Which place is cheaper, Ponce or Split?
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 Split or Ponce?
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 Split and Ponce. 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: Split or Ponce?
Split
Spit is a historic city in Central Dalmatia with many opportunities to glimpse its fascinating past in its historic city center. Centuries ago the city grew up around a Diocletian palace that was used as refuge by the locals.
Today, as you wander around the historic center, you can see the remains of the Roman walls, temples, and squares. Despite it's appeal to tourists, Split is much more than just a tourist destination. It is larger than you might initially realize and it spreads well beyond the historic center. There is a population of about 300,000 in the larger area and it is an economic center for the region.
Split has a beautiful climate with mild winters, countless sunny days, and a generally pleasant temperature. As such, there are many opportunities to enjoy yourself outdoors, whether by participating in sports or walking around the city's quaint streets. Winters in Split are also quite mild, but there may be one snowy day, on average, every year. This rare snowfall can cause a significant disruption in the flow of traffic.
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 Walking Tours in Croatia, and The Best Luxury Tours to Croatia.
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Split Prices
Croatia PricesPonce Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySplit $148Ponce $230
The average daily cost (per person) in Split is $148, 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 Split and Ponce in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSplit $86Ponce $151
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSplit $172Ponce $302
Compare Hotels in Split and Ponce
Looking for a hotel in Split 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: Split Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Split $17Ponce $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Split
Also for Split, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Split Airport = Split Transfer (both ways options): $37
- Private transfer from Split airport - Split, Kastela or Podstrana: $39
- Private Transfer from Split Airport (SPU) to Slatine (Island Ciovo): $39
- Ferry Transfers Between Split and Hvar: $40
- Airport Private Transfer to Split : $40
- Airport Private Transfer from Split: $40
- Luxury private transfer: Split airport to Split: $40
- Luxury private transfer: Split Town to Split airport: $40
- Split Cruise Port to Split Airport SPU-Departure Private Transfer: $42
- Split Airport (SPU) to Cruise Port of Split - Arrival Private Transfer: $42
- Private Transfer from Split Airport (SPU) to Cruise Port of Split: $42
- Private Transfer from Cruise Port of Split to Split hotels: $42
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:
- Vega Baja to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $170
- Transfer TO or FROM: Airport,Cruise,Hotel in DORADO or RIO GRANDE: $70
- Transfer SJU Airport to Humacao and Nagüabo. Vice Versa One Way Trip: $185
- 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
- San Juan Departure Share Transfer: $27
- Rio Grande hotel to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $109
- Private Transfers from SJU Airport to Isla Verde, Condado or San Juan área : $60
- Private Transfer from San Juan City Hotels to Ponce Cruise Port: $79
- Isabela / Hatillo to Aguadilla Airport(BQN) - DepartureTransfer: $44
- Aguadilla Hernandez Airport (BQN) to Isabela - RoundTrip Transfer: $87
Is it cheaper to fly into Split or Ponce?
Prices for flights to both Ponce and Split 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 daySplit $48Ponce $61
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Split
For Split, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Small Group Food Tour with Private Option: $53
- Split Food Tour: Discover Split One Bite at a Time: $140
- Split Food Tour: Discover Split One Bite At A Time: $143
- A Vineyard Feast: A Group Dinner and Wine Tasting: $199
- Split Cooking Class: $210
- Split Cooking Class - Afternoon Edition Shared Activity: $210
- Vegan Cooking Class with Local Market Tour in Split: $210
- Cooking class on island Brac: $251
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Split $4.36Ponce $56
Tours and Activities in Split
For Split, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Split Quest Experience: Discover the City: $5.99
- Explore the Roman Splendor of Split on a Self Guided Walking Tour: $6.93
- Diocletian's Palace & Old Town Guided Walking Tour: $9.36
- Split Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $9.53
- Walking tour of Diocletian's Palace in Split: $9.54
- Quest Experience in Marjan Hill Witch Hunt: $12
- Split's Old Town and Marjan Hill: A Self Guided Audio Tour: $12
- Trogir Open Top Bus Trip + Free Split Walking Tour: $13
- Klis Fortress GOT and Olive Museum Entry Tickets: $14
- Museum of Illusions Entrance Ticket: $14
- Adriatic Blues and Roman Clues Split Audio Tour: $15
- Sightseeing Split's Roman Ruins: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySplit $9.35Ponce $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Split
Also in Split, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Diocletian's Palace Walking and Wine Tasting Tour: $18
- Tower Pub Crawl in Split: $32
- From Krka Waterfalls, Food & Wine Tasting Tour: $44
- From Krka Waterfalls, Food & Wine Tasting Tour: $45
- Split/Trogir: Krka National Park Day Trip with Wine Tasting: $49
- From Krka Waterfalls day tour & wine tasting: $49
- Krka National Park Tour with tour Guide & Wine tasting from Split & Trogir: $50
- Wine Tasting at Seafront Tasting Room in Kastela: $54
- Split&Sip: Educational wine tasting: $56
- Educational wine tasting in Split: $57
- Wine Tasting in the Diocletian's Palace: $59
- Wine Tasting in the Diocletian’s Palace: $60
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 Split and Ponce, we can see that Ponce is more expensive. And not only is Split much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Split 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 Split would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Split 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 Split.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Split Expensive? and Is Ponce Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Split or Ponce?
Split has a larger population, and is about 16% larger than the population of Ponce. When comparing the sizes of Split 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 Split or Ponce?
Split 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 Split or Ponce in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Split as well as Ponce. Most visitors come to Split for the beaches, snorkeling, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year.
Split is around the same temperature as Ponce in the summer. The daily temperature in Split averages around 26°C (80°F) in July, and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ponce. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Split this time of the year. In the summer, Split often gets more sunshine than Ponce. Split gets 345 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 287 hours of full sun.
Split usually gets less rain in July than Ponce. Split gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySplit 26°C (80°F)Ponce 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Split or Ponce in the Autumn?
Both Ponce and Split are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Split because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Plenty of visitors come to Ponce because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the autumn, Split is much colder than Ponce. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Split in October average around 18°C (64°F), and Ponce averages at about 28°C (82°F).
It's quite sunny in Ponce. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Split. Split usually receives less sunshine than Ponce during autumn. Split gets 200 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 235 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Ponce. In October, Split usually receives less rain than Ponce. Split gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSplit 18°C (64°F)Ponce 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Split or Ponce in the Winter?
Both Ponce and Split during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Split this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round.
In January, Split is generally much colder than Ponce. Daily temperatures in Split average around 8°C (47°F), and Ponce fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
In Ponce, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Split often gets less sunshine than Ponce. Split gets 128 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 240 hours of full sun.
Split usually gets more rain in January than Ponce. Split gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySplit 8°C (47°F)Ponce 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Split or Ponce in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Split and Ponce. Many travelers come to Split for the beaches and the activities around the city. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Split is much colder than Ponce in the spring. The daily temperature in Split averages around 15°C (59°F) in April, and Ponce fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ponce this time of the year. In Split, it's very sunny this time of the year. Split usually receives less sunshine than Ponce during spring. Split gets 212 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Split usually receives around the same amount of rain as Ponce. Split gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSplit 15°C (59°F)Ponce 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Ponce and Split
| Split | Ponce | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 8°C (47°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 9°C (48°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 11°C (52°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 20°C (67°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (74°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (80°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (56°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 10°C (49°F) | 100 mm (3.9 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.