Which place is cheaper, Carmel-by-the-Sea 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.
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Should you visit San Juan or Carmel-by-the-Sea?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Juan or Carmel-by-the-Sea? 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 Carmel-by-the-Sea?
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.
Carmel-by-the-Sea
A small, beach town on the Monterey Peninsula, Carmel-by-the-Sea is known for its idyllic natural scenery and artistic history. Carmel's village, just one square mile in size, is unlike any other in California with its picturesque views, European style and unusual laws.
Clint Eastwood served as mayor of Carmel from 1986-88. Without a single fast food or chain restaurants, visitors can easily feel that Carmel still preserves its slow and easy lifestyle, with all private-owned restaurants, coffee shops and pubs. This town is undoubtedly charming, even with its anti-high heel laws (though they aren't strictly enforced and permits are free at the City Hall), lack of street addresses and has been named the top destination for dog-friendly towns in the country. Grab your furry friends, leave your heels at home and get ready to explore this quaint and lovely town by the sea.
If you want to avoid the heat, Carmel is the perfect place to go, with year-round mild temperatures. Even during the summer seasons, you may not feel the heat through the fog and cool coastal weather. Peak seasons for travel are during summer months in August and September, (especially popular for weddings) and even then, the highs are still in the low 70s. Winter season lows dip only down to low 50s, with the Pacific Oceans maintaining moderate temperatures.
If you're driving to the city, keep in mind that the businesses do not have numbers in their addresses. To get directions or arrange a meeting, be sure to remember the name of the business and grab a map from the Carmel Chamber of Commerce.
Some famous artists who have resided in Carmel are Upton Sinclair, Jack London and Mary Austin. Carmel is known to be particularly dog-friendly, as almost all hotels allow guests to bring their dogs.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America, and The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America.
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San Juan Prices
Puerto Rico PricesCarmel-by-the-Sea Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Juan $218Carmel-by-the-Sea $0.00
The average daily cost (per person) in San Juan is $218, while the average daily cost in Carmel-by-the-Sea is $0.00. 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 Carmel-by-the-Sea in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Juan $124Carmel-by-the-Sea -
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Juan $248Carmel-by-the-Sea $0.00
Compare Hotels in San Juan and Carmel-by-the-Sea
Looking for a hotel in San Juan or Carmel-by-the-Sea? 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: San Juan Hotel Prices and Carmel-by-the-Sea Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Juan $14Carmel-by-the-Sea $125
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Premium Transfer in Airport, Hotel, Airbnb, Cruise: $25
- San Juan hotels to San Juan PR Cruise Port - Departure Transfer: $30
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, Tesla 3 Luxury Sedan.: $56
- San Juan Port to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $60
- Roundtrip-Transfer in Puerto Rico: From Airports, Hotels, Cruises: $71
- Airport Transfer to Cruise Ships, Hotels, Airbnb in San Juan: $76
- San Juan Luxury Private Round-Trip Transfer: SJU Airport - Cruise Pier - Hotel : $80
- Departure Transfer from Old San Juan to to SJU Airport by Car: $86
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfers, Sienna Limited Luxury Minivan.: $87
- Private Transfer from or to San Juan and Ceiba Ferry: $93
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 11Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $93
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, Yukon Denali SUV: $102
Is it cheaper to fly into San Juan or Carmel-by-the-Sea?
Prices for flights to both Carmel-by-the-Sea 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
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Food Meals for one daySan Juan $62Carmel-by-the-Sea $264
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:
- Old San Juan Food Tour with 7 Tastings of Authentic Local Flavors: $139
- Private San Juan Cooking Class with a Local Expert: $146
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $165
- FlyDining: 4 Courses Dinner with City Lights & Ocean Breeze: $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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Carmel-by-the-Sea
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
- Old Monterey Walking Food Tour: $164
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Juan $49Carmel-by-the-Sea -
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
- 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: $26
- Explore Old San Juan Walking Tour: $30
- Old San Juan Tour in Spanish: $30
- Historic Old San Juan Sunset Walking Tour: $39
- Old San Juan Walking Tour: $39
- Top Rated El Yunque Rainforest & Waterslide – VIP SmallGroup Tour: $45
- Ron del Barrilito Heritage Skip-the-Line Tour: $46
Tours and Activities in Carmel-by-the-Sea
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Carmel-by-the-Sea are as follows:
- 17-Mile Drive Electric Bike Guided Tour: $75
- 17-Mile Drive Self-Guided Audio Tour from Monterey & Carmel: $15
- 2-Hour Monterey and Pacific Grove GoCar Tour: $169
- 3-Hour Monterey, Cannery Row and Pacific Grove GoCar Tour: $229
- 3-Hour Whale Watching Tour from Monterey: $75
- 4 Hour Whale Watching Tour From Monterey: $85
- Big Sur Sightseeing Tour: $224
- Big Sur's Old Coast Road eBike Tour: $250
- Carmel Drive Tour: $295
- Carmel Point: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $8.99
- Carmel Small Group Walking Food & Cultural Tour: $149
- Carmel Tour in The Heavenly 17 Mile Drive: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Juan $12Carmel-by-the-Sea -
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
- Puerto Rico's First and Only Craft Beer Brewery Tour! : $99
Sample the Local Flavors in Carmel-by-the-Sea
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Carmel-by-the-Sea:
- Carmel Valley Village: Wine Tasting Tours in a 1970 VW bus.: $139
- Wine Tasting Tours in a Vintage VW Bus: $139
- Wine Tasting and Walking Tour of Carmel-by-the-Sea: $159
- Wine Tasting and Walking Tour of Carmel-by-the-Sea: $159
- Morning Half Day Carmel Valley Wine Tasting Tour : $236
- Carmel Valley Wine Tour's Premium Package: $245
- Afternoon Half-day Carmel Valley Wine Tasting Tour: $249
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Juan and Carmel-by-the-Sea, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Carmel-by-the-Sea much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Juan is in Caribbean Islands and Carmel-by-the-Sea 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 Carmel-by-the-Sea would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Carmel-by-the-Sea 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 San Juan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Juan than you might in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
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 Carmel-by-the-Sea Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Juan or Carmel-by-the-Sea?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 100 times larger than the population of Carmel-by-the-Sea. When comparing the sizes of San Juan and Carmel-by-the-Sea, 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 San Juan or Carmel-by-the-Sea?
Carmel-by-the-Sea 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 Carmel-by-the-Sea in the Summer?
Both Carmel-by-the-Sea and San Juan during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Carmel-by-the-Sea for the beaches, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, San Juan is generally much warmer than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Daily temperatures in San Juan average around 28°C (83°F), and Carmel-by-the-Sea fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).
San Juan usually gets more rain in July than Carmel-by-the-Sea. San Juan gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Carmel-by-the-Sea receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Juan 28°C (83°F)Carmel-by-the-Sea 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit San Juan or Carmel-by-the-Sea in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Juan and Carmel-by-the-Sea. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Carmel-by-the-Sea because of the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.
San Juan is much warmer than Carmel-by-the-Sea in the autumn. The daily temperature in San Juan averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Carmel-by-the-Sea fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).
San Juan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, San Juan usually receives more rain than Carmel-by-the-Sea. San Juan gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Carmel-by-the-Sea receives 0.6 inches (14 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Juan 28°C (82°F)Carmel-by-the-Sea 62°F (17°C)
Should I visit San Juan or Carmel-by-the-Sea in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to San Juan as well as Carmel-by-the-Sea. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Carmel-by-the-Sea this time of year.
In the winter, San Juan is much warmer than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Juan in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Carmel-by-the-Sea averages at about 51°F (11°C).
San Juan usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Carmel-by-the-Sea. San Juan gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Carmel-by-the-Sea receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Juan 25°C (77°F)Carmel-by-the-Sea 51°F (11°C)
Should I visit San Juan or Carmel-by-the-Sea in the Spring?
Both Carmel-by-the-Sea and San Juan are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Carmel-by-the-Sea for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.
In April, San Juan is generally much warmer than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Daily temperatures in San Juan average around 26°C (79°F), and Carmel-by-the-Sea fluctuates around 56°F (13°C).
In April, San Juan usually receives more rain than Carmel-by-the-Sea. San Juan gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Carmel-by-the-Sea receives 1.1 inches (29 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Juan 26°C (79°F)Carmel-by-the-Sea 56°F (13°C)
Typical Weather for Carmel-by-the-Sea and San Juan
| San Juan | Carmel-by-the-Sea | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 51°F (11°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 53°F (12°C) | 1.8 inches (47 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.1 inches (55 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 56°F (13°C) | 1.1 inches (29 mm) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 59°F (15°C) | 0.2 inches (4 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 62°F (16°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.6 inches (14 mm) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 56°F (13°C) | 1.8 inches (45 mm) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 51°F (10°C) | 2 inches (51 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.