A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Sucre vs. Ponce for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Sucre or Ponce?

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

Should I visit Sucre or Ponce? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Sucre or Ponce?

Sucre

Sucre is famous for its gorgeous town center and delightful climate, making it for many Bolivia's most beautiful city. Also considered the symbolic heart of the nation, 'La ciudad blanca' or the white city has preserved stunning whitewashed buildings sheltering pretty patios and other beauties of colonial architecture. The city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991 and is under strict controls on development. It offers many attractions including historic buildings and a renowned theatre, but you can also wander around prehistoric sites and discover indigenous culture in the surrounding towns and countryside.

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 3-Day Tours from La Paz, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Bolivia.


Which place is cheaper, Ponce or Sucre?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Sucre is $43, while the average daily cost in Ponce is $205. 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 Sucre and Ponce in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Sucre $11
    Ponce $151
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Sucre $22
    Ponce $302
Compare Hotels in Sucre and Ponce

Looking for a hotel in Sucre 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.

Hotels in Sucre


Hotels in Ponce


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: Sucre Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Sucre $12
    Ponce $10
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Sucre

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Sucre are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.45

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sucre

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

  • Private Transfer from Sucre Airport SRE to Sucre by SUV or Car: $23
  • Departure Transfer from Sucre to Sucre Airport by MiniVan or Bus: $27
  • Private MiniVan or Bus Transfer from Sucre Airport SRE to Sucre: $28
  • Private transfer Sucre - Uyuni, stopover in Potosí Mines: $227

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:

  • Double ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $279
  • Single ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $189
  • Transfer SJU Airport to Humacao and Nagüabo. Vice Versa One Way Trip: $185
  • Vega Baja to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $170
  • San Juan Airport (SJU) to Rio Grande hotel - Arrival Private Transfer: $109
  • Rio Grande hotel to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $109
  • San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $92
  • San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $92
  • San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $92
  • 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

Is it cheaper to fly into Sucre or Ponce?

Prices for flights to both Ponce and Sucre 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
    Sucre $18
    Ponce $35
Typical Food Prices in Sucre

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Sucre:


  • Dinner
    $4.48
  • Juice
    $0.87
  • Juice
    $1.01
  • Chocolate
    $1.73
  • Cappuccino
    $4.34

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sucre

For Sucre, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Traditional Bolivian Cooking Class w/ Cocktail Making by La Boca del Sapo, Sucre: $40

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ponce

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ponce.

  • Private Cooking Class with a Fun Local in San German, Puerto Rico: $96
  • Private Half-Day Food Tour : $130
  • Private San Juan Cooking Class with a Local Expert: $146

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Sucre $16
    Ponce $56

Tours and Activities in Sucre

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

  • Walking tour in History, Culture & Amazing Views: $18
  • Walking tour Sucre: $18
  • Sucre City Tour with a German local! Something different!: $19
  • Guided Walking Tour in Sucre: $20
  • Private Cultural Tour in Sucre with Visit to 3 Museums: $44
  • JATUN YAMPARA - Nucleo Indigena, Agroartesanal - Half Day Tours: $58
  • Sucre - Walking City Tour - Half Day - English Speaking guide: $64
  • Private Half Day Tour: Sucre Walking Tour with Hotel Pick up: $67
  • JATUN YAMPARA - Agro-artisan Indigenous Nucleus -Full Day Tours + Lunch: $79
  • 2-Day Icla Canyon Tour from Sucre: $87
  • City Tour & Museums - Private Service: $106
  • Sucre City Tour With Visit to Cretaceous Park: $123

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
  • 1 Hour Historical UTV Tour in San Juan: $200
  • 2-Hour Private UTV Can-Am Beach Tour in San Juan, Puerto Rico: $264
  • 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
  • 90 Minute Portrait Photoshoot Experience in the Caribbean: $129
  • ATV Adventure at Hacienda Campo Rico: $136
  • Adventure Trail Tour in the foothills of the National Rainforest: $110
  • Afro-Boriken-Loiza: Food, Cave & Art Tour: $140
  • All Inclusive Cordillera Cay’s Sailing Catamaran Beach & Snorkeling Tour: $150

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Sucre $13
    Ponce $16

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
  • Old San Juan Bar Crawl: Experience Local Hotspots: $65
  • Local Puerto Rican Rum Distillery Tour - Ron Pepon: $90
  • Rum Distillery and Old San Juan Tour: $99


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sucre and Ponce, we can see that Ponce is more expensive. And not only is Sucre much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Sucre is in South America 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 Sucre would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sucre 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 Sucre.

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


Which is Bigger, Sucre or Ponce?

Sucre has a larger population, and is about 47% larger than the population of Ponce. When comparing the sizes of Sucre 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.