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

Should you visit San Juan or Kamloops?

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

Should I visit San Juan or Kamloops? 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 Kamloops?

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.

Kamloops

In British Columbia, Canada, Kamloops is perhaps most famous for the large number of tournaments it hosts, everything from the Strauss Canada Cup of Curling, to the World Fly Fishing Championships. It also hosts Skate Canada, Tim Horton's Olympic Qualifying Bike Race, and the World Junior Hockey Championships among others. The city is in the south central part of the province and it sits near the confluence of the two branches of the Thompson River near Kamloops Lake. The city has a population of about 85,000 and it's the largest community in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Train & Rail Tours in Canada, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada.


Which place is cheaper, Kamloops 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 Kamloops is $99. 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 Kamloops in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    San Juan $124
    Kamloops $44
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    San Juan $248
    Kamloops $88
Compare Hotels in San Juan and Kamloops

Looking for a hotel in San Juan or Kamloops? 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 Kamloops


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 Kamloops Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    San Juan $14
    Kamloops $20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan

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

  • Transfer in Puerto Rico with Minivan from Airport: $280
  • Transfer from San Juan to Ponce or Ponce to San Juan: $125
  • Transfer SJU Airport to Ponce and Juana Diaz. Hotels and Airbnb Vice Versa 1 Way: $260
  • Transfer SJU Airport to Dorado. Hotels and Airbnb. Vice Versa One Way Trip.: $140
  • Single ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $195
  • San juan Puerto Rico PrivateTransfers Airport,Hotels,Cruise Ports: $66
  • San Juan hotels to San Juan PR Cruise Port - Departure Transfer: $30
  • San Juan Puerto Rico Private Transfers: $105
  • San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $120
  • San Juan Port to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $60
  • San Juan One-way Transfer - Cruise, SJU, Hotels, Airbnb: $30
  • San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan - Arrival Private Transfer: $28

Is it cheaper to fly into San Juan or Kamloops?

Prices for flights to both Kamloops 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
    Kamloops $41

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 Kamloops

For Kamloops, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Pastries
    $5.80
  • Lunch for Two
    $25
  • Coffee and Gelato
    $12

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    San Juan $49
    Kamloops $13
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 Kamloops

For Kamloops, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • BC Wildlife Park Entry Ticket: $14
  • Scenic Kamloops Self Guided Audio Driving Tour to Lake Louise : $12
  • Skip the Line: Kamloops BC Wildlife Park Admission Ticket: $15
  • Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Kamloops & Revelstoke: $8.07
  • Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Kamloops and Vancouver: $8.08
  • Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Kamloops by Zombie Scavengers: $21

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    San Juan $12
    Kamloops $6.77

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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Juan and Kamloops, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Kamloops much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Juan is in Caribbean Islands and Kamloops 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 Kamloops would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kamloops 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 Kamloops.

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 Kamloops Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, San Juan or Kamloops?

San Juan has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Kamloops. When comparing the sizes of San Juan and Kamloops, 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 Kamloops?

Kamloops 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 Kamloops in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both San Juan and Kamloops. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round. Furthermore, most visitors come to Kamloops for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, San Juan is a little warmer than Kamloops. Typically, the summer temperatures in San Juan in July average around 28°C (83°F), and Kamloops averages at about 23°C (73°F).

In July, San Juan usually receives more rain than Kamloops. San Juan gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Kamloops receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    San Juan 28°C (83°F) 
    Kamloops 23°C (73°F)

Should I visit San Juan or Kamloops in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to San Juan as well as Kamloops. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the autumn months attract visitors to Kamloops because of the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

In October, San Juan is generally much warmer than Kamloops. Daily temperatures in San Juan average around 28°C (82°F), and Kamloops fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

San Juan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Juan usually gets more rain in October than Kamloops. San Juan gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Kamloops receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    San Juan 28°C (82°F) 
    Kamloops 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit San Juan or Kamloops in the Winter?

Both Kamloops and San Juan are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year. Also, the skiing, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Kamloops this time of year.

It's quite cold in Kamloops in the winter. San Juan is much warmer than Kamloops in the winter. The daily temperature in San Juan averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Kamloops fluctuates around -3°C (27°F).

In January, San Juan usually receives more rain than Kamloops. San Juan gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Kamloops receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    San Juan 25°C (77°F) 
    Kamloops -3°C (27°F)

Should I visit San Juan or Kamloops in the Spring?

Both Kamloops and San Juan during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the spring, San Juan is much warmer than Kamloops. Typically, the spring temperatures in San Juan in April average around 26°C (79°F), and Kamloops averages at about 12°C (53°F).

San Juan usually gets more rain in April than Kamloops. San Juan gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Kamloops receives 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    San Juan 26°C (79°F) 
    Kamloops 12°C (53°F)

Typical Weather for Kamloops and San Juan

San Juan Kamloops
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 25°C (77°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) -3°C (27°F) 26 mm (1 in)
Feb 25°C (77°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 2°C (35°F) 14 mm (0.6 in)
Mar 26°C (78°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) 7°C (44°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Apr 26°C (79°F) 69 mm (2.7 in) 12°C (53°F) 15 mm (0.6 in)
May 27°C (81°F) 120 mm (4.7 in) 16°C (61°F) 22 mm (0.9 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 82 mm (3.2 in) 21°C (69°F) 29 mm (1.1 in)
Jul 28°C (83°F) 95 mm (3.7 in) 23°C (73°F) 28 mm (1.1 in)
Aug 28°C (83°F) 130 mm (5.1 in) 23°C (73°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Sep 28°C (83°F) 130 mm (5.1 in) 17°C (63°F) 28 mm (1.1 in)
Oct 28°C (82°F) 135 mm (5.3 in) 11°C (51°F) 14 mm (0.6 in)
Nov 27°C (80°F) 132 mm (5.2 in) 4°C (39°F) 22 mm (0.9 in)
Dec 26°C (78°F) 92 mm (3.6 in) -1°C (30°F) 33 mm (1.3 in)


Related Articles for San Juan
Related Articles for Kamloops