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

Should you visit Mar del Plata or Saint John?

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 John can help you decide which place is right for you.

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

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 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 Luxury Tours to Argentina, and The Best Budget Tours to Argentina.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mar del Plata and Saint John, we can see that Saint John 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 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 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 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 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 John Expensive?.

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

Mar del Plata 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 Mar del Plata or Saint John in the Summer?

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

Mar del Plata is cooler than Saint John in the summer. The daily temperature in Mar del Plata averages around 20°C (69°F) in January, and Saint John fluctuates around 29°C (83°F)in July.

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

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

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

In the autumn, Mar del Plata is much colder than Saint John. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Mar del Plata in April average around 15°C (59°F), and Saint John averages at about 28°C (82°F)in October.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint John. In April, Mar del Plata usually receives less rain than Saint Johnin October. Mar del Plata gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

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

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

In July, Mar del Plata is generally much colder than Saint Johnin January. Daily temperatures in Mar del Plata average around 9°C (47°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

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

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

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

Mar del Plata is much colder than Saint John in the spring. The daily temperature in Mar del Plata averages around 13°C (56°F) in October, and Saint John fluctuates around 27°C (80°F)in April.

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

Typical Weather for Saint John and Mar del Plata