Which place is cheaper, Saint John or Recife?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Recife or Saint John?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Recife and Saint John can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Recife or Saint John?
Recife
One of the largest cities on Brazil's northeast coast, Recife is also the capital of the state of Pernambuco. The city gets its name from the Portuguese word for "reef," as it was built around a landscape of natural reef beaches. Many people visit to enjoy these beaches, experience the culture, and explore the history of this important Brazilian city.
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 Eco Tours in Brazil, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Brazil.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRecife $166Saint John $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Recife is $166, 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 Recife and Saint John in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRecife $88Saint John $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRecife $176Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Recife and Saint John
Looking for a hotel in Recife 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: Recife Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Recife $8.47Saint John $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Recife
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Recife:
- Departure Transfer from Olinda to Recife Airport: $100
- Instituto Ricardo Brennand with transfers from Recife: $41
- Private Transfer from Igarassu to Recife (REC) Airport : $101
- Private Transfer from Olinda to Recife (REC) Airport: $46
- Private Transfer from Recife to Carneiros Beach: $114
- Private Transfer from Recife to Olinda: $46
- Private Transfer from Recife to Serrambi Beach: $101
- Private Transfer from Recife to Tamandare Beach: $114
- Recife Boat Tour with Transfers: $72
- Airport to Maragogi Hotels Private Transfer: $85
- Airport to Porto de Galinhas Transfer: $65
- Shared Transfer from Recife to Cabo de Santo Agostinho: $33
Is it cheaper to fly into Recife or Saint John?
Prices for flights to both Saint John and Recife 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 dayRecife $70Saint John $56
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Recife $11Saint John $23
Tours and Activities in Recife
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Recife are as follows:
- Recife (Historic Centre) Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $7.65
- Olinda Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.82
- City Tour Recife & Olinda: $27
- Colonial North Coast beaches - Full-Day Tour: $35
- Olinda City Tour and Instituto Ricardo Brennand: $94
- City Tour Recife with Catamaran included: $150
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 dayRecife -Saint John $44
When comparing the travel costs between Recife and Saint John, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Recife is in South America and Saint John is in Caribbean Islands, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Recife Expensive? and Is Saint John Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Recife or Saint John?
Recife 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 Recife or Saint John in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Recife and Saint John. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Recife is generally around the same temperature as Saint Johnin July. Daily temperatures in Recife average around 26°C (79°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
Recife gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Recife usually receives more rain than Saint Johnin July. Recife gets 108 mm (4.3 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 JulyRecife 26°C (79°F)Saint John 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Recife or Saint John in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Recife as well as Saint John. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.
Recife is around the same temperature as Saint John in the autumn. The daily temperature in Recife averages around 26°C (79°F) in April, and Saint John fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in October.
It's quite rainy in Saint John. Recife receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Recife usually gets more rain in April than Saint Johnin October. Recife gets 338 mm (13.3 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 OctoberRecife 26°C (79°F)Saint John 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Recife or Saint John in the Winter?
Both Saint John and Recife 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.
In the winter, Recife is around the same temperature as Saint John. Typically, the winter temperatures in Recife in July average around 24°C (76°F), and Saint John averages at about 26°C (78°F)in January.
It's quite rainy in Recife. In July, Recife usually receives more rain than Saint Johnin January. Recife gets 388 mm (15.3 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 JanuaryRecife 24°C (76°F)Saint John 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Recife or Saint John in the Spring?
Both Saint John and Recife during the spring are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.
In October, Recife is generally around the same temperature as Saint Johnin April. Daily temperatures in Recife average around 25°C (77°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
Recife usually gets less rain in October than Saint Johnin April. Recife gets 63 mm (2.5 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 AprilRecife 25°C (77°F)Saint John 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint John and Recife
| Recife | Saint John | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 257 mm (10.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 338 mm (13.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 25°C (78°F) | 319 mm (12.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 378 mm (14.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (76°F) | 388 mm (15.3 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 205 mm (8.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (76°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 57 mm (2.2 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.