Which place is cheaper, Saint John or Arequipa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Arequipa or Saint John?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Arequipa or Saint John? 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: Arequipa or Saint John?
Arequipa
Sitting in the middle of the Misti, Chachani and PichuPichu volcanoes of Peru is the enchanting city of Arequipa. With 468 years of history, the city is full of Spanish colonial architecture. Known to locals as the "white city," the city center, Plaza de Armas, is quite the sight with buildings of sillar white stone made from the rocks of the surrounding volcanoes.
Saint John
With the popularity of the Caribbean rising, many islands have become touristy and expensive – but not St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
At only nine miles long and five miles wide, St. John is the smallest of the Virgin Islands, and, many argue, the prettiest. It's the kind of place that has maintained it's cultural identity, but still welcomes visitors from all over the world. With a population of just 5,000, the residents of St. John know everyone and everything happening on the island.
This island is perfect for people who want an undisturbed island getaway at any price. Between resorts and campgrounds there is a spot for everyone on St. John.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru, and The Best Cultural Tours in Peru.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayArequipa $47Saint John $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Arequipa is $47, while the average daily cost in Saint John is $192. 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 Arequipa and Saint John in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personArequipa $23Saint John $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomArequipa $46Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Arequipa and Saint John
Looking for a hotel in Arequipa or Saint John? 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: Arequipa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Arequipa $6.02Saint John $49
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arequipa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arequipa are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$1.36
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Bus Ride$0.43
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Taxi Ride$0.95
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arequipa
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Arequipa:
- Arequipa Airport Arrival Transfer: $13
- Arequipa Airport Departure Transfer: $13
- Arequipa Airport Private Transfer: $25
- Arequipa Bus Station Arrival Transfer : $25
- 1-Way Airport Private Transfer: $31
- Airport private transfer to/from the city center: $26
- Colca Canyon 2 days from Arequipa with final transfer to Puno: $110
- Colca Canyon Sightseeing Tour 2D1N and Transfer to Puno: $120
- From 2-Day Colca Canyon Tour with Transfer to Puno: $98
- From 2-Day Colca Canyon Tour with Transfer to Puno: $103
- Koh Lanta any hotel to Krabi airport Private transfer: $71
- Private Transfer From Arequipa To Puno With a 2 Hour Stop: $241
Is it cheaper to fly into Arequipa or Saint John?
Prices for flights to both Saint John and Arequipa 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 dayArequipa $14Saint John $56
Typical Food Prices in Arequipa
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Arequipa:
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Coke$0.41
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Lunch$2.85
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Ice Cream$1.09
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Fruit$0.81
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Ice Cream$0.95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arequipa
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Arequipa.
- Skip the Line: Dinner and Typical Dances Show Ticket: $25
- Peruvian Cooking Experience in Arequipa: $34
- Peruvian Cooking Class: $48
- Peruvian Cooking Class: $48
- Peruvian Cooking Class in arequipa: $50
- Guided Food Tour in Arequipa City: $69
- 3-hour guided food tour / 5 iconic restaurants of Arequipa: $72
- A 3-hour Guided Food Tour with 4 Iconic Restaurants of Arequipa: $79
- Arequipa Food Tour: Ancestral Cuisine & City Tour: $85
- Peruvian cooking experience, pisco sour and visit local market: $95
- Peruvian cooking class + PiscoSour class + visit the local market: $95
- Food Tour Experience: $115
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Arequipa $18Saint John $23
Typical Entertainment Prices in Arequipa
Here are a few typical costs in Arequipa for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Monastery Entry$2.71
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Salsa Class$2.71
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Movie Ticket$2.96
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Hot Springs$2.71
Tours and Activities in Arequipa
Here are a few actual costs in Arequipa for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Arequipa Tasting Tour: $8.00
- Campiña Tour in Arequipa and Quick View to the Viewpoints 4 hours: $10
- 4-hour tour to the Sillar Route in Arequipa: $10
- Small-Group Arequipa Countryside Tour Including La Mansion del Fundador -Mirabus: $15
- Tour por la Ruta del Sillar, el Origen de Arequipa: $16
- Countryside Tour Arequipa: $18
- From Panoramic Tour of Arequipa: $20
- From Sillar Route Tour || Half Day ||: $20
- From Sillar Route - Half Day Tour: $20
- City tour with panoramic bus: $20
- The Sillar Route Day Tour: $22
- Tour Colca Full Day Promotional Price: $22
Tours and Activities in Saint John
Here are a few actual costs in Saint John for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- USVI: Island & Beach Tours in St. Thomas & St. John (2 Days): $199
- St. John: A Private Island Adventure Tour & Trunk Bay Beach: $627
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayArequipa $16Saint John $44
Typical Alcohol Prices in Arequipa
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Arequipa are as follows:
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Beer$2.44
Sample the Local Flavors in Arequipa
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Arequipa:
- Pub Crawl Tour in Arequipa with VIP Access.: $25
- From Pisco and wine tour through the Majes Valley: $50
- Pub Crawl Tour in Arequipa with Drinks and VIP Access.: $60
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Arequipa and Saint John, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. And not only is Arequipa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Arequipa is in South America and Saint John is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Arequipa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Arequipa 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 Saint John would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint John than you might in Arequipa.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Arequipa Expensive? and Is Saint John Expensive?.
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.