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

Should you visit Piriapolis or Saint John?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Piriapolis or Saint John, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Piriapolis or Saint John?

Piriapolis

Piriapolis is a small beach town between Montevideo and Punta del Este in Uruguay. It is a more laid back version of Punta del Este with fewer fancy restaurants and clubs but it has perhaps more charm, with its grand old hotel and beachfront promenade backed by small mountains. The rather old-school coastal resort is vaguely reminiscent of a Mediterranean beach town.

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 Uruguay, and The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Piriapolis and Saint John, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. And not only is Piriapolis much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Piriapolis 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 Piriapolis would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Piriapolis 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 Piriapolis.

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

When is the best time to visit Piriapolis or Saint John?

Piriapolis 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 Piriapolis or Saint John in the Summer?

Both Saint John and Piriapolis are popular destinations to visit in the summer 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 summer, Piriapolis is cooler than Saint John. Typically, the summer temperatures in Piriapolis in January average around 23°C (73°F), and Saint John averages at about 29°C (83°F)in July.

In January, Piriapolis usually receives more rain than Saint Johnin July. Piriapolis gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Piriapolis or Saint John in the Autumn?

Both Saint John and Piriapolis during the autumn are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.

In April, Piriapolis is generally much colder than Saint Johnin October. Daily temperatures in Piriapolis average around 17°C (63°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

Saint John gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Piriapolis usually gets less rain in April than Saint Johnin October. Piriapolis gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Piriapolis or Saint John in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Piriapolis and Saint John. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Piriapolis is much colder than Saint John in the winter. The daily temperature in Piriapolis averages around 10°C (50°F) in July, and Saint John fluctuates around 26°C (78°F)in January.

In July, Piriapolis usually receives more rain than Saint Johnin January. Piriapolis gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Piriapolis or Saint John in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Piriapolis as well as Saint John. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.

In the spring, Piriapolis is much colder than Saint John. Typically, the spring temperatures in Piriapolis in October average around 16°C (61°F), and Saint John averages at about 27°C (80°F)in April.

Piriapolis usually gets more rain in October than Saint Johnin April. Piriapolis gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Saint John and Piriapolis