A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers San Juan vs. Cape Cod for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit San Juan or Cape Cod?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit San Juan or Cape Cod? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: San Juan or Cape Cod?

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.

Cape Cod

Cape Cod, in eastern Massachusetts, is a popular travel destination for its natural beauty, rich history, and world renowned restaurants. Many visitors enjoy the bed and breakfasts that are so common in the area, but travelers on a budget may find their money goes a bit farther if that find a short term rental property a bit removed from the water.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Photography Tours in United States of America, and The Best Camping Tours in United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Cape Cod or San Juan?

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 San Juan is $218, while the average daily cost in Cape Cod is $227. 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 San Juan and Cape Cod in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    San Juan $124
    Cape Cod $92
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    San Juan $248
    Cape Cod $184
Compare Hotels in San Juan and Cape Cod

Looking for a hotel in San Juan or Cape Cod? 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 San Juan


Hotels in Cape Cod


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: San Juan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    San Juan $14
    Cape Cod $50

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan

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

  • Double ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $289
  • Transfer in Puerto Rico with Minivan from Airport: $280
  • Transfer SJU Airport to Ponce and Juana Diaz. Hotels and Airbnb Vice Versa 1 Way: $260
  • Carabali Rain Forest Round Trip Private Taxi Transfer: $200
  • Single ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $195
  • Private Airport Transfers to Ceiba Ferry Terminal and Airport: $155
  • Transfer SJU Airport to Dorado. Hotels and Airbnb. Vice Versa One Way Trip.: $140
  • Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, 16Pax Mercedes Van, Select Zone: $130
  • Transfer from San Juan to Ponce or Ponce to San Juan: $125
  • Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 14Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $124
  • San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $120
  • Arrival Private Transfer SJU Airport to Old San Juan by Sedan: $120

Is it cheaper to fly into San Juan or Cape Cod?

Prices for flights to both Cape Cod and San Juan 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
    San Juan $62
    Cape Cod $103

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    San Juan $49
    Cape Cod $27
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Juan

For San Juan, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Horseback Riding Tour
    $40
  • Full Day Snorkeling Trip
    $100
  • 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.

  • Culebra Swim with Turtles Adventure and Flamenco Beach by Ferry: $130
  • El Yunque Rainforest Tour Half Day Earlybird/ Small Groups: $85
  • Full-Day Tour: El Yunque, Luquillo Beach, Bio Bay Night Kayaking: $155
  • Puerto Rican Food Experience: $99
  • "Exclusive Tour": VIP Rum Tasting at San Juan Artisan Distillers: $150
  • "Yo Soy de PfknR" Bad Bunny Party Bus Experience: $145
  • 1 Hour Historical UTV Tour in San Juan: $200
  • 2 Tours in 1 Day: Rainforest Waterslides & Beach Tour w/Transport: $60
  • 3 Tours in 1 Day: Old San Juan, Rainforest, Beach with Transport: $75
  • 30-Minute Freestyle Jet Ski Adventure in the Bay: $100
  • ATV Double Rider Adventure Near San Juan - Hacienda Campo Rico: $221
  • ATV Single Rider Adventure Near San Juan - Hacienda Campo Rico: $149

Tours and Activities in Cape Cod

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cape Cod.

  • National Seashore Tour with Guided Hike: $75
  • Provincetown West End History Tour : $38
  • The Pilgrim Monument Tour- From Harbor to Heights: $52
  • The Tides of Terror A Provincetown Hidden Horrors Tour: $68
  • Cape Cod & Provincetown Self-Guided Driving & Walking Audio Tour: $22
  • Cape Cod Explorer Tour: $80
  • Chatham Bites and Sights Walking Guided Food Tasting Tour: $98
  • Highland House and Cape Cod Lighthouse Tour: $58
  • Kayak The Creek Nature Tour: $80
  • Local Legends and Lobster Roll Tour: $92
  • Lucinda Liphol Provincetown Cemetery Tour: $30
  • Mayflower Trolley Tour!: $46

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    San Juan $12
    Cape Cod $19

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 San Juan and Cape Cod, we can see that Cape Cod 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 San Juan is in Caribbean Islands and Cape Cod 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 San Juan Expensive? and Is Cape Cod Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit San Juan or Cape Cod?

Cape Cod 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 San Juan or Cape Cod in the Summer?

Both Cape Cod and San Juan are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Cape Cod because of the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, San Juan is generally a little warmer than Cape Cod. Daily temperatures in San Juan average around 28°C (83°F), and Cape Cod fluctuates around 68°F (20°C).

It's quite sunny in Cape Cod. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. San Juan usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Cape Cod during summer. San Juan gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Cape Cod receives 304 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, San Juan usually receives around the same amount of rain as Cape Cod. San Juan gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Cape Cod receives 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    San Juan 28°C (83°F) 
    Cape Cod 68°F (20°C)

Should I visit San Juan or Cape Cod in the Autumn?

Both Cape Cod and San Juan during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Cape Cod this time of year.

San Juan is much warmer than Cape Cod in the autumn. The daily temperature in San Juan averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Cape Cod fluctuates around 53°F (12°C).

It's quite sunny in San Juan. In the autumn, San Juan often gets more sunshine than Cape Cod. San Juan gets 235 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cape Cod receives 194 hours of full sun.

Cape Cod gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in San Juan. San Juan usually gets more rain in October than Cape Cod. San Juan gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Cape Cod receives 4.4 inches (111 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    San Juan 28°C (82°F) 
    Cape Cod 53°F (12°C)

Should I visit San Juan or Cape Cod in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both San Juan and Cape Cod. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Cape Cod for the shopping scene and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Cape Cod. In the winter, San Juan is much warmer than Cape Cod. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Juan in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Cape Cod averages at about 31°F (-0°C).

In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Juan usually receives more sunshine than Cape Cod during winter. San Juan gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Cape Cod receives 153 hours of full sun in the winter.

Cape Cod receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, San Juan usually receives less rain than Cape Cod. San Juan gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Cape Cod receives 4.2 inches (106 mm) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    San Juan 25°C (77°F) 
    Cape Cod 31°F (-0°C)

Should I visit San Juan or Cape Cod in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to San Juan as well as Cape Cod. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Cape Cod in the spring for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.

In April, San Juan is generally much warmer than Cape Cod. Daily temperatures in San Juan average around 26°C (79°F), and Cape Cod fluctuates around 45°F (7°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cape Cod. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. In the spring, San Juan often gets more sunshine than Cape Cod. San Juan gets 272 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cape Cod receives 225 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Cape Cod. San Juan usually gets less rain in April than Cape Cod. San Juan gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Cape Cod receives 4.1 inches (103 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    San Juan 26°C (79°F) 
    Cape Cod 45°F (7°C)

Typical Weather for Cape Cod and San Juan

San Juan Cape Cod
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 25°C (77°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 31°F (-0°C) 4.2 inches (106 mm)
Feb 25°C (77°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 32°F (-0°C) 4.6 inches (117 mm)
Mar 26°C (78°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) 38°F (3°C) 4 inches (102 mm)
Apr 26°C (79°F) 69 mm (2.7 in) 45°F (7°C) 4.1 inches (103 mm)
May 27°C (81°F) 120 mm (4.7 in) 53°F (12°C) 3.9 inches (99 mm)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 82 mm (3.2 in) 62°F (17°C) 3.6 inches (91 mm)
Jul 28°C (83°F) 95 mm (3.7 in) 68°F (20°C) 3.8 inches (96 mm)
Aug 28°C (83°F) 130 mm (5.1 in) 68°F (20°C) 3.1 inches (78 mm)
Sep 28°C (83°F) 130 mm (5.1 in) 62°F (17°C) 4.2 inches (106 mm)
Oct 28°C (82°F) 135 mm (5.3 in) 53°F (12°C) 4.4 inches (111 mm)
Nov 27°C (80°F) 132 mm (5.2 in) 46°F (8°C) 3.8 inches (96 mm)
Dec 26°C (78°F) 92 mm (3.6 in) 36°F (2°C) 4.5 inches (115 mm)


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