Which place is cheaper, San Diego 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 San Diego?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Juan or San Diego? 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 San Diego?
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.
San Diego
For many visitors and locals alike, San Diego is a paradise. Located in southern California, not far from Los Angeles, it has the perfect climate, wonderful beaches, and a culturally rich environment. It's surrounded by beautiful landscape and has a strong focus on wildlife conservation and eco-friendly living. Home to about 1.3 million residents, it is California's second largest city. It also has many universities, a large tech industry, and a thriving economy. Despite its size, many people perceive San Diego as a slower, more relaxed city with a pleasant vibe away from the chaos of a large city.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas.
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San Juan Prices
Puerto Rico PricesSan Diego Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Juan $218San Diego $233
The average daily cost (per person) in San Juan is $218, while the average daily cost in San Diego is $233. 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 San Diego in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Juan $124San Diego $115
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Juan $248San Diego $230
Compare Hotels in San Juan and San Diego
Looking for a hotel in San Juan or San Diego? 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 San Diego Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Juan $14San Diego $23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Puerto Rico: Airport Transfer to/from SJU Airport: $390
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port: Transfer to San Juan hotel: $300
- 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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Diego
Also for San Diego, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Tijuana Intl Airport (TIJ) to Playas de Rosarito - Arrival Private Transfer: $277
- Private Transfer Airport Tijuana/Valle de Guadalupe (Ensenada) or back.: $165
- Tijuana to Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $141
- Private Transfer from Tijuana to Ensenada and Valle de Guadalupe: $139
- Sedan Arrival Private Transfer San Diego Airport SAN to San Diego: $125
- Departure Private Transfer: San Diego to San Diego Airport SAN in Business Car: $113
- Sedan Departure Transfer San Diego to San Diego Airport SAN: $104
- Private Arrival Transfer - from San Diego Airport (SAN) by SUV: $89
- Private Transfer from San Diego (SAN) Airport to San Diego City: $88
- Private Transfer from San Diego City to San Diego (SAN) Airport: $88
- Roundtrip Private Transfer from Tijuana Airport (TIJ): $77
- Private Transfer from San Diego City Hotels to San Diego Port : $71
Is it cheaper to fly into San Juan or San Diego?
Prices for flights to both San Diego 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 $62San Diego $77
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:
- Puerto Rican food tasting and beginner cooking Tour: $79
- From Pinones Beach & Bar Hopping Food Tour: $85
- Old San Juan Food Tour including Classic Piña Colada: $110
- Puerto Rico Secret Food Tour of Old San Juan: $147
- 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
- Bad Bunny Origins & Cultural Food Tour: $230
Typical Food Prices in San Diego
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to San Diego:
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Mexican Lunch for Two$27
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Breakfast at Starbucks$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Diego
For San Diego, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 2 Hour Ravioli Cooking Class With Local Chef in San Diego : $75
- North Park San Diego Walking Food Tour: $85
- Little Italy Food and Drink Walking Tour: Pizza, Pasta & Piazzas: $90
- San Diego Gaslamp Food Tour with 6 Modern Californian Tastings: $95
- Gaslamp Quarter Downtown San Diego Food Tour: $99
- City Cruises Buffet Dinner Cruise: $110
- Walking food tour + Round trip ferry to Coronado Island : $125
- San Diego Harbor Dinner Cruise: $126
- City Cruises Gourmet Dinner Cruise & Skyline Views: $151
- Private Cooking Demonstration of Indian Fusion Cuisine in San Diego: $228
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Juan $49San Diego $48
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: $51
- 3 Tours in 1 Day: Old San Juan, Rainforest, Beach with Transport: $64
- 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 San Diego
For San Diego, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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San Diego Zoo$15
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Sea World Parking$12
Tours and Activities in San Diego
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Diego.
- Gaslamp Quarter to Little Italy Tour: $39
- Maritime Museum of San Diego Admission Ticket: $28
- Old Town Walking Tour: $129
- The La Jolla Walking Tour: $119
- The Little Italy Walking Tour: $99
- 1 Hour GPS Guided Scooter Tour: Harbor/Gaslamp Quarter: $92
- 1-Hour Private Scenic Tandem Sidecar Tour in San Diego: $99
- 1.5 Hour Walking Tour from La Jolla in San Diego: $59
- 2-Hour Downtown and Balboa Tour in GPS Guided Vanderhall GoCar: $288
- 2-Hour GoCar Tour of Downtown San Diego and Old Town: $52
- 2-Hour GoCar Tour of Downtown and Balboa Park: $90
- 2-Hour San Diego Pier Fishing Experience: $75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Juan $12San Diego $21
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
- Puerto Rico: Ocean Lab Brewery and Tobaco Farm Tour: $139
Sample the Local Flavors in San Diego
Also in San Diego, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt: Slammin' San Diego Bar Crawl: $13
- Hillcrest: LGBTQ+ Pub Crawl with Local Drag Queen: $35
- $99 Valle de Guadalupe Wine Tours - DayTrip to baja from San Diego: $123
- Cruise & Booze Brewery tours : $149
- Baja Tour Guide wine tour: $169
- Valle de Guadalupe Wine Tour: $249
- Luxury Private Wine Tasting Tour to Guadalupe Valley from San Diego: $269
When comparing the travel costs between San Juan and San Diego, we can see that San Diego is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though San Juan is in Caribbean Islands and San Diego is in North America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
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 San Diego Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Juan or San Diego?
San Diego has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of San Juan. When comparing the sizes of San Juan and San Diego, 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 San Diego?
San Diego 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 San Diego in the Summer?
Both San Diego 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. Also, the summer months attract visitors to San Diego because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, San Juan is a little warmer than San Diego. Typically, the summer temperatures in San Juan in July average around 28°C (83°F), and San Diego averages at about 71°F (22°C).
It's quite sunny in San Diego. 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 San Diego during summer. San Juan gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while San Diego receives 306 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, San Juan usually receives more rain than San Diego. San Juan gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while San Diego receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Juan 28°C (83°F)San Diego 71°F (22°C)
Should I visit San Juan or San Diego in the Autumn?
Both San Diego 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. Furthermore, the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to San Diego this time of year.
In October, San Juan is generally a little warmer than San Diego. Daily temperatures in San Juan average around 28°C (82°F), and San Diego fluctuates around 68°F (20°C).
In San Diego, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in San Juan. In the autumn, San Juan often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Diego. San Juan gets 235 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Diego receives 244 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 San Diego. San Juan gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while San Diego receives 0.4 inches (9 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Juan 28°C (82°F)San Diego 68°F (20°C)
Should I visit San Juan or San Diego in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both San Juan and San Diego. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to San Diego for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
San Juan is much warmer than San Diego in the winter. The daily temperature in San Juan averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and San Diego fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Diego 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 San Diego during winter. San Juan gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while San Diego receives 239 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, San Juan usually receives more rain than San Diego. San Juan gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while San Diego receives 1.8 inches (46 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Juan 25°C (77°F)San Diego 57°F (14°C)
Should I visit San Juan or San Diego in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to San Juan as well as San Diego. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to San Diego in the spring for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
In the spring, San Juan is much warmer than San Diego. Typically, the spring temperatures in San Juan in April average around 26°C (79°F), and San Diego averages at about 62°F (17°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Diego. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. In the spring, San Juan often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Diego. San Juan gets 272 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Diego receives 277 hours of full sun.
San Juan usually gets more rain in April than San Diego. San Juan gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while San Diego receives 0.8 inches (20 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Juan 26°C (79°F)San Diego 62°F (17°C)
Typical Weather for San Diego and San Juan
| San Juan | San Diego | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 1.8 inches (46 mm) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 59°F (15°C) | 1.5 inches (39 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 59°F (15°C) | 1.8 inches (45 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.8 inches (20 mm) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 71°F (22°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 71°F (22°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 0.4 inches (9 mm) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 1.5 inches (37 mm) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 1.6 inches (40 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.