A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Mar del Plata vs. Saint Croix for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Mar del Plata or Saint Croix?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Mar del Plata and Saint Croix can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Mar del Plata or Saint Croix?

Mar del Plata

Mar del Plata is found only 404 km southeast of the city of Buenos Aires, on the Atlantic coast. Today Mar Del Plata is Argentina‘s most well known beach resort. It has successfully married the two worlds of beach and city into a fun, cosmopolitan urban center with the presence of highly developed tourist infrastructure. Founded in 1874, Mar del Plata was at first mainly an industrial and commercial center before becoming a vacation destination for Argentinians. For a peaceful trip and intimate oceanfront promenades, avoid visiting Mar del Plata during summer time, as the gorgeous arced coastline will be crawling with visitors. But the city is more than just beaches. It also offers some culture, lively nightlife, and great food.

Saint Croix

Sometimes all you want out of a vacation is the warmth of the sun, the sound of the waves and the taste of a cold drink. No more. No less. That's exactly what you can expect in St. Croix.

The largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix is a place of our leisure and relaxation. It's a bit of an expensive lifestyle for its 50,000 residents and daily visitors, but when you're living on island time, money is never a worry. There are no worries on island time.

This once volcanic island is covered in incredible beaches, stunning mountains, palm tress in the wind and historic colonial towns. While they may be a bit old and rundown, the Danish architecture still stands as a unique part of this island's legacy. Don't expect much window-shopping, though. That was not a feature incorporated in this style of architecture. If you want to know if a store is open, just step on in, but remember, shop hours are also running on island time.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Argentina, and The Best Budget Tours to Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, Saint Croix or Mar del Plata?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Mar del Plata is $8.78, while the average daily cost in Saint Croix is $236. 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 Mar del Plata and Saint Croix in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mar del Plata $3.15
    Saint Croix $149
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mar del Plata $6.30
    Saint Croix $298
Compare Hotels in Mar del Plata and Saint Croix

Looking for a hotel in Mar del Plata or Saint Croix? 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 Mar del Plata


Hotels in Saint Croix


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: Mar del Plata Hotel Prices and Saint Croix Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mar del Plata $2.50
    Saint Croix $35

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Croix

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Saint Croix:

  • Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) to St.Croix - Round-Trip Transfer: $217
  • St Croix Airport to St Croix Hotels Private Round Trip Transfer: $217
  • Private Transfer from St. Croix Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) to St. Croix : $164
  • St. Croix to Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) - Departure Transfer: $109
  • Saint Croix Airport (STX) to Saint Croix Hotels -Arrival Transfer: $109
  • Henry E.Rohlsen Airport(STX) to St. Croix island-Arrival Transfer: $109
  • Private Transfer from St. Croix Airport to St. Croix Cruise Port : $71
  • Private Transfer from St. Croix Cruise Port to St. Croix Airport: $71
  • Private Transfer from St.Croix hotels to St. Croix Cruise Port : $49
  • Private Transfer from St.Croix Cruise Port to St.Croix hotels: $49

Is it cheaper to fly into Mar del Plata or Saint Croix?

Prices for flights to both Saint Croix and Mar del Plata 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
    Mar del Plata $3.81
    Saint Croix $56

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint Croix

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Saint Croix.

  • A Evening Cultural Experience Through Food Cooking Class St. Croix: $90
  • Taste of Twin City Food Tour with VI Food Tours: $129
  • C'sted Sip & Savor Mixology Class with VI Food Tours: $129

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mar del Plata $2.27
    Saint Croix $58

Tours and Activities in Saint Croix

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Saint Croix are as follows:

  • 1 Hour Private Jetcar Experience in Virgin Islands : $250
  • 30 Minute Private Jetcar Experience in Virgin Islands: $150
  • Grange Estate History and Heritage Private Tour and Luncheon : $60
  • Horseback Riding Experience: $160
  • Parasail Experience in St Croix: $132
  • Private Sailing Tour of Pirate Waters and Shipwrecks: $75
  • St Croix Island Tour: $100

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mar del Plata $1.78
    Saint Croix $27


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mar del Plata and Saint Croix, we can see that Saint Croix is more expensive. And not only is Mar del Plata much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mar del Plata is in South America and Saint Croix 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 Mar del Plata would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mar del Plata 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 Croix would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Croix than you might in Mar del Plata.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mar del Plata Expensive? and Is Saint Croix Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Mar del Plata or Saint Croix?

Mar del Plata has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Saint Croix experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Mar del Plata or Saint Croix in the Summer?

Both Saint Croix and Mar del Plata during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint Croix year-round.

In the summer, Mar del Plata is cooler than Saint Croix. Typically, the summer temperatures in Mar del Plata in January average around 20°C (69°F), and Saint Croix averages at about 29°C (83°F)in July.

Mar del Plata usually gets more rain in January than Saint Croixin July. Mar del Plata gets 96 mm (3.8 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures January and July
    Mar del Plata 20°C (69°F) 
    Saint Croix 29°C (83°F)

Should I visit Mar del Plata or Saint Croix in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Mar del Plata and Saint Croix. Saint Croix attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In April, Mar del Plata is generally much colder than Saint Croixin October. Daily temperatures in Mar del Plata average around 15°C (59°F), and Saint Croix fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

Saint Croix receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Mar del Plata usually receives less rain than Saint Croixin October. Mar del Plata gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures April and October
    Mar del Plata 15°C (59°F) 
    Saint Croix 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Mar del Plata or Saint Croix in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Mar del Plata as well as Saint Croix. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint Croix throughout the year.

Mar del Plata is much colder than Saint Croix in the winter. The daily temperature in Mar del Plata averages around 9°C (47°F) in July, and Saint Croix fluctuates around 26°C (78°F)in January.

Mar del Plata usually gets more rain in July than Saint Croixin January. Mar del Plata gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures July and January
    Mar del Plata 9°C (47°F) 
    Saint Croix 26°C (78°F)

Should I visit Mar del Plata or Saint Croix in the Spring?

Both Saint Croix and Mar del Plata are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Saint Croix because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the spring, Mar del Plata is much colder than Saint Croix. Typically, the spring temperatures in Mar del Plata in October average around 13°C (56°F), and Saint Croix averages at about 27°C (80°F)in April.

In October, Mar del Plata usually receives more rain than Saint Croixin April. Mar del Plata gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures October and April
    Mar del Plata 13°C (56°F) 
    Saint Croix 27°C (80°F)

Typical Weather for Saint Croix and Mar del Plata

Mar del Plata Saint Croix
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 20°C (69°F) 96 mm (3.8 in) 26°C (78°F) 43 mm (1.7 in)
Feb 20°C (68°F) 70 mm (2.8 in) 26°C (78°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Mar 18°C (65°F) 97 mm (3.8 in) 26°C (79°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Apr 15°C (59°F) 67 mm (2.6 in) 27°C (80°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
May 12°C (53°F) 71 mm (2.8 in) 28°C (82°F) 94 mm (3.7 in)
Jun 9°C (48°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 28°C (83°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
Jul 9°C (47°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 29°C (83°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
Aug 9°C (49°F) 66 mm (2.6 in) 29°C (84°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Sep 11°C (51°F) 56 mm (2.2 in) 28°C (83°F) 127 mm (5 in)
Oct 13°C (56°F) 78 mm (3.1 in) 28°C (82°F) 146 mm (5.7 in)
Nov 16°C (61°F) 75 mm (3 in) 27°C (81°F) 126 mm (4.9 in)
Dec 19°C (66°F) 88 mm (3.5 in) 26°C (80°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)