Which place is cheaper, Saint John or La Fortuna?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit La Fortuna or Saint John?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for La Fortuna and Saint John. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: La Fortuna or Saint John?
La Fortuna
La Fortuna is in San Carlos, in the province of Alajuela. It is the closest town to Arenal Volcano, and the area is often simply refered to as Arenal. The volcano itself is active and has been constantly erupting since 1968. It erupts on average 41 times a day. This area of northern Costa Rica is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the country.
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 Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLa Fortuna $104Saint John $192
The average daily cost (per person) in La Fortuna is $104, 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 La Fortuna and Saint John in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLa Fortuna $51Saint John $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLa Fortuna $102Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in La Fortuna and Saint John
Looking for a hotel in La Fortuna 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: La Fortuna Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.La Fortuna $21Saint John $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Fortuna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Fortuna:
- Transfer From Liberia Airport To Arenal La Fortuna San Carlos: $42
- Arenal La Fortuna to Liberia Airport (LIR) - Departure Transfer : $63
- Arenal lake boat transfer from to Monteverde from La Fortuna: $60
- Costa Rica Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) -Arrival Private Transfer: $189
- Direct Transfer From La Fortuna to San Jose, English Speaking Driver: $153
- From La Fortuna/La Palma: Private Transfer to Tamarindo: $280
- From Lake Arenal Kayaking Trip with Transfer: $90
- From San Jose Airport To Arenal - La Fortuna - PRIVATE TRANSFER: $295
- La Fortuna de Arenal: Transfer to Guapiles: $213
- La Fortuna de Arenal: Transfer to Liberia or LIR Airport: $70
- La Fortuna de Arenal: Transfer to Liberia or LIR Airport: $187
- La Fortuna de Arenal: Transfer to Manuel Antonio or Quepos: $320
Is it cheaper to fly into La Fortuna or Saint John?
Prices for flights to both Saint John and La Fortuna 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 dayLa Fortuna $27Saint John $56
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Fortuna
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Fortuna.
- 2 Hours Private Cooking Class in La Fortuna: $38
- Organic Farm Visit & Farm-to-Table Cooking Class: $45
- Cooking Class and Sugar Cane Experience: $45
- Typical Costa Rican Cooking Classes in La Fortuna: $48
- Costa Rica Cooking, El Fogon de Chela: $50
- Costa Rican cuisine Cooking Class at Rancho Don Lelo: $60
- Cooking Class "Cook Like a Local" La Fortuna: $63
- Rainforest Night Walk and Authentic Costa Rican Dinner from La Fortuna: $65
- 3-Hour Costa Rican Cooking Class with Dinner: $68
- Private typical cooking class with a Costa Rican family: $70
- Private cooking class in organic farm at La Fortuna: $75
- Ceviche & Empanadas Cooking Class: $77
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.La Fortuna $44Saint John $23
Tours and Activities in La Fortuna
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Fortuna are as follows:
- Two Destinations Tour - La Fortuna Top Destinations : $20
- Skip-the-Line La Fortuna Waterfall Admission Ticket: $20
- Arenal Volcano Hike Experience (not guide included): $23
- Arenal Observatory Trails Admission Ticket: $29
- arenal fortuna city tour: $30
- Don Olivo Chocolate Tour: $30
- Sloth Tour: $30
- Private Sloth and Monkey Wildlife Tour: $30
- 1-Hour Private Sloth Tour in the Rainforest from Costa Rica: $30
- Rainforest Chocolate Tour: $30
- Night tour through the Tropical Forest at Tifakara : $32
- Ticket to Rio Celeste Waterfall & Tenorio Volcano National Park: $32
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLa Fortuna $11Saint John $44
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between La Fortuna and Saint John, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. And not only is La Fortuna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since La Fortuna 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 La Fortuna would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Fortuna 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 La Fortuna.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is La Fortuna Expensive? and Is Saint John Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit La Fortuna 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 La Fortuna or Saint John in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both La Fortuna and Saint John. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to La Fortuna year-round. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
La Fortuna gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, La Fortuna usually receives more rain than Saint John. La Fortuna gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In July, La Fortuna is generally around the same temperature as Saint John. Daily temperatures in La Fortuna average around 28°C (82°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLa Fortuna 28°C (82°F)Saint John 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit La Fortuna or Saint John in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to La Fortuna as well as Saint John. La Fortuna 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. La Fortuna receives a lot of rain in the autumn. La Fortuna usually gets more rain in October than Saint John. La Fortuna gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
La Fortuna is around the same temperature as Saint John in the autumn. The daily temperature in La Fortuna averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Saint John fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLa Fortuna 27°C (81°F)Saint John 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit La Fortuna or Saint John in the Winter?
Both Saint John and La Fortuna are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to La Fortuna throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, La Fortuna usually receives less rain than Saint John. La Fortuna gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In the winter, La Fortuna is around the same temperature as Saint John. Typically, the winter temperatures in La Fortuna in January average around 27°C (81°F), and Saint John averages at about 26°C (78°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLa Fortuna 27°C (81°F)Saint John 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit La Fortuna or Saint John in the Spring?
Both Saint John and La Fortuna during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to La Fortuna because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.
La Fortuna usually gets less rain in April than Saint John. La Fortuna gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
In April, La Fortuna is generally around the same temperature as Saint John. Daily temperatures in La Fortuna average around 29°C (85°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLa Fortuna 29°C (85°F)Saint John 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint John and La Fortuna
| La Fortuna | Saint John | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
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.