A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Ponce vs. Halifax for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Ponce or Halifax?

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 Halifax 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 Halifax?

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).

Halifax

The quaint and charming coastal town of Halifax, Nova Scotia has an interesting personality. While it caters to travelers from all over the world, it maintains the pace and lifestyle of a small town.

Steeped in maritime history, Halifax is the capital of Nova Scotia, and one of the world's greatest natural harbors. This busy seaport serves as the economic and cultural hub of Eastern Canada.

When planning your trip keep in mind that this city has a climate like other coastal cities. Summers are nice with the occasional humidity. Winters are mild, but still full of snow and wind. The best time of year to visit is most certainly the fall.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Canada, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Vancouver.


Which place is cheaper, Halifax or Ponce?

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 Ponce is $230, while the average daily cost in Halifax is $137. 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 Halifax in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ponce $151
    Halifax $65
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ponce $302
    Halifax $130
Compare Hotels in Ponce and Halifax

Looking for a hotel in Ponce or Halifax? 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.

Hotels in Ponce


Hotels in Halifax


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: Halifax Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ponce $10
    Halifax $17

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:

  • Vega Baja to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $170
  • Transfer TO or FROM: Airport,Cruise,Hotel in DORADO or RIO GRANDE: $70
  • Transfer SJU Airport to Humacao and Nagüabo. Vice Versa One Way Trip: $185
  • 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
  • San Juan Departure Share Transfer: $27
  • Rio Grande hotel to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $109
  • Private Transfers from SJU Airport to Isla Verde, Condado or San Juan área : $60
  • Private Transfer from San Juan City Hotels to Ponce Cruise Port: $79
  • Isabela / Hatillo to Aguadilla Airport(BQN) - DepartureTransfer: $44
  • Aguadilla Hernandez Airport (BQN) to Isabela - RoundTrip Transfer: $87

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Halifax

Also for Halifax, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Arrival Transfer from Halifax Stanfield Airport YHZ: $85

Is it cheaper to fly into Ponce or Halifax?

Prices for flights to both Halifax 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Ponce $61
    Halifax $54

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 Halifax

For Halifax, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Bluenose II Restaurant
    $45

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Halifax

For Halifax, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Peggy's Cove Small Group Night Tour with Dinner: $157

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ponce $56
    Halifax $28

Tours and Activities in Ponce

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ponce are as follows:

  • Half-Day El Yunque Rainforest Tour from Fajardo: $65
  • Scuba Boat Diving Experience in Gilligan's Island at Copamarina: $160
  • 2.5-Hour Historical Walking Tour of Old San Juan: $65
  • 5 hours Tour in La Parguera Private Boat Charter: $200
  • 7 Hours River Tour with Beach and Learn to Make Piña Colada : $195
  • 8 Hours Private Tours in Puerto Rico: $150
  • Adventure in Cave and the Guayaney Spring: $99
  • Afro-Boriken-Loiza: Food, Cave & Art Tour: $140
  • Aguadilla 6 Hour Local Tour: $150
  • Camuy Caves Experience Tour with transportation: $130
  • Cave Hopping Tour: $198
  • Caves Coastlines and Beach; Cueva del Indio, Arecibo Adventure : $125

Tours and Activities in Halifax

For Halifax, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 Admission & Tour: $14
  • Georges Island National Historic Site Ferry Ticket: $16
  • Happy Hour Cruise with Live Music: $21
  • Guided Kayak Tour with Multiple Options: $29
  • Halifax Sunset Cruise Aboard the Tall Ship Silva: $33
  • Best of Halifax Harbour Tour: $40
  • Party Cruise on the Harbour Queen: $42
  • 50-Minute Boat Tour of the Harbour: $42
  • Tall Ship Harbor Sailing Cruise with Live Music: $42
  • Harbour Hopper City & Water Cruise in a Duck Boat: $56
  • Signature Adventure Sail: $56
  • Solar Waterfront Food/Drink Party Bike Experience: $57

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ponce $16
    Halifax $15

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 Halifax

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Halifax:

  • Nova Scotia Annapolis Valley Wine Tour Lead by a Sommelier: $168


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ponce and Halifax, we can see that Ponce is more expensive. And not only is Halifax much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ponce is in Caribbean Islands and Halifax 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 Halifax would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Halifax 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 Halifax.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ponce Expensive? and Is Halifax Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Ponce or Halifax?

Halifax has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Ponce. When comparing the sizes of Ponce and Halifax, 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 Halifax?

Halifax 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 Halifax in the Summer?

Both Halifax and Ponce during the summer 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 summer months attract visitors to Halifax because of the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Ponce is generally much warmer than Halifax. Daily temperatures in Ponce average around 28°C (83°F), and Halifax fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

In Halifax, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Ponce. In the summer, Ponce often gets more sunshine than Halifax. Ponce gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Halifax receives 230 hours of full sun.

Ponce usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Halifax. Ponce gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Halifax receives 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Ponce 28°C (83°F) 
    Halifax 18°C (64°F)

Should I visit Ponce or Halifax in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Ponce and Halifax. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round. Also, the shopping scene are the main draw to Halifax this time of year.

Ponce is much warmer than Halifax in the autumn. The daily temperature in Ponce averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Halifax fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).

In Ponce, it's very sunny this time of the year. Ponce usually receives more sunshine than Halifax during autumn. Ponce gets 235 hours of sunny skies, while Halifax receives 148 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Halifax receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Ponce gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Ponce usually receives more rain than Halifax. Ponce gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Halifax receives 121 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Ponce 28°C (82°F) 
    Halifax 10°C (49°F)

Should I visit Ponce or Halifax in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Ponce as well as Halifax. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Halifax for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Halifax. In the winter, Ponce is much warmer than Halifax. Typically, the winter temperatures in Ponce in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Halifax averages at about -4°C (24°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ponce this time of the year. In the winter, Ponce often gets more sunshine than Halifax. Ponce gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Halifax receives 111 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Halifax. Ponce usually gets less rain in January than Halifax. Ponce gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Halifax receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Ponce 25°C (77°F) 
    Halifax -4°C (24°F)

Should I visit Ponce or Halifax in the Spring?

Both Halifax and Ponce are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year.

Halifax can get quite cold in the spring. In April, Ponce is generally much warmer than Halifax. Daily temperatures in Ponce average around 26°C (79°F), and Halifax fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ponce. Ponce usually receives more sunshine than Halifax during spring. Ponce gets 272 hours of sunny skies, while Halifax receives 148 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Halifax. In April, Ponce usually receives less rain than Halifax. Ponce gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Halifax receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Ponce 26°C (79°F) 
    Halifax 4°C (39°F)

Typical Weather for Halifax and Ponce

Ponce Halifax
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 25°C (77°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) -4°C (24°F) 129 mm (5.1 in)
Feb 25°C (77°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) -5°C (24°F) 108 mm (4.2 in)
Mar 26°C (78°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) -1°C (31°F) 111 mm (4.4 in)
Apr 26°C (79°F) 69 mm (2.7 in) 4°C (39°F) 110 mm (4.3 in)
May 27°C (81°F) 120 mm (4.7 in) 9°C (48°F) 105 mm (4.1 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 82 mm (3.2 in) 14°C (57°F) 104 mm (4.1 in)
Jul 28°C (83°F) 95 mm (3.7 in) 18°C (64°F) 99 mm (3.9 in)
Aug 28°C (83°F) 130 mm (5.1 in) 18°C (65°F) 111 mm (4.4 in)
Sep 28°C (83°F) 130 mm (5.1 in) 15°C (58°F) 91 mm (3.6 in)
Oct 28°C (82°F) 135 mm (5.3 in) 10°C (49°F) 121 mm (4.7 in)
Nov 27°C (80°F) 132 mm (5.2 in) 5°C (40°F) 140 mm (5.5 in)
Dec 26°C (78°F) 92 mm (3.6 in) -1°C (29°F) 152 mm (6 in)