Which place is cheaper, Saint John or Puerto Madryn?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Puerto Madryn or Saint John?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Puerto Madryn 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: Puerto Madryn or Saint John?
Puerto Madryn
Puerto Madryn is mostly known as the gateway to Peninsula Valdes, welcoming tourists who come for whale watching. The Peninsula Valdes is a nature reserve designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site; 97 km long and 63 km wide, it is connected to the continent by an isthmus of 35 km from which we can see both gulfs, San Jose at north and the Nuevo at south.
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 2-Week Tours in Argentina, and The Best 3-Week Tours in Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Madryn $14Saint John $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Madryn is $14, 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 Puerto Madryn and Saint John in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Madryn $5.25Saint John $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Madryn $11Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Puerto Madryn and Saint John
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Madryn 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: Puerto Madryn Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Madryn $3.28Saint John $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Madryn
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Madryn:
- From Punta Tombo Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $131
- Trelew Airport Shuttle Transfer To Puerto Madryn : $47
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Madryn or Saint John?
Prices for flights to both Saint John and Puerto Madryn 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 dayPuerto Madryn $5.69Saint John $56
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Madryn $5.77Saint John $23
Typical Entertainment Prices in Puerto Madryn
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Puerto Madryn are as follows:
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Whale Watching for Two$0.35
Tours and Activities in Puerto Madryn
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Madryn are as follows:
- Kayaking adventure in Puerto Madryn: $60
- Excursion to Punta Loma and Puerto Madryn for Cruisers: $60
- From City and Punta Loma Tour: $70
- Shore Excursion: Punta Loma+City Tour, for cruise passengers: $70
- Punta Loma Shore Excursion with City tour: $75
- Punta Loma Excursion for Cruise Passengers: $75
- Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience - optional Whale Watching : $87
- Peninsula Valdes Full Day Tour: $88
- Punta Tombo Tour, the Penguin Experience: $88
- Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience: $90
- Shore Excursion Punta Loma Sea Lions Reserve Including Puerto Madryn City Tour : $95
- Wonderful Punta Tombo Penguin Rookery Tour : $100
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 dayPuerto Madryn $3.13Saint John $44
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Madryn and Saint John, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Madryn much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Puerto Madryn 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 Puerto Madryn would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Madryn 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 Puerto Madryn.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Puerto Madryn Expensive? and Is Saint John Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Puerto Madryn or Saint John?
Puerto Madryn 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 Puerto Madryn or Saint John in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Puerto Madryn and Saint John. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the summer, Puerto Madryn is cooler than Saint John. Typically, the summer temperatures in Puerto Madryn in January average around 22°C (71°F), and Saint John averages at about 29°C (83°F)in July.
In January, Puerto Madryn usually receives less rain than Saint Johnin July. Puerto Madryn gets 11 mm (0.4 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 January and JulyPuerto Madryn 22°C (71°F)Saint John 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Saint John in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Puerto Madryn as well as Saint John. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.
In April, Puerto Madryn is generally much colder than Saint Johnin October. Daily temperatures in Puerto Madryn average around 14°C (58°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
It's quite rainy in Saint John. Puerto Madryn usually gets less rain in April than Saint Johnin October. Puerto Madryn gets 14 mm (0.6 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 April and OctoberPuerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)Saint John 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Saint John in the Winter?
Both Saint John and Puerto Madryn are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Puerto Madryn is much colder than Saint John in the winter. The daily temperature in Puerto Madryn averages around 7°C (45°F) in July, and Saint John fluctuates around 26°C (78°F)in January.
In July, Puerto Madryn usually receives less rain than Saint Johnin January. Puerto Madryn gets 18 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 July and JanuaryPuerto Madryn 7°C (45°F)Saint John 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Saint John in the Spring?
Both Saint John and Puerto Madryn during the spring are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.
In the spring, Puerto Madryn is much colder than Saint John. Typically, the spring temperatures in Puerto Madryn in October average around 14°C (58°F), and Saint John averages at about 27°C (80°F)in April.
Puerto Madryn usually gets less rain in October than Saint Johnin April. Puerto Madryn gets 20 mm (0.8 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 October and AprilPuerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)Saint John 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint John and Puerto Madryn
| Puerto Madryn | Saint John | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 22°C (71°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 21°C (69°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 18°C (64°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (58°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 10°C (51°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 7°C (45°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 7°C (45°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 9°C (48°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 11°C (53°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (58°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 18°C (64°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 20°C (68°F) | 12 mm (0.5 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.