Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Santa Elena?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Santa Elena or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Santa Elena and San Juan. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Santa Elena or San Juan?
Santa Elena
Santa Elena is a cute town, and the closest to the Monteverde Cloud Forest. It's one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica, and is a great place to experience the cloud forest and see some of country's unique wildlife.
In the Monteverde Cloud Forest you have a good chance of seeing rare quetzals which are the national bird of Costa Rica. Other common animals include white-faced capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, orange-kneed tarantulas, any of 8-9 species of hummingbirds, and sloth.
Santa Elena is about 1,400 meters above sea level and has a humid and damp environment. The average yearly temperature is 64 degrees Fahrenheit and the average rainfall is 3,000 millimetres. Humidity can be anywhere between 74% and 97%.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySanta Elena $92San Juan $185
The average daily cost (per person) in Santa Elena is $92, while the average daily cost in San Juan is $185. 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 Santa Elena and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanta Elena $55San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanta Elena $110San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Santa Elena and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Santa Elena or San Juan? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santa Elena $11San Juan $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Elena
Also for Santa Elena, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde - Liberia: $276
- Private Transfer From Monteverde To La Fortuna From 1 to 6 passengers: $270
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde to Samara : $269
- Private Transfer Lake crossing from Monteverde To Arenal From 1 to 6 passengers: $249
- Direct transfer from Monteverde to San Jose, English Speaking Driver: $180
- Peñas Blancas to Liberia Airport (LIR) Departure Private Transfer: $38
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
- Private Airport Transfers to Ceiba Ferry Terminal and Airport: $155
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, 16Pax Mercedes Van, Select Zone: $130
- Oneway Transfer from San Juan (SJU, hotel, airbnb, port) to Ponce: $125
- 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
Is it cheaper to fly into Santa Elena or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Santa Elena 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 daySanta Elena $24San Juan $36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Elena
For Santa Elena, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Night Walk in Monteverde with Dinner Included: $55
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.Santa Elena $30San Juan $49
Tours and Activities in Santa Elena
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santa Elena.
- Cloud Forest hanging bridges with a local naturalist tour guide: $45
- Curi-cancha Bird-Watching tour semi private : $50
- Wildlife Tour in Curicancha : $25
- 100% Adventure Park Combo: Zipline, Superman, and Mega Tarzan Tour in Monteverde: $57
- 3 hours of the Longest and Highest Extreme Zip line Experience in Monteverde: $80
- Adventure Day - Outdoor activities for Family and Friends Special Package.: $29
- Adventure Park High Ropes Course : $69
- Authentic experience of Coffee, Cane and Caco inside the forest: $37
- Bird Watching Experience in Monteverde: $90
- Bird-Watching private tour : $100
- Birdwatching Tour in Monteverde : $85
- Canopy Adventure From Monteverde: $72
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 daySanta Elena $6.22San Juan $12
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 Santa Elena and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Santa Elena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Santa Elena is in Central America and San Juan is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Santa Elena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santa Elena Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Santa Elena or San Juan?
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 Santa Elena or San Juan in the Summer?
Both San Juan and Santa Elena are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Santa Elena throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Santa Elena. In July, Santa Elena usually receives more rain than San Juan. Santa Elena gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
It's quite sunny in San Juan. Santa Elena usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during summer. Santa Elena gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Santa Elena is around the same temperature as San Juan. Typically, the summer temperatures in Santa Elena in July average around 28°C (82°F), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySanta Elena 28°C (82°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Santa Elena or San Juan in the Autumn?
Both San Juan and Santa Elena during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Santa Elena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
San Juan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Santa Elena. Santa Elena usually gets more rain in October than San Juan. Santa Elena gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Santa Elena often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Santa Elena gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun.
In October, Santa Elena is generally around the same temperature as San Juan. Daily temperatures in Santa Elena average around 27°C (81°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSanta Elena 27°C (81°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Santa Elena or San Juan in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Santa Elena and San Juan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Santa Elena year-round. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Santa Elena usually receives less rain than San Juan. Santa Elena gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. In Santa Elena, it's very sunny this time of the year. Santa Elena usually receives more sunshine than San Juan during winter. Santa Elena gets 264 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
Santa Elena is around the same temperature as San Juan in the winter. The daily temperature in Santa Elena averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and San Juan fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySanta Elena 27°C (81°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Santa Elena or San Juan in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Santa Elena as well as San Juan. Santa Elena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
Santa Elena usually gets less rain in April than San Juan. Santa Elena gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Santa Elena this time of the year. In the spring, Santa Elena often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan. Santa Elena gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Santa Elena is a little warmer than San Juan. Typically, the spring temperatures in Santa Elena in April average around 29°C (85°F), and San Juan averages at about 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSanta Elena 29°C (85°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Santa Elena
| Santa Elena | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 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.