Which place is cheaper, Ponce or Setubal?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Setubal or Ponce?
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 Setubal and Ponce can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Setubal or Ponce?
Setubal
Setubal is a busy working port and major commercial fishing center. Setubal is a city that has always had a close connection to the seas, and this is celebrated along the newly rejuvenated waterfront, which encompasses the colorful fishing harbor, the popular urban park and the Troia Peninsula ferry terminal. Within the charming historic center is a maze of narrow alleys, hidden plazas, and family-owned shops, along with Portugal's largest fish market. Setubal is primarily an industrial city, but is situated in a region of immense beauty; to the east is the stunning Serra da Arrabida, to the north is historic Palmela, while to the south are the paradise beaches of the Troia Peninsula. Setubal may not be a conventional holiday destination, but there is a surprising amount to see and do within the city and the surrounding region.
Ponce
Ponce is on the south coast of Puerto Rico. It's the second largest city on the island and has been around since 1692 when it was originally founded by Ponce de Leon's grandson Juan Ponce de Leon y Loayza. The city has several nicknames, including La Perla del Sur (The Pearl of the South), La Ciudad Senorial (The Noble, or Lordly, City), and La Ciudad de las Quenepas (Genip City).
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Portugal, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Portugal.
-
Setubal Prices
Portugal PricesPonce Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySetubal $175Ponce $230
The average daily cost (per person) in Setubal is $175, while the average daily cost in Ponce is $230. 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 Setubal and Ponce in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSetubal $69Ponce $151
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSetubal $138Ponce $302
Compare Hotels in Setubal and Ponce
Looking for a hotel in Setubal or Ponce? 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: Setubal Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Setubal $64Ponce $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Setubal
Also for Setubal, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Boat Transfer to Ribeiro do Cavalo Beach with Return: $24
- Ribeiro do Cavalo Beach Taxi Boat Transfer Round Trip: $24
- Setúbal: Ilha Deserta Boat Transfer with Free Time: $29
- Sesimbra Private Transfer to/from Lisbon: $57
- Transfer Sesimbra to Lisbon Airport: $102
- Transfers (Lisbon - Évora) / (Évora - Lisbon): $286
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:
- Transfer SJU Airport to Humacao and Nagüabo. Vice Versa One Way Trip: $185
- Vega Baja to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $170
- Rio Grande hotel to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $109
- Aguadilla Hernandez Airport (BQN) to Isabela - RoundTrip Transfer: $87
- Private Transfer from San Juan City Hotels to Ponce Cruise Port: $79
- Transfer TO or FROM: Airport,Cruise,Hotel in DORADO or RIO GRANDE: $70
- Private Transfers from SJU Airport to Isla Verde, Condado or San Juan área : $60
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- San Juan PR Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Transfer: $46
- Isabela / Hatillo to Aguadilla Airport(BQN) - DepartureTransfer: $44
- San Juan Departure Share Transfer: $27
Is it cheaper to fly into Setubal or Ponce?
Prices for flights to both Ponce and Setubal 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 daySetubal $70Ponce $61
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Setubal
For Setubal, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Traditional Evora Cooking Class & Wine Pairings in Fatima’s Home: $220
- Lisbon Guided Tour with Live Fado Show and Traditional Dinner : $225
- Authentic Evora Cooking Class with Wine in Chef Sofia’s Garden: $279
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ponce
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ponce.
- Latin Night with Dinner and Local Music with Transportation: $59
- Puerto Rico Art and Wine Dinner with One Way Transportation: $89
- Private Cooking Class with a Fun Local in San German, Puerto Rico: $96
- Private Half-Day Island Authentic Food Tour : $130
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Setubal $15Ponce $56
Tours and Activities in Setubal
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Setubal.
- Secrets of Setúbal: Exploration Game and Tour: $7.17
- Evora from Celts to Romans: Exploration Game and Tour: $7.17
- Explore the Highlights of Evora: Self-Guided GPS and Audio Tour: $8.32
- Wines tour and tasting with history in Atalaia: $18
- Museu Nacional Frei Manuel do Cenáculo E Ticket and 2 Audio Tours: $25
- Underwater viewing tours along the coast of Sesimbra: $30
- Gatsby Experience: The Bartender Challenge: $30
- Évora or Montemor-o-Novo: Guided Tour to Escoural Caves: $30
- Kayaking experience on DE beaches DA Arrábida: $36
- Half-Day Kayak Tour in Sesimbra: $42
- Kayak tour in Sesimbra: $42
- Sesimbra : Guided Kayak Tour in Arrábida Natural Park & Caves : $42
Tours and Activities in Ponce
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ponce are as follows:
- Half-Day El Yunque Rainforest Tour from Fajardo: $65
- Scuba Boat Diving Experience in Gilligan's Island at Copamarina: $160
- 2.5-Hour Historical Walking Tour of Old San Juan: $65
- 5 hours Tour in La Parguera Private Boat Charter: $200
- 7 Hours River Tour with Beach and Learn to Make Piña Colada : $195
- 8 Hours Private Tours in Puerto Rico: $150
- Adventure in Cave and the Guayaney Spring: $99
- Afro-Boriken-Loiza: Food, Cave & Art Tour: $140
- Aguadilla 6 Hour Local Tour: $150
- Camuy Caves Experience Tour with transportation: $130
- Cave Hopping Tour: $198
- Caves Coastlines and Beach; Cueva del Indio, Arecibo Adventure : $125
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySetubal $12Ponce $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Setubal
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Setubal:
- Workshop - Wine Tasting 101: $72
- Sesimbra: Half-Day Tour to Arrabida with Wine Tasting: $143
- Private Half Day Arrabida Tour with Wine Tasting in Sesimbra: $146
- Half Day Wine Tour Around Evora: $155
- Setúbal Wine Tour, famous Moscatel DE Setúbal: $209
- Lisbon Getaway: Private Arrabida Wine Tour with Cheese Tasting: $212
Sample the Local Flavors in Ponce
Also in Ponce, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Artisan Puertorrican Winery and Distillery Tour: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Setubal and Ponce, we can see that Ponce is more expensive. And not only is Setubal much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Setubal is in Europe and Ponce 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 Setubal would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Setubal 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 Ponce would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ponce than you might in Setubal.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Setubal Expensive? and Is Ponce Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Setubal or Ponce?
Ponce has a larger population, and is about 30% larger than the population of Setubal. When comparing the sizes of Setubal and Ponce, 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 Setubal or Ponce?
Setubal has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Ponce experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Setubal or Ponce in the Summer?
Both Ponce and Setubal during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round.
In the summer, Setubal is cooler than Ponce. Typically, the summer temperatures in Setubal in July average around 23°C (73°F), and Ponce averages at about 28°C (83°F).
In Ponce, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Setubal. In the summer, Setubal often gets more sunshine than Ponce. Setubal gets 352 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 287 hours of full sun.
Setubal usually gets less rain in July than Ponce. Setubal gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulySetubal 23°C (73°F)Ponce 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Setubal or Ponce in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Setubal and Ponce. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Setubal is generally cooler than Ponce. Daily temperatures in Setubal average around 19°C (66°F), and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ponce this time of the year. In Setubal, it's very sunny this time of the year. Setubal usually receives less sunshine than Ponce during autumn. Setubal gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 235 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Ponce receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Setubal usually receives less rain than Ponce. Setubal gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSetubal 19°C (66°F)Ponce 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Setubal or Ponce in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Setubal as well as Ponce. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year.
Setubal is much colder than Ponce in the winter. The daily temperature in Setubal averages around 12°C (53°F) in January, and Ponce fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ponce. In the winter, Setubal often gets less sunshine than Ponce. Setubal gets 144 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 240 hours of full sun.
Setubal receives a lot of rain in the winter. Setubal usually gets more rain in January than Ponce. Setubal gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySetubal 12°C (53°F)Ponce 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Setubal or Ponce in the Spring?
Both Ponce and Setubal are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Ponce because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the spring, Setubal is much colder than Ponce. Typically, the spring temperatures in Setubal in April average around 16°C (60°F), and Ponce averages at about 26°C (79°F).
It's quite sunny in Ponce. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Setubal. Setubal usually receives less sunshine than Ponce during spring. Setubal gets 235 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Setubal usually receives less rain than Ponce. Setubal gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilSetubal 16°C (60°F)Ponce 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Ponce and Setubal
| Setubal | Ponce | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 12°C (53°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (58°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (74°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (59°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 108 mm (4.3 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.