Which place is cheaper, Puerto Madryn or Saint John's?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Saint John's or Puerto Madryn?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Saint John's or Puerto Madryn? 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 Puerto Madryn?
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.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Argentina, and The Best 3-Week Tours in Argentina.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint John's $222Puerto Madryn $14
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint John's is $222, while the average daily cost in Puerto Madryn is $14. 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 Puerto Madryn in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint John's $120Puerto Madryn $5.25
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint John's $240Puerto Madryn $11
Compare Hotels in Saint John's and Puerto Madryn
Looking for a hotel in Saint John's or Puerto Madryn? 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
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint John's $17Puerto Madryn $3.28
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:
- 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
- Antigua&Barbuda V.C.Bird Airport(ANU) to island Private Transfer: $77
- Island to Antigua&Barbuda V.C.Bird Airport(ANU)- 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: $82
- Antigua - VIP Fast Track On Arrival ONLY And Round Trip Transfer : $99
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 Saint John's or Puerto Madryn?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Madryn 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 $68Puerto Madryn $5.69
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 $103Puerto Madryn $5.77
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:
- Chariot City Tour Antigua: $20
- City of St John's Sightseeing Tour: $59
- Antigua Shore Excursion: 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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Puerto Madryn
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Puerto Madryn are as follows:
-
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
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint John's $18Puerto Madryn $3.13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint John's and Puerto Madryn, we can see that Saint John's is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Madryn much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint John's is in Caribbean Islands and Puerto Madryn 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 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'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 Puerto Madryn.
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 Puerto Madryn Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Saint John's or Puerto Madryn?
Puerto Madryn has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Saint John's. When comparing the sizes of Saint John's and Puerto Madryn, 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 Puerto Madryn?
Puerto Madryn has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Saint John's experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Saint John's or Puerto Madryn in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John's and Puerto Madryn. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John's year-round.
In the summer, Saint John's is a little warmer than Puerto Madryn. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint John's in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Puerto Madryn averages at about 22°C (71°F)in January.
Saint John's gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Saint John's usually receives more rain than Puerto Madrynin January. Saint John's gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
-
Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuarySaint John's 27°C (81°F)Puerto Madryn 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or Puerto Madryn in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Saint John's as well as Puerto Madryn. Saint John's attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Saint John's is generally much warmer than Puerto Madrynin April. Daily temperatures in Saint John's average around 27°C (80°F), and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).
Saint John's receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Saint John's usually gets more rain in October than Puerto Madrynin April. Saint John's gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilSaint John's 27°C (80°F)Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or Puerto Madryn in the Winter?
Both Puerto Madryn 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.
Saint John's is much warmer than Puerto Madryn in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint John's averages around 24°C (76°F) in January, and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 7°C (45°F)in July.
It's quite sunny in Puerto Madryn. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. Saint John's usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Madryn during winter. Saint John's gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Madryn receives 209 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Saint John's usually receives more rain than Puerto Madrynin July. Saint John's gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
-
Winter Average Temperatures January and JulySaint John's 24°C (76°F)Puerto Madryn 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or Puerto Madryn in the Spring?
Both Puerto Madryn 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.
In the spring, Saint John's is much warmer than Puerto Madryn. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint John's in April average around 26°C (78°F), and Puerto Madryn averages at about 14°C (58°F)in October.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. Saint John's usually gets more rain in April than Puerto Madrynin October. Saint John's gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberSaint John's 26°C (78°F)Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Puerto Madryn and Saint John's
| Saint John's | Puerto Madryn | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 11°C (53°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 12 mm (0.5 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.