Which place is cheaper, San Juan 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 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 Split 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: Split or San Juan?
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.
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 Walking Tours in Croatia, and The Best Luxury Tours to Croatia.
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Split Prices
Croatia PricesSan Juan Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySplit $148San Juan $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Split is $148, 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 Split and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSplit $86San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSplit $172San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Split and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Split 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: Split Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Split $17San Juan $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Split
Also for Split, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Zagreb to Private Transfer with Plitvice Lakes: $1,112
- Split/Trogir to Zagreb: Private Transfer with Plitvice Lakes: $1,112
- Private Transfer to Zagreb with Plitvice Lakes Stop: $1,078
- Private Zagreb to Split transfer with Plitvice lakes & Wine: $1,006
- From 1-Way Private Transfer to Zagreb: $993
- Private Transfer to Dubrovnik w/ Winery & Ston Visit: $796
- Split Airport: Speedboat Taxi transfer to/from Hvar: $702
- Airport to Hvar Town Speedboat Transfer: $585
- Private Boat Transfer to Hvar Island: $550
- From Private 1-Way Transfer to Dubrovnik: $493
- Transfer from Split Airport: $468
- Private Transfer to Krka with Driver & Optional Guide: $467
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer in Puerto Rico with Minivan from Airport: $280
- Transfer from San Juan to Ponce or Ponce to San Juan: $125
- Transfer SJU Airport to Ponce and Juana Diaz. Hotels and Airbnb Vice Versa 1 Way: $260
- Transfer SJU Airport to Dorado. Hotels and Airbnb. Vice Versa One Way Trip.: $140
- Single ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $195
- San juan Puerto Rico PrivateTransfers Airport,Hotels,Cruise Ports: $66
- San Juan hotels to San Juan PR Cruise Port - Departure Transfer: $30
- San Juan Puerto Rico Private Transfers: $105
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $120
- San Juan Port to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $60
- San Juan One-way Transfer - Cruise, SJU, Hotels, Airbnb: $30
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan - Arrival Private Transfer: $28
Is it cheaper to fly into Split or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan 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 $48San Juan $62
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 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.Split $4.36San Juan $49
Tours and Activities in Split
For Split, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Blue cave and Hvar - 5 Islands speedboat tour from Split: $156
- Plitvice Lakes Experience from Split: $166
- Private Foodie Tour: Wine & Seafood with a Local Chef: $239
- Private Tour with Local Guide from Split English or German : $240
- Šolta Island from 5-Hour Olive Oil Tour with Lunch: $257
- Šolta Island from Private E-Bike Tour: $328
- Šolta Island: Self-Guided Bike Tour: $94
- "Blue Lagoon" Half day Chill out tour from Split: $82
- "Not Today" - Game of Thrones and History of Split Private Guided Walking Tour: $93
- 2 Day Pass with Sightseeing Bus: $54
- 2 Hours Split Walking tour with free food tasting: $191
- 2-Hour Sunset Cruise Split: $94
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.
- 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
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySplit $9.35San Juan $12
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 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 Split and San Juan, we can see that San Juan 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 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 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 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 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 San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Split or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Split. When comparing the sizes of Split 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 Split or San Juan?
Split 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 Split or San Juan in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Split and San Juan. The beaches, snorkeling, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Split this time of year. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Split is generally around the same temperature as San Juan. Daily temperatures in Split average around 26°C (80°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. In Split, it's very sunny this time of the year. Split usually receives more sunshine than San Juan during summer. Split gets 345 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Split usually receives less rain than San Juan. Split gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySplit 26°C (80°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Split or San Juan in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Split as well as San Juan. Many travelers come to Split for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
Split is much colder than San Juan in the autumn. The daily temperature in Split averages around 18°C (64°F) in October, and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Split this time of the year. In the autumn, Split often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Split gets 200 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in San Juan. Split usually gets less rain in October than San Juan. Split gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSplit 18°C (64°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Split or San Juan in the Winter?
Both San Juan and Split are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Split in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the winter, Split is much colder than San Juan. Typically, the winter temperatures in Split in January average around 8°C (47°F), and San Juan averages at about 25°C (77°F).
It's quite sunny in San Juan. Split usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during winter. Split gets 128 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Split usually receives more rain than San Juan. Split gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySplit 8°C (47°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Split or San Juan in the Spring?
Both San Juan and Split during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Split for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
In April, Split is generally much colder than San Juan. Daily temperatures in Split average around 15°C (59°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Split. In the spring, Split often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Split gets 212 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun.
Split usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as San Juan. Split gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSplit 15°C (59°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Split
| Split | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.