Which place is cheaper, Charleston 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 Charleston?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Juan or Charleston? 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 Charleston?
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.
Charleston
Charleston is a beautiful, southern city and seaport town in South Carolina. It has a wonderful, historic downtown area that the city government works hard to maintain. Located on a peninsula that is created by two rivers, the city is a stunning setting with much character. It is a popular place to visit for its culture, architecture and cuisine. In recent years Charleston has gained popularity and it continues to grow as both a regional and international travel destination. With its rising popularity comes increasing costs. Travel costs continue to go up as restaurants and hotels raise their prices, particularly during the peak travel season and holiday periods.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America.
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San Juan Prices
Puerto Rico PricesCharleston Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Juan $218Charleston $212
The average daily cost (per person) in San Juan is $218, while the average daily cost in Charleston is $212. 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 Charleston in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Juan $124Charleston $90
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Juan $248Charleston $180
Compare Hotels in San Juan and Charleston
Looking for a hotel in San Juan or Charleston? 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 Charleston Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Juan $14Charleston $33
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to San Juan Airport: $22
- Premium Transfer in Airport, Hotel, Airbnb, Cruise: $25
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan - Arrival Private Transfer: $28
- San Juan hotels to San Juan PR Cruise Port - Departure Transfer: $30
- San Juan One-way Transfer - Cruise, SJU, Hotels, Airbnb: $30
- Private Transfer Puerto Rico:To or From Airports, Hotels &Cruises: $33
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, Tesla 3 Luxury Sedan.: $56
- San Juan Port to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $60
- San juan Puerto Rico PrivateTransfers Airport,Hotels,Cruise Ports: $66
- Roundtrip-Transfer from: SJU Airport,Cruises and Hotels in Puerto Rico LuxurySUV: $70
- Roundtrip-Transfer in Puerto Rico: From Airports, Hotels, Cruises: $71
- Airport Transfer to Cruise Ships, Hotels, Airbnb in San Juan: $76
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Charleston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Charleston:
- Charleston Airport (CHS) to Folly Beach - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $294
- Charleston AirportCHS to Isle of Palms/Sullivans Private Transfer: $294
- Charleston Airport (CHS) to Charleston city - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $268
- Kiawah/Seabrook Islands to Charleston Airport (CHS) – Departure Private Transfer: $208
- Folly Beach to Charleston Airport (CHS) - Departure Private Transfer: $147
- Isle of Palms/Sullivans to Charleston AirportCHS Private Transfer: $147
- Charleston city to Charleston Airport (CHS) - Departure Private Transfer: $134
- Private Transfer from Charleston Port to Charleston Airport (CHS): $134
- Private Transfer from Charleston Airport (CHS) to Charleston Port: $134
- Private Transfer from Charleston City to Charleston Cruise Port: $125
- One Way Airport Transfer Service: $80
- From Boone Hall Plantation Entry with Transfers: $71
Is it cheaper to fly into San Juan or Charleston?
Prices for flights to both Charleston 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 $62Charleston $100
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
Typical Food Prices in Charleston
Some typical examples of dining costs in Charleston are as follows:
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Lunch in downtown Charleston for two$21
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Breakfast$26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Charleston
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Charleston.
- Charleston Sunset Blues & BBQ Dinner Cruise: $72
- Hands-on Cooking Class in Charleston: $89
- Tastes Through Time - Charleston's Best Food Tour!: $96
- Charleston Harbor Luxury Dinner Cruise with Live Music: $100
- Tastes Through Time - Charleston's Best Food Tour: $109
- Charleston Brunch Food Tour: Biscuits, Shrimps, Grits and More: $110
- Charleston French Quarter or Brunch Food Tour with 7+ Tastings: $110
- Downtown Charleston Food Tour: $110
- Charleston's Savor the Flavors of Upper King Street Walking Food Tour: $111
- Savor the Flavors Upper King Street Food Tour: $111
- Small Group Food Tour – Savor the Flavors: $111
- Luxury Harbor Dinner Cruise: $111
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Juan $49Charleston $22
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Charleston
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Charleston are as follows:
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Patriots Point (for 2)$60
Tours and Activities in Charleston
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Charleston are as follows:
- 1.5-Hour Charleston Harbor Cruise with Live Narration: $42
- 2 Hours Shem Creek Safari Kayak Tour: $52
- 2 of Charleston's finest plantations in one tour: $140
- 2-Hour Guided Kayak Eco Tour in Charleston: $54
- 2-Hour Tiki Boat Tour in Folly Beach: $75
- 2hr Private River Cruise with stop at Morris Island: $325
- 3 Hour Bus Tour and Self Paced Audio Tour of Aiken Rhett House: $50
- 300 Years of War and Peacetime in A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
- 90 Minute Sightseeing Bus Tour of Historic Charleston: $32
- 90-Minute Charleston City Sightseeing Bus Tour : $37
- A Ghost Tour with 10 ORIGINAL Stories AND Equipment!: $35
- Afternoon Charleston Harbor Boat Cruise: Family Friendly Scenic: $58
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Juan $12Charleston $36
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Charleston
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Charleston:
- Charleston Bar Hunt: Charleston Chase Bar Crawl: $13
- Striped Pig Distillery Tour and Tasting: $22
- Charleston’s Spirits & Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl: $29
- Spirits & Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl: $29
- Charleston Women and Wine Tour: $34
- Women and Wine Tour: $34
- Charleston Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Bay Street Bastards Pub Crawl: $35
- Haunted Pub Crawl for the Broken-Hearted: $35
- Bay Street Bastards Pub Crawl Shared Tour in Charleston : $35
- Haunted Pub Crawl for the Broken-Hearted: $35
- Speakeasy Sagas Prohibition Pub Crawl: $35
When comparing the travel costs between San Juan and Charleston, we can see that San Juan 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 Charleston 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 Charleston Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Juan or Charleston?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Charleston. When comparing the sizes of San Juan and Charleston, 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 Charleston?
Charleston 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 Charleston in the Summer?
Both Charleston 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. Furthermore, many visitors come to Charleston in the summer for the beaches, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, San Juan is generally around the same temperature as Charleston. Daily temperatures in San Juan average around 28°C (83°F), and Charleston fluctuates around 82°F (28°C).
In Charleston, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in San Juan. In the summer, San Juan often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Charleston. San Juan gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Charleston receives 293 hours of full sun.
Charleston gets a good bit of rain this time of year. San Juan usually gets less rain in July than Charleston. San Juan gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Charleston receives 6.9 inches (176 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Juan 28°C (83°F)Charleston 82°F (28°C)
Should I visit San Juan or Charleston in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Juan and Charleston. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round. Furthermore, most visitors come to Charleston for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
San Juan is a little warmer than Charleston in the autumn. The daily temperature in San Juan averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Charleston fluctuates around 67°F (19°C).
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Juan usually receives more sunshine than Charleston during autumn. San Juan gets 235 hours of sunny skies, while Charleston receives 197 hours of full sun in the autumn.
San Juan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, San Juan usually receives more rain than Charleston. San Juan gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Charleston receives 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Juan 28°C (82°F)Charleston 67°F (19°C)
Should I visit San Juan or Charleston in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to San Juan as well as Charleston. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the winter months attract visitors to Charleston because of the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, San Juan is much warmer than Charleston. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Juan in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Charleston averages at about 47°F (9°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. In the winter, San Juan often gets more sunshine than Charleston. San Juan gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Charleston receives 188 hours of full sun.
San Juan usually gets less rain in January than Charleston. San Juan gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Charleston receives 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Juan 25°C (77°F)Charleston 47°F (9°C)
Should I visit San Juan or Charleston in the Spring?
Both Charleston 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, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Charleston this time of year.
In April, San Juan is generally a little warmer than Charleston. Daily temperatures in San Juan average around 26°C (79°F), and Charleston fluctuates around 64°F (18°C).
It's quite sunny in Charleston. 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 Charleston during spring. San Juan gets 272 hours of sunny skies, while Charleston receives 275 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, San Juan usually receives around the same amount of rain as Charleston. San Juan gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Charleston receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Juan 26°C (79°F)Charleston 64°F (18°C)
Typical Weather for Charleston and San Juan
| San Juan | Charleston | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 47°F (9°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 58°F (14°C) | 4.3 inches (110 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 4.2 inches (106 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 78°F (26°C) | 6.4 inches (163 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 82°F (28°C) | 6.9 inches (176 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 81°F (27°C) | 7.1 inches (181 mm) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 76°F (25°C) | 4.8 inches (121 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 2.9 inches (74 mm) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 58°F (15°C) | 2.5 inches (63 mm) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 51°F (10°C) | 3.1 inches (78 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.