A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers La Paz vs. Ponce for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit La Paz or Ponce?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between La Paz and Ponce can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: La Paz or Ponce?

La Paz

La Paz, the administrative capital of Bolivia, has a breathtaking setting. The city is the highest national capital in the world, with an altitude ranging from about 4,058 m (13,313 ft) above sea level in El Alto, where the airport is located, to 3,100 m (10,170 ft) in the lower residential area. The dynamic and chaotic city was built in a canyon created by the Choqueyapu River. La Paz is now a fusion of architectural styles, cultures and beliefs, welcoming everyday new boutique hotels, modern shops, delicious restaurants and reinventing standing establishments. However, generally speaking, Bolivia remains more a backpacker hit than a mainstream tourist destination.

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 Luxury Tours to Bolivia, and The Best Budget Tours to Bolivia.


Which place is cheaper, Ponce or La Paz?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in La Paz is $56, 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 La Paz and Ponce in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    La Paz $16
    Ponce $151
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    La Paz $32
    Ponce $302
Compare Hotels in La Paz and Ponce

Looking for a hotel in La Paz 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.

Hotels in La Paz


Hotels in Ponce


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: La Paz Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    La Paz $9.45
    Ponce $10
Typical Local Transportation Prices in La Paz

Some typical examples of transportation costs in La Paz are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $0.58

Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Paz

Also for La Paz, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Bus Station Transfer Out_night : $25
  • Private Transfer La Paz Airport LPB to La Paz City by MiniVan/Bus: $28
  • Private Transfer from El Alto Airport to La Paz, Bolivia Hotels: $28
  • Private Departure Transfer: La Paz Hotels to El Alto International Airport: $37
  • Airport Transfer In_night: $47
  • Private Transfer From Hotel to Bus Station in La Paz City : $52
  • Private Transfer from your Hotel to Airport in La Paz City : $54
  • Private Transfer from Airport to your Hotel in La Paz City : $54
  • Private Transfer From Hotel to Airport in La Paz City : $68
  • Private Transfer From your Hotel to Bus Station in La Paz City : $68
  • Private Transfer From Bus Station to Hotel in La Paz City : $68
  • Private Transfer from Airport to your Hotel in La Paz City : $77

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:

  • Vega Baja to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $170
  • Transfer TO or FROM: Airport,Cruise,Hotel in DORADO or RIO GRANDE: $70
  • Transfer SJU Airport to Humacao and Nagüabo. Vice Versa One Way Trip: $185
  • San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
  • San Juan PR Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Transfer: $46
  • San Juan Departure Share Transfer: $27
  • Rio Grande hotel to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $109
  • Private Transfers from SJU Airport to Isla Verde, Condado or San Juan área : $60
  • Private Transfer from San Juan City Hotels to Ponce Cruise Port: $79
  • Isabela / Hatillo to Aguadilla Airport(BQN) - DepartureTransfer: $44
  • Aguadilla Hernandez Airport (BQN) to Isabela - RoundTrip Transfer: $87

Is it cheaper to fly into La Paz or Ponce?

Prices for flights to both Ponce and La Paz 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    La Paz $29
    Ponce $61
Typical Food Prices in La Paz

For La Paz, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Fruit
    $0.72

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Paz

For La Paz, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • La Paz : Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $77

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    La Paz $16
    Ponce $56

Tours and Activities in La Paz

For La Paz, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • La Paz City Walking Tour Including Historical Streets: $5.00
  • City Walking Tour in La Paz: $8.00
  • City Tour plus Cable Car La Paz: $10
  • La Paz Walking City tour plus Cable cars: $10
  • Walking tour La Paz city: $14
  • El Alto Tour: Andean Spirituality, the Chola, and Cable Car Views: $16
  • Half Day Guided Tour in El Alto City: $19
  • La Paz City Tour Essential: $23
  • Cholet Tour - Andean Architecture and Culture - El Alto: $26
  • La Paz Private Walking Tour with a Local: $30
  • La Paz Guided Sightseeing Tour on Bus and Cable Car: $30
  • Smells like La Paz spirit: Walking & artistic city tour: $30

Tours and Activities in Ponce

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ponce are as follows:

  • Half-Day El Yunque Rainforest Tour from Fajardo: $65
  • Scuba Boat Diving Experience in Gilligan's Island at Copamarina: $160
  • 2.5-Hour Historical Walking Tour of Old San Juan: $65
  • 5 hours Tour in La Parguera Private Boat Charter: $200
  • 7 Hours River Tour with Beach and Learn to Make Piña Colada : $195
  • 8 Hours Private Tours in Puerto Rico: $150
  • Adventure in Cave and the Guayaney Spring: $99
  • Afro-Boriken-Loiza: Food, Cave & Art Tour: $140
  • Aguadilla 6 Hour Local Tour: $150
  • Camuy Caves Experience Tour with transportation: $130
  • Cave Hopping Tour: $198
  • Caves Coastlines and Beach; Cueva del Indio, Arecibo Adventure : $125

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    La Paz $11
    Ponce $16

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 La Paz and Ponce, we can see that Ponce is more expensive. And not only is La Paz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since La Paz is in South 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 La Paz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Paz 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 La Paz.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is La Paz Expensive? and Is Ponce Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, La Paz or Ponce?

La Paz has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Ponce. When comparing the sizes of La Paz 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.