Which place is cheaper, Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Juan or Santa Cruz? 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 Santa Cruz?
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.
Santa Cruz
On the central coast of California in between Monterey Bay and San Jose lies Santa Cruz, California, a laid-back coastal college town with a reputation of locals open to liberal views and accepting of alternative lifestyles. Among its residents are University of California, Santa Cruz students, a large artist colony, and professional surfers.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America.
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San Juan Prices
Puerto Rico PricesSanta Cruz Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Juan $218Santa Cruz $156
The average daily cost (per person) in San Juan is $218, while the average daily cost in Santa Cruz is $156. 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 Santa Cruz in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Juan $124Santa Cruz $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Juan $248Santa Cruz $122
Compare Hotels in San Juan and Santa Cruz
Looking for a hotel in San Juan or Santa Cruz? 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 Santa Cruz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Juan $14Santa Cruz $40
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
Is it cheaper to fly into San Juan or Santa Cruz?
Prices for flights to both Santa Cruz 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 $62Santa Cruz $70
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Cruz
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santa Cruz.
- Capitola Friday Night Food Tour: $129
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Juan $49Santa Cruz $18
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
Tours and Activities in Santa Cruz
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santa Cruz are as follows:
- Capitola Private 2-Hour Walking Tour: $30
- Capitola Watercolor Journaling Experience: $297
- Half Day Private Beach Tour in Santa Cruz: $35
- Mermaid Experience & Photoshoot: $220
- Santa Cruz 2Hour Guided eBike Tour for Small E-Bike Groups: $110
- Santa Cruz Family Friendly Guided Electric Bike Tour (eBike): $110
- Santa Cruz Guided eBike Ride & Most Fun Bike e-Bike Tour : $110
- Guided eBike Tour: $120
- Self Guided UC Santa Cruz Walking Tour: Unlock Secret Stories : $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Juan $12Santa Cruz $8.57
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 Santa Cruz
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Santa Cruz:
- Wine Tasting Experience: $25
- Private Brewery Tour: $500
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Juan and Santa Cruz, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Santa Cruz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Juan is in Caribbean Islands and Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz.
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 Santa Cruz Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Juan or Santa Cruz?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Santa Cruz. When comparing the sizes of San Juan and Santa Cruz, 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 Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz in the Summer?
Both Santa Cruz 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, the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Santa Cruz this time of year.
San Juan is a little warmer than Santa Cruz in the summer. The daily temperature in San Juan averages around 28°C (83°F) in July, and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 67°F (19°C).
San Juan usually gets more rain in July than Santa Cruz. San Juan gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.1 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Juan 28°C (83°F)Santa Cruz 67°F (19°C)
Should I visit San Juan or Santa Cruz in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Juan and Santa Cruz. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Santa Cruz for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
In the autumn, San Juan is much warmer than Santa Cruz. Typically, the autumn temperatures in San Juan in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Santa Cruz averages at about 63°F (17°C).
San Juan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, San Juan usually receives more rain than Santa Cruz. San Juan gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Juan 28°C (82°F)Santa Cruz 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit San Juan or Santa Cruz in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to San Juan as well as Santa Cruz. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Santa Cruz in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, San Juan is generally much warmer than Santa Cruz. Daily temperatures in San Juan average around 25°C (77°F), and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 51°F (10°C).
San Juan usually gets less rain in January than Santa Cruz. San Juan gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Juan 25°C (77°F)Santa Cruz 51°F (10°C)
Should I visit San Juan or Santa Cruz in the Spring?
Both Santa Cruz 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, most visitors come to Santa Cruz for the beaches during these months.
San Juan is much warmer than Santa Cruz in the spring. The daily temperature in San Juan averages around 26°C (79°F) in April, and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).
In April, San Juan usually receives more rain than Santa Cruz. San Juan gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 1 inches (26 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Juan 26°C (79°F)Santa Cruz 58°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for Santa Cruz and San Juan
| San Juan | Santa Cruz | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 51°F (10°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 55°F (13°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 58°F (14°C) | 1 inches (26 mm) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 62°F (16°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 65°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (1 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 67°F (20°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.8 inches (21 mm) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 51°F (10°C) | 2.1 inches (53 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.