Which place is cheaper, Saint John or Ensenada?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Ensenada or Saint John?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ensenada 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: Ensenada or Saint John?
Ensenada
Ensenada is on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, south of Tijuana. It's the only deep water port in the state of Baja California and as such, it is an important commerical fishing port as well as a cruise ship destination. The city has a population of almost 500,000 and is located just 78 miles south of San Diego. The city sits between the ocean and a small mountain range. The surrounding area is known for its wine production, which produces some of the best wine in Mexico.
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 Food and Culinary Tours in Mexico, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Mexico.
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Ensenada Prices
Mexico PricesSaint John Prices
USVI Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEnsenada $115Saint John $233
The average daily cost (per person) in Ensenada is $115, 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 Ensenada and Saint John in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEnsenada $42Saint John $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEnsenada $84Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Ensenada and Saint John
Looking for a hotel in Ensenada 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: Ensenada Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ensenada $19Saint John $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ensenada
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ensenada:
- Border and Tijuana Airport Transfers to Ensenada or Valle de Guadalupe: $125
Is it cheaper to fly into Ensenada or Saint John?
Prices for flights to both Saint John and Ensenada 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 dayEnsenada $61Saint John $97
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ensenada
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ensenada.
- Mexican Cooking Class at Hacienda Eco-Domes | Valle de Guadalupe: $84
- Tacos and Margaritas Food Tour in Ensenada Mexico: $85
- Cooking Class and Margarita Madness at Valle de Guadalupe : $89
- Surprises, Delights and Joys Ensenada Wine, Mezcal, and Food Tour: $100
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ensenada $9.79Saint John $23
Tours and Activities in Ensenada
Here are a few actual costs in Ensenada for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- La Bufadora Punta Banda Tour: $38
- La Bufadora Tour in Baja California: $42
- Las Cañadas Campamento Horseback Riding Experience: $44
- The Bufadora private Tour: $49
- Tacos, Brews and Views Tour : $50
- Full Day Private Tour or Guadalupe Valley Weekend: $52
- Tacos, Tequila, Cerveza - A Private Tour of Ensenada: $53
- Las Cañadas Canopy Tour in Ensenada: $53
- Valle de Guadalupe Adults Only Tour: $56
- Explore Ensenada with Private Car and Walking Tour: $65
- Private Massage Experience in Ensenada: $65
- Las Canadas Ecopark and Bufadora private tour : $70
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEnsenada $9.98Saint John $44
Sample the Local Flavors in Ensenada
Also in Ensenada, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Private Wine Tasting Experience in Maglén: $27
- Tractor Pull Around Vineyards and Wine Tasting Tour: $56
- Private Ensenada Tacos and Wine Tour : $109
- Valle de Guadalupe Wine Experience: Wine Tastings Included: $112
- Valle de Guadalupe COUPLES wine tasting for 2: $135
- wine tours and driver service through valle de guadalupe, Ensenada B.C. Mexico: $145
- Pvt Wine Tastings + Cheese Store + Massage Shore Excursion: $149
- Wine Tasting Tour ONLY for Cruise Ship Visitors. ALL INCLUSIVE!: $221
- Private and custom group Wine tour Valle de Guadalupe : $238
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ensenada and Saint John, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. And not only is Ensenada much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ensenada 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 Ensenada would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ensenada 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 Ensenada.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ensenada 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.