Which place is cheaper, Ponce or Asheville?
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 Asheville or Ponce?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Asheville and Ponce. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Asheville or Ponce?
Asheville
Asheville is a beautiful mountain town between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains. It's a popular tourist destination in western North Carolina that attracts hikers, shoppers, and adventurers alike. It's the largest city in the area and is famous for it's liberal mindset and large art community. Local crafts are frequently available for sale in the downtown shops.
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 Photography Tours in United States of America, and The Best Camping Tours in United States of America.
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Asheville Prices
USA PricesPonce Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAsheville $159Ponce $230
The average daily cost (per person) in Asheville is $159, while the average daily cost in Ponce is $230. 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 Asheville and Ponce in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAsheville $89Ponce $151
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAsheville $178Ponce $302
Compare Hotels in Asheville and Ponce
Looking for a hotel in Asheville 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: Asheville Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Asheville $14Ponce $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:
- Aguadilla Hernandez Airport (BQN) to Isabela - RoundTrip Transfer: $87
- Isabela / Hatillo to Aguadilla Airport(BQN) - DepartureTransfer: $44
- Private Transfer from San Juan City Hotels to Ponce Cruise Port: $79
- Private Transfers from SJU Airport to Isla Verde, Condado or San Juan área : $60
- Rio Grande hotel to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $109
- San Juan Departure Share Transfer: $27
- San Juan PR Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Transfer: $46
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- Transfer SJU Airport to Humacao and Nagüabo. Vice Versa One Way Trip: $185
- Transfer TO or FROM: Airport,Cruise,Hotel in DORADO or RIO GRANDE: $70
- Vega Baja to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $170
Is it cheaper to fly into Asheville or Ponce?
Prices for flights to both Ponce and Asheville 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 dayAsheville $58Ponce $61
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ponce
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ponce.
- Latin Night with Dinner and Local Music with Transportation: $59
- Puerto Rico Art and Wine Dinner with One Way Transportation: $89
- Private Cooking Class with a Fun Local in San German, Puerto Rico: $96
- Private Half-Day Island Authentic Food Tour : $130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Asheville $20Ponce $56
Typical Entertainment Prices in Asheville
Here are a few typical costs in Asheville for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Biltmore Estate Entrance Fee$60
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Massage$40
Tours and Activities in Asheville
Here are a few actual costs in Asheville for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Downtown Asheville Tip-Based Sightseeing Walking Tour : $5.00
- Downtown Asheville Historian-Guided Tour: $20
- Asheville Night-Time Walking Ghost Tour : $27
- Asheville Ghost Tour: A Walk Through Riverside Cemetery & Montford Neighborhood: $27
- Gem Mining and Goat Farm Walking Tour in Hendersonville: $30
- The Asheville Abyss Ghost Tour: Ashes to Apparitions: $32
- Haunted History & Murder Mystery Trolley Tour: $35
- Asheville Insider Guided Walking Tour: $35
- Buffalo Creek Ranch Tour Experience: $40
- Asheville Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Trolley Tour: $41
- Explore Asheville on Segway Tours: $65
- Asheville Historic Downtown Guided Electric Bike Tour with Scenic Views: $75
Tours and Activities in Ponce
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ponce are as follows:
- Private Sunset Walking Tour in San Juan: $25
- Guided Walking Tour in Ponce: $30
- Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $30
- La Perla Cultural Tour: $35
- Prive Tours in Puerto Rico: $40
- Las Tinajas Waterfall: Guided Short Hike Adventure from Fajardo: $55
- Walking Guided Tour of History and Myths of Old San Juan : $60
- 2.5-Hour Historical Walking Tour of Old San Juan: $65
- Half-Day El Yunque Rainforest Tour from Fajardo: $65
- Half-Day Small-Group River Experience in El Yunque with Local : $68
- El Yunque Rainforest, Waterslides & Beach Tour from San Juan: $75
- Party Bus Experience in San Juan, Puerto Rico: $79
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAsheville $16Ponce $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Asheville
Also in Asheville, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Asheville Bar Crawl: $15
- Asheville Terrors Boos and Brews Haunted Pub Crawl: $36
- Downtown Asheville Guided Brewery Walking Tour: $69
- Premier Walking Guided Brewery Tour Through Downtown Asheville: $69
- Bachelorette Royal Bar Crawl through South Slope District: $80
- Floating Bar Crawl Tour: $85
- Asheville Brewery Tour: $94
- 2 Vineyard Wine Tour of Western NC: $159
- Private Wine Tour with Dine in Black Mountain from Asheville: $230
- Three Vineyards Half Day Private Wine Tour From Asheville: $260
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Asheville and Ponce, we can see that Ponce is more expensive. And not only is Asheville much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Asheville 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 Asheville would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Asheville 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 Asheville.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Asheville Expensive? and Is Ponce Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Asheville or Ponce?
Ponce has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Asheville. When comparing the sizes of Asheville 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 Asheville or Ponce?
Asheville 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 Asheville or Ponce in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Asheville and Ponce. Most visitors come to Asheville for the hiking, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Asheville is around the same temperature as Ponce in the summer. The daily temperature in Asheville averages around 82°F (28°C) in July, and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ponce this time of the year. In Asheville, it's very sunny this time of the year. Asheville usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Ponce during summer. Asheville gets 268 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
Asheville gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Asheville usually receives more rain than Ponce. Asheville gets 5.4 inches (137 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 JulyAsheville 82°F (28°C)Ponce 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Asheville or Ponce in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Asheville as well as Ponce. The autumn months attract visitors to Asheville because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year.
In the autumn, Asheville is much colder than Ponce. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Asheville in October average around 64°F (18°C), and Ponce averages at about 28°C (82°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ponce. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Asheville this time of the year. In the autumn, Asheville often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Ponce. Asheville gets 229 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 235 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Ponce. Asheville usually gets less rain in October than Ponce. Asheville gets 3.4 inches (86 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 OctoberAsheville 64°F (18°C)Ponce 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Asheville or Ponce in the Winter?
Both Ponce and Asheville are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Asheville this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to Ponce because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Asheville is generally much colder than Ponce. Daily temperatures in Asheville average around 44°F (7°C), and Ponce fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
It's quite sunny in Ponce. Asheville usually receives less sunshine than Ponce during winter. Asheville gets 176 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
It's quite rainy in Asheville. In January, Asheville usually receives more rain than Ponce. Asheville gets 3.9 inches (100 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 JanuaryAsheville 44°F (7°C)Ponce 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Asheville or Ponce in the Spring?
Both Ponce and Asheville during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Asheville for the natural beauty. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round.
Asheville is cooler than Ponce in the spring. The daily temperature in Asheville averages around 64°F (18°C) in April, and Ponce fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
In Ponce, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Asheville. In the spring, Asheville often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Ponce. Asheville gets 266 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 272 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Asheville. Asheville usually gets more rain in April than Ponce. Asheville gets 4.4 inches (112 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 AprilAsheville 64°F (18°C)Ponce 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Ponce and Asheville
| Asheville | Ponce | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 44°F (7°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 47°F (8°C) | 4.3 inches (109 mm) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 55°F (13°C) | 5.4 inches (137 mm) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 64°F (18°C) | 4.4 inches (112 mm) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 71°F (22°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 79°F (26°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 82°F (28°C) | 5.4 inches (137 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 4.6 inches (118 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 75°F (24°C) | 4 inches (101 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 64°F (18°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 55°F (13°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 47°F (8°C) | 4.1 inches (103 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.