Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Seoul?
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 Seoul or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Seoul and San Juan can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Seoul or San Juan?
Seoul
With a population of more than 11 million, Seoul is easily the largest city in South Korea. It is also the financial, political, and cultural capital of the country and has much to offer open minded travelers. It is often overlooked by travelers who instead head to Tokyo or Shanghai, but Seoul has a wide range of cultural experiences, food options, and historical sights. Seoul is a city of contrasts with ancient traditions, flashy technology, religious temples and a modern youth culture. It is also more affordable than many of the other Asian metropolis' to which it is often compared. If you're looking for an interesting and different experience that is a little off the tourist trail, Seoul can definitely offer that opportunity.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to South Korea, and The Best Adventure Tours to South Korea.
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Seoul Prices
South Korea PricesSan Juan Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySeoul $128San Juan $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Seoul is $128, 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 Seoul and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSeoul $54San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSeoul $108San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Seoul and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Seoul 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: Seoul Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Seoul $15San Juan $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Seoul
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Seoul:
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Subway Card$3.58
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Short Taxi Ride$5.01
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Metro Ride$0.97
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Seoul City Pass Plus$7.16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Seoul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seoul:
- Private Airport Transfer: Seoul City to Incheon Airport 1-12 pax: $204
- Private Transfer from Seoul to Incheon Cruise Terminal(12 pax): $190
- Private Airport Transfer From Incheon Airport To Seoul(up to 12): $190
- Private Airport Transfer: Gimpo Airport to Seoul City (1-12 pax): $167
- Private Transfer To/From Incheon Airport (1-12pax): $164
- Seoul Incheon Airport ICN to Seoul - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $160
- Private transfer from Seoul hotel to Seoul Station and so on: $132
- Private Airport Transfer - Incheon Airport ⇔ Seoul (Up to 7 or 11 people): $130
- Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) to Seoul- Round-Trip Private Transfer: $129
- Incheon Airport transfer directly to Seoul city: $113
- Premium Seoul Airport Transfer: Affordable & Convenience: $105
- [Cherry blossom]Gyeongju Tour from SEOUL transfer to BUSAN: $101
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to San Juan Airport: $22
- Premium Transfer in Airport, Hotel, Airbnb, Cruise: $25
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan - Arrival Private Transfer: $28
- San Juan hotels to San Juan PR Cruise Port - Departure Transfer: $30
- San Juan One-way Transfer - Cruise, SJU, Hotels, Airbnb: $30
- Private Transfer Puerto Rico:To or From Airports, Hotels &Cruises: $33
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, Tesla 3 Luxury Sedan.: $56
- San Juan Port to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $60
- San juan Puerto Rico PrivateTransfers Airport,Hotels,Cruise Ports: $66
- Roundtrip-Transfer from: SJU Airport,Cruises and Hotels in Puerto Rico LuxurySUV: $70
- Roundtrip-Transfer in Puerto Rico: From Airports, Hotels, Cruises: $71
- Airport Transfer to Cruise Ships, Hotels, Airbnb in San Juan: $76
Is it cheaper to fly into Seoul or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Seoul 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 daySeoul $51San Juan $62
Typical Food Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seoul are as follows:
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Rice with Kimchi & Bacon$4.30
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Waffle$0.72
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Dippin' Dots$1.43
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Chicken Fried Rice$3.94
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Chicken Stick$1.43
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Drinking Yoghurt & Mi Chew$1.36
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Lunch Buffet$4.30
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Donut$0.72
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Mushroom Burger$3.72
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Green Tea Ice Cream$2.36
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Udon & Sushi$5.01
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Fresh Burger$3.44
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Soba Noodles Lunch$3.22
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Bibimbap Lunch$3.58
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Fried Rice$3.94
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Vietnamese Dinner$6.80
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Breakfast and Coffee for 2$6.80
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Donut$1.79
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Seoul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Seoul.
- Guided Street Food Tour at Namdaemun Market: $45
- Seoul Night Run for Local-Favorite Korean BBQ Dinner: $50
- [Wine & K-BBQ] A Perfect Pairing Dinner in Sinchon: $51
- Wine & K-BBQ: A Perfect Pairing Dinner: $53
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals; Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $53
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals;Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $57
- Kimchi Dishes Cooking Class with Wine Pairing: $61
- Gwangjang Market Netflix Food Tour: $64
- Namdaemun Market Food Tour: $65
- Seoul by Night: Palaces, Market & Street Food Tour (Vegan Option): $65
- Guided City Wall Sunset Hike with Korean Dinner: $67
- Cooking Class in Seoul with Korean Grandma: $68
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Seoul $26San Juan $49
Typical Entertainment Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Seoul are as follows:
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Palace Tickets$5.73
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Movie Ticket$5.73
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Kimchi Museum$2.15
Tours and Activities in Seoul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Seoul are as follows:
- DMZ, Eunpyeong village and Jinkwansa Temple Private Tour : $212
- Private Garden of Morning Calm Experience: $267
- Private Tour Nami Island & Morning Calm Garden: $256
- Seoul National Museum Walking Tour Experience: $35
- (Closed) Korea’s White House Walking Tour Blue House: $148
- (Small Group) Art and Architecture tour of Seoul: $121
- 1 Day Private Full DMZ Tour in Seoul with Crystal Gondola: $220
- 2 Hours Seoul Private Walking Tour Including Pick up: $59
- 2025 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best: DMZ Tour from Seoul: $29
- 2D 1N Phoenix Pyeongchang Reseot Stay + Trout Ice-Fishing Festival Tour: $144
- 3-Hour Self-guided Sokcho Tour with Private Transportation: $30
- Aegibong DMZ and Eunpyeong Hanok Village One Day Tour from Seoul: $51
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.
- Transportation in San Juan, Isla verde, Condado, Hotels, Cruises & Airbnb's SJU: $14
- San Juan Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $17
- Eco Friendly Farming Tour to Explore Dorado's Most Beautiful Farm: $20
- Discover Superb Self-Guided Audio Tour: $20
- Group Transportation in airport, cruise ships, hotels, bnb's in San Juan, PR: $23
- Old San Juan Walking Tour with a Local Certified Guide: $25
- San Juan Ghost Tour: Shrieks in the Sugarcane: $32
- Old San Juan Walking Tour: $39
- Old San Juan City Walking Tour: $39
- Historic Old San Juan Sunset Walking Tour: $39
- Top Rated El Yunque Rainforest & Waterslide – VIP SmallGroup Tour: $45
- Ron del Barrilito Heritage Skip-the-Line Tour: $46
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySeoul $12San Juan $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Seoul
Also in Seoul, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl: $25
- The Seoul Pub Crawl [official]: $26
- LGBTQ+ Pub Crawl and Drag Show with Local Drag Queen: $28
- Rice Wine Tasting with Sommelier - Finest Makgeolli (& Soju): $42
- Rice Wine Tasting with Sommelier - Finest Makgeolli (& Soju): $46
- Soju Tasting at Distillery: $51
- Premium Pub Crawl with Open Bottles: $57
- Chunpoong Makgeolli Brewery Tour: $59
- Korean Craft Makgeolli Brewery Tour & Tasting Experience: $60
- Craft Makgeolli Brewery Tour & Tasting Experience: $67
- Itaewon Premium Pub Crawl with Open Bottles: $73
- Learn and Craft Makgeolli in a Traditional Brewery: $78
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 Seoul and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Seoul much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Seoul is in Asia 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 Seoul would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Seoul 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 Seoul.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Seoul Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Seoul or San Juan?
Seoul has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of San Juan. When comparing the sizes of Seoul 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.
When is the best time to visit Seoul or San Juan?
Seoul 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 Seoul or San Juan in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Seoul as well as San Juan. Most visitors come to Seoul for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
In July, Seoul is generally around the same temperature as San Juan. Daily temperatures in Seoul average around 26°C (78°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. In the summer, Seoul often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Seoul gets 121 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun.
Seoul receives a lot of rain in the summer. Seoul usually gets more rain in July than San Juan. Seoul gets 369 mm (14.5 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySeoul 26°C (78°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Seoul or San Juan in the Autumn?
Both San Juan and Seoul are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Seoul because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Seoul is much colder than San Juan in the autumn. The daily temperature in Seoul averages around 15°C (59°F) in October, and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
It's quite sunny in San Juan. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Seoul. Seoul usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during autumn. Seoul gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Juan. In October, Seoul usually receives less rain than San Juan. Seoul gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSeoul 15°C (59°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Seoul or San Juan in the Winter?
Both San Juan and Seoul during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Seoul this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
It's quite cold in Seoul in the winter. In the winter, Seoul is much colder than San Juan. Typically, the winter temperatures in Seoul in January average around -3°C (27°F), and San Juan averages at about 25°C (77°F).
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Seoul often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Seoul gets 163 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun.
Seoul usually gets less rain in January than San Juan. Seoul gets 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySeoul -3°C (27°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Seoul or San Juan in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Seoul and San Juan. Many travelers come to Seoul for the activities around the city. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Seoul is generally much colder than San Juan. Daily temperatures in Seoul average around 13°C (55°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. In Seoul, it's very sunny this time of the year. Seoul usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during spring. Seoul gets 205 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Seoul usually receives more rain than San Juan. Seoul gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSeoul 13°C (55°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Seoul
| Seoul | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -3°C (27°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | -0°C (32°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (42°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 18°C (65°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (78°F) | 369 mm (14.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (80°F) | 294 mm (11.6 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (71°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 15°C (59°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 8°C (46°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 0°C (33°F) | 22 mm (0.9 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.