Which place is cheaper, Ponce or Ocean City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Should I visit Ocean City or Ponce? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
One of the most popular vacation areas of the U.S. east coast, Ocean City is a long-time resort town, taking roots as a getaway when the first beach-front cottage was built in 1869. The destination sits on a strip of land between the Atlantic Ocean and the Isle of Wight Bay. The Atlantic Hotel was the first major hotel, built in 1875 and still in business today. It has been family owned and operated since Charles W. Purnell bought it in 1923.
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 Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, and The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America.
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 Ocean City is $196, 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 Ocean City and Ponce in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Ocean City 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:
Prices for flights to both Ponce and Ocean City 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ponce.
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ponce are as follows:
Also in Ponce, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ocean City and Ponce, we can see that Ponce is more expensive. And not only is Ocean City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ocean City 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 Ocean City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ocean City 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 Ocean City.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ocean City Expensive? and Is Ponce Expensive?.
Ponce has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Ocean City. When comparing the sizes of Ocean City 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.
Ocean City has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Ponce experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Both Ponce and Ocean City are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Ocean City in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences. Plenty of visitors come to Ponce because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In July, Ocean City is generally cooler than Ponce. Daily temperatures in Ocean City average around 77°F (25°C), and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
It's quite rainy in Ocean City. In July, Ocean City usually receives more rain than Ponce. Ocean City gets 4.3 inches (110 mm) of rain, while Ponce receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Both Ponce and Ocean City during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Ocean City for the shopping scene during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round.
Ocean City is much colder than Ponce in the autumn. The daily temperature in Ocean City averages around 58°F (14°C) in October, and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
Ponce gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Ocean City usually gets less rain in October than Ponce. Ocean City gets 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain, while Ponce receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Ocean City and Ponce. The winter months attract visitors to Ocean City because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
The weather in Ocean City can be very cold. In the winter, Ocean City is much colder than Ponce. Typically, the winter temperatures in Ocean City in January average around 35°F (2°C), and Ponce averages at about 25°C (77°F).
In January, Ocean City usually receives more rain than Ponce. Ocean City gets 3.6 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Ponce receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
The spring brings many poeple to Ocean City as well as Ponce. The beaches are the main draw to Ocean City this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year.
In April, Ocean City is generally much colder than Ponce. Daily temperatures in Ocean City average around 54°F (12°C), and Ponce fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
Ocean City usually gets more rain in April than Ponce. Ocean City gets 3.2 inches (81 mm) of rain, while Ponce receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
Ocean City | Ponce | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 35°F (2°C) | 3.6 inches (93 mm) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
Feb | 37°F (3°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
Mar | 45°F (7°C) | 4.1 inches (103 mm) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
Apr | 54°F (12°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
May | 63°F (17°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
Jun | 72°F (22°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
Jul | 77°F (25°C) | 4.3 inches (110 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
Aug | 76°F (24°C) | 5.3 inches (135 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
Sep | 69°F (20°C) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
Oct | 58°F (14°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
Nov | 49°F (9°C) | 3.2 inches (80 mm) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
Dec | 39°F (4°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |