Which place is cheaper, Saint John or Mazatlan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mazatlan or Saint John?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Mazatlan 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: Mazatlan or Saint John?
Mazatlan
Mazatlan is located on the Pacific coast in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. The city has a population of almost 500,000, making it the second largest city in the state. It is a popular tourist destination because of its beautiful beaches and resort hotels. Most people head to Mazatlan specifically for its beaches, but the city itself is somewhat large and diverse with many different cultures and ethnicities represented. Many foreigners come here not only to vacation, but also to retire. You'll meet people from all over Europe, as well as Canada and the United States.
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 Food and Culinary Tours in Mexico, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Mexico.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMazatlan $79Saint John $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Mazatlan is $79, 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 Mazatlan and Saint John in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMazatlan $33Saint John $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMazatlan $66Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Mazatlan and Saint John
Looking for a hotel in Mazatlan 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: Mazatlan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mazatlan $21Saint John $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mazatlan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Mazatlan:
- Mazatlan Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Mazatlan hotels: $236
- Mazatlan Intl Airport (MZT): Private Transfer to Mazatlan: $296
- Private Airport-Hotel Transfer: $119
- Private roundtrip airport to hotel transfer in Mazatlan: $262
- Round transfer airport to hotel in Mazatlán: $50
Is it cheaper to fly into Mazatlan or Saint John?
Prices for flights to both Saint John and Mazatlan 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 dayMazatlan $34Saint John $56
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mazatlan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Mazatlan.
- Mercado walking food tour: $78
- Mazatlan routes of taste food tour: $84
- Authentic Mexican Cooking Class in Mazatlan: $84
- Tacos, Beer and Mezcal Food Tour in Mazatlan: $96
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mazatlan $9.59Saint John $23
Tours and Activities in Mazatlan
Here are a few actual costs in Mazatlan for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Mazatlan Sightseeing and Golden Zone: $27
- Mazatlan City Sightseeing Tour with Shopping Time and Lunch: $40
- Mazatlan Sightseeing and Shopping Tour: $40
- Mazatlan Smart Bike Tour: $40
- El Faro Lighthouse Tour with Free Digital Photos: $47
- Mazatlan - City Tour: $47
- City Tour with Tequila Tasting & Beach Hotel Day Pass Included : $49
- Grand Aquarium Ticket and City Sightseeing Tour: $57
- Sensation Splash Party All Inclusive Mazatlan Bay Cruise: $57
- Beach Activities and All Inclusive Tour: $58
- Seafront Boardwalk Beer Bike Tour: $58
- Deer Island Eco Tour with Snorkeling and Hiking: $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 dayMazatlan $18Saint John $44
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mazatlan and Saint John, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. And not only is Mazatlan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mazatlan is in North 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 Mazatlan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mazatlan 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 Mazatlan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mazatlan Expensive? and Is Saint John Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Mazatlan or Saint John?
Mazatlan 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 Mazatlan or Saint John in the Summer?
Both Saint John and Mazatlan are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Mazatlan for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In July, Mazatlan is generally around the same temperature as Saint John. Daily temperatures in Mazatlan average around 29°C (83°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
It's quite rainy in Mazatlan. In July, Mazatlan usually receives more rain than Saint John. Mazatlan gets 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMazatlan 29°C (83°F)Saint John 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Mazatlan or Saint John in the Autumn?
Both Saint John and Mazatlan during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Mazatlan because of the shopping scene. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.
Mazatlan is around the same temperature as Saint John in the autumn. The daily temperature in Mazatlan averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Saint John fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
Saint John gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Mazatlan usually gets less rain in October than Saint John. Mazatlan gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMazatlan 27°C (81°F)Saint John 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Mazatlan or Saint John in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Mazatlan and Saint John. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Mazatlan this time of year. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the winter, Mazatlan is cooler than Saint John. Typically, the winter temperatures in Mazatlan in January average around 20°C (67°F), and Saint John averages at about 26°C (78°F).
In January, Mazatlan usually receives less rain than Saint John. Mazatlan gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMazatlan 20°C (67°F)Saint John 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Mazatlan or Saint John in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Mazatlan as well as Saint John. Many travelers come to Mazatlan for the beaches. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.
In April, Mazatlan is generally cooler than Saint John. Daily temperatures in Mazatlan average around 22°C (72°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
Mazatlan usually gets less rain in April than Saint John. Mazatlan gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMazatlan 22°C (72°F)Saint John 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint John and Mazatlan
| Mazatlan | Saint John | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 20°C (67°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (67°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 22°C (72°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 24°C (76°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 199 mm (7.8 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 219 mm (8.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 227 mm (8.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 24°C (75°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 18 mm (0.7 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.