Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Tokyo?
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 Tokyo or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tokyo or San Juan? 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: Tokyo or San Juan?
Tokyo
Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is by far the most populous city in the world with a staggering 37 million people. As a worldwide hub for technology and business, it hosts millions of visitors annually. But Tokyo is not just a place for business trips. With its incredible mixture of historical temples and shrines, remarkably beautiful parks, endless shopping malls, and genuinely wonderful people, Tokyo is a terrific place to visit and to explore.
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 2-Week Tours in Japan, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Japan.
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Tokyo Prices
Japan PricesSan Juan Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTokyo $179San Juan $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Tokyo is $179, 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 Tokyo and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTokyo $75San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTokyo $150San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Tokyo and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Tokyo 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: Tokyo Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tokyo $17San Juan $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tokyo
Also for Tokyo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- One Way Shuttle Van Transfer, Tokyo ⇔ Nagano: $805
- One Way Shuttle Van Transfer, Tokyo ⇔ Hakone: $426
- Shuttle Van Tour Tokyo for 4 Hours or 6 Hours+Transfer Time: $368
- Yokohama Port: Private Customizable Tour with Transfer: $352
- Private Transfer from Haneda/Narita Airport to Hotel: $308
- Tokyo Disneysea & Disneyland same-day 2-Park Ticket with Transfer: $299
- Private TOKYO Tour:After Arrival/Before Departure/Transfer Flight: $288
- Haneda Airport (HND)⇆ Tokyo or Disneyland Luxury Private Transfer: $285
- Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) to Tachikawa City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $283
- Tokyo 5-Hour Private Charter with NRT/HND Airport Transfer: $277
- Airport Transfer: Tokyo City to Narita Airport NRT by Luxury Van: $260
- Private Departure Transfer : Central Tokyo City to Narita International Airport: $255
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- HandyCap Transfer Airport to Dorado, Rio Grande or Luquillo: $270
- Luxury Puerto Rico Private Transfers: $220
- Single ATV Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $195
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to Ponce hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $194
- Private Transfer from SJU Airport to Humacao Hotels: $180
- Carabali Rain Forest Round Trip Private Taxi Transfer: $160
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to Rio Grande hotel – Round-Trip Private Transfer: $160
- Private Luxury transfer - SJU, Hotel, Airbnb - Car seat available: $145
- Transfer SJU Airport to Dorado. Hotels and Airbnb. Vice Versa One Way Trip.: $140
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, 16Pax Mercedes Van, Select Zone: $130
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 14Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $124
- Arrival Private Transfer SJU Airport to Old San Juan by Sedan: $120
Is it cheaper to fly into Tokyo or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Tokyo 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 dayTokyo $63San Juan $62
Typical Food Prices in Tokyo
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Tokyo:
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Late Night Noodles$5.10
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Conveyor Belt Sushi Snack$5.10
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Meal at Airport$6.65
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tokyo
For Tokyo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Tokyo Tsukiji Fish Market: Traditional Culture & Street Food Tour: $19
- Shinjuku 7-Dishes vegetarian dinner at a Japanese izakaya: $29
- Asakusa: Senso-ji Sightseeing & Street Food Tour with Photos: $29
- Guided Tsukiji’s Local Food Tour: $32
- Ueno Private Walking Tour and Night Food Tour: $39
- Authentic Homestyle Japanese Cooking Class near Tokyo with Risa: $39
- Giant Sushi Cooking Class: Make a 1.5m Sushi Roll in Tokyo: $42
- Weekend Japanese Cooking Demonstration with a Tokyo Mom, Toshiko: $49
- Traditional Matcha Making Cooking Class & Tea Ceremony in Tokyo: $50
- Tokyo Home Cooking & Cultural Experience with a Local Family: $57
- Japanese cooking class - Bring the flavors of Japan to France: $61
- [1 Group Only] Explore Tokyo Ginza Food Tour for Family: $65
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 Food Tour with 7 Tastings of Authentic Local Flavors: $140
- FlyDining 4-Course Dinner in Old Sunset or City Lights: $165
- Puerto Rican Gastronomy Cooking Class: $167
- Morning Old San Juan Food Tour: $169
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $170
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tokyo $67San Juan $49
Tours and Activities in Tokyo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tokyo.
- "Enjoy Tokyo Tour" Harajuku Meiji-jingu & Delicious Sake Tasting: $65
- "Ginza → Tsukishima" Walking and Japanese Style Fun Dining Tour: $162
- "TOKYO DRIFT" Film Location Tour Mt Nokogiri & Local Drift Garage: $258
- 1 Day Tour Explore Nikko’s World Heritage and National Park: $190
- 1 Day Walking Tour in Asakusa Traditional Tokyo and Nature: $128
- 1-Day Mt Fuji and Hakone Sightseeing trip from Tokyo: $338
- 1-Day Tokyo Bus Tour: $126
- 1.5 Hours Private Tour at Asakusa Tokyo with Local Expert Guide: $84
- 10:30 local gathering and rafting tour half day (3 hours): $39
- 2 Day Ginzan Onsen and Zao Snow Monsters Tour from Tokyo: $248
- 2 Day Package Tour including Haneda Airport Pickup: $203
- 2 Hour Private Tokyo Downtown Kameido Good Fortune Tour: $78
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.
- 1 Hour Historical UTV Tour in San Juan: $200
- 1-Hour Jet Ski Adventure in the Bay: $150
- 2 Tours in 1 Day Rainforest and Beach Adventure with Transport: $52
- 3 Tours in 1 Day Old San Juan Rainforest and Beach with Transport: $55
- 3 in 1 Full Day Cueva Ventana, Indian Cave & Waterfall Adventure: $155
- 30-Minute Jet Ski Adventure in the Bay: $100
- ATV Tour in Double Rider, Puerto Rico: $221
- ATV Tour in Single Rider, Puerto Rico: $149
- Arecibo: River and Natural Waterslide Adventure from San Juan: $105
- Around the Island Tour From San Juan: $148
- Bioluminescent Bay Kayak Adventure Tour from San Juan: $108
- Cave Adventure: Charco Azul Caves, Canyon & Waterfall Adventure: $110
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTokyo $32San Juan $12
Typical Alcohol Prices in Tokyo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Tokyo:
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Sake$3.83
Sample the Local Flavors in Tokyo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Tokyo:
- Low-cost local pub & bar crawling: $32
- Tokyo Pub Crawl: Unique Japanese Drinks in Shimokitazawa: $34
- 3 Hours Pub Crawl Welcome Guided Tour in Shibuya: $35
- Tokyo Pub Crawl: Unique Japanese Drinks in Shimokitazawa: $36
- Tokyo Japanese Wine Tasting Experience (Not Sake) | Near Shibuya: $65
- Tokyo Shinjuku Gay Bar Crawl with Drinks: $90
- Shibuya Bar Crawl Tour -3 Drinks & Local Foods-: $104
- Shinjuku Bar Crawl Tour -3 Drinks & Local foods-: $104
- Tokyo's Oldest Sake Brewery and jump into historic town: $117
- Saitama Seiun Sake Brewery Tour and Tasting: $130
- Private Shinjuku Nightlife Walking Tour & Golden-Gai Bar Crawl: $149
- Japanese Sake Brewery Visit and Tasting in Kanagawa: $150
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
- Puerto Rico Tobacco Farm and Local Brewery Tour: $109
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tokyo and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Tokyo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tokyo is in Asia 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 Tokyo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tokyo 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 Tokyo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tokyo Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tokyo or San Juan?
Tokyo has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of San Juan. When comparing the sizes of Tokyo 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 Tokyo or San Juan?
Tokyo 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 Tokyo or San Juan in the Summer?
Both San Juan and Tokyo are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Tokyo because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the summer, Tokyo is around the same temperature as San Juan. Typically, the summer temperatures in Tokyo in July average around 26°C (78°F), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (83°F).
It's quite sunny in San Juan. Tokyo usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during summer. Tokyo gets 137 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
It's quite rainy in Tokyo. In July, Tokyo usually receives more rain than San Juan. Tokyo gets 127 mm (5 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 JulyTokyo 26°C (78°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Tokyo or San Juan in the Autumn?
Both San Juan and Tokyo during the autumn are popular places to visit. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Tokyo this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
In October, Tokyo is generally much colder than San Juan. Daily temperatures in Tokyo average around 18°C (64°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, Tokyo often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Tokyo gets 129 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. It rains a lot this time of the year in Tokyo. Tokyo usually gets more rain in October than San Juan. Tokyo gets 165 mm (6.5 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 OctoberTokyo 18°C (64°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Tokyo or San Juan in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Tokyo and San Juan. Many travelers come to Tokyo for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Tokyo is much colder than San Juan in the winter. The daily temperature in Tokyo averages around 5°C (42°F) in January, and San Juan fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. Tokyo usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during winter. Tokyo gets 175 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Tokyo usually receives less rain than San Juan. Tokyo gets 45 mm (1.8 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 JanuaryTokyo 5°C (42°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Tokyo or San Juan in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Tokyo as well as San Juan. Many visitors come to Tokyo in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
In the spring, Tokyo is much colder than San Juan. Typically, the spring temperatures in Tokyo in April average around 14°C (58°F), and San Juan averages at about 26°C (79°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. In the spring, Tokyo often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Tokyo gets 161 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun.
Tokyo receives a lot of rain in the spring. Tokyo usually gets more rain in April than San Juan. Tokyo gets 125 mm (4.9 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 AprilTokyo 14°C (58°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Tokyo
| Tokyo | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 5°C (42°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (42°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (47°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (58°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 19°C (66°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (71°F) | 186 mm (7.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (78°F) | 127 mm (5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (74°F) | 180 mm (7.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 8°C (46°F) | 46 mm (1.8 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.