Which place is cheaper, Ponce or Winston-Salem?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Winston-Salem or Ponce?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Winston-Salem 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: Winston-Salem or Ponce?
Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a moderately sized city in Forsyth Country, North Carolina. The city has a population of about 360,000 and is located in the central part of the state in the Piedmont Triad. Winston-Salem goes by several nicknames including the "Twin City", the "City of Arts and Innovation" and "Camel City", a reference to the city's history in the tobacco industry. Like several towns in central North Carolina, the city's economy was also once influenced by the furniture industry, although this sector continues to shrink.
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 Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, and The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayWinston-Salem $150Ponce $205
The average daily cost (per person) in Winston-Salem is $150, 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 Winston-Salem and Ponce in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personWinston-Salem $91Ponce $151
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomWinston-Salem $182Ponce $302
Compare Hotels in Winston-Salem and Ponce
Looking for a hotel in Winston-Salem 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.
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: Winston-Salem Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Winston-Salem $23Ponce $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:
- San Juan Departure Share Transfer: $27
- Isabela / Hatillo to Aguadilla Airport(BQN) - DepartureTransfer: $44
- San Juan PR Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Transfer: $46
- San Juan hotels to San Juan PR Cruise Port - Departure Transfer: $46
- San Juan Port to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- Private Transfers from SJU Airport to Isla Verde, Condado or San Juan área : $60
- San juan Puerto Rico PrivateTransfers Airport,Hotels,Cruise Ports: $60
- Transfer TO or FROM: Airport,Cruise,Hotel in DORADO or RIO GRANDE: $70
- Private Transfer from San Juan City Hotels to Ponce Cruise Port: $79
- Aguadilla Hernandez Airport (BQN) to Isabela - RoundTrip Transfer: $87
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $92
Is it cheaper to fly into Winston-Salem or Ponce?
Prices for flights to both Ponce and Winston-Salem 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 dayWinston-Salem $42Ponce $35
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Winston-Salem $20Ponce $56
Tours and Activities in Winston-Salem
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Winston-Salem are as follows:
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Winston-Salem by Wacky Walks: $10
- Carolina History & Haunts Winston-Salem Historical Ghost Tour: $26
Tours and Activities in Ponce
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ponce are as follows:
- Talking Buildings of Old San Juan: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Footsteps in San Juan Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $17
- Private Sunset Walking Tour in San Juan: $25
- Old San Juan Tour (1 Hour) by DUHO: $25
- Salsa Tours PR Sunset Salsa Beach Class in San Juan, Puerto Rico : $29
- Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $30
- Guided Walking Tour in Ponce: $30
- Guided City Walking Tour: $32
- La Perla Cultural Tour: $35
- Historic Old San Juan Sunset Walking Tour: $39
- Bio Bay Boat Tour with Swimming from La Parguera, Puerto Rico: $50
- Turtle spotting snorkeling adventure- no Jets : $50
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayWinston-Salem $24Ponce $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 Winston-Salem and Ponce, we can see that Ponce is more expensive. And not only is Winston-Salem much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Winston-Salem is in North 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 Winston-Salem would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Winston-Salem Expensive? and Is Ponce Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Winston-Salem or Ponce?
Winston-Salem has a larger population, and is about 27% larger than the population of Ponce. When comparing the sizes of Winston-Salem 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.
When is the best time to visit Winston-Salem or Ponce?
Winston-Salem has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Ponce experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Winston-Salem or Ponce in the Summer?
Both Ponce and Winston-Salem are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Winston-Salem in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Plenty of visitors come to Ponce because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In July, Winston-Salem is generally around the same temperature as Ponce. Daily temperatures in Winston-Salem average around 81°F (27°C), and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
It's quite sunny in Ponce. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Winston-Salem. Winston-Salem usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Ponce during summer. Winston-Salem gets 273 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
It's quite rainy in Winston-Salem. In July, Winston-Salem usually receives more rain than Ponce. Winston-Salem gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while Ponce receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyWinston-Salem 81°F (27°C)Ponce 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Winston-Salem or Ponce in the Autumn?
Both Ponce and Winston-Salem during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Winston-Salem for the shopping scene during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round.
Winston-Salem is much colder than Ponce in the autumn. The daily temperature in Winston-Salem averages around 62°F (17°C) in October, and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
In Ponce, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Winston-Salem. In the autumn, Winston-Salem often gets less sunshine than Ponce. Winston-Salem gets 212 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 235 hours of full sun.
Ponce gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Winston-Salem usually gets less rain in October than Ponce. Winston-Salem gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Ponce receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberWinston-Salem 62°F (17°C)Ponce 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Winston-Salem or Ponce in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Winston-Salem and Ponce. The winter months attract visitors to Winston-Salem because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
The weather in Winston-Salem can be very cold. In the winter, Winston-Salem is much colder than Ponce. Typically, the winter temperatures in Winston-Salem in January average around 40°F (4°C), and Ponce averages at about 25°C (77°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ponce this time of the year. Winston-Salem usually receives less sunshine than Ponce during winter. Winston-Salem gets 169 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Winston-Salem usually receives more rain than Ponce. Winston-Salem gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Ponce receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryWinston-Salem 40°F (4°C)Ponce 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Winston-Salem or Ponce in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Winston-Salem as well as Ponce. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year.
In April, Winston-Salem is generally much colder than Ponce. Daily temperatures in Winston-Salem average around 61°F (16°C), and Ponce fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ponce. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Winston-Salem this time of the year. In the spring, Winston-Salem often gets less sunshine than Ponce. Winston-Salem gets 248 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 272 hours of full sun.
Winston-Salem usually gets more rain in April than Ponce. Winston-Salem gets 3.1 inches (80 mm) of rain, while Ponce receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilWinston-Salem 61°F (16°C)Ponce 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Ponce and Winston-Salem
| Winston-Salem | Ponce | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 40°F (4°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 43°F (6°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 52°F (11°C) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 61°F (16°C) | 3.1 inches (80 mm) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 69°F (21°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 77°F (25°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 81°F (27°C) | 4.4 inches (112 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 80°F (26°C) | 4.3 inches (109 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 73°F (23°C) | 3.5 inches (90 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 62°F (17°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 53°F (12°C) | 2.6 inches (67 mm) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 44°F (7°C) | 3.1 inches (80 mm) | 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.