Which place is cheaper, Columbia River Gorge 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 Columbia River Gorge?
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 Columbia River Gorge 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 Columbia River Gorge?
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).
Columbia River Gorge
Columbia River Gorge is a popular destination in the Cascade Mountains in the Pacific Northwest. The region's close proximity to Portland, which is just 30 minutes away, makes it a popular weekend destination.
The gorge is formed by the Columbia River, with an 80 mile stretch designated as a National Scenic Area. The area has many beautiful cliffs with a number of tall waterfalls and its protected status means that most new development must occur within one of the already established towns.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City.
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Ponce Prices
Puerto Rico PricesColumbia River Gorge Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPonce $230Columbia River Gorge $212
The average daily cost (per person) in Ponce is $230, while the average daily cost in Columbia River Gorge is $212. 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 Columbia River Gorge in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPonce $151Columbia River Gorge $89
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPonce $302Columbia River Gorge $178
Compare Hotels in Ponce and Columbia River Gorge
Looking for a hotel in Ponce or Columbia River Gorge? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ponce $10Columbia River Gorge $78
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Ponce or Columbia River Gorge?
Prices for flights to both Columbia River Gorge 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 $61Columbia River Gorge $79
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ponce $56Columbia River Gorge $20
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPonce $16Columbia River Gorge $12
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 comparing the travel costs between Ponce and Columbia River Gorge, we can see that Ponce 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 Ponce is in Caribbean Islands and Columbia River Gorge is in North America, 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 Ponce Expensive? and Is Columbia River Gorge Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ponce or Columbia River Gorge?
Ponce has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Columbia River Gorge. When comparing the sizes of Ponce and Columbia River Gorge, 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 Columbia River Gorge?
Columbia River Gorge 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 Columbia River Gorge in the Summer?
Both Columbia River Gorge 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, the summer months attract visitors to Columbia River Gorge because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Ponce is generally a little warmer than Columbia River Gorge. Daily temperatures in Ponce average around 28°C (83°F), and Columbia River Gorge fluctuates around 68°F (20°C).
It's quite sunny in Columbia River Gorge. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ponce. Ponce usually receives less sunshine than Columbia River Gorge during summer. Ponce gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Columbia River Gorge receives 338 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Ponce usually receives more rain than Columbia River Gorge. Ponce gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Columbia River Gorge receives 0.7 inches (18 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPonce 28°C (83°F)Columbia River Gorge 68°F (20°C)
Should I visit Ponce or Columbia River Gorge in the Autumn?
Both Columbia River Gorge 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. Also, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Columbia River Gorge this time of year.
Ponce is much warmer than Columbia River Gorge in the autumn. The daily temperature in Ponce averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Columbia River Gorge fluctuates around 55°F (13°C).
It's quite sunny in Ponce. In the autumn, Ponce often gets more sunshine than Columbia River Gorge. Ponce gets 235 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Columbia River Gorge receives 155 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Ponce. Ponce usually gets more rain in October than Columbia River Gorge. Ponce gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Columbia River Gorge receives 2.6 inches (67 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPonce 28°C (82°F)Columbia River Gorge 55°F (13°C)
Should I visit Ponce or Columbia River Gorge in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Ponce and Columbia River Gorge. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round. Also, many travelers come to Columbia River Gorge for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Columbia River Gorge. In the winter, Ponce is much warmer than Columbia River Gorge. Typically, the winter temperatures in Ponce in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Columbia River Gorge averages at about 40°F (4°C).
In Ponce, it's very sunny this time of the year. Ponce usually receives more sunshine than Columbia River Gorge during winter. Ponce gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Columbia River Gorge receives 86 hours of full sun in the winter.
Columbia River Gorge receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Ponce usually receives less rain than Columbia River Gorge. Ponce gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Columbia River Gorge receives 5.2 inches (132 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPonce 25°C (77°F)Columbia River Gorge 40°F (4°C)
Should I visit Ponce or Columbia River Gorge in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Ponce as well as Columbia River Gorge. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many visitors come to Columbia River Gorge in the spring for the natural beauty.
In April, Ponce is generally much warmer than Columbia River Gorge. Daily temperatures in Ponce average around 26°C (79°F), and Columbia River Gorge fluctuates around 51°F (11°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Columbia River Gorge. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ponce this time of the year. In the spring, Ponce often gets more sunshine than Columbia River Gorge. Ponce gets 272 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Columbia River Gorge receives 231 hours of full sun.
Ponce usually gets more rain in April than Columbia River Gorge. Ponce gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Columbia River Gorge receives 2.4 inches (61 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPonce 26°C (79°F)Columbia River Gorge 51°F (11°C)
Typical Weather for Columbia River Gorge and Ponce
| Ponce | Columbia River Gorge | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 40°F (4°C) | 5.2 inches (132 mm) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 44°F (7°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 47°F (9°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 51°F (11°C) | 2.4 inches (61 mm) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 2 inches (51 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 1.5 inches (39 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 0.7 inches (18 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 69°F (20°C) | 1 inches (25 mm) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.7 inches (44 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 55°F (13°C) | 2.6 inches (67 mm) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 46°F (8°C) | 5.4 inches (136 mm) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 40°F (5°C) | 6.1 inches (156 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.