Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Ushuaia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Ushuaia 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.
Ushuaia is a city on the Tierra del Fuego island of Argentina on the Beagle Strait. The city is considered to be one of the southernmost cities in the world and is often used as a base for cruises to Antarctica. Ushuaia's close proximity to Antarctica and their amazing hiking trails have made it a popular tourist destination over the past few decades.
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 Wildlife Tours to Argentina, and The Best Eco Tours in Argentina.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Ushuaia is $11, 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 Ushuaia and San Juan in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Ushuaia 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.
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ushuaia are as follows:
Also for Ushuaia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Ushuaia 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.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ushuaia:
For Ushuaia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For San Juan, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ushuaia.
For San Juan, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Juan.
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Ushuaia are as follows:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Juan:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ushuaia and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Ushuaia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ushuaia 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 Ushuaia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ushuaia 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 Ushuaia.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ushuaia Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Ushuaia. When comparing the sizes of Ushuaia 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.
Ushuaia has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Juan experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Both San Juan and Ushuaia 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.
Ushuaia is much colder than San Juan in the summer. The daily temperature in Ushuaia averages around 10°C (50°F) in January, and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (83°F)in July.
It's quite sunny in San Juan. Ushuaia usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during summer. Ushuaia gets 169 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
In January, Ushuaia usually receives less rain than San Juanin July. Ushuaia gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Both San Juan and Ushuaia during the autumn are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
In the autumn, Ushuaia is much colder than San Juan. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Ushuaia in April average around 6°C (43°F), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (82°F)in October.
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Ushuaia often gets less sunshine than San Juanin October. Ushuaia gets 74 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. Ushuaia usually gets less rain in April than San Juanin October. Ushuaia gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Ushuaia and San Juan. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Ushuaia. In July, Ushuaia is generally much colder than San Juanin January. Daily temperatures in Ushuaia average around 2°C (36°F), 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. Ushuaia usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during winter. Ushuaia gets 61 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
In July, Ushuaia usually receives less rain than San Juanin January. Ushuaia gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
The spring brings many poeple to Ushuaia as well as San Juan. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
Ushuaia is much colder than San Juan in the spring. The daily temperature in Ushuaia averages around 6°C (43°F) in October, and San Juan fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in April.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. In the spring, Ushuaia often gets less sunshine than San Juanin April. Ushuaia gets 156 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun.
Ushuaia usually gets less rain in October than San Juanin April. Ushuaia gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
Ushuaia | San Juan | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
Feb | 10°C (50°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
Apr | 6°C (43°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
May | 3°C (37°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
Jun | 1°C (34°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
Jul | 2°C (36°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
Aug | 2°C (36°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
Sep | 4°C (39°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
Oct | 6°C (43°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
Nov | 8°C (46°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
Dec | 9°C (48°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |