Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Cherokee?
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 Cherokee or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Cherokee or San Juan, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Cherokee or San Juan?
Cherokee
The town of Cherokee is the center of Cherokee Native American culture in North Carolina and the eastern United States. Many natives refer to this area as home and the Cherokee language is also spoken by many people in the area. The town was established by the Cherokee people who were able to stay behind when the US Government forced the majority of the Cherokee people west (ultimately to Oklahoma) in what is known as the Trail of Tears. Those who were able to stay behind were able to hide in the mountains that now comprise the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. The Cherokee people at one point lived in houses made of woven grass and mud, and later, log cabins.
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 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America.
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Cherokee Prices
USA PricesSan Juan Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCherokee $186San Juan $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Cherokee is $186, while the average daily cost in San Juan is $218. 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 Cherokee and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCherokee $158San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCherokee $316San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Cherokee and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Cherokee 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: Cherokee Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cherokee -San Juan $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Premium Transfer in Airport, Hotel, Airbnb, Cruise: $25
- San Juan hotels to San Juan PR Cruise Port - Departure Transfer: $30
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, Tesla 3 Luxury Sedan.: $56
- San Juan Port to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $60
- Roundtrip-Transfer in Puerto Rico: From Airports, Hotels, Cruises: $71
- Airport Transfer to Cruise Ships, Hotels, Airbnb in San Juan: $76
- San Juan Luxury Private Round-Trip Transfer: SJU Airport - Cruise Pier - Hotel : $80
- Departure Transfer from Old San Juan to to SJU Airport by Car: $86
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfers, Sienna Limited Luxury Minivan.: $87
- Private Transfer from or to San Juan and Ceiba Ferry: $93
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 11Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $93
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, Yukon Denali SUV: $102
Is it cheaper to fly into Cherokee or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Cherokee 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 dayCherokee $27San Juan $62
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 Food Tour with 7 Tastings of Authentic Local Flavors: $139
- Private San Juan Cooking Class with a Local Expert: $146
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $165
- FlyDining: 4 Courses Dinner with City Lights & Ocean Breeze: $165
- FlyDining: Sunset & City Lights Dinner Over Old San Juan: $165
- Morning Old San Juan Food Tour: $169
- Cooking and Connecting with a Local in Puerto Rico: $173
- Savor the Sunset: Old San Juan Walking Food Tour: $179
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cherokee -San Juan $49
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.
- Transportation in San Juan, Isla verde, Condado, Hotels, Cruises & Airbnb's SJU: $14
- San Juan Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $17
- Discover Superb Self-Guided Audio Tour: $20
- Group Transportation in airport, cruise ships, hotels, bnb's in San Juan, PR: $23
- Old San Juan Walking Tour with a Local Certified Guide: $25
- San Juan Ghost Tour: Shrieks in the Sugarcane: $26
- Explore Old San Juan Walking Tour: $30
- Old San Juan Tour in Spanish: $30
- Historic Old San Juan Sunset Walking Tour: $39
- Old San Juan Walking Tour: $39
- Top Rated El Yunque Rainforest & Waterslide – VIP SmallGroup Tour: $45
- Ron del Barrilito Heritage Skip-the-Line Tour: $46
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCherokee -San Juan $12
Sample the Local Flavors in San Juan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Juan:
- Old San Juan Bar Crawl: Experience Local Hotspots: $65
- Puerto Rico's First and Only Craft Beer Brewery Tour! : $99
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cherokee and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Cherokee much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cherokee 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 Cherokee would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cherokee 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 Cherokee.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cherokee Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cherokee or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Cherokee. When comparing the sizes of Cherokee 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 Cherokee or San Juan?
Cherokee 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 Cherokee or San Juan in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Cherokee as well as San Juan. Many visitors come to Cherokee in the summer for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
Cherokee is around the same temperature as San Juan in the summer. The daily temperature in Cherokee averages around 81°F (27°C) in July, and San Juan fluctuates around 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 Cherokee this time of the year. In the summer, Cherokee often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan. Cherokee gets 294 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun.
Cherokee receives a lot of rain in the summer. Cherokee usually gets more rain in July than San Juan. Cherokee gets 4.7 inches (119 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 JulyCherokee 81°F (27°C)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Cherokee or San Juan in the Autumn?
Both San Juan and Cherokee are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Cherokee for the hiking trails and the shopping scene during these months. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the autumn, Cherokee is much colder than San Juan. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Cherokee in October average around 63°F (17°C), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (82°F).
It's quite sunny in San Juan. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cherokee. Cherokee usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during autumn. Cherokee gets 213 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, Cherokee usually receives less rain than San Juan. Cherokee gets 2.7 inches (68 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 OctoberCherokee 63°F (17°C)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Cherokee or San Juan in the Winter?
Both San Juan and Cherokee during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Cherokee because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
The weather in Cherokee can be very cold. In January, Cherokee is generally much colder than San Juan. Daily temperatures in Cherokee average around 40°F (5°C), and San Juan fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Cherokee often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Cherokee gets 134 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Cherokee. Cherokee usually gets more rain in January than San Juan. Cherokee gets 4.7 inches (119 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 JanuaryCherokee 40°F (5°C)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Cherokee or San Juan in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Cherokee and San Juan. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Cherokee is much colder than San Juan in the spring. The daily temperature in Cherokee averages around 62°F (17°C) in April, and San Juan fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. In Cherokee, it's very sunny this time of the year. Cherokee usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan during spring. Cherokee gets 263 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Cherokee usually receives more rain than San Juan. Cherokee gets 3.6 inches (92 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 AprilCherokee 62°F (17°C)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Cherokee
| Cherokee | San Juan | |||
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| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 40°F (5°C) | 4.7 inches (119 mm) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 44°F (7°C) | 4.7 inches (120 mm) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 54°F (12°C) | 4.8 inches (123 mm) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 62°F (17°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 70°F (21°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 78°F (25°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 81°F (27°C) | 4.7 inches (119 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 80°F (27°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 74°F (24°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 63°F (17°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 53°F (12°C) | 3.5 inches (90 mm) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 44°F (7°C) | 4.5 inches (114 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.