Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Durham?
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 Durham or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Durham and San Juan can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Durham or San Juan?
Durham
Durham is a city in central North Carolina with about 230,000 residents. Together with Raleigh and Chapel Hill, it forms the Research Triangle area. Durham is often referred to as the "City of Medicine" and is home to the famous Duke University.
Durham's history is rooted in tobacco. The Duke family established American Tobacco, which controlled 90% of all cigarette production in the US during the second half of the 19th century. The family donated money to Trinity College, which changed its name to Duke University in 1924.
Today much of Durham's economy is centered around the university and Research Triangle Park. The area has many technology and pharmaceutical jobs and the economy continues to grow.
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 Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, and The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America.
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Durham Prices
USA PricesSan Juan Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDurham $195San Juan $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Durham is $195, 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 Durham and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDurham $92San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDurham $184San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Durham and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Durham 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: Durham Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Durham $33San 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 Durham or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Durham 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 dayDurham $77San 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:
- 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.Durham $26San 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
- 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 dayDurham $34San 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
- 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 comparing the travel costs between Durham and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Durham is in North America and San Juan is in Caribbean Islands, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Durham Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Durham or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Durham. When comparing the sizes of Durham 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 Durham or San Juan?
Durham 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 Durham or San Juan in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Durham as well as San Juan. Most visitors come to Durham for the family-friendly experiences during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
In the summer, Durham is around the same temperature as San Juan. Typically, the summer temperatures in Durham in July average around 79°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 Durham this time of the year. In the summer, Durham often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Durham gets 259 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun.
Durham receives a lot of rain in the summer. Durham usually gets more rain in July than San Juan. Durham gets 5.1 inches (129 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 JulyDurham 79°F (26°C)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Durham or San Juan in the Autumn?
Both San Juan and Durham are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Durham because of the shopping scene. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In October, Durham is generally much colder than San Juan. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 61°F (16°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 Durham. Durham usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during autumn. Durham gets 211 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, Durham usually receives less rain than San Juan. Durham gets 2.8 inches (71 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 OctoberDurham 61°F (16°C)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Durham or San Juan in the Winter?
Both San Juan and Durham during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Durham this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
It's quite cold in Durham in the winter. Durham is much colder than San Juan in the winter. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 40°F (5°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, Durham often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Durham gets 162 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun.
Durham usually gets more rain in January than San Juan. Durham 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 JanuaryDurham 40°F (5°C)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Durham or San Juan in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Durham and San Juan. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the spring, Durham is much colder than San Juan. Typically, the spring temperatures in Durham in April average around 60°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 Durham, it's very sunny this time of the year. Durham usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during spring. Durham gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Durham usually receives more rain than San Juan. Durham gets 3.1 inches (78 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 AprilDurham 60°F (16°C)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Durham
| Durham | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 40°F (5°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 43°F (6°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 52°F (11°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 60°F (16°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 68°F (20°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 76°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 79°F (26°C) | 5.1 inches (129 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 78°F (26°C) | 4.9 inches (125 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 73°F (23°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 61°F (16°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 53°F (11°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 44°F (7°C) | 3.1 inches (78 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.