Which place is cheaper, Boston or Ponce?
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 Ponce or Boston?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Ponce and Boston 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: Ponce or Boston?
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).
Boston
Boston is one of the oldest and most historic cities in New England. It is also the capital of the state of Massachusetts and the largest city in the region. The city proper covers 48 square miles and has a population of more than 600,000. The Greater Boston area has 4.5 million people and is the tenth largest metropolitan area in the country.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Photography Tours in United States of America, and The Best Camping Tours in United States of America.
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Ponce Prices
Puerto Rico PricesBoston Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPonce $230Boston $291
The average daily cost (per person) in Ponce is $230, while the average daily cost in Boston is $291. 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 Ponce and Boston in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPonce $151Boston $166
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPonce $302Boston $332
Compare Hotels in Ponce and Boston
Looking for a hotel in Ponce or Boston? 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: Boston Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ponce $10Boston $37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:
- San Juan Departure Share Transfer: $27
- Isabela / Hatillo to Aguadilla Airport(BQN) - DepartureTransfer: $44
- 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
- Private Transfers from SJU Airport to Isla Verde, Condado or San Juan área : $60
- Transfer TO or FROM: Airport,Cruise,Hotel in DORADO or RIO GRANDE: $70
- Private Transfer from San Juan City Hotels to Ponce Cruise Port: $79
- Aguadilla Hernandez Airport (BQN) to Isabela - RoundTrip Transfer: $87
- Rio Grande hotel to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $109
- Vega Baja to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $170
- Transfer SJU Airport to Humacao and Nagüabo. Vice Versa One Way Trip: $185
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Boston
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Boston are as follows:
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Taxi$35
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Subway Daily Pass$9.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Boston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Boston:
- Private Departure Transfer to Boston Airport BOS: $28
- BOS Airport Private Transfer to Boston Downtown: $37
- Boston Logan Airport Chauffeur, Boston Airport private Transfer: $50
- Boston Logan Airport (BOS) to Boston - Arrival Private Transfer: $61
- Boston Airport (BOS) to Providence – Arrival Private Transfer : $70
- Manchester–Boston Regional Airport to Manchester - Arrival Private Transfer: $75
- Private Transfer from Flynn Cruise Port to Boston Airport (BOS): $81
- Private Transfer from Boston Airport (BOS) to Flynn Cruise Port: $82
- One Way Airport Transfer Service: $85
- Boston Logan Intl Airport (BOS) to Flynn Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $94
- Departure Private Transfer Boston to Boston Airport BOS: $97
- Private Airport Transfer to/from Logan Airport: $99
Is it cheaper to fly into Ponce or Boston?
Prices for flights to both Boston and Ponce 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 dayPonce $61Boston $86
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Boston
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Boston.
- Self Guided "The North End Pizza, Cannoli and Picnic" Solo Walking Tour : $5.50
- Morning Walks with Salem Food Tours: $34
- Boston Freedom Trail History and Food Tour: $39
- Freedom Trail History and Food Tour: $39
- Pizza Beer and Paul Revere Tour: $65
- Boston Pizza Lovers Food & History Walking Food Tour: $69
- North End Pizza Walking Tour with 3 Slices & Cannoli: $69
- 2-Hour Pasta Making Cooking Class With Local Chef in Boston: $75
- North End Food Experience with Pizza, Meats & Cheese: $75
- Pizza, Beer, and Paul Revere Tour: $75
- City Cruises Harbor Buffet Lunch or Dinner Cruise: $89
- Boston’s Politically Incorrect North End Food tour: $98
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ponce $56Boston $33
Tours and Activities in Ponce
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ponce are as follows:
- Private Sunset Walking Tour in San Juan: $25
- Guided Walking Tour in Ponce: $30
- Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $30
- La Perla Cultural Tour: $35
- Prive Tours in Puerto Rico: $40
- Las Tinajas Waterfall: Guided Short Hike Adventure from Fajardo: $55
- Walking Guided Tour of History and Myths of Old San Juan : $60
- 2.5-Hour Historical Walking Tour of Old San Juan: $65
- Half-Day El Yunque Rainforest Tour from Fajardo: $65
- Half-Day Small-Group River Experience in El Yunque with Local : $68
- El Yunque Rainforest, Waterslides & Beach Tour from San Juan: $75
- Party Bus Experience in San Juan, Puerto Rico: $79
Typical Entertainment Prices in Boston
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Boston are as follows:
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Two Tickets to Celtics Game$101
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Duck Tour$32
Tours and Activities in Boston
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Boston are as follows:
- 2 Hour Boston Historical and Heritage Walking Tour: $5.00
- Self Guided "Historic Boston Downtown Freedom Trail" Audio/GPS Walking Tour: $5.00
- The Ghosts of Boston's Past Haunted Self-guided Tour: $5.00
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of Boston North End: $5.75
- Self-Guided Smartphone Ghost Walking Tour in Salem: $7.75
- Harvard's Haunts Solo Smart Phone Guided App Ghost Walking Tour: $7.75
- Self Guided Classic Freedom Trail Location Aware (GPS) Walking Audio Tour: $7.75
- City History and Highlights Audio App Walking Tour: $7.99
- Boston's Old North Church Admission with Self-Guided Audio Tour: $8.00
- Boston Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $8.32
- Harvard’s Secret Society: Exploration Game and Tour: $8.93
- Boston Harborwalk & Tea Party Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $8.99
For more ideas for your next trip, check out Free Things to Do in Boston, Must-See Monuments and Memorials In Boston, and The Best Things To Do in Boston with Kids.
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPonce $16Boston $27
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Boston
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Boston:
- Boston Bar Crawl Back Bay Beat Bar Craw: $15
- Boos and Brews Haunted Pub Crawl: $29
- Boston Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Haunted Pub Crawl of Historic Pubs and Taverns: $35
- 2 Hour Historic Pub Crawl in Boston: $35
- Salem Booze and Brews Haunted Pub Crawl by US Ghost Adventures: $36
- Boston Ghosts Boos and Brews Haunted Pub Crawl : $36
- History Pub Crawl Tour Along the Freedom Trail: $56
- Boston Freedom Trail History Pub Crawl Small-Group Tour: $60
- Freedom Trail History Tour and Brewery Taste: $71
- Sushi Making Class at a Local Brewery in Boston: $75
- Sushi Making Class at a Local Distillery in Boston: $75
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ponce and Boston, we can see that Boston is more expensive. And not only is Ponce much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ponce is in Caribbean Islands and Boston is in North America, 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 Ponce would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ponce 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 Boston would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Boston than you might in Ponce.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ponce Expensive? and Is Boston Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ponce or Boston?
Boston has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Ponce. When comparing the sizes of Ponce and Boston, 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 Ponce or Boston?
Boston has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Ponce experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Ponce or Boston in the Summer?
Both Boston and Ponce are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Boston for the beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Ponce is generally a little warmer than Boston. Daily temperatures in Ponce average around 28°C (83°F), and Boston fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).
It's quite sunny in Boston. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ponce. Ponce usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Boston during summer. Ponce gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Boston receives 304 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Ponce usually receives more rain than Boston. Ponce gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Boston receives 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPonce 28°C (83°F)Boston 73°F (23°C)
Should I visit Ponce or Boston in the Autumn?
Both Boston and Ponce during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Ponce because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many visitors come to Boston in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Ponce is much warmer than Boston in the autumn. The daily temperature in Ponce averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Boston fluctuates around 54°F (12°C).
It's quite sunny in Ponce. In the autumn, Ponce often gets more sunshine than Boston. Ponce gets 235 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Boston receives 194 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Ponce. Ponce usually gets more rain in October than Boston. Ponce gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Boston receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPonce 28°C (82°F)Boston 54°F (12°C)
Should I visit Ponce or Boston in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Ponce and Boston. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round. Furthermore, most visitors come to Boston for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine during these months.
Boston can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Ponce is much warmer than Boston. Typically, the winter temperatures in Ponce in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Boston averages at about 29°F (-2°C).
In Ponce, it's very sunny this time of the year. Ponce usually receives more sunshine than Boston during winter. Ponce gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Boston receives 153 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Ponce usually receives less rain than Boston. Ponce gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Boston receives 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPonce 25°C (77°F)Boston 29°F (-2°C)
Should I visit Ponce or Boston in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Ponce as well as Boston. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the spring months attract visitors to Boston because of the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
In April, Ponce is generally much warmer than Boston. Daily temperatures in Ponce average around 26°C (79°F), and Boston fluctuates around 48°F (9°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Boston. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ponce this time of the year. In the spring, Ponce often gets more sunshine than Boston. Ponce gets 272 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Boston receives 225 hours of full sun.
Ponce usually gets less rain in April than Boston. Ponce gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Boston receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPonce 26°C (79°F)Boston 48°F (9°C)
Typical Weather for Boston and Ponce
| Ponce | Boston | |||
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| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 29°F (-2°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 30°F (-1°C) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 38°F (4°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 48°F (9°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 58°F (15°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 2.9 inches (74 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 45°F (7°C) | 4.3 inches (108 mm) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 33°F (1°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
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.