Which place is cheaper, Montanita or Saint John's?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Saint John's or Montanita?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Saint John's or Montanita? 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 Montanita?
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.
Montanita
Montanita is a small village located on Manglaralto parish along the southern coast of Ecuador. The Pacific Coast of Ecuador is lined with beach towns, either small villages with local fisherman or larger towns more set up for foreign travellers like Montanita. With one of the best beaches in Ecuador, one of the best surf breaks in the region, and a great laid-back atmosphere Montanita is a great little getaway, especially for the hippies of the world. It has also become a popular weekend destination for English teachers and Spanish students coming from Guayaquil and Quito. The beachfront village of Montanita has a laid-back atmosphere and steady stream of cosmopolitan backpackers, with as many South Americans as gringos.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint John's $222Montanita $96
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint John's is $222, while the average daily cost in Montanita is $96. 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 Montanita in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint John's $120Montanita $41
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint John's $240Montanita $82
Compare Hotels in Saint John's and Montanita
Looking for a hotel in Saint John's or Montanita? 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
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint John's $17Montanita $39
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint John's
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Saint John's:
-
Local Bus$1.52
-
Taxi From Airport$6.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint John's
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Saint John's:
- Antigua&BarbudaV.C.Bird Airport(ANU)to island hotels-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $254
- Private Roundtrip Airport Transfers & Tour in Antigua & Barbuda: $200
- Airport Transfers to Antigua Hotels/Resorts: $170
- JTAT Private Transfers & Tours, Saint John's, Antigua and Barbuda: $160
- 3-Hours Stingray City - Transfer, Spanish-Italian Guide Included: $155
- Antigua V.C. Bird Airport (ANU) to Island - Round-Trip Transfer : $155
- Private Airport Transfers 1- 2 Pax Zone D: Hotels: $130
- 3-Hours Snorkeling Activity in Stingray City - Transfer Included: $128
- Private Airport Transfers 1- 2 Pax. Zone C: Hotels: $120
- Private Transfer from Antigua & Barbuda V.C. Bird Airport (ANU) to island: $112
- Antigua - VIP Fast Track On Arrival ONLY And Round Trip Transfer : $99
- Private Round Trip Transfer From Antigua Airport To NonSuch Bay: $99
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint John's or Montanita?
Prices for flights to both Montanita 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
-
Food Meals for one daySaint John's $68Montanita $28
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
- Discover the Flavors of St. Johns Food Tour: $125
- Private Art Tour or Food Tour: $150
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint John's $103Montanita $31
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:
-
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:
- 2-Hours Stingray City Experience in Antigua: $73
- 6-Hours Guided Stingray Tour in the East Coast of Antigua: $161
- Adventure Antigua - Eli's Original Eco Tour: $125
- Adventure Antigua - The Xtreme Circumnavigation: $190
- Animal Lovers Dream Tour: $180
- Antigua Historical Sites Island Tour: $75
- Antigua Reef Riders Self-Drive Boat and Snorkeling Tour: $180
- Antigua Round Island Tour: $85
- Antigua Seafood Lunch Cruise From St. John's: $135
- Antigua Shore Excursion: City of St John's Sightseeing Tour: $59
- Antigua Shore Excursion: Round Island Tour: $110
- Antigua Sunset Catamaran Cruise From St. John's: $116
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint John's $18Montanita $7.86
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint John's and Montanita, we can see that Saint John's is more expensive. And not only is Montanita much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint John's is in Caribbean Islands and Montanita is in South 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 Montanita would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Montanita 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 Montanita.
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 Montanita Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Saint John's or Montanita?
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 Montanita in the Summer?
Both Montanita and Saint John's during the summer 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 Montanita year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. Saint John's usually gets more rain in July than Montanita. Saint John's gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Saint John's. In the summer, Saint John's often gets more sunshine than Montanita. Saint John's gets 245 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montanita receives 107 hours of full sun.
In the summer, Saint John's is around the same temperature as Montanita. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint John's in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Montanita averages at about 25°C (78°F).
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulySaint John's 27°C (81°F)Montanita 25°C (78°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or Montanita in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John's and Montanita. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John's year-round. Montanita attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Saint John's gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Saint John's usually receives more rain than Montanita. Saint John's gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In Saint John's, it's very sunny this time of the year. Saint John's usually receives more sunshine than Montanita during autumn. Saint John's gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while Montanita receives 117 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Saint John's is generally around the same temperature as Montanita. Daily temperatures in Saint John's average around 27°C (80°F), and Montanita fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSaint John's 27°C (80°F)Montanita 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or Montanita in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Saint John's as well as Montanita. Saint John's attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montanita throughout the year.
Saint John's usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Montanita. Saint John's gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 78 mm (3.1 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 winter, Saint John's often gets more sunshine than Montanita. Saint John's gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montanita receives 88 hours of full sun.
Saint John's is cooler than Montanita in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint John's averages around 24°C (76°F) in January, and Montanita fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySaint John's 24°C (76°F)Montanita 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or Montanita in the Spring?
Both Montanita and Saint John's are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John's throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Montanita because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Saint John's. In April, Saint John's usually receives more rain than Montanita. Saint John's gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. Saint John's usually receives more sunshine than Montanita during spring. Saint John's gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Montanita receives 133 hours of full sun in the spring.
In the spring, Saint John's is around the same temperature as Montanita. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint John's in April average around 26°C (78°F), and Montanita averages at about 27°C (81°F).
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilSaint John's 26°C (78°F)Montanita 27°C (81°F)
Typical Weather for Montanita and Saint John's
| Saint John's | Montanita | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 15 mm (0.6 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.