Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Saint Louis?
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 Saint Louis or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Saint Louis and San Juan. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Saint Louis or San Juan?
Saint Louis
Nicknamed the "Gateway to the West" and perhaps best known for its iconic Gateway Arch, St. Louis, Missouri, has grown from a last stop for pioneers journeying west to a thriving metropolis notable for its diverse culture, impressive architecture, and unique neighborhoods. It sits on the Mississippi River and has plenty to offer in dining, shopping, sight-seeing, and entertainment.
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 2-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America.
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Saint Louis Prices
USA PricesSan Juan Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint Louis $224San Juan $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint Louis is $224, 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 Saint Louis and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint Louis $101San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint Louis $202San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Saint Louis and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Saint Louis 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: Saint Louis Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint Louis $26San Juan $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Louis
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Saint Louis:
- St. Louis Lambert Airport (STL) to St. Louis City - Arrival Private Transfer: $142
- Arrival transfer St. Louis Airport STL to St. Louis by Car or SUV: $125
- Departure Transfer St. Louis to St. Louis Airport by Car or SUV: $125
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 Saint Louis or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Saint Louis 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 daySaint Louis $93San Juan $62
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint Louis
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Saint Louis.
- Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Show - St. Louis, MO: $89
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.Saint Louis $46San Juan $49
Typical Entertainment Prices in Saint Louis
Here are a few typical costs in Saint Louis for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Gateway Arch parking$6.00
Tours and Activities in Saint Louis
Here are a few actual costs in Saint Louis for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- "StL's Best Sights and Bites" - Your Private Tour in St. Louis : $165
- Downtown St. Louis Smartphone Guided Audio Walking Tour App: $7.75
- Gateway Arch National Park Self Guided Audio Walking Tour: $15
- Interstate 55: A Self-Guided Driving Tour: $9.99
- Landmarks Downtown-East Walking Tour: $17
- Landmarks Downtown-West Walking Tour: $17
- Lemp Haunted Neighborhood Walking Tour: $27
- Museum of Illusions St Louis Admission Ticket: $35
- Private St. Louis Gastronomy Tour (BBQ Joints & Breweries): $129
- Private Tour of The Hill, The "Little Italy" of Saint Louis: $165
- Private Walking Tour of Saint Louis' Fascinating History: $159
- Saint Louis Self Guided Driving and Walking Audio Tour: $17
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 daySaint Louis $19San Juan $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Saint Louis
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Saint Louis:
- The Haunted Lemp Brewery Bottle Works Tour: $25
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 Saint Louis and San Juan, we can see that Saint Louis 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 Saint Louis is in North America 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 Saint Louis Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Saint Louis or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 30% larger than the population of Saint Louis. When comparing the sizes of Saint Louis 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 Saint Louis or San Juan?
Saint Louis 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 Saint Louis or San Juan in the Summer?
Both San Juan and Saint Louis during the summer are popular places to visit. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Saint Louis this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
Saint Louis is around the same temperature as San Juan in the summer. The daily temperature in Saint Louis averages around 81°F (27°C) in July, and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Saint Louis. In the summer, Saint Louis often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan. Saint Louis gets 309 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun.
Saint Louis usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as San Juan. Saint Louis gets 3.8 inches (96 mm) 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 JulySaint Louis 81°F (27°C)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Saint Louis or San Juan in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Louis and San Juan. Many travelers come to Saint Louis for the shopping scene. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, Saint Louis is much colder than San Juan. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Saint Louis in October average around 60°F (16°C), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (82°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. In Saint Louis, it's very sunny this time of the year. Saint Louis usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during autumn. Saint Louis gets 203 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, Saint Louis usually receives less rain than San Juan. Saint Louis gets 2.7 inches (68 mm) 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 OctoberSaint Louis 60°F (16°C)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Saint Louis or San Juan in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Saint Louis as well as San Juan. Many visitors come to Saint Louis in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
Saint Louis can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Saint Louis is generally much colder than San Juan. Daily temperatures in Saint Louis average around 31°F (-1°C), 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, Saint Louis often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Saint Louis gets 160 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun.
Saint Louis usually gets less rain in January than San Juan. Saint Louis gets 2 inches (52 mm) 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 JanuarySaint Louis 31°F (-1°C)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Saint Louis or San Juan in the Spring?
Both San Juan and Saint Louis are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Saint Louis is much colder than San Juan in the spring. The daily temperature in Saint Louis averages around 58°F (15°C) in April, and San Juan fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
It's quite sunny in San Juan. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint Louis. Saint Louis usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during spring. Saint Louis gets 229 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Saint Louis. In April, Saint Louis usually receives more rain than San Juan. Saint Louis gets 4.4 inches (111 mm) 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 AprilSaint Louis 58°F (15°C)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Saint Louis
| Saint Louis | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 31°F (-1°C) | 2 inches (52 mm) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 35°F (2°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 47°F (8°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 58°F (15°C) | 4.4 inches (111 mm) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 68°F (20°C) | 4.1 inches (103 mm) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 77°F (25°C) | 3.8 inches (97 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 81°F (27°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 79°F (26°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 72°F (22°C) | 3.1 inches (80 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 60°F (16°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 48°F (9°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 35°F (2°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) | 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.