Which place is cheaper, Saint John or Manaus?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Manaus or Saint John?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Manaus or Saint John? 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.
Where Should I go: Manaus or Saint John?
Manaus
Manaus is a Brazilian city, capital of the state of Amazonas, and is located on the Rio Negro a few miles before it meets the Rio Solimões to form the Amazon River. The city is a major departure point for those visiting the Amazon Rainforest, though there are a few sights worth seeing within the city itself as well.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Brazil, and The Best Wildlife Tours to Brazil.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayManaus $59Saint John $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Manaus is $59, 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 Manaus and Saint John in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personManaus $42Saint John $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomManaus $84Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Manaus and Saint John
Looking for a hotel in Manaus 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: Manaus Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Manaus $7.94Saint John $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Manaus
Also for Manaus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Manaus to Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) -Departure Private Transfer: $21
- 24-hour hotel transfer - airport in Manaus: $17
- Manaus Airport (MAO) to Manaus hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $24
- Manaus Airport(MAO) to Manaus hotels- Round-Trip Private Transfer: $48
- Manaus hotels to Manaus Airport(MAO) - Departure Private Transfer: $24
- Manaus private Airport transfer: $30
- Manaus to Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) - Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus - Arrival Private Transfer: $21
- Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
- Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $46
- Private 24-hour transfer from the Hotel to the Airport in Manaus: $16
- Private Transfer - Airport - Hotel / Hotel - Airport: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Manaus or Saint John?
Prices for flights to both Saint John and Manaus 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 dayManaus $12Saint John $56
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Manaus
For Manaus, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Folklore Amazonian Dinner Show: $42
- Food Tour: $50
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Manaus -Saint John $23
Tours and Activities in Manaus
For Manaus, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Like a Local Customized Guided Welcome Tour: $30
- Manaus City Tour e Musa: $50
- City Tour in Manaus at Teatro Amazonas and Praça da Matriz: $50
- MUSA and INPA Museums with Observation Tower Tour: $50
- Half-Day City Tour: $54
- Full-Day Tour on the Amazon River: $55
- Amazon Negro River Half-Day Expedition Tour: $55
- Manaus Sightseeing Tour: $64
- Solimoes River Piranha Fishing and Alligator Watching Tour: $66
- Tour to Presidente Figueiredo Waterfalls: $70
- Full-Day Package Tour in Presidente Figueiredo : $70
- Meeting of the Waters & Pink Dolphin Tour with Lunch: $71
Tours and Activities in Saint John
Here are a few actual costs in Saint John for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- St. John: A Private Island Adventure Tour & Trunk Bay Beach: $627
- USVI: Island & Beach Tours in St. Thomas & St. John (2 Days): $199
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayManaus $2.84Saint John $44
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Manaus and Saint John, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. And not only is Manaus much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Manaus is in South 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 Manaus would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Manaus 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 Manaus.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Manaus Expensive? and Is Saint John Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Manaus or Saint John?
Manaus has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Saint John experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Manaus or Saint John in the Summer?
Both Saint John and Manaus during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.
In January, Manaus is generally around the same temperature as Saint Johnin July. Daily temperatures in Manaus average around 27°C (81°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Manaus. Manaus usually gets more rain in January than Saint Johnin July. Manaus gets 264 mm (10.4 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyManaus 27°C (81°F)Saint John 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Manaus or Saint John in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Manaus and Saint John. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Manaus is around the same temperature as Saint John in the autumn. The daily temperature in Manaus averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Saint John fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in October.
Saint John receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Manaus gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Manaus usually receives more rain than Saint Johnin October. Manaus gets 311 mm (12.3 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberManaus 28°C (82°F)Saint John 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Manaus or Saint John in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Manaus as well as Saint John. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.
In the winter, Manaus is around the same temperature as Saint John. Typically, the winter temperatures in Manaus in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Saint John averages at about 26°C (78°F)in January.
Manaus usually gets more rain in July than Saint Johnin January. Manaus gets 85 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryManaus 28°C (82°F)Saint John 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Manaus or Saint John in the Spring?
Both Saint John and Manaus are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In October, Manaus is generally around the same temperature as Saint Johnin April. Daily temperatures in Manaus average around 29°C (84°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
It's quite rainy in Manaus. In October, Manaus usually receives more rain than Saint Johnin April. Manaus gets 113 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilManaus 29°C (84°F)Saint John 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint John and Manaus
| Manaus | Saint John | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 264 mm (10.4 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 290 mm (11.4 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 311 mm (12.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 279 mm (11 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 85 mm (3.4 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (83°F) | 174 mm (6.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 220 mm (8.6 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.