Which place is cheaper, San Juan 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.
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Should you visit Ocean City or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ocean City or San Juan? 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.
Where Should I go: Ocean City or San Juan?
Ocean City
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.
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 Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, and The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America.
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Ocean City Prices
USA PricesSan Juan Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayOcean City $196San Juan $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Ocean City is $196, 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 Ocean City and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOcean City $83San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOcean City $166San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Ocean City and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Ocean City 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: Ocean City Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ocean City $47San 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 Ocean City or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayOcean City $85San 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.Ocean City $18San 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 dayOcean City $14San 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 Ocean City 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 Ocean City 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 Ocean City Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ocean City or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Ocean City. When comparing the sizes of Ocean City 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 Ocean City or San Juan?
Ocean City 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 Ocean City or San Juan in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Ocean City as well as San Juan. The summer months attract visitors to Ocean City because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
In the summer, Ocean City is cooler than San Juan. Typically, the summer temperatures in Ocean City in July average around 77°F (25°C), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (83°F).
Ocean City receives a lot of rain in the summer. Ocean City usually gets more rain in July than San Juan. Ocean City gets 4.3 inches (110 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 JulyOcean City 77°F (25°C)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Ocean City or San Juan in the Autumn?
Both San Juan and Ocean City are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene are the main draw to Ocean City this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In October, Ocean City is generally much colder than San Juan. Daily temperatures in Ocean City average around 58°F (14°C), and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Juan. In October, Ocean City usually receives less rain than San Juan. Ocean City gets 3.4 inches (87 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 OctoberOcean City 58°F (14°C)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Ocean City or San Juan in the Winter?
Both San Juan and Ocean City during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Ocean City for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Ocean City. Ocean City is much colder than San Juan in the winter. The daily temperature in Ocean City averages around 35°F (2°C) in January, and San Juan fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
Ocean City usually gets more rain in January than San Juan. Ocean City gets 3.6 inches (93 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 JanuaryOcean City 35°F (2°C)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Ocean City or San Juan in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Ocean City and San Juan. Many visitors come to Ocean City in the spring for the beaches. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the spring, Ocean City is much colder than San Juan. Typically, the spring temperatures in Ocean City in April average around 54°F (12°C), and San Juan averages at about 26°C (79°F).
In April, Ocean City usually receives more rain than San Juan. Ocean City gets 3.2 inches (81 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 AprilOcean City 54°F (12°C)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Ocean City
| Ocean City | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
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.