Which place is cheaper, Saint Thomas or Ensenada?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Ensenada or Saint Thomas? 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.
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 Thomas is a beautiful island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Together with St. John, St. Croix, and Water Island, it forms the unincorporated territory of the United States. The island is also home to the territorial capital and port of Charlotte Amalie. The island's population is just over 50,000, which is slightly less than half of the territory's total population.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Mexico, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Mexico.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Ensenada is $99, while the average daily cost in Saint Thomas is $218. 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 Thomas in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Ensenada or Saint Thomas? 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ensenada:
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Saint Thomas are as follows:
Also for Saint Thomas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Saint Thomas 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.
For Saint Thomas, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Here are a few actual costs in Ensenada for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Saint Thomas.
Also in Ensenada, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Saint Thomas:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ensenada and Saint Thomas, we can see that Saint Thomas 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 Thomas 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 Thomas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Thomas 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 Thomas Expensive?.
Ensenada has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Saint Thomas. When comparing the sizes of Ensenada and Saint Thomas, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.