Which place is cheaper, Vancouver 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 Vancouver?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Juan or Vancouver? 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 Vancouver?
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.
Vancouver
Vancouver is a beautiful and cosmopolitan city in Western Canada. It is also the largest city in British Columbia, and is dramatically positioned between the coast and mountains. It's a very international city, with a high level of energy and countless activites that you can enjoy while you're in town. In addition to offering all of the activities and entertainment of a modern city, it is also in jumping off distance to any number of outdoor activities.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Vancouver, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada.
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San Juan Prices
Puerto Rico PricesVancouver Prices
Canada Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Juan $218Vancouver $165
The average daily cost (per person) in San Juan is $218, while the average daily cost in Vancouver is $165. 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 Vancouver in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Juan $124Vancouver $87
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Juan $248Vancouver $174
Compare Hotels in San Juan and Vancouver
Looking for a hotel in San Juan or Vancouver? 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 Vancouver Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Juan $14Vancouver $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Double ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $289
- Transfer in Puerto Rico with Minivan from Airport: $280
- Transfer SJU Airport to Ponce and Juana Diaz. Hotels and Airbnb Vice Versa 1 Way: $260
- Carabali Rain Forest Round Trip Private Taxi Transfer: $200
- Single ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $195
- Private Airport Transfers to Ceiba Ferry Terminal and Airport: $155
- Transfer SJU Airport to Dorado. Hotels and Airbnb. Vice Versa One Way Trip.: $140
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, 16Pax Mercedes Van, Select Zone: $130
- Transfer from San Juan to Ponce or Ponce to San Juan: $125
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 14Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $124
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $120
- Arrival Private Transfer SJU Airport to Old San Juan by Sedan: $120
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vancouver
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vancouver are as follows:
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SkyTrain from Airport$6.35
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Taxi from Airport to Downtown$21
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15 min Taxi Ride$8.71
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SkyTrain DayPass$6.53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vancouver
Also for Vancouver, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- YVR Airport Transfer to Fraser Valley: $618
- Private Vancouver Airport (YVR) Transfer to Whistler: $600
- Private Transfer from Whistler to Vancouver Airport YVR: $591
- Private Transfer from Downtown Vancouver to Whistler: $560
- Private Transfer to Whistler with Sightseeing: $538
- Private Transfer to Whistler: $462
- Vancouver International Airport to Whistler Private Transfer: $459
- YVR Airport Transfer to Squamish: $411
- Airport Transfer Service To Burnaby: $407
- Private Transfer, Vancouver, BC to Vancouver Cruise Ship Terminal, VIP SUV : $300
- Private Transfer from Vancouver City to Vancouver (YVR) Airport: $297
- Vancouver Airport YVR Round-Trip Private Transfer by Luxury SUV: $293
Is it cheaper to fly into San Juan or Vancouver?
Prices for flights to both Vancouver 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 $62Vancouver $54
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 Vancouver
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Vancouver:
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All You Can Eat Sushi Lunch$8.79
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vancouver
For Vancouver, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Vancouver Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $75
- Mt Pleasant Food Tour from Vancouver: $82
- A Wok Around Food Tour of the Granville Island Public Market: $83
- Experience Gastown Vancouver's Elite Walking Food Tour: $96
- Food Tours Gastown & Downtown with 6+ tastings: $98
- Experience Gastown Vancouver's Elite Walking Food Tour: $99
- Vancouver Local Taste Trail Food Tour: $100
- Gastown Historic Walking Food Tour: $115
- Granville Island Market VIP Walking Food Tour : $115
- Hidden Vancouver Tour with Dinner: $118
- Private Granville Island Vancouver's Elite Walking Food Tour: $132
- Vancouver Chinatown Tour and Dumpling-Making Cooking Class : $135
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Juan $49Vancouver $36
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 Vancouver
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vancouver.
- 2 Hours Private Tour of City of Vancouver: $147
- Cruise Ship Terminal to Vancouver Airport Private Transport: $150
- Guided Bike /E-bike Tour in Whistler From Vancouver: $218
- Half-day Hike and Bike Tour in Vancouver: $129
- Spirit Of Vancouver Bike or Ebike Tour: $100
- Vancouver 1-Day city tour: $98
- Victoria 1-Day Tour From Vancouver: $190
- Whistler Discovery and Waterfalls Small Group Tour: : $196
- 1 day Whistler Tour from Vancouver Experience (chn&eng): $88
- 2 Hours Private Tour of Stanley Park Vancouver: $132
- 3 Days of Adventure in Vancouver – Activities-Only Tour: $1,650
- 3 Hours Private Tour of City of Vancouver: $221
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Juan $12Vancouver $16
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 Vancouver
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Vancouver:
- Vancouver British Columbia Bar Crawl: $15
- Gastown Pub Crawl: $22
- Vancouver Craft Brewery Neighbourhood Walking Tour: $65
- 3.5-Hour Craft Brewery Tour: $86
- Vancouver Craft Brewery Tour: $89
- Vancouver Behind-the-Scenes Brewery Tour: $92
- North Vancouver Elite Walking Brewery Tour: $95
- Vancouver Wine Tour (Fraser Valley): $122
- From Fraser Valley Wine Tour with Local Tastings: $129
- From Half-Day Fraser Valley Wine Tour: $135
- Fraser Valley Wine Tour with Tastings: $161
- Stawamus Chief Hike and Local Brewery Tasting: $169
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Juan and Vancouver, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Vancouver much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Juan is in Caribbean Islands and Vancouver 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 Vancouver would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vancouver 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 Vancouver.
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 Vancouver Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Juan or Vancouver?
Vancouver has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of San Juan. When comparing the sizes of San Juan and Vancouver, 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 Vancouver?
Vancouver 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 Vancouver in the Summer?
Both Vancouver and San Juan are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Vancouver because of the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
San Juan is much warmer than Vancouver in the summer. The daily temperature in San Juan averages around 28°C (83°F) in July, and Vancouver fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
It's quite sunny in Vancouver. 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 Vancouver during summer. San Juan gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Vancouver receives 296 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, San Juan usually receives more rain than Vancouver. San Juan gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Juan 28°C (83°F)Vancouver 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit San Juan or Vancouver in the Autumn?
Both Vancouver and San Juan during the autumn 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 hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Vancouver this time of year.
In the autumn, San Juan is much warmer than Vancouver. Typically, the autumn temperatures in San Juan in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Vancouver averages at about 11°C (51°F).
It's quite sunny in San Juan. In the autumn, San Juan often gets more sunshine than Vancouver. San Juan gets 235 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vancouver receives 124 hours of full sun.
Vancouver gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in San Juan. San Juan usually gets less rain in October than Vancouver. San Juan gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Juan 28°C (82°F)Vancouver 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit San Juan or Vancouver in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both San Juan and Vancouver. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Vancouver for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Vancouver. In January, San Juan is generally much warmer than Vancouver. Daily temperatures in San Juan average around 25°C (77°F), and Vancouver fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Juan usually receives more sunshine than Vancouver during winter. San Juan gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Vancouver receives 55 hours of full sun in the winter.
Vancouver receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, San Juan usually receives less rain than Vancouver. San Juan gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Juan 25°C (77°F)Vancouver 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit San Juan or Vancouver in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to San Juan as well as Vancouver. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Vancouver in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
San Juan is much warmer than Vancouver in the spring. The daily temperature in San Juan averages around 26°C (79°F) in April, and Vancouver fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. In the spring, San Juan often gets more sunshine than Vancouver. San Juan gets 272 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vancouver receives 172 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Vancouver. San Juan usually gets less rain in April than Vancouver. San Juan gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Juan 26°C (79°F)Vancouver 9°C (49°F)
Typical Weather for Vancouver and San Juan
| San Juan | Vancouver | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 179 mm (7.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
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.