Which place is cheaper, North Conway or San Juan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit San Juan or North Conway?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Juan or North Conway? 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 North Conway?
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.
North Conway
North Conway is a small town in New Hampshire in the Mount Washington Valley (MWV). The entire valley is a popular vacation area year-round due to the multiple ski resorts and summer activities including amusement parks, hiking, outdoor activities, and more.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in United States of America, and The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Juan $192North Conway $224
The average daily cost (per person) in San Juan is $192, while the average daily cost in North Conway is $224. 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 North Conway in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Juan $124North Conway $125
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Juan $248North Conway $250
Compare Hotels in San Juan and North Conway
Looking for a hotel in San Juan or North Conway? 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 North Conway Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Juan $14North Conway $52
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 North Conway?
Prices for flights to both North Conway 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 daySan Juan $36North Conway $64
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 $49North Conway $38
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 North Conway
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for North Conway.
- 3-Hour Private Sightseeing Outdoor Escape Game in Littleton, NH: $39
- Kancamagus Highway: Audio Driving Tour: $12
- Kancamagus Scenic Byway Audio Driving Tour Guide: $17
- Meet the Winemakers - Seven Birches Winery Tour: $40
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Juan $12North Conway $33
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 North Conway, we can see that North Conway 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 North Conway 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 North Conway would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in North Conway 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 North Conway Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Juan or North Conway?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 200 times larger than the population of North Conway. When comparing the sizes of San Juan and North Conway, 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 North Conway?
North Conway 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 North Conway in the Summer?
Both North Conway 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.
In the summer, San Juan is a little warmer than North Conway. Typically, the summer temperatures in San Juan in July average around 28°C (83°F), and North Conway averages at about 69°F (20°C).
It's quite sunny in North Conway. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. San Juan usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as North Conway during summer. San Juan gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while North Conway receives 282 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, San Juan usually receives more rain than North Conway. San Juan gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while North Conway receives 2.6 inches (66 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Juan 28°C (83°F)North Conway 69°F (20°C)
Should I visit San Juan or North Conway in the Autumn?
Both North Conway 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 October, San Juan is generally much warmer than North Conway. Daily temperatures in San Juan average around 28°C (82°F), and North Conway fluctuates around 49°F (9°C).
It's quite sunny in San Juan. In the autumn, San Juan often gets more sunshine than North Conway. San Juan gets 235 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while North Conway receives 196 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Juan. San Juan usually gets more rain in October than North Conway. San Juan gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while North Conway receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain this time of the year.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Juan 28°C (82°F)North Conway 49°F (9°C)
Should I visit San Juan or North Conway in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both San Juan and North Conway. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
North Conway can get quite cold in the winter. San Juan is much warmer than North Conway in the winter. The daily temperature in San Juan averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and North Conway fluctuates around 21°F (-6°C).
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Juan usually receives more sunshine than North Conway during winter. San Juan gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while North Conway receives 163 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, San Juan usually receives less rain than North Conway. San Juan gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while North Conway receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Juan 25°C (77°F)North Conway 21°F (-6°C)
Should I visit San Juan or North Conway in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to San Juan as well as North Conway. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the spring, San Juan is much warmer than North Conway. Typically, the spring temperatures in San Juan in April average around 26°C (79°F), and North Conway averages at about 43°F (6°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in North Conway. 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 North Conway. San Juan gets 272 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while North Conway receives 212 hours of full sun.
San Juan usually gets less rain in April than North Conway. San Juan gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while North Conway receives 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain this time of the year.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Juan 26°C (79°F)North Conway 43°F (6°C)
Typical Weather for North Conway and San Juan
| San Juan | North Conway | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 21°F (-6°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 24°F (-5°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 33°F (1°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 43°F (6°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 53°F (12°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 69°F (20°C) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 67°F (20°C) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 59°F (15°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 49°F (9°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 39°F (4°C) | 4.8 inches (123 mm) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 27°F (-3°C) | 4.1 inches (103 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.