Which place is cheaper, Isla de Ometepe or Saint John's?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Saint John's or Isla de Ometepe?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Saint John's or Isla de Ometepe? 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: Saint John's or Isla de Ometepe?
Saint John's
If you've been to St. John's, Antigua, you were likely on a cruise - which means you likely did not have enough time to truly experience the magic of this tiny island getaway.
St. Johns is the capital of the tiny islands of Antigua and Barbuda. Located on Antigua, this tropical city lives up to its status as a tropical paradise. With 365 beaches on the island, you can enjoy the luxury of lounging in the sand every day of the year.
Isla de Ometepe
Ometepe is a dramatically beautiful island in Lake Nicaragua in the country of Nicaragua. The island is the largest in the lake and is formed by two dramatic twin volcanoes that climb high from the water's surface. The two volcanoes are Concepcion and Maderas, and they are joined by an isthmus to make one island with an area of 276 square kilometers. The island is 31 kilometers long and between 5 and 10 kilometers wide. There are several small settlements on the island as well as a few coffee plantations. It is also one of the top sights in the country and makes for a unique travel destination.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint John's $222Isla de Ometepe $34
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint John's is $222, while the average daily cost in Isla de Ometepe is $34. 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 Saint John's and Isla de Ometepe in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint John's $120Isla de Ometepe $13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint John's $240Isla de Ometepe $26
Compare Hotels in Saint John's and Isla de Ometepe
Looking for a hotel in Saint John's or Isla de Ometepe? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint John's $17Isla de Ometepe $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint John's
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Saint John's:
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Local Bus$1.52
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Taxi From Airport$6.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint John's
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Saint John's:
- Round-Trip Transfer between Antigua Airport and Antigua Hotels: $32
- Private One-Way Antigua Airport Transfer To/From Antigua: $45
- Shared Roundtrip Taxi Transfer from Antigua Airport to Royalton Antigua Resort: $45
- Airport Transfer from/to all resorts in Antigua - Water Inc.: $59
- Private Airport Transfers to Antigua and Barbuda: $60
- Biggvee Airport Roundtrip Transfer: $70
- VIP Meet and Greet Fast Track on Arrival at Antigua Airport - without Transfers : $74
- Island to Antigua&Barbuda V.C.Bird Airport(ANU)- Private Transfer: $77
- Antigua&Barbuda V.C.Bird Airport(ANU) to island Private Transfer: $77
- Private Transfer from St. John's Port to Antigua Island Hotels: $78
- Antigua VC Bird Airport to Island Hotels Private Arrival Transfer: $81
- Private Round Trip Transfer From Antigua Airport To NonSuch Bay: $99
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint John's or Isla de Ometepe?
Prices for flights to both Isla de Ometepe and Saint John's 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 daySaint John's $68Isla de Ometepe $13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint John's
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Saint John's.
- 1-Course Vegan Cooking Class w Beautiful Ambience.: $99
- City Lime Food Tour: Taste our culture on Antigua's only food tour in the city!: $105
- Discover the Flavors of St. Johns Food Tour: $125
- Private Art Tour or Food Tour: $150
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint John's $103Isla de Ometepe $13
Typical Entertainment Prices in Saint John's
Here are a few typical costs in Saint John's for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entrance to the Museum of Antigua & Barbu$3.00
Tours and Activities in Saint John's
Here are a few actual costs in Saint John's for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Chariot City Tour Antigua: $20
- Antigua Shore Excursion: City of St John's Sightseeing Tour: $59
- City of St John's Sightseeing Tour: $59
- Cultural and Historical Home Tour in The Antiguan Experience : $66
- Small-Group Hiking Experience in Antigua: $70
- Glenmon taxi and tours: $70
- 2-Hours Stingray City Experience in Antigua: $73
- Antigua Historical Sites Island Tour: $75
- Kayak Eco Adventures Glass Kayak Nature and Snorkeling Tour: $75
- Authentic Antiguan Experience: $79
- TRIPLE ACTIVITY TOUR, Bike Kayak Hike, ANTIGUA : $80
- Nightlife Tour of Antigua and Barbuda: $80
Tours and Activities in Isla de Ometepe
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Isla de Ometepe are as follows:
- A great tour day for the ISLAND OF OMETEPE.: $80
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint John's $18Isla de Ometepe $8.85
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint John's and Isla de Ometepe, we can see that Saint John's is more expensive. And not only is Isla de Ometepe much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint John's is in Caribbean Islands and Isla de Ometepe is in Central America, 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 Isla de Ometepe would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Isla de Ometepe 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's would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint John's than you might in Isla de Ometepe.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Saint John's Expensive? and Is Isla de Ometepe Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Saint John's or Isla de Ometepe?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Saint John's or Isla de Ometepe in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John's and Isla de Ometepe. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John's year-round. Isla de Ometepe attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Isla de Ometepe receives a lot of rain in the summer. Saint John's gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Saint John's usually receives around the same amount of rain as Isla de Ometepe. Saint John's gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Isla de Ometepe receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In Saint John's, it's very sunny this time of the year. Saint John's usually receives more sunshine than Isla de Ometepe during summer. Saint John's gets 245 hours of sunny skies, while Isla de Ometepe receives 175 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Saint John's is generally around the same temperature as Isla de Ometepe. Daily temperatures in Saint John's average around 27°C (81°F), and Isla de Ometepe fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySaint John's 27°C (81°F)Isla de Ometepe 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or Isla de Ometepe in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Saint John's as well as Isla de Ometepe. Saint John's attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Isla de Ometepe throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Isla de Ometepe. Saint John's receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Saint John's usually gets more rain in October than Isla de Ometepe. Saint John's gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Isla de Ometepe receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint John's this time of the year. In the autumn, Saint John's often gets more sunshine than Isla de Ometepe. Saint John's gets 217 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Isla de Ometepe receives 195 hours of full sun.
Saint John's is around the same temperature as Isla de Ometepe in the autumn. The daily temperature in Saint John's averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and Isla de Ometepe fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSaint John's 27°C (80°F)Isla de Ometepe 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or Isla de Ometepe in the Winter?
Both Isla de Ometepe and Saint John's are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John's throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Isla de Ometepe because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Saint John's usually receives more rain than Isla de Ometepe. Saint John's gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Isla de Ometepe receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Isla de Ometepe. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. Saint John's usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Isla de Ometepe during winter. Saint John's gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Isla de Ometepe receives 244 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, Saint John's is around the same temperature as Isla de Ometepe. Typically, the winter temperatures in Saint John's in January average around 24°C (76°F), and Isla de Ometepe averages at about 26°C (79°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySaint John's 24°C (76°F)Isla de Ometepe 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or Isla de Ometepe in the Spring?
Both Isla de Ometepe and Saint John's during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John's because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Isla de Ometepe year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. Saint John's usually gets more rain in April than Isla de Ometepe. Saint John's gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Isla de Ometepe receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Isla de Ometepe, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Saint John's. In the spring, Saint John's often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Isla de Ometepe. Saint John's gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Isla de Ometepe receives 242 hours of full sun.
In April, Saint John's is generally cooler than Isla de Ometepe. Daily temperatures in Saint John's average around 26°C (78°F), and Isla de Ometepe fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSaint John's 26°C (78°F)Isla de Ometepe 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Isla de Ometepe and Saint John's
| Saint John's | Isla de Ometepe | |||
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| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 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.