Which place is cheaper, Saint Thomas or Jaco?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Jaco or Saint Thomas, 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.
Jaco is a beach destination on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. This resort city is located in the county of Garabito in the Puntarenas province. It has a population of about 10,000 residents and a 2.5 mile long beach that is an excellent surfing destination.
Because Jaco is located on the coast, it's weather is influenced by the water. The climate is humid with a relative humidity of about 80%, but climbing to 90% in the month of June. The temperature is usually between 85 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit at night. There are distinct wet and dry seasons with August through early December being the rainy season and late December through early April being the dry season. Rain is irregular during the rest of the year.
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 Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Jaco is $104, 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 Jaco and Saint Thomas in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Jaco 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.
Also for Jaco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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 Jaco 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 Jaco, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For Jaco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Saint Thomas, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Jaco's activities, tours, and tickets:
For Jaco, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Saint Thomas.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Jaco:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Saint Thomas:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Jaco and Saint Thomas, we can see that Saint Thomas is more expensive. And not only is Jaco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Jaco is in Central 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 Jaco would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Jaco 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 Jaco.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Jaco Expensive? and Is Saint Thomas Expensive?.
Saint Thomas has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Jaco. When comparing the sizes of Jaco 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.
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.
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Jaco and Saint Thomas. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Jaco year-round. Saint Thomas attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Jaco gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Jaco usually receives more rain than Saint Thomas. Jaco gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Saint Thomas receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint Thomas this time of the year. Jaco usually receives less sunshine than Saint Thomas during summer. Jaco gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Thomas receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Jaco is around the same temperature as Saint Thomas. Typically, the summer temperatures in Jaco in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Saint Thomas averages at about 29°C (83°F).
The autumn brings many poeple to Jaco as well as Saint Thomas. Jaco attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint Thomas throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Saint Thomas. Jaco receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Jaco usually gets more rain in October than Saint Thomas. Jaco gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Saint Thomas receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint Thomas. In the autumn, Jaco often gets less sunshine than Saint Thomas. Jaco gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint Thomas receives 235 hours of full sun.
In October, Jaco is generally around the same temperature as Saint Thomas. Daily temperatures in Jaco average around 27°C (81°F), and Saint Thomas fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
Both Saint Thomas and Jaco are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Jaco throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Saint Thomas because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Jaco usually receives less rain than Saint Thomas. Jaco gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Saint Thomas receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Saint Thomas. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Jaco. Jaco usually receives more sunshine than Saint Thomas during winter. Jaco gets 264 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Thomas receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
Jaco is around the same temperature as Saint Thomas in the winter. The daily temperature in Jaco averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Saint Thomas fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
Both Saint Thomas and Jaco during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Jaco because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint Thomas year-round.
Jaco usually gets less rain in April than Saint Thomas. Jaco gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Saint Thomas receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Saint Thomas, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Jaco. In the spring, Jaco often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Saint Thomas. Jaco gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint Thomas receives 272 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Jaco is around the same temperature as Saint Thomas. Typically, the spring temperatures in Jaco in April average around 29°C (85°F), and Saint Thomas averages at about 27°C (80°F).
Jaco | Saint Thomas | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |