Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Rome?
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 Rome or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Rome and San Juan 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: Rome or San Juan?
Rome
Rome is the capital and largest city in Italy. It is also a common entry point for most visitors flying into the country. Rome has been a center of power, culture, and religion for the last millenium, making it one of the most famous and popular destinations in not only Europe, but the world. The influence of the Roman Empire can be seen across continents.
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 Luxury Tours to Italy, and The Best Budget Tours to Italy.
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Rome Prices
Italy PricesSan Juan Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRome $243San Juan $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Rome is $243, 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 Rome and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRome $106San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRome $212San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Rome and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Rome 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: Rome Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rome $25San Juan $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Rome
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rome:
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Metro Ride (for Two)$2.35
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Train to the Airport$18
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Taxi to Airport$53
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Bicycle Rental (Full Day)$12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rome
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rome:
- Private Civitavecchia Port Transfer From / To Rome City Center: $295
- Fiumicino Airport (FCO) to Saturnia - Arrival Private Transfer: $295
- Transfer Fiumicino airport - Civitavecchia port or vice versa: $295
- Rome Airport Transfer & Pompeii Tour to Amalfi/Ravello Viceversa: $292
- Ciampino Airport transfer: $289
- Roundtrip Transfer from Rome Airport (FCO)(CIA) to Civitavecchia: $286
- Transfer from Fiumicino/Ciampino/Rome to Civitavecchia Port: $283
- Rome Private Transfer from Rome city centre to Civitavecchia Cruise Port: $278
- From Fiumicino to Orvieto Transfer: $275
- Private Transfer from Rome to Sperlonga or Gaeta: $271
- Arrival in Airport Transfer & Exclusive City Introduction: $269
- Rome Private Sightseeing and Catacombs Underground Group Tour with Transfer: $269
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer to Cruise Ships, Hotels, Airbnb in San Juan: $76
- Arrival Private Transfer SJU Airport to Old San Juan by Sedan: $120
- Carabali Rain Forest Round Trip Private Taxi Transfer: $200
- Departure Transfer from Old San Juan to to SJU Airport by Car: $86
- Double ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $289
- Premium Transfer in Airport, Hotel, Airbnb, Cruise: $25
- Private Airport Transfers to Ceiba Ferry Terminal and Airport: $155
- Private Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to San Juan Airport: $22
- Private Transfer Puerto Rico:To or From Airports, Hotels &Cruises: $33
- Private Transfer from SJU Airport to Cruise Port Roundtrip Servic: $109
- Private Transfer from SJU Airport to San Juan / Rio Grande: $115
- Private Transfer from or to San Juan and Ceiba Ferry: $93
Is it cheaper to fly into Rome or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Rome 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 dayRome $98San Juan $62
Typical Food Prices in Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rome:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$16
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4 Ice Cream Sandwiches$3.51
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Cafe e doce$4.69
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Pizza (Fast Food)$3.11
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Sitdown Lunch (for Two)$37
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Cheese and bread$12
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Espresso$2.35
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Dinner$68
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rome
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rome.
- Pizzas and Piazzas: A Self-Guided Walk of Rome’s Culinary Culture: $20
- Hard Rock Cafe Rome with Set Lunch or Dinner: $34
- Rome City Center Largest Farmers Market and Street Food Tour : $35
- Pizza and Tiramisu Cooking Class near the Colosseum: $35
- Pizza Making Class with Spritz & Mixology: $35
- Tasty Trionfale Farmers Market Food Tour and Local Wines Tasting: $42
- Pasta Making & Wine Tasting with Dinner in Frascati from Rome: $46
- Gnocchi Cooking Class in Rome - Piazza Navona: $46
- Vatican Street Food Tour and Wine Experience with Local Guide: $47
- Rome Food Tour : Street Food Testings with Local Guide: $47
- Rome Food Tour by the Vatican : $52
- Pizza Cooking Class in Rome City Center - Piazza Navona: $52
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.Rome $42San Juan $49
Typical Entertainment Prices in Rome
Here are a few typical costs in Rome for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Rome Museum Vaticano (for 2)$81
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Coliseum Tickets (for Two)$39
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Roma Pass$35
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Hop on Hop Off Bus (All Day)$23
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Segway Tour$88
Tours and Activities in Rome
Here are a few actual costs in Rome for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 Hours Guided Walking Tour in St. Peter's and Dome Exploration: $114
- Appian Way and Aqueducts Electric Bike Tour: $90
- Audio Guide Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel Skip the Line : $95
- Baths of Caracalla Guided Tour -Private or Shared: $131
- Best of Rome by Night Private Sightseeing Chauffeured Tour: $228
- Castel Sant Angelo Skip the Line Tickets: $43
- Discover The Churches of Rome guided tour: $180
- Evening Tour of the City’s Most Iconic Sights - Up To 6 People: $191
- Golf Cart Small-Group Guided Tour: Rome City Highlights: $104
- Golf Cart Tour of 3h with local guide and gelato: $216
- Golfcart adventure in Rome: $156
- Guided Tour of Rome's Churches and Art: $210
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 dayRome $21San Juan $12
Typical Alcohol Prices in Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Rome:
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Bottle of Wine$7.63
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Pint of Beer$7.44
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Beer$12
Sample the Local Flavors in Rome
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rome:
- Wine Tasting and Food Pairing Small Group Experience: $19
- Rome Pub Crawl in the Old Town: $19
- Trionfale Farmers Market and Vatican Quarter Food and Wine Tour: $35
- Vatican Food and Wine Tasting Tour next to the Sistine Chapel: $35
- Rome’s Exclusive Wine Tasting: Sip Near the Colosseum!: $39
- Experience Rome Exclusive Wine Tasting in City Center: $47
- Tour of Rome with wine tasting: $54
- Guided Wine Tasting Experience in a Roman Vineyard: $59
- Wine Tour in Historic Center of Rome: $60
- Small-Group Exclusive Winery and Wine Tasting Tour in Frascati: $66
- Wine Tasting Cold cuts and Rare Cheeses in Grotta a Testaccio: $72
- Trastevere Food and Wine Tasting Tour: $77
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 Rome and San Juan, we can see that Rome 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 Rome is in Europe 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 Rome Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Rome or San Juan?
Rome has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of San Juan. When comparing the sizes of Rome 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 Rome or San Juan?
Rome 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 Rome or San Juan in the Summer?
Both San Juan and Rome during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Rome for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
In the summer, Rome is cooler than San Juan. Typically, the summer temperatures in Rome in July average around 25°C (77°F), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (83°F).
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Rome. In the summer, Rome often gets more sunshine than San Juan. Rome gets 338 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun.
Rome usually gets less rain in July than San Juan. Rome gets 19 mm (0.7 in) 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 JulyRome 25°C (77°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Rome or San Juan in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Rome and San Juan. Many visitors come to Rome in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Rome is generally much colder than San Juan. Daily temperatures in Rome average around 17°C (63°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. Rome usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during autumn. Rome gets 198 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun in the autumn.
San Juan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Rome usually receives less rain than San Juan. Rome gets 94 mm (3.7 in) 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 OctoberRome 17°C (63°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Rome or San Juan in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Rome as well as San Juan. Most visitors come to Rome for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
Rome is much colder than San Juan in the winter. The daily temperature in Rome averages around 8°C (47°F) in January, and San Juan fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. In the winter, Rome often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Rome gets 127 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun.
Rome usually gets more rain in January than San Juan. Rome gets 81 mm (3.2 in) 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 JanuaryRome 8°C (47°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Rome or San Juan in the Spring?
Both San Juan and Rome are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Rome because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the spring, Rome is much colder than San Juan. Typically, the spring temperatures in Rome in April average around 14°C (57°F), and San Juan averages at about 26°C (79°F).
It's quite sunny in San Juan. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Rome. Rome usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during spring. Rome gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Rome usually receives less rain than San Juan. Rome gets 50 mm (2 in) 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 AprilRome 14°C (57°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Rome
| Rome | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 8°C (47°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 9°C (49°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 11°C (52°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (57°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 42 mm (1.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (71°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (77°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (71°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (63°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (49°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 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.