Which place is cheaper, Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Juan or Williamsburg? 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 Williamsburg?
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.
Williamsburg
In southeast Virginia, Williamsburg is a historic city that was the capital of Virginia during the 1700's. It's now a popular tourist destination in the state because it has managed to recreate its past in a theme park like setting. Perhaps the most famous attraction in the city is "Colonial Williamsburg," an outdoor museum that recreates an 18th century town with working tradesmen and functioning jobs. You can purchase a one day pass to the area for $36 and multiple day passes at a slight discount. Exhibits in the area include observing a court proceeding, seeing the Governor's Palace, and witnessing the impact of the American Revolution on the area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America.
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San Juan Prices
Puerto Rico PricesWilliamsburg Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Juan $218Williamsburg $135
The average daily cost (per person) in San Juan is $218, while the average daily cost in Williamsburg is $135. 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 Williamsburg in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Juan $124Williamsburg $66
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Juan $248Williamsburg $132
Compare Hotels in San Juan and Williamsburg
Looking for a hotel in San Juan or Williamsburg? 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 Williamsburg Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Juan $14Williamsburg $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer to Cruise Ships, Hotels, Airbnb in San Juan: $76
- Arrival Private Transfer SJU Airport to Old San Juan by Sedan: $120
- Carabali Rain Forest Round Trip Private Taxi Transfer: $200
- Departure Transfer from Old San Juan to to SJU Airport by Car: $86
- Double ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $289
- Premium Transfer in Airport, Hotel, Airbnb, Cruise: $25
- Private Airport Transfers to Ceiba Ferry Terminal and Airport: $155
- Private Transfer from SJU Airport to Cruise Port Roundtrip Servic: $109
- Private Transfer from SJU Airport to San Juan / Rio Grande: $115
- Private Transfer from or to San Juan and Ceiba Ferry: $93
- Private Transfer to El Conquistador Hotel : $200
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 11Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $93
Is it cheaper to fly into San Juan or Williamsburg?
Prices for flights to both Williamsburg 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 $62Williamsburg $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:
- Old San Juan Food Tour with 7 Tastings of Authentic Local Flavors: $139
- Private San Juan Cooking Class with a Local Expert: $146
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $165
- FlyDining: 4 Courses Dinner with City Lights & Ocean Breeze: $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 $49Williamsburg $34
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
- 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: $26
- Explore Old San Juan Walking Tour: $30
- Old San Juan Tour in Spanish: $30
- Historic Old San Juan Sunset Walking Tour: $39
- Old San Juan 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 Williamsburg
Here are a few actual costs in Williamsburg for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Colonial Williamsburg Ghost Stories and Walking Tour: $25
- 1 Hour Christmastide Walking Tour in Virginia Past and Present : $25
- 2-Hour Private Guided The best of Williamsburg Walking Tour: $250
- Busch Gardens Williamsburg Admission Ticket: $82
- Civil War Ghost Tour: $25
- Colonial Contradictions Self Guided Walking Tour of Williamsburg: $9.99
- Colonial Ghosts: Ghostly Whispers of Williamsburg Ghost Tour: $26
- Colonial Ghosts: Ghostly Whispers of Williamsburg Ghost Tour: $26
- Colonial History Tour in Williamsburg Virginia: $25
- Colonial Williamsburg Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $13
- Colonial Christmas Walking Tour: $25
- Colonial Colonial History Guided Walking Tour: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Juan $12Williamsburg -
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
- Puerto Rico's First and Only Craft Beer Brewery Tour! : $99
Sample the Local Flavors in Williamsburg
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Williamsburg:
- Williamsburg Ghosts and Brews Haunted Pub Crawls: $29
- Colonial Ghosts Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- The Murder Tour and Pub Crawl: $48
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Juan and Williamsburg, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Williamsburg much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Juan is in Caribbean Islands and Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg.
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 Williamsburg Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Juan or Williamsburg?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Williamsburg. When comparing the sizes of San Juan and Williamsburg, 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 Williamsburg?
Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to San Juan as well as Williamsburg. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to Williamsburg because of the family-friendly experiences.
In July, San Juan is generally around the same temperature as Williamsburg. Daily temperatures in San Juan average around 28°C (83°F), and Williamsburg fluctuates around 78°F (26°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Williamsburg. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. In the summer, San Juan often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Williamsburg. San Juan gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Williamsburg receives 279 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Williamsburg. San Juan usually gets less rain in July than Williamsburg. San Juan gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Williamsburg receives 4.7 inches (120 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Juan 28°C (83°F)Williamsburg 78°F (26°C)
Should I visit San Juan or Williamsburg in the Autumn?
Both Williamsburg and San Juan are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year. Also, the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Williamsburg this time of year.
San Juan is much warmer than Williamsburg in the autumn. The daily temperature in San Juan averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Williamsburg fluctuates around 61°F (16°C).
It's quite sunny in Williamsburg. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. San Juan usually receives more sunshine than Williamsburg during autumn. San Juan gets 235 hours of sunny skies, while Williamsburg receives 211 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in San Juan. In October, San Juan usually receives more rain than Williamsburg. San Juan gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Williamsburg receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Juan 28°C (82°F)Williamsburg 61°F (16°C)
Should I visit San Juan or Williamsburg in the Winter?
Both Williamsburg and San Juan during the winter 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 travelers come to Williamsburg for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Williamsburg. In the winter, San Juan is much warmer than Williamsburg. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Juan in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Williamsburg averages at about 38°F (4°C).
It's quite sunny in San Juan. In the winter, San Juan often gets more sunshine than Williamsburg. San Juan gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Williamsburg receives 168 hours of full sun.
San Juan usually gets less rain in January than Williamsburg. San Juan gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Williamsburg receives 3.6 inches (93 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Juan 25°C (77°F)Williamsburg 38°F (4°C)
Should I visit San Juan or Williamsburg in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both San Juan and Williamsburg. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round. Also, many visitors come to Williamsburg in the spring for the natural beauty.
In April, San Juan is generally much warmer than Williamsburg. Daily temperatures in San Juan average around 26°C (79°F), and Williamsburg fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg during spring. San Juan gets 272 hours of sunny skies, while Williamsburg receives 253 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, San Juan usually receives less rain than Williamsburg. San Juan gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Williamsburg receives 3 inches (76 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Juan 26°C (79°F)Williamsburg 57°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for Williamsburg and San Juan
| San Juan | Williamsburg | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 38°F (4°C) | 3.6 inches (93 mm) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 41°F (5°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 49°F (9°C) | 4.2 inches (106 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 66°F (19°C) | 4 inches (102 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 74°F (24°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 78°F (26°C) | 4.7 inches (120 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 78°F (25°C) | 4.7 inches (120 mm) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 4.6 inches (118 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 61°F (16°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 43°F (6°C) | 3.5 inches (90 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.