Which place is cheaper, Pasadena or San Juan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Juan or Pasadena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Juan or Pasadena? 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 Pasadena?
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.
Pasadena
Pasadena, California is adjacent to Los Angeles and is probably most famous as the host for the New Year's Day Rose Parade and Rose Bowl football game. As such, it has become known as the City of Roses. Year around Pasadena is known to have a vibrant night life. It has a great Old Town area that has impressive shopping and many excellent restaurants. It's also home to the California Institute of Technology and has many museums, theaters, and independent films that make it a cultural haven for the area. Also make sure you visit the Huntington Library which has an impressive art collection and over 150 acres of botanical gardens. It's been featured in several Hollywood Films.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Juan $192Pasadena $62
The average daily cost (per person) in San Juan is $192, while the average daily cost in Pasadena is $62. 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 Pasadena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Juan $124Pasadena $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Juan $248Pasadena $50
Compare Hotels in San Juan and Pasadena
Looking for a hotel in San Juan or Pasadena? 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 Pasadena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Juan $14Pasadena $21
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
Is it cheaper to fly into San Juan or Pasadena?
Prices for flights to both Pasadena 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 $36Pasadena $19
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
Typical Food Prices in Pasadena
Some typical examples of dining costs in Pasadena are as follows:
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Casual Dinner Out (family of 4)$58
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Juan $49Pasadena -
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
Tours and Activities in Pasadena
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Pasadena are as follows:
- LA: East Side Guided Film Locations Tour: $350
- Haunted Walking Tour: $33
- Old Pasadena Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour: $49
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Juan $12Pasadena -
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 Pasadena, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Pasadena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Juan is in Caribbean Islands and Pasadena 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 Pasadena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pasadena 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 Pasadena.
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 Pasadena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Juan or Pasadena?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Pasadena. When comparing the sizes of San Juan and Pasadena, 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 Pasadena?
Pasadena 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 Pasadena in the Summer?
Both Pasadena 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. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Pasadena because of the family-friendly experiences.
In July, San Juan is generally a little warmer than Pasadena. Daily temperatures in San Juan average around 28°C (83°F), and Pasadena fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).
San Juan usually gets more rain in July than Pasadena. San Juan gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Pasadena receives 0 inches (0 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Juan 28°C (83°F)Pasadena 73°F (23°C)
Should I visit San Juan or Pasadena in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Juan and Pasadena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round. Furthermore, the shopping scene are the main draw to Pasadena this time of year.
San Juan is a little warmer than Pasadena in the autumn. The daily temperature in San Juan averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Pasadena fluctuates around 68°F (20°C).
San Juan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, San Juan usually receives more rain than Pasadena. San Juan gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Pasadena receives 0.3 inches (7 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Juan 28°C (82°F)Pasadena 68°F (20°C)
Should I visit San Juan or Pasadena in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to San Juan as well as Pasadena. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Pasadena for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, San Juan is much warmer than Pasadena. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Juan in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Pasadena averages at about 56°F (13°C).
San Juan usually gets less rain in January than Pasadena. San Juan gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Pasadena receives 2.5 inches (63 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Juan 25°C (77°F)Pasadena 56°F (13°C)
Should I visit San Juan or Pasadena in the Spring?
Both Pasadena 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.
In April, San Juan is generally much warmer than Pasadena. Daily temperatures in San Juan average around 26°C (79°F), and Pasadena fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).
In April, San Juan usually receives more rain than Pasadena. San Juan gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Pasadena receives 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Juan 26°C (79°F)Pasadena 62°F (17°C)
Typical Weather for Pasadena and San Juan
| San Juan | Pasadena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.5 inches (63 mm) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 58°F (14°C) | 2.5 inches (63 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 59°F (15°C) | 2 inches (50 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.7 inches (17 mm) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 65°F (18°C) | 0.2 inches (4 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 69°F (20°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 74°F (24°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 62°F (16°C) | 1.6 inches (42 mm) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 56°F (13°C) | 1.7 inches (43 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.