Which place is cheaper, Saint John or Buzios?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Buzios or Saint John?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Buzios 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: Buzios or Saint John?
Buzios
Initially a fishing village, Armação dos Buzios is a small beach resort town about three hours from Rio de Janeiro by bus. Buzios is a common weekend getaway destination for Cariocas. With 23 beaches, visitors from all over come to swim, snorkel, surf and enjoy sun and sand.
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Brazil, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Brazil.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBuzios $77Saint John $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Buzios is $77, 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 Buzios and Saint John in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBuzios $37Saint John $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBuzios $74Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Buzios and Saint John
Looking for a hotel in Buzios 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Buzios $19Saint John $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Buzios
Also for Buzios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arraial do Cabo Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $52
- Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Departure Transfer : $28
- Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Private Transfer: $25
- Departure Private Transfer Arraial do Cabo to GIG or SDU Airport by Sedan Car: $241
- Departure Transfer from Buzios or to Rio Airports by Minivan: $219
- Departure Transfer from Buzios to Rio Airports by Sedan Car: $129
- Executive private transfer from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 3 pax to Buzios: $98
- Executive private transfer from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 4 pax to Buzios: $108
- Private Transfer Buzios to Rio de Janeiro: $91
- Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Cabo Frio city hotels: $36
- Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Rio de Janeiro hotels: $28
- Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Rio de Janeiro hotels: $32
Is it cheaper to fly into Buzios or Saint John?
Prices for flights to both Saint John and Buzios 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 dayBuzios $24Saint John $56
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Buzios $27Saint John $23
Tours and Activities in Buzios
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Buzios.
- Tour of the most beautiful beaches and islands of Buzios by Buziana Tour: $12
- Buggy Ride in Buzios by Buziana Tour: $16
- Tour of Bugre in Arraial (Buggy): $21
- Catamaran Boat Tour in Búzios: $24
- Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo: $24
- Half-Day Schooner Sightseeing Trip in Buzios Peninsula Beaches: $29
- Buzios Trolley City Tour: $29
- Buggy Tour in Arraial do Cabo by Arraial Viagens: $32
- 3-hour Small Group Buzios Peninsula Open Air Trolley Tour: $33
- 7 Beaches In Búzios With Photos On A Private Tour!: $35
- Tour in Boat Tour in Buzios: $37
- From Buzios To Arraial With Photos On A Private Tour!: $50
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 dayBuzios $17Saint John $44
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Buzios and Saint John, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. And not only is Buzios much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Buzios 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 Buzios would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Buzios 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 Buzios.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Buzios 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.