Which place is cheaper, Saint John or Liberia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Liberia 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 Liberia 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: Liberia or Saint John?
Liberia
Liberia is a town in northwestern Costa Rica. It is the capital of the Guanacaste province, which is about 140 miles away from Costa Rica's capital, San Jose. The town has a population of about 56,000 and is one of the tourism centers of 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 dayLiberia $112Saint John $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Liberia is $112, 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 Liberia and Saint John in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLiberia $60Saint John $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLiberia $120Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Liberia and Saint John
Looking for a hotel in Liberia 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: Liberia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Liberia $43Saint John $49
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Liberia
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Liberia are as follows:
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Bike Rental$25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Liberia
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Liberia:
- Airport transfer Liberia from and to Tamarindo (One way) : $113
- Costa Rica Private Airport Transfer : $6.00
- Departure Private Transfer Arenal to San Jose Airport by Minivan: $177
- Direct Transfer Liberia Airport to Guanacaste Hotels: $35
- GUANACASTE COSTA RICA Airport Transfers | Shuttle Service: $62
- Guanacaste Airport Transfer to Playa Tamarindo: $105
- Guanacaste Airport: Transfer to/from Papagayo Hyatt Hotel: $76
- Liberia Airport (LIR) Peñas Blancas - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $76
- Liberia Airport (LIR) to Flamingo/Tamarindo - Round-Trip Transfer: $76
- Liberia Airport (LIR) to Jaco / Monteverde - Round-Trip Transfer : $179
- Liberia Airport (LIR) to Jaco/Monteverde Arrival Private Transfer: $89
- Liberia Airport (LIR) to Peñas Blancas - Arrival Private Transfer: $38
Is it cheaper to fly into Liberia or Saint John?
Prices for flights to both Saint John and Liberia 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 dayLiberia $21Saint John $56
Typical Food Prices in Liberia
Some typical examples of dining costs in Liberia are as follows:
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Snacks$1.97
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Lunch at The Shack (for 1)$4.95
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Lunch$11
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Coffee & Tres Leches (for 2)$14
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Ginger Ale$1.28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Liberia
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Liberia.
- 2-Hour Cooking Class in Nosara : $65
- Private Local Cooking Class in Nosara: $85
- Private Sunset Dinner at the Beach with Chef : $190
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Liberia $25Saint John $23
Tours and Activities in Liberia
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Liberia are as follows:
- (Private) La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike: $41
- La Leona Waterfall: Private tour in Rincon de la Vieja!: $43
- Night Tour in Nuevo Arenal: $43
- Bird-Watching and Wildlife Tour: $43
- La Leona waterfall adventure hike half day : $45
- La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike (Private Tour): $45
- Skip the Line: Diamante Eco Adventure Park: Animal Sanctuary Discovery Ticket: $49
- Zip-line Adventure: $53
- Horseback Riding Tour: $59
- Rincón de la Vieja Bird-Watching Tour: $62
- Zipline at Skyline Canopy Tour Guanacaste Costa Rica: $65
- From Tubing Adventure at Rio Negro: $65
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 dayLiberia $13Saint John $44
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Liberia and Saint John, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. And not only is Liberia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Liberia 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 Liberia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Liberia 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 Liberia.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Liberia Expensive? and Is Saint John Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Liberia 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 Liberia or Saint John in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Liberia and Saint John. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Liberia year-round. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Liberia gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Liberia usually receives more rain than Saint John. Liberia gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Liberia is around the same temperature as Saint John in the summer. The daily temperature in Liberia averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Saint John fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLiberia 28°C (82°F)Saint John 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Liberia or Saint John in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Liberia as well as Saint John. Liberia attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.
Also, December to April in Liberia is the dry season. April to December in Liberia is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Saint John. Liberia receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Liberia usually gets more rain in October than Saint John. Liberia gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Liberia is around the same temperature as Saint John. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Liberia in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Saint John averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLiberia 27°C (81°F)Saint John 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Liberia or Saint John in the Winter?
Both Saint John and Liberia are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Liberia throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Liberia usually receives less rain than Saint John. Liberia 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 January, Liberia is generally around the same temperature as Saint John. Daily temperatures in Liberia average around 27°C (81°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLiberia 27°C (81°F)Saint John 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Liberia or Saint John in the Spring?
Both Saint John and Liberia during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Liberia because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.
December to April is the dry season in Liberia. April to December is the rainy season in Liberia. Liberia usually gets less rain in April than Saint John. Liberia gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
Liberia is around the same temperature as Saint John in the spring. The daily temperature in Liberia averages around 29°C (85°F) in April, and Saint John fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLiberia 29°C (85°F)Saint John 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint John and Liberia
| Liberia | 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.