Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Temuco?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Temuco 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 Temuco 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: Temuco or San Juan?
Temuco
Temuco is a large and modern city found 680 km south of Santiago. While the city is dynamic, it does not have any particular charm with the exception of being a great point of departure for many excursions around the lake region and the many national parks found in the surrounding area. Temuco is also well known for its Mapuche culture, a proud and rebellious community of around 20 000 in the area today, who has fought continuously against every invaders in the past.
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 Food and Culinary Tours in Chile, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTemuco $80San Juan $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Temuco is $80, while the average daily cost in San Juan is $192. 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 Temuco and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTemuco $44San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTemuco $88San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Temuco and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Temuco 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: Temuco Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Temuco $23San Juan $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Temuco
Also for Temuco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Temuco Airport to Pucon: $140
- Temuco Airport (ZCO) to Pucon Thermal Resorts-Round-Trip Transfer: $98
- Transfer Araucanía Airport - Temuco: $50
- Temuco Airport (ZCO) to Pucon Resorts - Arrival Private Transfer: $49
- Transfers from or to Temuco - Araucanía Airport: $35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- San Juan Airport (SJU): Private Transfer to San Juan Port: $271
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port: Transfer to San Juan hotel: $271
- Carabali Rain Forest Round Trip Private Taxi Transfer: $210
- Private Airport Transfers to Ceiba Ferry Terminal and Airport: $155
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, 16Pax Mercedes Van, Select Zone: $130
- Oneway Transfer from San Juan (SJU, hotel, airbnb, port) to Ponce: $125
- Private Transfer from SJU Airport to San Juan / Rio Grande: $105
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 11Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $103
- Old San Juan Sunset Cruise with Drinks & Transfer: $99
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Mercedes ECO Van, Select Zone: $87
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Ford Premium SUV, Select Zone: $87
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Lexus Luxury Sedan, Select Zone: $81
Is it cheaper to fly into Temuco or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Temuco 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 dayTemuco $22San Juan $36
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:
- Old San Juan Sunset Food Tour with Drinks: $156
- Savor the Sunset: Old San Juan Walk and Food Tour: $159
- City Lights Sky High Dinner Experience: $165
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $170
- Private Local Food Tour in San Juan: $275
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Temuco $7.85San Juan $49
Tours and Activities in Temuco
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Temuco.
- Tour Mapuche Community Araucanía: $582
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.
- Rum Craft Cocktail Tour in San Juan: $65
- 1 or 2 Hour Puerto Rico Horseback Ride Experience!: $210
- Bioluminescent Bay Kayak Adventure from San Juan: $110
- Carolina: ATV Adventure at Campo Rico Ranch with Guide: $136
- Cave Day Tour From San Juan: $109
- Cruise Ship Travelers: Hike to a Hidden Puerto Rican Waterfall: $85
- Culebra Beach Day Tour with Snorkeling from San Juan by Ferry: $200
- Culebra Snorkeling Tour by Catamaran from Fajardo: $175
- Discover El Yunque: Half-Day Rainforest Tour: $115
- Discover Old In-App Audio Tour of History: $11
- El Yunque National RainForest: Tour with Nature walk: $75
- El Yunque Rainforest Guided Day Tour from San Juan: $85
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTemuco $5.13San Juan $12
Sample the Local Flavors in San Juan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Juan:
- Pinones Pub crawl in Puerto Rico: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Temuco and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Temuco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Temuco is in South America 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 Temuco would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Temuco 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 Temuco.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Temuco Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Temuco or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 76% larger than the population of Temuco. When comparing the sizes of Temuco 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 Temuco or San Juan?
Temuco 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 Temuco or San Juan in the Summer?
Both San Juan and Temuco are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the summer, Temuco is much colder than San Juan. Typically, the summer temperatures in Temuco in January average around 17°C (62°F), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (83°F)in July.
It's quite sunny in San Juan. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Temuco. Temuco usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan during summer. Temuco gets 290 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
In January, Temuco usually receives less rain than San Juanin July. Temuco gets 42 mm (1.7 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 January and JulyTemuco 17°C (62°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Temuco or San Juan in the Autumn?
Both San Juan and Temuco during the autumn are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
In April, Temuco is generally much colder than San Juanin October. Daily temperatures in Temuco average around 12°C (53°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Temuco often gets less sunshine than San Juanin October. Temuco gets 150 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun.
San Juan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Temuco usually gets less rain in April than San Juanin October. Temuco gets 80 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 April and OctoberTemuco 12°C (53°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Temuco or San Juan in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Temuco and San Juan. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Temuco is much colder than San Juan in the winter. The daily temperature in Temuco averages around 8°C (46°F) in July, and San Juan fluctuates around 25°C (77°F)in January.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. Temuco usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during winter. Temuco gets 78 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
Temuco gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Temuco usually receives more rain than San Juanin January. Temuco gets 169 mm (6.7 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 July and JanuaryTemuco 8°C (46°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Temuco or San Juan in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Temuco as well as San Juan. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
In the spring, Temuco is much colder than San Juan. Typically, the spring temperatures in Temuco in October average around 12°C (54°F), and San Juan averages at about 26°C (79°F)in April.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. In the spring, Temuco often gets less sunshine than San Juanin April. Temuco gets 193 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun.
Temuco usually gets more rain in October than San Juanin April. Temuco gets 86 mm (3.4 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 October and AprilTemuco 12°C (54°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Temuco
| Temuco | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 17°C (62°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 17°C (63°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 15°C (59°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 10°C (50°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 9°C (47°F) | 177 mm (7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 8°C (46°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 9°C (48°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 10°C (50°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 12°C (54°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 14°C (57°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (61°F) | 53 mm (2.1 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.