Which place is cheaper, Los Angeles or San Juan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Juan or Los Angeles?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Juan or Los Angeles? 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 Los Angeles?
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.
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California is probably one of the most well known cities in the United States. It is the second most populated metro area in the country with more than 17 million people. The city's diversity is wide reaching, giving it a character that is unique from any other place in the country. LA has many world famous sights and neighborhoods including Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, and Santa Monica, but there is really so much more to this city.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Juan $192Los Angeles $258
The average daily cost (per person) in San Juan is $192, while the average daily cost in Los Angeles is $258. 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 Los Angeles in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Juan $124Los Angeles $140
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Juan $248Los Angeles $280
Compare Hotels in San Juan and Los Angeles
Looking for a hotel in San Juan or Los Angeles? 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 Los Angeles Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Juan $14Los Angeles $42
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 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
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, 16Pax Mercedes Van, Select Zone: $130
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 11Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $103
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Los Angeles
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Los Angeles:
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Hotel Parking for a Day$22
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Taxi to Airport$55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Los Angeles
Also for Los Angeles, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private City Highlights Tour with Transfer: $999
- LA: City Highlights Private Guided Tour with Transfer: $999
- Los Angeles Airport (LAX): Private Transfer to Los Angeles: $764
- Private Transfers between LAX Airport and Los Angeles: $514
- Los Angeles Airport Transfer and Transportation : $300
- Private Transfer from Los Angeles Airport (LAX) to Anaheim: $298
- Departure Private Transfer: Los Angeles to Ontario Airport ONT in Luxury Van: $272
- Departure Private Transfer: Los Angeles to Airport LAX in Luxury Car: $272
- Los Angeles Airport (LAX) to Desert Hot Springs Arrival Transfer: $251
- San Diego Private Transfer To or From Universal Studios/Burbank.: $248
- One-Way Private Transfers From/To Los Angeles Airport: $245
- Private Round-trip Airport Transfer: LAX International Airport to Anaheim Hotels: $240
Is it cheaper to fly into San Juan or Los Angeles?
Prices for flights to both Los Angeles 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 $36Los Angeles $60
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
- Private Local Food Tour in San Juan: $275
Typical Food Prices in Los Angeles
For Los Angeles, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Mexican Dinner (family of 4)$32
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Burritos for Two$15
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Coffee and Danish$7.70
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Los Angeles
For Los Angeles, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Venice Beach Food Tour with Tastings: $75
- Santa Monica Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $82
- 3-Hour Secret Food Tour: $88
- Downtown Los Angeles Food Tour: $89
- West Hollywood Food Tour: $89
- Downtown Food Tour: $89
- Venice Beach Food Tour: $89
- LA Venice Beach Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $99
- Night Cruise in Marina del Rey with Dinner: $124
- Vegan African Dinner Party in Playa Del Ray: $132
- Marina Del Rey: Thanksgiving Buffet Brunch or Dinner Cruise: $136
- Marina Del Rey: Christmas Eve Buffet Brunch or Dinner Cruise: $136
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Juan $49Los Angeles $82
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
- Bioluminescent Bay Kayak Adventure from San Juan: $110
- Carolina: ATV Adventure at Campo Rico Ranch with Guide: $136
- Cave Day Tour From San Juan: $109
- Cruise Ship Travelers: Hike to a Hidden Puerto Rican Waterfall: $85
- Culebra Beach Day Tour with Snorkeling from San Juan by Ferry: $200
- Culebra Snorkeling Tour by Catamaran from Fajardo: $175
- Discover El Yunque: Half-Day Rainforest Tour: $115
- Discover Old In-App Audio Tour of History: $11
- El Yunque National Forest and Luquillo Beach Tour: $75
Typical Entertainment Prices in Los Angeles
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Los Angeles's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Santa Monica Pier Rides (family of 4)$37
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Bowling$13
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Hollywood Tour for Two$30
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Six Flags for 2$96
Tours and Activities in Los Angeles
For Los Angeles, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1-Hour Private Ferrari Driving Tour: Hollywood to Beverly Hills: $289
- 2 Hour Celebrity Homes Tour: $175
- 2 Hour Griffith Park Observatory Tour: $20
- 2 Hour Private Tour of Hollywood and Beverly Hills Celebrity Homes: $175
- 2-Hour Hollywood Bus Tour: $45
- 2-Hour Hollywood, West Hollywood and Beverly Hills Open Bus Tour: $39
- 2-Hour Shared Celebrities Home Tours in Hollywood: $35
- 2-Hour Venice Beach Art and History Walking Tour: $39
- 2-Hours Guided Black and Brown Hollywood Tour: $77
- 2.5 Hour Private Tour of Hollywood and Beverly Hills: $219
- 2.5-hour Hollywood Chills Tour - Celebrity Scandals and Cemeteries : $219
- 20 Min Ferrari driving tour in Hollywood: $99
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Juan $12Los Angeles $15
Sample the Local Flavors in San Juan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Juan:
- Pinones Pub crawl in Puerto Rico: $50
Sample the Local Flavors in Los Angeles
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Los Angeles:
- LA Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- LA Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $40
- Salsa Lesson, Burlesque and Mojitos : $149
- Salsa Lesson and Burlesque Show: $149
- Malibu: Vintage VW Sightseeing Tour and Wine Tasting: $195
- Wine Tour at Fess Parker Winery by Helicopter: $4,299
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Juan and Los Angeles, we can see that Los Angeles is more expensive. And not only is San Juan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Juan is in Caribbean Islands and Los Angeles 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 San Juan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Juan 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 Los Angeles would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Los Angeles than you might in San Juan.
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 Los Angeles Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Juan or Los Angeles?
Los Angeles has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of San Juan. When comparing the sizes of San Juan and Los Angeles, 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 Los Angeles?
Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both San Juan and Los Angeles. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Los Angeles because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, San Juan is generally a little warmer than Los Angeles. Daily temperatures in San Juan average around 28°C (83°F), and Los Angeles fluctuates around 72°F (22°C).
In July, San Juan usually receives more rain than Los Angeles. San Juan gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Los Angeles receives 0 inches (0 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Juan 28°C (83°F)Los Angeles 72°F (22°C)
Should I visit San Juan or Los Angeles in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to San Juan as well as Los Angeles. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene are the main draw to Los Angeles this time of year.
San Juan is much warmer than Los Angeles in the autumn. The daily temperature in San Juan averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Los Angeles fluctuates around 64°F (18°C).
San Juan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Juan usually gets more rain in October than Los Angeles. San Juan gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Los Angeles receives 0.6 inches (15 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Juan 28°C (82°F)Los Angeles 64°F (18°C)
Should I visit San Juan or Los Angeles in the Winter?
Both Los Angeles 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 travelers come to Los Angeles for the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
In the winter, San Juan is much warmer than Los Angeles. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Juan in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Los Angeles averages at about 55°F (13°C).
In January, San Juan usually receives less rain than Los Angeles. San Juan gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Los Angeles receives 3.1 inches (79 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Juan 25°C (77°F)Los Angeles 55°F (13°C)
Should I visit San Juan or Los Angeles in the Spring?
Both Los Angeles 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, many visitors come to Los Angeles in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.
In April, San Juan is generally much warmer than Los Angeles. Daily temperatures in San Juan average around 26°C (79°F), and Los Angeles fluctuates around 61°F (16°C).
San Juan usually gets more rain in April than Los Angeles. San Juan gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Los Angeles receives 1 inches (25 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Juan 26°C (79°F)Los Angeles 61°F (16°C)
Typical Weather for Los Angeles and San Juan
| San Juan | Los Angeles | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 55°F (13°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 55°F (13°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 61°F (16°C) | 1 inches (25 mm) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.4 inches (10 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 66°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 70°F (21°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.6 inches (15 mm) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.2 inches (31 mm) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.6 inches (66 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.