A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Santorini vs. San Juan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Santorini or San Juan?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Santorini or San Juan, 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: Santorini or San Juan?

Santorini

Santorini is a volcanic island that is part of the Cyclades group of the Greek Islands. It has some spectacular views, beautiful sunsets, and excellent beaches. As one of the most popular of the Greek Islands to visit, Santorini sees many tourists every year. However, it's for a good reason, as the famous white-washed buildings that spill down the hill, some with blue domes that match the gorgeous color of the water, are set against the beautiful mountainous backdrop of one of the most scenic areas of the Mediterranean. Home to several of these small and scenic towns such as Oia, Kamari, Perissa, and Fira, visitors can explore the large island, enjoy delicious food, swim at the beaches, hike the hills, and sail the blue waters.

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 Luxury Tours to Greece, and The Best Budget Tours to Greece.


Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Santorini?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Santorini is $294, while the average daily cost in San Juan is $218. 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 Santorini and San Juan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Santorini $138
    San Juan $124
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Santorini $276
    San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Santorini and San Juan

Looking for a hotel in Santorini 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.

Hotels in Santorini


Hotels in San Juan


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: Santorini Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Santorini $41
    San Juan $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santorini

Also for Santorini, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Helicopter Transfer between Mykonos & Santorini: $6,138
  • Private Transfers from/to Santorini Port (Athinios) to/from Oia: $108

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan

Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Double ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $289
  • 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
  • Arrival Private Transfer SJU Airport to Old San Juan by Sedan: $120

Is it cheaper to fly into Santorini or San Juan?

Prices for flights to both San Juan and Santorini 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Santorini $113
    San Juan $62

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:

  • 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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Santorini $41
    San Juan $49

Tours and Activities in Santorini

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santorini.

  • Ferry Tickets between Santorini and Crete Heraklion: $121

Typical Entertainment Prices in San Juan

For San Juan, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Horseback Riding Tour
    $40
  • Full Day Snorkeling Trip
    $100
  • 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: $60
  • 3 Tours in 1 Day: Old San Juan, Rainforest, Beach with Transport: $75
  • 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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Santorini $29
    San Juan $12

Sample the Local Flavors in Santorini

Also in Santorini, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Private Wine Tour in Santorini - Greece: $205

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


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santorini and San Juan, we can see that Santorini is more expensive. And not only is San Juan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Santorini is in Europe 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 San Juan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Juan 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 Santorini would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santorini than you might in San Juan.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santorini Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Santorini or San Juan?

Santorini has a larger population, and is about 43% larger than the population of San Juan. When comparing the sizes of Santorini and San Juan, 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.