How much does it cost to travel to Puerto Rico?
You should plan to spend around $218 per day on your vacation in Puerto Rico. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $39 on meals
- $18 on local transportation
- $277 on hotels
A one week trip to Puerto Rico for two people costs, on average, $3,048. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Puerto Rico expensive to visit?
Puerto Rico is a moderately priced destination to visit. It's about average with most other countries for travel costs. The prices for food, accommodation, and transportation are all fairly reasonable.
Within the Caribbean Islands, which is known to be an expensive region, Puerto Rico is moderately priced compared to the other countries. The overall cost of travel here is comparable to Trinidad and Tobago or the USVI.
For more details, see Is Puerto Rico Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Puerto Rico?
The average Puerto Rico trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Puerto Rico travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
Category
|
Cost
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
$277
|
Local Transportation 1
|
$18
|
Food 2
|
$39
|
Entertainment 1
|
$46
|
Alcohol 2
|
$7 -
22
|
Accommodation Budget in Puerto Rico
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Puerto Rico is $139. For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Puerto Rico is $277. This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Rico? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Local Transportation Budget in Puerto Rico
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Puerto Rico is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $18 per person, per day, on local transportation in Puerto Rico.
-
Local Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$18
Food Budget in Puerto Rico
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Puerto Rico can vary, the average cost of food in Puerto Rico is $39 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Puerto Rico should cost around $16 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Puerto Rico is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$39
Entertainment Budget in Puerto Rico
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Puerto Rico typically cost an average of $46 per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$46
Typical prices for Entertainment in Puerto Rico are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the Entertainment prices in Puerto Rico, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
-
Horseback Riding Tour
$40
-
Horseback Riding Tour
$40
-
1 Hr Windsurfing Lesson
$75
-
Full Day Snorkeling Trip
$100
Alcohol Budget in Puerto Rico
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $15 on alcoholic beverages in Puerto Rico per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$15
Water Budget in Puerto Rico
Calculated from travelers like you
-
On average, people spend $6.48 on bottled water in Puerto Rico per day. The public water in Puerto Rico is considered safe to drink.
-
Water2
Bottled water for one day
$6.48
Puerto Rico On a Budget
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Located in the Caribbean Sea, east of the Dominican Republic and west of the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico is a self-governing commonwealth of the United States. The island is mostly covered in mountains, although it becomes flat along the northern coast. The mountains drop dramatically into the water along the west coast. Most of the shore is covered with sandy beaches which are beautifull places to relax.
The climate in Puerto Rico is tropical marine, with very little seasonal fluctuation. Temperatures are mild and can range from 70 to 90 degrees fahrenheit. Along the northern coast or in the highlands, rainfall is common. The southern coast remains much drier. Puerto Rico may be affected by hurricanes between the months of June through November.
Puerto Rico is the smallest and most eastern island of the Greater Antilles. There is the principal island as well as Vieques, Culebra, Culebrita, Palomino, Mona, and Monito among others. Culebra is mostly covered by a nature preserve and can be reached daily by a ferry from Fajardo. Vieques is gaining popularity as a tourist area, but for now it still remains quite rural. It's about 22 miles long and 4 miles wide.
At A Glance
- Public transportation in Puerto Rico is unreliable and often times nonexistent outside of the major metro areas. The easiest and most convenient way to get around is to rent a car, but if you're hoping to save some money shared taxis may be an option. This system is called publico and operates Monday thru Friday. If you decide to rent your own car, they are available at the airport or from many of the major hotels.
- Spanish is the most common language in Puerto Rico although both Spanish and English are technically the official languages of the island. English is spoken fluently by about 20% of the population as well as most people working in the tourims industry. It is generally respectful and beneficial to try and learn a few key Spanish phrases before your trip.
- Local crafts and souvenirs can be purchased in Old San Juan. There are also town festivals that are hosted throughout the island. These festivals are frequented by local artists and they are a great way to pick up some unique items. Ask for recommendations to find out which festivals are the best. Other popular items to purchare are rum and cigars, which can still be found in San Juan, Old San Juan, and Puerta de Tierra.
- Golf is a popular activity on the island. There are more than 15 champianship golf courses that are within easy access of San Juan. The Trump International Golf Club offers Puerto Rico's first course of legendary proportions. It was designed by Tom Kite and has two championship courses.
- Many visitors enjoy going to a plantation in Puerto Rico. Historically, these plantations produced coffee, sugar cane or tobacco, which were the three main agricultural products of the island. Sugar cane is generally found in the hot, lowlands near the sea while tobacco and coffee are in the mountainous interior.
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Top Tourist Attractions
Old San Juan: This Spanish colonial district of San Juan is found on a small island on the north coast. It remains a major tourist destination as it offers many sights and attractions including forts, fountains and plazas that date to the 17th or 18th century.
Bioluminescent Bays: The bioluminescent bays are found near Fajardo as well as in Vieques. These are a must-see for any trip to Puerto Rico. The bays light up from a microscopic organism that lives in the water and glows as it moves. You can explore the bays with a kayak or boat tour but try and visit during a new moon for the best effect. A full moon makes the lights particularly difficult to see, and sunlight makes it impossible. The most popular biolumicescent bay is in Lajas and it offers visitors information kiosks, restaurants and tours.
El Yunque: Puerto Rico's rainforest is along a mountain and is easy to reach. Be on the lookout for the endangered Puerto Rican parrot and listen for the song of the local Coqui tree frog. The rainforst has many different hiking trails and there's a beautiful lookout point by the Yokahu tower. Also check out La Mina waterfalls where you can swim in the pool at the bottom. Hikes range from short to long so check out a map to decide what you want to do and where you want to go.
Popular Foods
Traditional Puerto Rican food makes use of two major ingredients: plantains and pork. Meals usually include some form of rice and beans in addition to meat. Dishes are generally mild and not spicy, but still very flavorful.
Arroz con gandules: This is the unofficial national dish of Puerto Rico. It brings together many of the island's flavors and is made with rice and pigeon peas that are well seasoned.
Mofongo con camarones: Mofongo is plantains that are mashed, fried, and then mashed again. It is stuffed with shrimp (or some other type of seafood) and well seasoned. This is, perhaps, the most famous Puerto Rican dish available.
Tostones: These twice deep-fried plantain chips are commonly available with restaurant meals. They are best when they are freshly made.
We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.