How much does it cost to travel to San Juan?
You should plan to spend around $192 per day on your vacation in San Juan. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $36 on meals
- $14 on local transportation
- $248 on hotels
A one week trip to San Juan for two people costs, on average, $2,685. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to San Juan has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is San Juan expensive to visit?
Prices in San Juan are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.
Within the Caribbean Islands, which is known to be an expensive region, San Juan is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Nassau or Saint John.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is San Juan Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to San Juan?
The average San Juan trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these San Juan travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
Category | Cost |
---|---|
Accommodation1(Double Occupancy) | $248 |
Local Transportation1 | $14 |
Food2 | $36 |
Entertainment1 | $49 |
Alcohol2 | $6 -18 |
Accommodation Budget in San Juan
Average Daily Costs
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in San Juan is $124. For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in San Juan is $248. This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Accommodation1Hotel or hostel for one person
$124
Accommodation1Typical double-occupancy room
$248
Hotel Prices in San Juan
Looking for a hotel in San Juan? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Find the best hotel for your travel style.
Actual Hotel Prices
The average hotel room price in San Juan based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $174. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.
Recommended Properties
Transportation Budget in San Juan
Average Daily Costs
Calculated from travelers like you
The cost of a taxi ride in San Juan is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $14 per person, per day, on local transportation in San Juan.
Transportation1Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$14
Recommended Services
Flights to San Juan
How much does it cost to go to San Juan? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
Rental Cars in San Juan
The price of renting a car in San Juan will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in San Juan
Average Daily Costs
Calculated from travelers like you
While meal prices in San Juan can vary, the average cost of food in San Juan is $36 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in San Juan should cost around $14 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in San Juan is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
Food2Meals for one day
$36
Recommended
Entertainment Budget in San Juan
Average Daily Costs
Calculated from travelers like you
Entertainment and activities in San Juan typically cost an average of $49 per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Entertainment1Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$49
Recommended Activities
What did other people spend on Entertainment in San Juan?
Typical prices for Entertainment in San Juan are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in San Juan, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
Horseback Riding Tour
$40
Full Day Snorkeling Trip
$100
1 Hr Windsurfing Lesson
$75
Alcohol Budget in San Juan
Average Daily Costs
Calculated from travelers like you
The average person spends about $12 on alcoholic beverages in San Juan per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Alcohol2Drinks for one day
$12
Recommended
Water Budget in San Juan
Average Daily Costs
Calculated from travelers like you
On average, people spend $6.53 on bottled water in San Juan per day. The public water in San Juan is considered safe to drink.
Water2Bottled water for one day
$6.53
San Juan on a Budget
San Juan, Puerto Rico
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.
Sights
No matter what kind of traveler you are, the allure of Old San Juan is tough to resist. With cobblestone streets, pastel buildings and umbrella covered patio tables it's so easy to fall in love, especially if you take a walking tour of Old San Juan. You'll find shops, restaurants, museums, cafes, and historic sights everywhere. Enjoy the sangria for lunch and a tango for dessert.
San Juan is surrounded by water, which means plenty of choices for sunbathing. From one of the world's best beaches at Playa Flamenco to Playa Isle Verde, there's no end to the stretches of paradise.
For the most beautiful sunset on the whole island, make your way to Castillo San Felipe de Morro. Constructed in 1539, this former fortress offers gorgeous views of the bay and ocean with little cannon holes to peek through. If you have other plans during the day, visit the fort in the afternoon for a fun atmosphere of picnicking and children flying kites. It's a great place to sit on the grass and enjoy the historical beauty of the fort. And there's plenty more to see as well, because many of San Juan's attractions are on the list of the most famous landmarks in Puerto Rico, so don't miss them on your next trip.
Neighborhoods
San Juan is made up of ten different districts including Old San Juan with all its historic sites, to El Condado with upscale residential neighborhoods, to Rio Piedras - home to the University of Puerto Rico.
Activities
The city offers up something for every nautical nut. The coral reefs in the southwest offer some of the most beautiful underwater views you'll ever see. Take a dived to visit with vibrantly colored fish and maybe even a stingray or two.
If you're in the mood to get in a workout, a hike through the rainforest isn't a bad way to do it. The lush area of El Yunque is the only true rainforest in the US. This short hike passes cascading waterfalls and massive ferns. Don't forget to take a look in the sky, there are 26 species of parrots soaring through the skies – including the very endangered Puerto Rican parrot.
Be sure to leave time for a trip to the Bacardi Rum distillery. This experience details the history of sugar cane and outlines how the Bacardi rum is made. Not to mention, there are free drinks.
For a truly unique night out, skip the clubs and get underwater. Take a kayak, a canoe or just a swim out to the bioluminescent bays. Watch the water glitter off your fingertips as you take in this otherworldly phenomenon.
Nightlife is also a hugely popular activity in San Juan. From bars and clubs to cafes and events, there is something for everyone. Check out the bars in the early part of the night, then move on to the dance clubs until morning. And here's some information for Gay Puerto Rico, too, including some annual events.
Food and Dining
San Juan is a huge city that is prepared to please any tourists. Your meals can be expensive, but are definitely worth it. For the hottest, most inventive plates in the city, head to San Juan's SoFo (South of Fortaleza) district. This is where the latest and greatest cuisine trends are happening and you won't want to miss out.
Transportation
Since this city is so used to catering to tourists, there are plenty of options for getting around the city. Renting your own car is definitely a choice if you're used to driving in large cities like Miami, Boston or New York. The road signs are in Spanish, but they are shaped like American signs, so deciphering them is pretty simple. Parking, however, can be a bit of a problem, and not every street has a sign. Use a GPS when driving through smaller parts of the city.
There is a public bus system in San Juan. Remember to keep a load of change on you, though, as they only accept quarters. The routes are being re-worked to accommodate the new rail system so double check your map, and note that direct routes between tourist destinations don't really exist. While waiting for your bus, be sure to wave them down because they may pass right by you. Plan for another mode of transportation when the sun goes down, buses tend to stop running around 9 pm.
Taxis might be your best bet around San Juan. They can be found at any hotel. Routes to common destinations tend to have fixed fares, but cabbies are also well aware that tourists don't know these fares. Google them before going out so you don't wind up paying way more than you should.
Related
Looking for a party hostel in Costa Rica or Cancun? Looking for a budget hostel in Mexico or Costa Rica?
We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.