Which place is cheaper, San Juan del Sur or San Pedro?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Pedro or San Juan del Sur?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Pedro or San Juan del Sur, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: San Pedro or San Juan del Sur?
San Pedro
San Pedro is the largest town on Ambergris Caye, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Belize. Here you can find a tropical paradise with warm weather, clear blue waters, plenty of activities such as snorkeling and scuba diving, and a host of hotels, restaurants, and other amenities.
San Juan del Sur
San Juan del Sur is a popular port destination on the Pacific coast of southwest Nicaragua. The town was once a quaint fishing village but has grown into a tourist town with activities for visitors that include surfing, fishing, and, of course, partying. The town has a population of just over 15,000, most of whom are either fishermen or involved in the tourism industry. There is also a large expat community from the United States, Canada, and Europe.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Belize, The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize, The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Pedro $135San Juan del Sur $53
The average daily cost (per person) in San Pedro is $135, while the average daily cost in San Juan del Sur is $53. 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 Pedro and San Juan del Sur in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Pedro $66San Juan del Sur $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Pedro $132San Juan del Sur $42
Compare Hotels in San Pedro and San Juan del Sur
Looking for a hotel in San Pedro or San Juan del Sur? 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 del Sur Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Pedro $34San Juan del Sur $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Pedro:
- Cave Tubing and Zipline Adventure (Boat Transfer): $205
Is it cheaper to fly into San Pedro or San Juan del Sur?
Prices for flights to both San Juan del Sur and San Pedro 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 Pedro $40San Juan del Sur $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Pedro
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Pedro.
- Belizean Sunset and Cultural Dinner Cruise: $120
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Pedro $33San Juan del Sur $15
Tours and Activities in San Pedro
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Pedro are as follows:
- Sunset Tiki Bar Cruise in Caye Caulker, Belize: $45
- Shark & Ray Afternoon Swim Tiki Bar Cruise: $45
- 3 Hours Barrier Reef Tour in Caye Caulker, Belize: $54
- Ambergris Caye Sunset Sail Tour on the 40' Sirena Azul Sailboat: $75
- SAN PEDRO; Belizean Food Experience: $86
- Hol Chan Marine Reserve Snorkel Tour on the 40' Sirena Azul Sailboat: $89
- Belize Hol Chan Marine Reserve & Shark Ray Alley Snorkel Tour - Ambergris Caye: $93
- Hol Chan Full-Day Bucket List Snorkeling and Marine Life Tour: $95
- Hol Chan, Shark Ray Full-Day Snorkeling Tour From San Pedro Belize: $110
- All-Inclusive Full-Day Hol Chan Snorkeling Tour : $120
- Mexico Rocks Day Sail Shared Guided Tour: $129
- Exclusive All-in-1 Full Day Shared Guided Tour: $139
Tours and Activities in San Juan del Sur
Here are a few actual costs in San Juan del Sur for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- SJDS PORT EXCURSION: Zipline and Adventure Park: $103
- San Juan del Sur Shore Excursion: Private Masaya Volcano and Catarina Tour: $118
- ATV Adventure Tour in San Juan del Sur, NICARAGUA: $130
- atv tour also in Costa Rica: $132
- Mombacho Volcano Hike and Ziplining Adventure from San Juan del Sur: $159
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Pedro $16San Juan del Sur $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Pedro and San Juan del Sur, we can see that San Pedro is more expensive. And not only is San Juan del Sur much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Juan del Sur would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Juan del Sur 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 Pedro would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Pedro than you might in San Juan del Sur.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Pedro Expensive? and Is San Juan del Sur Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Pedro or San Juan del Sur?
San Pedro has a larger population, and is about 8% larger than the population of San Juan del Sur. When comparing the sizes of San Pedro and San Juan del Sur, 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 Pedro or San Juan del Sur?
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 Pedro or San Juan del Sur in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both San Pedro and San Juan del Sur. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Pedro year-round. San Juan del Sur attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
San Juan del Sur receives a lot of rain in the summer. San Pedro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, San Pedro usually receives more rain than San Juan del Sur. San Pedro gets 243 mm (9.6 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In San Pedro, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Pedro usually receives more sunshine than San Juan del Sur during summer. San Pedro gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan del Sur receives 175 hours of full sun in the summer.
San Pedro is around the same temperature as San Juan del Sur in the summer. The daily temperature in San Pedro averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and San Juan del Sur fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Pedro 28°C (82°F)San Juan del Sur 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit San Pedro or San Juan del Sur in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to San Pedro as well as San Juan del Sur. San Pedro attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan del Sur throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in San Juan del Sur. San Pedro receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Pedro usually gets more rain in October than San Juan del Sur. San Pedro gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, San Pedro often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan del Sur. San Pedro gets 196 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan del Sur receives 195 hours of full sun.
In the autumn, San Pedro is around the same temperature as San Juan del Sur. Typically, the autumn temperatures in San Pedro in October average around 26°C (80°F), and San Juan del Sur averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Pedro 26°C (80°F)San Juan del Sur 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit San Pedro or San Juan del Sur in the Winter?
Both San Juan del Sur and San Pedro are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Pedro throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan del Sur because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in San Pedro. In January, San Pedro usually receives more rain than San Juan del Sur. San Pedro gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in San Juan del Sur. San Pedro usually receives less sunshine than San Juan del Sur during winter. San Pedro gets 199 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan del Sur receives 244 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, San Pedro is generally cooler than San Juan del Sur. Daily temperatures in San Pedro average around 24°C (74°F), and San Juan del Sur fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Pedro 24°C (74°F)San Juan del Sur 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit San Pedro or San Juan del Sur in the Spring?
Both San Juan del Sur and San Pedro during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Pedro because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan del Sur year-round.
San Pedro usually gets more rain in April than San Juan del Sur. San Pedro gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
In San Juan del Sur, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in San Pedro. In the spring, San Pedro often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan del Sur. San Pedro gets 256 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan del Sur receives 242 hours of full sun.
San Pedro is around the same temperature as San Juan del Sur in the spring. The daily temperature in San Pedro averages around 27°C (80°F) in April, and San Juan del Sur fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Pedro 27°C (80°F)San Juan del Sur 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan del Sur and San Pedro
| San Pedro | San Juan del Sur | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (80°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 243 mm (9.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (80°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (76°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 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.