Which place is cheaper, Puerto Viejo or San Juan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Juan or Puerto Viejo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Juan or Puerto Viejo? 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 Puerto Viejo?
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.
Puerto Viejo
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a small coastal town in Caribbean Costa Rica in the province of Limon. There are two gorgeous National Parks nearby - Cahuita and Manzanillo, and it rains more than on the Pacific side, which is why it is so lush and green with the rainforest coming down to the sea. Clear water, coconut palms, great surf and a laid-back Caribbean atmosphere make Puerto Viejo a favorite among travelers. Located on about an hour south of Limon, Puerto Viejo is the center of activity between the smaller villages of Cahuita and Manzanillo. The relaxed, seaside town is framed by jungle, turquoise seas, banana plantations and scenic rivers. It's known for the Salsa Brava surf break and beaches like black-sand Playa Negra, but this burgeoning party town is no longer a destination only for intrepid surfers; it's bustling with tourist activity. Stylish eateries serve global fusion, and intentionally rustic bamboo bars pump dancehall and reggaeton. With its blend of Afro-Caribbean descendants, expat Europeans and indigenous Costa Ricans, Puerto Viejo charms visitors with a unique mix of people and cultures. Rastafari culture has a firm foothold in the town, and many Rastas sell handmade jewelry and other wares along the town's vibrant roadside. Nearby you'll find rainforest fruit and cacao farms and wide-open beaches. If you're looking to chill a little, party a little and eat a little, you've come to the right place.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Costa Rica, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Juan $192Puerto Viejo $145
The average daily cost (per person) in San Juan is $192, while the average daily cost in Puerto Viejo is $145. 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 Puerto Viejo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Juan $124Puerto Viejo $71
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Juan $248Puerto Viejo $142
Compare Hotels in San Juan and Puerto Viejo
Looking for a hotel in San Juan or Puerto Viejo? 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 Puerto Viejo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Juan $14Puerto Viejo $38
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: $270
- San Juan Airport (SJU): Private Transfer to San Juan Port: $270
- 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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Viejo
Also for Puerto Viejo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Puerto Viejo de Limon: Transfer to San Jose or Alajuela: $373
Is it cheaper to fly into San Juan or Puerto Viejo?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Viejo 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 $36Puerto Viejo $33
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Juan $49Puerto Viejo $78
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.
- 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 RainForest: Tour with Nature walk: $75
- El Yunque Rainforest Guided Day Tour from San Juan: $85
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Juan $12Puerto Viejo $13
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 Puerto Viejo, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Viejo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Juan is in Caribbean Islands and Puerto Viejo is in Central 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 Puerto Viejo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Viejo 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 Puerto Viejo.
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 Puerto Viejo Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit San Juan or Puerto Viejo?
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 Puerto Viejo in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both San Juan and Puerto Viejo. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round. Puerto Viejo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Puerto Viejo receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, San Juan usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejo. San Juan gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Juan usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Viejo during summer. San Juan gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 124 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, San Juan is generally around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo. Daily temperatures in San Juan average around 28°C (83°F), and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Juan 28°C (83°F)Puerto Viejo 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit San Juan or Puerto Viejo in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to San Juan as well as Puerto Viejo. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Puerto Viejo throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Puerto Viejo. San Juan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Juan usually gets less rain in October than Puerto Viejo. San Juan gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 198 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. In the autumn, San Juan often gets more sunshine than Puerto Viejo. San Juan gets 235 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun.
San Juan is around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo in the autumn. The daily temperature in San Juan averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Juan 28°C (82°F)Puerto Viejo 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit San Juan or Puerto Viejo in the Winter?
Both Puerto Viejo 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. Plenty of visitors come to Puerto Viejo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Viejo. In January, San Juan usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejo. San Juan gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 319 mm (12.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. San Juan usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Viejo during winter. San Juan gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, San Juan is around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Juan in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Puerto Viejo averages at about 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Juan 25°C (77°F)Puerto Viejo 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit San Juan or Puerto Viejo in the Spring?
Both Puerto Viejo 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Puerto Viejo year-round.
Puerto Viejo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. San Juan usually gets less rain in April than Puerto Viejo. San Juan gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in San Juan. In the spring, San Juan often gets more sunshine than Puerto Viejo. San Juan gets 272 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 172 hours of full sun.
In April, San Juan is generally around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo. Daily temperatures in San Juan average around 26°C (79°F), and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Juan 26°C (79°F)Puerto Viejo 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Puerto Viejo and San Juan
| San Juan | Puerto Viejo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 319 mm (12.6 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 201 mm (7.9 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 193 mm (7.6 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 281 mm (11.1 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 408 mm (16.1 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 367 mm (14.4 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 402 mm (15.8 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.