Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Winston-Salem?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Winston-Salem or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Winston-Salem 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: Winston-Salem or San Juan?
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.
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 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 $150San Juan $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Winston-Salem is $150, 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 Winston-Salem and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personWinston-Salem $91San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomWinston-Salem $182San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Winston-Salem and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Winston-Salem 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: Winston-Salem Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Winston-Salem $23San Juan $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to San Juan Airport: $22
- Mendoza: One-Way Private Transfer from Airport: $25
- San Juan One-way Transfer: $30
- San Juan hotels to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- San Juan Luxury Private Round-Trip Transfer: SJU Airport - Cruise Pier - Hotel : $50
- Oneway Transfer- San Juan(SJU, hotel, airbnb, port) to Río Grande: $68
- Old Walking Tour with Shopping and Hotel Transfer: $70
- Roundtrip-Transfer from: SJU Airport,Cruises and Hotels in Puerto Rico LuxurySUV: $70
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Tesla Y Luxury SUV, Select Zone: $77
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Tesla S Lux Sedan, Select Zone: $79
- Oneway Transfer San Juan to Ceiba: Ferry, Vieques/Culebra Airport: $80
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Lexus Luxury Sedan, Select Zone: $81
Is it cheaper to fly into Winston-Salem or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan 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 $42San 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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Winston-Salem $20San Juan $49
Tours and Activities in Winston-Salem
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Winston-Salem are as follows:
- Carolina History & Haunts Winston-Salem Historical Ghost Tour: $26
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Winston-Salem by Wacky Walks: $10
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.
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of Historic Buildings: $5.99
- Discover Old In-App Audio Tour of History: $11
- Self-Guided Tour with Audio Guide: $14
- Group Transportation in airport, cruise ships, hotels, bnb's in San Juan, PR: $20
- Old Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $25
- Old San Juan Walking Tour with a Certified Guide: $30
- History, Legends, & Highlights Guided Walking Tour: $30
- Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $30
- Old San Juan Walking Tour: $39
- Old San Juan City Walking Tour: $39
- Legacy Tour at Casa BarcadÍ in Puerto Rico: $45
- Ron del Barrilito Skip-the-Line Heritage Tour Ticket: $46
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayWinston-Salem $24San 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 Winston-Salem and San Juan, we can see that San Juan 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 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 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 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 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 San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Winston-Salem or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Winston-Salem. When comparing the sizes of Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem or San Juan?
Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem or San Juan in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Winston-Salem as well as San Juan. The summer months attract visitors to Winston-Salem because of the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
In the summer, Winston-Salem is around the same temperature as San Juan. Typically, the summer temperatures in Winston-Salem in July average around 81°F (27°C), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (83°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Winston-Salem this time of the year. In the summer, Winston-Salem often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan. Winston-Salem gets 273 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun.
Winston-Salem receives a lot of rain in the summer. Winston-Salem usually gets more rain in July than San Juan. Winston-Salem gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyWinston-Salem 81°F (27°C)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Winston-Salem or San Juan in the Autumn?
Both San Juan and Winston-Salem are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene are the main draw to Winston-Salem this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In October, Winston-Salem is generally much colder than San Juan. Daily temperatures in Winston-Salem average around 62°F (17°C), and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
It's quite sunny in San Juan. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Winston-Salem. Winston-Salem usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during autumn. Winston-Salem gets 212 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Juan. In October, Winston-Salem usually receives less rain than San Juan. Winston-Salem gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberWinston-Salem 62°F (17°C)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Winston-Salem or San Juan in the Winter?
Both San Juan and Winston-Salem during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Winston-Salem for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Winston-Salem. Winston-Salem is much colder than San Juan in the winter. The daily temperature in Winston-Salem averages around 40°F (4°C) in January, and San Juan fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Winston-Salem often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Winston-Salem gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun.
Winston-Salem usually gets more rain in January than San Juan. Winston-Salem gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryWinston-Salem 40°F (4°C)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Winston-Salem or San Juan in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Winston-Salem and San Juan. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the spring, Winston-Salem is much colder than San Juan. Typically, the spring temperatures in Winston-Salem in April average around 61°F (16°C), and San Juan averages at about 26°C (79°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. In Winston-Salem, it's very sunny this time of the year. Winston-Salem usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during spring. Winston-Salem gets 248 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Winston-Salem usually receives more rain than San Juan. Winston-Salem gets 3.1 inches (80 mm) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilWinston-Salem 61°F (16°C)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Winston-Salem
| Winston-Salem | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.