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

Should you visit Isla de Ometepe or Saint John?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Isla de Ometepe or Saint John, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Isla de Ometepe or Saint John?

Isla de Ometepe

Ometepe is a dramatically beautiful island in Lake Nicaragua in the country of Nicaragua. The island is the largest in the lake and is formed by two dramatic twin volcanoes that climb high from the water's surface. The two volcanoes are Concepcion and Maderas, and they are joined by an isthmus to make one island with an area of 276 square kilometers. The island is 31 kilometers long and between 5 and 10 kilometers wide. There are several small settlements on the island as well as a few coffee plantations. It is also one of the top sights in the country and makes for a unique travel destination.

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 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.


Which place is cheaper, Saint John or Isla de Ometepe?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Isla de Ometepe is $34, 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 Isla de Ometepe and Saint John in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Isla de Ometepe $13
    Saint John $106
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Isla de Ometepe $26
    Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Isla de Ometepe and Saint John

Looking for a hotel in Isla de Ometepe 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 Isla de Ometepe


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.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Isla de Ometepe $11
    Saint John $49

Is it cheaper to fly into Isla de Ometepe or Saint John?

Prices for flights to both Saint John and Isla de Ometepe 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
    Isla de Ometepe $13
    Saint John $56

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Isla de Ometepe $13
    Saint John $23

Tours and Activities in Isla de Ometepe

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Isla de Ometepe are as follows:

  • A great tour day for the ISLAND OF OMETEPE.: $80

Tours and Activities in Saint John

Here are a few actual costs in Saint John for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • USVI: Island & Beach Tours in St. Thomas & St. John (2 Days): $199
  • St. John: A Private Island Adventure Tour & Trunk Bay Beach: $627

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Isla de Ometepe $8.85
    Saint John $44


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

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



When is the best time to visit Isla de Ometepe or Saint John?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.

Should I visit Isla de Ometepe or Saint John in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Isla de Ometepe and Saint John. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Isla de Ometepe year-round. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Isla de Ometepe gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Isla de Ometepe usually receives more rain than Saint John. Isla de Ometepe gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Isla de Ometepe is around the same temperature as Saint John in the summer. The daily temperature in Isla de Ometepe averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Saint John fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Isla de Ometepe 27°C (81°F) 
    Saint John 29°C (83°F)

Should I visit Isla de Ometepe or Saint John in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Isla de Ometepe as well as Saint John. Isla de Ometepe attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.

It's quite rainy in Saint John. Isla de Ometepe receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Isla de Ometepe usually gets more rain in October than Saint John. Isla de Ometepe gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

In the autumn, Isla de Ometepe is around the same temperature as Saint John. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Isla de Ometepe in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Saint John averages at about 28°C (82°F).


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Isla de Ometepe 27°C (81°F) 
    Saint John 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Isla de Ometepe or Saint John in the Winter?

Both Saint John and Isla de Ometepe are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Isla de Ometepe throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In January, Isla de Ometepe usually receives less rain than Saint John. Isla de Ometepe gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

In January, Isla de Ometepe is generally around the same temperature as Saint John. Daily temperatures in Isla de Ometepe average around 26°C (79°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Isla de Ometepe 26°C (79°F) 
    Saint John 26°C (78°F)

Should I visit Isla de Ometepe or Saint John in the Spring?

Both Saint John and Isla de Ometepe during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Isla de Ometepe because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.

Isla de Ometepe usually gets less rain in April than Saint John. Isla de Ometepe gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Isla de Ometepe is around the same temperature as Saint John in the spring. The daily temperature in Isla de Ometepe averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Saint John fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Isla de Ometepe 29°C (84°F) 
    Saint John 27°C (80°F)

Typical Weather for Saint John and Isla de Ometepe

Isla de Ometepe Saint John
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 26°C (79°F) 4 mm (0.2 in) 26°C (78°F) 43 mm (1.7 in)
Feb 27°C (80°F) 2 mm (0.1 in) 26°C (78°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Mar 28°C (82°F) 3 mm (0.1 in) 26°C (79°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Apr 29°C (84°F) 6 mm (0.2 in) 27°C (80°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
May 29°C (84°F) 131 mm (5.2 in) 28°C (82°F) 94 mm (3.7 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 196 mm (7.7 in) 28°C (83°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 144 mm (5.7 in) 29°C (83°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 151 mm (5.9 in) 29°C (84°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 210 mm (8.3 in) 28°C (83°F) 127 mm (5 in)
Oct 27°C (81°F) 197 mm (7.8 in) 28°C (82°F) 146 mm (5.7 in)
Nov 31°C (88°F) 54 mm (2.1 in) 27°C (81°F) 126 mm (4.9 in)
Dec 26°C (79°F) 11 mm (0.4 in) 26°C (80°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)