A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cozumel vs. Saint John for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Cozumel or Saint John?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Cozumel and Saint John can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Cozumel or Saint John?

Cozumel

Cozumel is a Caribbean island just off the Yucatan Peninsula. It'as a popular tourist destination because of its beautiful beaches and excellent snorkeling and scuba diving. With crystal clear waters and vibrant colored coral, Cozumel is one of the most popular dive destinations in the area. The island's economy is centered around tourism, and as such, you'll find plenty of amenities for visitors. The prices are comparable to other coastal towns in the area and there is no shortage of activities or attractions nearby.

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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, and The Best Adventure Tours to Mexico.


Which place is cheaper, Saint John or Cozumel?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Cozumel Prices
    Mexico Prices
    Saint John Prices
    USVI Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Cozumel $122
    Saint John $233

The average daily cost (per person) in Cozumel is $122, while the average daily cost in Saint John is $233. 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 Cozumel and Saint John in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cozumel $63
    Saint John $106
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cozumel $126
    Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Cozumel and Saint John

Looking for a hotel in Cozumel 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.

Hotels in Cozumel


Hotels in Saint John


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: Cozumel Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cozumel $21
    Saint John $49

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cozumel

Also for Cozumel, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • ATV Adventure to Jade Cavern with transfer: $83
  • ATV tour to jade cavern with transfer (single or double): $55
  • Cozumel Airport (CZM) to Cozumel Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $154
  • Cozumel Jungle ATV Tour Adventure and Caverns with transfer: $65
  • Cozumel Mayan Experience And Beach Getaway with Transfer: $55
  • Shared Transfer from Airport to Hotel: $27
  • Mexico Cozumel Airport (CZM) to Cozumel -Arrival Private Transfer: $51
  • Mexico Cozumel Airport (CZM) to Cozumel Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $77
  • Private One Way Transfer from Cozumel Airport to Cozumel: $67
  • Private One Way Transfer from Cozumel to Cozumel Airport: $67
  • Private Transfer from Cozumel Port to Cozumel Airport (CZM): $93

Is it cheaper to fly into Cozumel or Saint John?

Prices for flights to both Saint John and Cozumel 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Cozumel $37
    Saint John $97

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cozumel

For Cozumel, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Under the Stars Twilight Snorkel and Seaside Dinner at Money Bar: $90
  • Cozumel Food Tour: $90
  • Cozumel Food Tour: $110

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cozumel $40
    Saint John $23

Tours and Activities in Cozumel

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cozumel.

  • Skip the Line: Admission Ticket to El Cedral Town and Mayan Temple: $16
  • Transparent Boat Tour in See Marine Life Up Close: $19
  • Crystal Boat Trip and Snorkeling Tour from Cozumel: $19
  • Crystal-clear Boat trip & Snorkeling tour: $19
  • Tequila History and Tasting Experience and Unlimited Beach Break: $25
  • El Cielo Snorkeling Adventure in Cozumel: $28
  • Cozumel’s Mayan Journey: Dance, Rituals, and Tasting Tour: $29
  • Cozumel Snorkeling Tour: Palancar, Columbia and El Cielo Reefs: $29
  • Island Tour in Cozumel, Mayan Show & Tacos: $30
  • Transparent Boating and Snorkeling Tour in Cozumel All Inclusive: $32
  • Bicycle Adventure With Snorkel and Lunch: $33
  • VIP Glass Bottom Boat & Snorkeling 3 Reefs Tour: $35

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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cozumel $10
    Saint John $44

Sample the Local Flavors in Cozumel

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cozumel:

  • Chocolate Seaside Workshop & Wine Tasting: $45
  • Downtown Cozumel and Brewery Experience: $69
  • Rum and Gin at Cozumel First Distillery : $99
  • Craft Beer Tasting Experience with Brewery Tour: $99
  • Cozumel Mixology Experience at Distillery : $109


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cozumel and Saint John, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. And not only is Cozumel much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cozumel is in North 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 Cozumel would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cozumel 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 Cozumel.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cozumel Expensive? and Is Saint John Expensive?.