Which place is cheaper, Chicago 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 Chicago?
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 Chicago 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 Chicago?
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).
Chicago
Located in the Midwest, Chicago is the third largest city in the United States. It has a population of almost 3 million and a metropolitan area that covers more than 10,000 square kilometers. It is also a hub for music, comedy and theater. It's skyline is beautiful with modern skyscrapers and Lake Michigan as a backdrop. It is easy to stay entertained in Chicago for weeks. There are world class museums, upscale or eclectic shopping opportunities, and impressive architecture.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles.
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Ponce Prices
Puerto Rico PricesChicago Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPonce $230Chicago $323
The average daily cost (per person) in Ponce is $230, while the average daily cost in Chicago is $323. 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 Chicago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPonce $151Chicago $198
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPonce $302Chicago $396
Compare Hotels in Ponce and Chicago
Looking for a hotel in Ponce or Chicago? 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: Chicago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ponce $10Chicago $37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:
- Aguadilla Hernandez Airport (BQN) to Isabela - RoundTrip Transfer: $87
- Isabela / Hatillo to Aguadilla Airport(BQN) - DepartureTransfer: $44
- Private Transfer from San Juan City Hotels to Ponce Cruise Port: $79
- Private Transfers from SJU Airport to Isla Verde, Condado or San Juan área : $60
- Rio Grande hotel to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $109
- San Juan Departure Share Transfer: $27
- San Juan PR Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Transfer: $46
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- Transfer SJU Airport to Humacao and Nagüabo. Vice Versa One Way Trip: $185
- Transfer TO or FROM: Airport,Cruise,Hotel in DORADO or RIO GRANDE: $70
- Vega Baja to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $170
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Chicago
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Chicago:
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Parking$19
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Taxi Ride$10
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Taxi from Airport$45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chicago
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chicago:
- Airport transfer between Chicago O'Hare and Milwaukee: $38
- Private Airport Transfer to/from ORD Airport: $43
- Private Transfer ORD Airport to Chicago / Milwaukee / Oak Brook: $46
- Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) to Chicago -Arrival Private Transfer: $75
- Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD) to Chicago hotel/address - Arrival Private Transfer: $76
- Chicago City to Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) - Departure Private Transfer: $78
- Chicago O'Hare International Airport private transfer, pick up: $80
- Private Departure Transfer to Chicago Airports (ORD)(MDW): $90
- Round Trip Private Transfer ORD Airport to Chicago City Oak Brook: $92
- Private One-Way Airport Transfer from O'Hare Airport to Chicago: $94
- Private One-Way Airport Transfer From Chicago To O'Hare Airport: $94
- Chicago Private Transfer from City To Airport (ORD): $99
Is it cheaper to fly into Ponce or Chicago?
Prices for flights to both Chicago 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 $61Chicago $85
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
Typical Food Prices in Chicago
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Chicago:
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Dinner for 1$24
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Dinner for 3$118
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chicago
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chicago.
- Traveling Spoon Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza Private Online Cooking Class : $59
- Downtown Pizza Guided Walking Tour with Tastings: $73
- Sushi Making Cooking Class at a Local Distillery in Chicago: $75
- Pasta Making Cooking Class at a Local Distillery: $75
- Sushi Making Cooking Class at a Local Distillery: $75
- Pasta Making Cooking Class at a Local Distillery in Chicago: $75
- Downtown Family Food Tour by Bike with Sightseeing: $80
- Chicago Food Tour & Solve a Murder: Interactive True Crime Tour: $82
- Taste of Chicago's Chinatown Food Tours: $85
- Vito's Vault Chicago finest dinner theatre speakeasy: $85
- Downtown Classics Food Tour: Deep Dish, Beef Sandwich & More: $89
- City Cruises Lake Michigan Lunch or Dinner Cruise: $93
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ponce $56Chicago $47
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 Chicago
Here are a few typical costs in Chicago for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Sears Tower (family of 4)$102
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Aquarium for 4$118
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Water Taxi (family of 4)$22
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IMAX Movie for Two$35
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Shakespeare Play (2)$116
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Art Institute (2)$36
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U-Boat Tour (2)$8.00
Tours and Activities in Chicago
Here are a few actual costs in Chicago for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Eastside Chicago The Heist Exploration Game and Tour: $7.13
- Dragon Kings Quest Experience in Chinatown Chicago: $7.13
- Haunted Chicago Exploration Game and Tour: $7.13
- Chicago Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $7.82
- Chicago Chocolate Tour: $8.00
- Lincoln Park Zoo Adventure: $8.00
- Chicago Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Chicago’s Millennium Park Self Guided Audio GPS Walking Tour: $9.75
- Chicago Haunted Ghost Tour GPS Self-Guided Walking Tour: $9.75
- Chicago’s Ragtime & Jazz Eras: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Illinois Holocaust Museum presents Experience360 Ticket: $12
- Chicago Millennium Park Self-Guided Walking Tour: $13
For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Free Things to Do in Chicago, Chicago Bucket List: The Best Places to See, and The Best Museums in Chicago.
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPonce $16Chicago $25
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 Chicago
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Chicago:
- Chicago Bar Crawl: Chi-Town Showdown: $15
- Chicago Local Brewery Expedition with Homemade Guacamole: $63
- Chicago Craft Brewery Barrel Bus Tour: $100
- Craft Brewery Tour by Barrel Bus: $100
- Chicago:Milwaukee City Highlights Day Trip with Brewery Tour: $106
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ponce and Chicago, we can see that Chicago 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 Chicago 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 Chicago would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Chicago 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 Chicago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ponce or Chicago?
Chicago has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Ponce. When comparing the sizes of Ponce and Chicago, 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 Chicago?
Chicago 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 Chicago in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Ponce and Chicago. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round. Furthermore, most visitors come to Chicago for the beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Ponce is a little warmer than Chicago. Typically, the summer temperatures in Ponce in July average around 28°C (83°F), and Chicago averages at about 77°F (25°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Chicago this time of the year. In Ponce, it's very sunny this time of the year. Ponce usually receives less sunshine than Chicago during summer. Ponce gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Chicago receives 326 hours of full sun in the summer.
Chicago receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Ponce usually receives around the same amount of rain as Chicago. Ponce gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Chicago receives 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPonce 28°C (83°F)Chicago 77°F (25°C)
Should I visit Ponce or Chicago in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Ponce as well as Chicago. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the autumn months attract visitors to Chicago because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Ponce is generally much warmer than Chicago. Daily temperatures in Ponce average around 28°C (82°F), and Chicago fluctuates around 56°F (14°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ponce this time of the year. In the autumn, Ponce often gets more sunshine than Chicago. Ponce gets 235 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chicago receives 195 hours of full sun.
Ponce receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Ponce usually gets more rain in October than Chicago. Ponce gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Chicago receives 2.2 inches (56 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPonce 28°C (82°F)Chicago 56°F (14°C)
Should I visit Ponce or Chicago in the Winter?
Both Chicago and Ponce are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year. Also, the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine are the main draw to Chicago this time of year.
It's quite cold in Chicago in the winter. Ponce is much warmer than Chicago in the winter. The daily temperature in Ponce averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Chicago fluctuates around 25°F (-4°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ponce. Ponce usually receives more sunshine than Chicago during winter. Ponce gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Chicago receives 134 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Ponce usually receives more rain than Chicago. Ponce gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Chicago receives 1.9 inches (47 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPonce 25°C (77°F)Chicago 25°F (-4°C)
Should I visit Ponce or Chicago in the Spring?
Both Chicago and Ponce during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Ponce because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Chicago for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Ponce is much warmer than Chicago. Typically, the spring temperatures in Ponce in April average around 26°C (79°F), and Chicago averages at about 52°F (11°C).
In Chicago, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Ponce. In the spring, Ponce often gets more sunshine than Chicago. Ponce gets 272 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chicago receives 218 hours of full sun.
Chicago gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Ponce usually gets less rain in April than Chicago. Ponce gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Chicago receives 4.3 inches (108 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPonce 26°C (79°F)Chicago 52°F (11°C)
Typical Weather for Chicago and Ponce
| Ponce | Chicago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 25°F (-4°C) | 1.9 inches (47 mm) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 29°F (-2°C) | 1.4 inches (35 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 41°F (5°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 4.3 inches (108 mm) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 3.5 inches (90 mm) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 56°F (14°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 44°F (7°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 31°F (-1°C) | 2.8 inches (71 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.