Which place is cheaper, Saint John or Belize City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Belize City or Saint John?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Belize City 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: Belize City or Saint John?
Belize City
Belize City is the largest city in Belize. It was once the capital of the country, but due to massive hurricane damage in 1961, the country decided to relocate it capital. With a population of 57,000 people, Belize City is located right at the mouth of the Haulover Creek.
This gorgeous tropical city experiences a monsoon climate – meaning there are warm and humid conditions throughout the course of the year. There is a wet season from May to January, so plan for a little bit of rain in that time.
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 G Adventures Tours to Belize, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Belize.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBelize City $88Saint John $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Belize City is $88, 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 Belize City and Saint John in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBelize City $49Saint John $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBelize City $98Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Belize City and Saint John
Looking for a hotel in Belize City 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: Belize City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Belize City $5.82Saint John $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Belize City
Also for Belize City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Belize City to/from Placencia/Hopkins Shuttle Transfer: $113
- Belize city water taxi terminal to Airport transfer: $30
- Belize: Belize City to/from San Ignacio Shuttle Transfer: $68
- Private Transfer from Belize City Port to Belize Airport (BZE): $60
- Private Transfer from Belize City and Airport to Placencia: $150
- Transfer Belize city to bacalar: $50
- We do transfers from airport to any where in Belize.: $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Belize City or Saint John?
Prices for flights to both Saint John and Belize City 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 dayBelize City $27Saint John $56
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Belize City
For Belize City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Altun Ha Mayan Site & Food Tour: $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Belize City $29Saint John $23
Tours and Activities in Belize City
For Belize City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Belize City Tour: $40
- Belizean Bits & Bites Food Tastings and City Tour in Belize: $50
- Hassle free Cave Tubing Adventure from Belize City with Lunch: $55
- Charlie's Cave Tubing Tour for cruisers (lunch included): $65
- Second largest Barrier Reef Adventure Snorkeling: $70
- Guided Cave Kayaking Tour with Pickup: $77
- Altun Ha Mayan Ruins and River Wallace and Manatee Watch Tour: $85
- Cave Tubing Experience from Belize City: $85
- Altun Ha Mayan Site tour from Belize City: $85
- Half-Day Altun Ha Temple & Belize City Tour: $86
- Turtle Garden Snorkeling Tour and Island Break : $90
- Howler Monkey Sanctuary Tour from Belize City: $90
Tours and Activities in Saint John
Here are a few actual costs in Saint John for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- St. John: A Private Island Adventure Tour & Trunk Bay Beach: $627
- USVI: Island & Beach Tours in St. Thomas & St. John (2 Days): $199
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBelize City $12Saint John $44
Sample the Local Flavors in Belize City
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Belize City:
- Belize: City Highlights Tour with Rum Distillery Visit: $49
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Belize City and Saint John, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. And not only is Belize City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Belize City is in Central 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 Belize City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Belize City 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 Belize City.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Belize City Expensive? and Is Saint John Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Belize City or Saint John?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Belize City or Saint John in the Summer?
Both Saint John and Belize City during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Belize City because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Belize City. Belize City usually gets more rain in July than Saint John. Belize City gets 243 mm (9.6 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the summer, Belize City is around the same temperature as Saint John. Typically, the summer temperatures in Belize City in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Saint John averages at about 29°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBelize City 28°C (82°F)Saint John 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Belize City or Saint John in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Belize City and Saint John. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Belize City year-round. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Saint John receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Belize City gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Belize City usually receives more rain than Saint John. Belize City gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In October, Belize City is generally around the same temperature as Saint John. Daily temperatures in Belize City average around 26°C (80°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBelize City 26°C (80°F)Saint John 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Belize City or Saint John in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Belize City as well as Saint John. Belize City attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.
Belize City receives a lot of rain in the winter. Belize City usually gets more rain in January than Saint John. Belize City gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
Belize City is around the same temperature as Saint John in the winter. The daily temperature in Belize City averages around 24°C (74°F) in January, and Saint John fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBelize City 24°C (74°F)Saint John 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Belize City or Saint John in the Spring?
Both Saint John and Belize City are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Belize City throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Belize City usually receives less rain than Saint John. Belize City gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
In the spring, Belize City is around the same temperature as Saint John. Typically, the spring temperatures in Belize City in April average around 27°C (80°F), and Saint John averages at about 27°C (80°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBelize City 27°C (80°F)Saint John 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint John and Belize City
| Belize City | Saint John | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (80°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 243 mm (9.6 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (80°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (76°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 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.