts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, but take not that there are no garbage disposal facilities. Everything that can't be burnt needs to be taken from the island. Avoid plastic bags, and don't dump your trash in the open landscape (then again, why would you?) because there are no departments for road clean up. Water and electricity on the island are scarce, so use them wisely.
Keep in mind that monsoon season from November to January so you may be faced with constant rain for days at a time in those months.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, and The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand.
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San Juan Prices
Puerto Rico PricesKoh Tao Prices
Thailand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Juan $218Koh Tao $50
The average daily cost (per person) in San Juan is $218, while the average daily cost in Koh Tao is $50. 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 Tao in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Juan $124Koh Tao $16
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Juan $248Koh Tao $32
Compare Hotels in San Juan and Koh Tao
Looking for a hotel in San Juan or Koh Tao? 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 Tao Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Juan $14Koh Tao $9.98
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
- Transfer in Puerto Rico with Minivan from Airport: $280
- Transfer SJU Airport to Ponce and Juana Diaz. Hotels and Airbnb Vice Versa 1 Way: $260
- Carabali Rain Forest Round Trip Private Taxi Transfer: $200
- Single ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $195
- Private Airport Transfers to Ceiba Ferry Terminal and Airport: $155
- 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
- Transfer from San Juan to Ponce or Ponce to San Juan: $125
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 14Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $124
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $120
- Arrival Private Transfer SJU Airport to Old San Juan by Sedan: $120
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Tao
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Tao:
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Motorbike Rental$5.97
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Chumpon to Koh Tao Ferry$20
Is it cheaper to fly into San Juan or Koh Tao?
Prices for flights to both Koh Tao 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 Tao $18
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 Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $165
- FlyDining: Sunset & City Lights Dinner Over Old San Juan: $165
- Morning Old San Juan Food Tour: $169
- Cooking and Connecting with a Local in Puerto Rico: $173
- Savor the Sunset: Old San Juan Walking Food Tour: $179
Typical Food Prices in Koh Tao
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Tao:
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Sit Down Lunch (for One)$6.28
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Breakfast$4.71
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Casual Breakfast (for Two)$3.77
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Fancy Dinner (for Two)$15
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Pancake$2.20
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American Breakfast (for Two)$8.79
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Dinner at Bam Bam (for Two)$8.48
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Koh Tao
For Koh Tao, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Half Day Thai Cooking Class with Sea View from Koh Tao : $51
- Memorable Thai Cooking Class with Stunning View from Koh Tao : $55
- Private Thai Cooking Class at Rooftop Kitchen on Koh Tao: $208
- Koh Tao Private Rooftop Thai Cooking Class with Scenic View: $222
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Juan $49Koh Tao $30
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.
- Culebra Swim with Turtles Adventure and Flamenco Beach by Ferry: $130
- El Yunque Rainforest Tour Half Day Earlybird/ Small Groups: $85
- Full-Day Tour: El Yunque, Luquillo Beach, Bio Bay Night Kayaking: $155
- Puerto Rican Food Experience: $99
- "Exclusive Tour": VIP Rum Tasting at San Juan Artisan Distillers: $150
- "Yo Soy de PfknR" Bad Bunny Party Bus Experience: $145
- 1 Hour Historical UTV Tour in San Juan: $200
- 2 Tours in 1 Day: Rainforest Waterslides & Beach Tour w/Transport: $60
- 3 Tours in 1 Day: Old San Juan, Rainforest, Beach with Transport: $75
- 30-Minute Freestyle Jet Ski Adventure in the Bay: $100
- ATV Double Rider Adventure Near San Juan - Hacienda Campo Rico: $221
- ATV Single Rider Adventure Near San Juan - Hacienda Campo Rico: $149
Typical Entertainment Prices in Koh Tao
For Koh Tao, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Kayak Rental (One Hour)$7.85
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Snorkel Rental$3.14
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Kayak and Snorkel (2)$3.14
Tours and Activities in Koh Tao
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Tao.
- 5 Islands Full-Day Tour Around Koh Tao and Koh Nangyuan: $27
- Amazing 5 Point Snorkeling Tour in Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan: $24
- Basic Diver ( One Day Experience): $124
- CocoTipAdventures and Snorkel with Meals-BBQs-Cocktail-Sunset: $54
- Full day snorkeling adventure around Koh Tao: $24
- Koh Nang Yuan and Koh Tao 5 Point Snorkeling Tour: $27
- Koh Tao Island Puzzle and Treasure Hunt Adventure: $75
- Koh Tao Snorkeling Tour to Hidden Bays and Koh Nang Yuan : $29
- Koh Tao Top Crystal Clear Snorkeling Day Tour by Big Boat : $27
- Koh Tao's First Light Snorkel Adventure with Oxygen Tours: $32
- No Rush Morning & Afternoon 5 Stop Snorkeling tour for Koh Tao: $27
- Premium Snorkel Tour to the Bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $37
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Juan $12Koh Tao $8.22
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
- The Pinones Pub crawl Bar crawl : $70
- Local Puerto Rican Rum Distillery Tour - Ron Pepon: $90
- Puerto Rico's First and Only Craft Beer Brewery Tour! : $99
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Tao
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Koh Tao from other travelers:
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Beer$2.04
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Bottle of Wine$12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Juan and Koh Tao, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Koh Tao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Juan is in Caribbean Islands and Koh Tao 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 Tao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Tao 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 Tao.
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 Tao Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Juan or Koh Tao?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 300 times larger than the population of Koh Tao. When comparing the sizes of San Juan and Koh Tao, 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 Tao?
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 Tao in the Summer?
Both Koh Tao 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 Tao because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Tao. In July, San Juan usually receives less rain than Koh Tao. San Juan gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. San Juan usually receives more sunshine than Koh Tao during summer. San Juan gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Tao receives 195 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, San Juan is a little warmer than Koh Tao. Typically, the summer temperatures in San Juan in July average around 28°C (83°F), and Koh Tao averages at about 24°C (76°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Juan 28°C (83°F)Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit San Juan or Koh Tao in the Autumn?
Both Koh Tao 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 Tao year-round.
October and November is the rainy season in Koh Tao. Koh Tao 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 Tao. San Juan gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 276 mm (10.9 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 Tao. San Juan gets 235 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Tao receives 167 hours of full sun.
In October, San Juan is generally a little warmer than Koh Tao. Daily temperatures in San Juan average around 28°C (82°F), and Koh Tao fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Juan 28°C (82°F)Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit San Juan or Koh Tao in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both San Juan and Koh Tao. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round. Koh Tao attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
February to June in Koh Tao is the dry season. In January, San Juan usually receives less rain than Koh Tao. San Juan gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Koh Tao this time of the year. In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Juan usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Koh Tao during winter. San Juan gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Tao receives 255 hours of full sun in the winter.
San Juan is a little warmer than Koh Tao in the winter. The daily temperature in San Juan averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Koh Tao fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Juan 25°C (77°F)Koh Tao 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit San Juan or Koh Tao in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to San Juan as well as Koh Tao. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Tao throughout the year.
Also, February to June in Koh Tao is the dry season. San Juan usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Koh Tao. San Juan gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Koh Tao. 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 Tao. San Juan gets 272 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Tao receives 239 hours of full sun.
In the spring, San Juan is around the same temperature as Koh Tao. Typically, the spring temperatures in San Juan in April average around 26°C (79°F), and Koh Tao averages at about 25°C (77°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Juan 26°C (79°F)Koh Tao 25°C (77°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Tao and San Juan
| San Juan | Koh Tao | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 380 mm (15 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 118 mm (4.6 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.