Which place is cheaper, Jaco or Saint John's?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Saint John's or Jaco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Saint John's or Jaco? 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 Jaco?
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.
Jaco
Jaco is a beach destination on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. This resort city is located in the county of Garabito in the Puntarenas province. It has a population of about 10,000 residents and a 2.5 mile long beach that is an excellent surfing destination.
Because Jaco is located on the coast, it's weather is influenced by the water. The climate is humid with a relative humidity of about 80%, but climbing to 90% in the month of June. The temperature is usually between 85 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit at night. There are distinct wet and dry seasons with August through early December being the rainy season and late December through early April being the dry season. Rain is irregular during the rest of the year.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
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Saint John's Prices
Antigua and Barbuda PricesJaco Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint John's $272Jaco $131
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint John's is $272, while the average daily cost in Jaco is $131. 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 Jaco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint John's $120Jaco $74
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint John's $240Jaco $148
Compare Hotels in Saint John's and Jaco
Looking for a hotel in Saint John's or Jaco? 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: Jaco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint John's $17Jaco -
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:
- VIP Meet and Greet Fast Track on Arrival at Antigua Airport - without Transfers: $77
- Shirley's Heights Sunset Party Transfer: $80
- Shared Airport Transfers Antigua Resorts: $58
- Round-Trip Transfer between Antigua Airport and Antigua Hotels: $36
- Private Transfer Service in Antigua: $80
- Private One-Way Transfer From Antigua To Antigua Airport: $49
- Private Airport Transfers to Antigua and Barbuda: $60
- Private Airport Transfers 1- 2 Pax Zone D: Hotels: $130
- Private Airport Transfer Antigua: $135
- JTAT Private Transfers & Tours, Saint John's, Antigua and Barbuda: $160
- Discover the Best of Antigua Sightseeing Tour - Eagle Transfers: $125
- Crystal Kayak & Snorkel Eco Tour (with transfer - 8:15am): $89
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaco
Also for Jaco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Jaco / Los Sueños Marriott Hotels to SJO Airport Private Transfer: $140
- Jaco to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) - Departure Private Transfer: $142
- Jaco/Monteverde to Liberia Airport (LIR) - Departure Transfer: $201
- One-Way Private Transfer from Jaco to Juan Santa Maria Airport: $175
- One-Way Private Transfer from Quepos - Manuel Antonio to Uvita: $249
- Private Transfer - San Jose Airport & Los Sueños Resort/Marriot: $204
- Private Transfer SJO Airport to Jaco & Los Sueños – Safe Reliable: $80
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Cobano Puntarenas: $63
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Jaco Beach Puntarenas: $72
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Playa Jaco Puntarenas: $72
- Private transfer from Jaco Beach to Hotels in San Jose or the Airport: $219
- Shuttle & transfer rides to SJO Airport Costa Rica: $155
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint John's or Jaco?
Prices for flights to both Jaco 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 $117Jaco $40
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.
- City Lime Food Tour: Taste our culture on Antigua's only food tour in the city!: $105
- Local Antigua Rum and Food Tour: $130
- Nicole's Table - Cooking with Rum: $165
Typical Food Prices in Jaco
For Jaco, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Hermosa BeachLlunch$4.34
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Tsunami Sushi Dinner$19
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Taco Bar Dinner$9.92
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Pizza & Smoothie Lunch$6.95
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Ice Cream$6.51
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Breakfast Taco Bar$3.68
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Fruit Plate$3.26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaco
For Jaco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Night Jungle Tour with Dinner (Rainmaker Park): $65
- Night Walk Tour and Jungle Dinner in Jaco: $89
- Taste of Costa Rica: Traditional Food Tour in Jaco: $99
- TICO Private Walking Food Tour: $107
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint John's $103Jaco $66
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:
- 6-Hours Tour East Coast of Antigua: Stingray City, Lunch & Beach: $205
- ATV Rugged Adventure- Scenic Exhilarating "four wheeling" fun!: $130
- Adventure Antigua - Eli's Original Eco Tour: $143
- Adventure Antigua - The Xtreme Circumnavigation tour: $221
- Antigua Explorer Tour: $130
- Antigua Heritage and Horizon Tour: $125
- Antigua Historical Sites Island Tour: $111
- Antigua Island Tour Top Attractions and Hidden Gems: $99
- Antigua Mud Buggy Adventure with Beach Stop - St. Mary's: $145
- Antigua Private Beach Hopping Land Tour: $135
- Antigua Reef Riders Self-Drive Boat and Snorkeling Tour: $180
- Antigua Round Island Tour: $94
Typical Entertainment Prices in Jaco
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Jaco's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Dance Class$11
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Surf Lesson$54
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Bike Rental$11
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Tortuga Island Tour$108
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Massage$49
Tours and Activities in Jaco
For Jaco, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Cold Plunge Experience in Jaco: $35
- Jungle Crocodile Safari and Bird Watching tour/Tarcoles River CR: $40
- Adventure in the jungle river and crocodiles: $45
- Tarcoles River Crocodile Adventure Tour: $45
- Jurassic Park Adventure - HIKE -10 Waterfalls + Pools & Much More: $50
- Chocolate Experience in Jaco Beach and Los Suenos: $50
- Exclusive Massage Experience in Playa Jaco Costa Rica: $59
- Guided City Bike Tour in Jaco Costa Rica: $59
- Coffee Farm Tour and Sugarcane Juicing: $60
- Personalized Beach Adventure Near Jaco: $60
- Uvita Chocolate Tour: $60
- Jaco Party Safari Tractor Tour with Waterfall – Day & Night: $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint John's $18Jaco $35
Typical Alcohol Prices in Jaco
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Jaco:
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Wine$16
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Night at the Bar$30
Sample the Local Flavors in Jaco
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Jaco:
- Bar Crawl in Downtown Jaco: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint John's and Jaco, we can see that Saint John's is more expensive. And not only is Jaco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint John's is in Caribbean Islands and Jaco 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 Jaco would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Jaco 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 Jaco.
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 Jaco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Saint John's or Jaco?
Saint John's has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Jaco. When comparing the sizes of Saint John's and Jaco, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Saint John's or Jaco?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Saint John's or Jaco in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Saint John's as well as Jaco. Saint John's attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Jaco throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Jaco. Saint John's receives a lot of rain in the summer. Saint John's usually gets less rain in July than Jaco. Saint John's gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 164 mm (6.5 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 summer, Saint John's often gets more sunshine than Jaco. Saint John's gets 245 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Jaco receives 164 hours of full sun.
In the summer, Saint John's is around the same temperature as Jaco. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint John's in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Jaco averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySaint John's 27°C (81°F)Jaco 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or Jaco in the Autumn?
Both Jaco and Saint John's are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John's throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Jaco because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Jaco is November to May. June to October is the hurricane season in Jaco. It rains a lot this time of the year in Jaco. It's quite rainy in Saint John's. In October, Saint John's usually receives less rain than Jaco. Saint John's gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. Saint John's usually receives more sunshine than Jaco during autumn. Saint John's gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while Jaco receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Saint John's is generally around the same temperature as Jaco. Daily temperatures in Saint John's average around 27°C (80°F), and Jaco fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSaint John's 27°C (80°F)Jaco 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or Jaco in the Winter?
Both Jaco and Saint John's during the winter 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 Jaco year-round.
Saint John's usually gets more rain in January than Jaco. Saint John's gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Jaco, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Saint John's. In the winter, Saint John's often gets less sunshine than Jaco. Saint John's gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Jaco receives 264 hours of full sun.
Saint John's is cooler than Jaco in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint John's averages around 24°C (76°F) in January, and Jaco fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySaint John's 24°C (76°F)Jaco 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or Jaco in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John's and Jaco. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John's year-round. Jaco attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
November to May in Jaco is the dry season. June to October in Jaco is the hurricane season. Saint John's gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Saint John's usually receives more rain than Jaco. Saint John's gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Jaco this time of the year. In Saint John's, it's very sunny this time of the year. Saint John's usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Jaco during spring. Saint John's gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Jaco receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In the spring, Saint John's is cooler than Jaco. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint John's in April average around 26°C (78°F), and Jaco averages at about 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSaint John's 26°C (78°F)Jaco 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Jaco and Saint John's
| Saint John's | Jaco | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 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.