Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Dayton?
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 Dayton or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Dayton 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: Dayton or San Juan?
Dayton
Located in southwest Ohio, Dayton is known as the "Gem City." It's the original home of Orville and Wilbur Wright, the brothers who designed the first airplane. You'll also find the Dayton Aviation Heritage Park here, which is one of the only multi-site National Parks in the United States. The cities climate has four different seasons, winter, spring, summer and fall. The winter months are quite cold and you can expect a decent amount of snow in the area. Spring remains cool and there are infrequent showers. This is also the peak time for tornadoes in the area. Summer is hot and humid and can be unpleasant at times, but fall is crisp and refreshing with occasional storms and infrequent tornadoes.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City.
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Dayton Prices
USA PricesSan Juan Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDayton $368San Juan $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Dayton is $368, 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 Dayton and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDayton $250San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDayton $500San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Dayton and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Dayton 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: Dayton Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dayton $25San 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
- Premium Transfer in Airport, Hotel, Airbnb, Cruise: $25
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan - Arrival Private Transfer: $28
- San Juan hotels to San Juan PR Cruise Port - Departure Transfer: $30
- San Juan One-way Transfer - Cruise, SJU, Hotels, Airbnb: $30
- Private Transfer Puerto Rico:To or From Airports, Hotels &Cruises: $33
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, Tesla 3 Luxury Sedan.: $56
- San Juan Port to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $60
- San juan Puerto Rico PrivateTransfers Airport,Hotels,Cruise Ports: $66
- Roundtrip-Transfer from: SJU Airport,Cruises and Hotels in Puerto Rico LuxurySUV: $70
- Roundtrip-Transfer in Puerto Rico: From Airports, Hotels, Cruises: $71
- Airport Transfer to Cruise Ships, Hotels, Airbnb in San Juan: $76
Is it cheaper to fly into Dayton or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Dayton 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 dayDayton $105San Juan $62
Typical Food Prices in Dayton
Some typical examples of dining costs in Dayton are as follows:
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Noodle Company Lunch (for 2)$17
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Indian Food Dinner (for 2)$34
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:
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $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.Dayton -San Juan $49
Tours and Activities in Dayton
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Dayton are as follows:
- Daytona Beach: Guided Kayaking or Standup Paddling Tour: $65
- Daytona Beach: Paddle Pub Experience: $45
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
- Eco Friendly Farming Tour to Explore Dorado's Most Beautiful Farm: $20
- 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: $32
- Old San Juan Walking Tour: $39
- Old San Juan City Walking Tour: $39
- Historic Old San Juan Sunset 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 dayDayton -San Juan $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Dayton
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dayton:
- Dive Bar Bus Crawl: $50
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
- The Pinones Pub crawl Bar crawl : $70
- Local Puerto Rican Rum Distillery Tour - Ron Pepon: $90
- Puerto Rico's First and Only Craft Beer Brewery Tour! : $99
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dayton and San Juan, we can see that Dayton is more expensive. And not only is San Juan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dayton 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 San Juan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Juan 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 Dayton would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dayton than you might in San Juan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dayton Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dayton or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Dayton. When comparing the sizes of Dayton 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 Dayton or San Juan?
Dayton 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 Dayton or San Juan in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Dayton as well as San Juan. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
In the summer, Dayton is cooler than San Juan. Typically, the summer temperatures in Dayton in July average around 78°F (26°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 Dayton this time of the year. In the summer, Dayton often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan. Dayton gets 298 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun.
Dayton usually gets less rain in July than San Juan. Dayton gets 3.4 inches (86 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 JulyDayton 78°F (26°C)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Dayton or San Juan in the Autumn?
Both San Juan and Dayton are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In October, Dayton is generally much colder than San Juan. Daily temperatures in Dayton average around 57°F (14°C), and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
It's quite sunny in San Juan. Dayton usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during autumn. Dayton gets 188 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, Dayton usually receives less rain than San Juan. Dayton gets 2.5 inches (64 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 OctoberDayton 57°F (14°C)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Dayton or San Juan in the Winter?
Both San Juan and Dayton during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
The weather in Dayton can be very cold. Dayton is much colder than San Juan in the winter. The daily temperature in Dayton averages around 30°F (-1°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, Dayton often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Dayton gets 129 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun.
Dayton usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as San Juan. Dayton gets 2.1 inches (54 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 JanuaryDayton 30°F (-1°C)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Dayton or San Juan in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Dayton and San Juan. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the spring, Dayton is much colder than San Juan. Typically, the spring temperatures in Dayton in April average around 55°F (13°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 Dayton, it's very sunny this time of the year. Dayton usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during spring. Dayton gets 215 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Dayton usually receives more rain than San Juan. Dayton gets 3.5 inches (88 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 AprilDayton 55°F (13°C)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Dayton
| Dayton | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 33°F (1°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 44°F (7°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 55°F (13°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 65°F (18°C) | 4 inches (102 mm) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 74°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 78°F (26°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 76°F (25°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 69°F (21°C) | 2.6 inches (65 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 57°F (14°C) | 2.5 inches (64 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 47°F (8°C) | 3.1 inches (80 mm) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 35°F (2°C) | 3 inches (75 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.