Which place is cheaper, Mystic 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 Mystic?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Juan or Mystic? 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 Mystic?
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.
Mystic
Mystic is a popular tourist destination in Connecticut for its many marinas, historic buildings, aquarium, and seaport. It was historically a shipbuilding and maritime town but today it attracts crowds from many nearby states and regions. Sailing trips are a fun activity that get visitors out on the water. The town is also near Foxwoods Casino.
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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San Juan Prices
Puerto Rico PricesMystic Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Juan $218Mystic $248
The average daily cost (per person) in San Juan is $218, while the average daily cost in Mystic is $248. 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 Mystic in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Juan $124Mystic $125
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Juan $248Mystic $250
Compare Hotels in San Juan and Mystic
Looking for a hotel in San Juan or Mystic? 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 Mystic Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Juan $14Mystic $56
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 Mystic?
Prices for flights to both Mystic 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 $62Mystic $90
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.San Juan $49Mystic $24
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.
- 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 Mystic
For Mystic, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Downtown Mystic Ghost Tour: $30
- Mystic Moonlit Graveyard Ghost Tour: $30
- Mystic Seaport Museum Adventure : $32
- Mystic's Ghosts GPS Self Guided Audio Walking Tour w/EMF Reader: $7.80
- Ghosts of Christmas Past Downtown Walking Tour: $30
- Guided Ghost Tour of Downtown Mystic at Night: $35
- Guided Graveyard Ghost Tour by Moonlight: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Juan $12Mystic $31
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 Mystic
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Mystic:
- Paranormal Pub Crawl: Beer Tour: $75
- Paranormal Pub Crawl: Beer Tour: $75
- Spirits of Cocktail Pub Crawl: $100
- Spirits of Cocktail Pub Crawl: $100
When comparing the travel costs between San Juan and Mystic, we can see that Mystic 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 Mystic 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 Mystic Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Juan or Mystic?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Mystic. When comparing the sizes of San Juan and Mystic, 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 Mystic?
Mystic 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 Mystic in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both San Juan and Mystic. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Mystic because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
San Juan is a little warmer than Mystic in the summer. The daily temperature in San Juan averages around 28°C (83°F) in July, and Mystic fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mystic this time of the year. In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Juan usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Mystic during summer. San Juan gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Mystic receives 293 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, San Juan usually receives more rain than Mystic. San Juan gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Mystic receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Juan 28°C (83°F)Mystic 73°F (23°C)
Should I visit San Juan or Mystic in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to San Juan as well as Mystic. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the shopping scene are the main draw to Mystic this time of year.
In the autumn, San Juan is much warmer than Mystic. Typically, the autumn temperatures in San Juan in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Mystic averages at about 53°F (12°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mystic. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. In the autumn, San Juan often gets more sunshine than Mystic. San Juan gets 235 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mystic receives 211 hours of full sun.
San Juan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Juan usually gets more rain in October than Mystic. San Juan gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Mystic receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Juan 28°C (82°F)Mystic 53°F (12°C)
Should I visit San Juan or Mystic in the Winter?
Both Mystic 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, many travelers come to Mystic for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Mystic. In January, San Juan is generally much warmer than Mystic. Daily temperatures in San Juan average around 25°C (77°F), and Mystic fluctuates around 28°F (-2°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. San Juan usually receives more sunshine than Mystic during winter. San Juan gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Mystic receives 170 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, San Juan usually receives less rain than Mystic. San Juan gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Mystic receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Juan 25°C (77°F)Mystic 28°F (-2°C)
Should I visit San Juan or Mystic in the Spring?
Both Mystic 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. Also, many visitors come to Mystic in the spring for the beaches.
San Juan is much warmer than Mystic in the spring. The daily temperature in San Juan averages around 26°C (79°F) in April, and Mystic fluctuates around 48°F (9°C).
In Mystic, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in San Juan. In the spring, San Juan often gets more sunshine than Mystic. San Juan gets 272 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mystic receives 225 hours of full sun.
San Juan usually gets less rain in April than Mystic. San Juan gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Mystic receives 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Juan 26°C (79°F)Mystic 48°F (9°C)
Typical Weather for Mystic and San Juan
| San Juan | Mystic | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 28°F (-2°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 30°F (-1°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 38°F (3°C) | 4 inches (101 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 48°F (9°C) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 58°F (15°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 67°F (20°C) | 2.6 inches (67 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 53°F (12°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 44°F (7°C) | 4.5 inches (115 mm) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 33°F (0°C) | 4.1 inches (105 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.