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

Should you visit San Juan or Vernon?

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

Should I visit San Juan or Vernon? 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 Vernon?

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.

Vernon

Vernon is located in British Columbia, Canada. It's in the Okanagan region of the Southern Interior and dates back to 1892. The city has a population of about 40,000 and the Greater Vernon area has a population of about 58,584. It's the largest city in the North Okanagan Regional District. In many ways Vernon feels like most other towns around North America, but if you find yourself here with some time to spare, you can find a handful of activities that will help you see it's unique personality and interesting qualities. The town is most popular for its lakes and beaches during the summer monts, and its skiing and hockey during the winter months.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Coach Bus Tours in Canada, and The Best Adventure Tours to Canada.


Which place is cheaper, Vernon 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 Vernon is $49. 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 Vernon in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    San Juan $124
    Vernon $4.81
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    San Juan $248
    Vernon $9.62
Compare Hotels in San Juan and Vernon

Looking for a hotel in San Juan or Vernon? 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 Vernon


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 Vernon Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    San Juan $14
    Vernon -

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 Vernon?

Prices for flights to both Vernon 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
    Vernon $43

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    San Juan $49
    Vernon -
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.

  • 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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    San Juan $12
    Vernon $13

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 Vernon, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Vernon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Juan is in Caribbean Islands and Vernon 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 Vernon would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vernon 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 Vernon.

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 Vernon Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, San Juan or Vernon?

San Juan has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Vernon. When comparing the sizes of San Juan and Vernon, 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 Vernon?

Vernon 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 Vernon in the Summer?

Both Vernon 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. Also, many visitors come to Vernon in the summer for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, San Juan is generally a little warmer than Vernon. Daily temperatures in San Juan average around 28°C (83°F), and Vernon fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

San Juan usually gets more rain in July than Vernon. San Juan gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Vernon receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


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

Should I visit San Juan or Vernon in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Juan and Vernon. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round. Also, most visitors come to Vernon for the hiking trails and the shopping scene during these months.

San Juan is much warmer than Vernon in the autumn. The daily temperature in San Juan averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Vernon fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

San Juan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, San Juan usually receives more rain than Vernon. San Juan gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Vernon receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


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

Should I visit San Juan or Vernon in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to San Juan as well as Vernon. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Vernon because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Vernon can be very cold. In the winter, San Juan is much warmer than Vernon. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Juan in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Vernon averages at about -3°C (27°F).

San Juan usually gets more rain in January than Vernon. San Juan gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Vernon receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.


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

Should I visit San Juan or Vernon in the Spring?

Both Vernon 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.

In April, San Juan is generally much warmer than Vernon. Daily temperatures in San Juan average around 26°C (79°F), and Vernon fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

In April, San Juan usually receives more rain than Vernon. San Juan gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Vernon receives 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.


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

Typical Weather for Vernon and San Juan

San Juan Vernon
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)


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