Which place is cheaper, Puerto Viejo 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 Puerto Viejo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Saint John's or Puerto Viejo? 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 Viejo?
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 Viejo
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a small coastal town in Caribbean Costa Rica in the province of Limon. There are two gorgeous National Parks nearby - Cahuita and Manzanillo, and it rains more than on the Pacific side, which is why it is so lush and green with the rainforest coming down to the sea. Clear water, coconut palms, great surf and a laid-back Caribbean atmosphere make Puerto Viejo a favorite among travelers. Located on about an hour south of Limon, Puerto Viejo is the center of activity between the smaller villages of Cahuita and Manzanillo. The relaxed, seaside town is framed by jungle, turquoise seas, banana plantations and scenic rivers. It's known for the Salsa Brava surf break and beaches like black-sand Playa Negra, but this burgeoning party town is no longer a destination only for intrepid surfers; it's bustling with tourist activity. Stylish eateries serve global fusion, and intentionally rustic bamboo bars pump dancehall and reggaeton. With its blend of Afro-Caribbean descendants, expat Europeans and indigenous Costa Ricans, Puerto Viejo charms visitors with a unique mix of people and cultures. Rastafari culture has a firm foothold in the town, and many Rastas sell handmade jewelry and other wares along the town's vibrant roadside. Nearby you'll find rainforest fruit and cacao farms and wide-open beaches. If you're looking to chill a little, party a little and eat a little, you've come to the right place.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Costa Rica, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint John's $222Puerto Viejo $140
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint John's is $222, while the average daily cost in Puerto Viejo is $140. 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 Viejo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint John's $120Puerto Viejo $69
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint John's $240Puerto Viejo $138
Compare Hotels in Saint John's and Puerto Viejo
Looking for a hotel in Saint John's or Puerto Viejo? 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 Viejo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint John's $17Puerto Viejo $36
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 : $74
- VATS Antigua Airport Transfers: $90
- Round-Trip Transfer between Antigua Airport and Antigua Hotels: $32
- Private Transfer from St. John's Port to Antigua Island Hotels: $81
- Private Transfer from Antigua island hotels to St. John's Port: $81
- Private Transfer from Antigua Airport (ANU) to St. John's Port: $52
- Private Transfer from Antigua & Barbuda V.C. Bird Airport (ANU) to island: $116
- Private Roundtrip Airport Transfers & Tour in Antigua & Barbuda: $200
- Private Round Trip Transfer From Antigua Airport To NonSuch Bay: $99
- Private One-Way Transfer From Antigua Airport To Antigua: $46
- Private Airport Transfers to Antigua and Barbuda: $60
- Luxury Airport transfer from or to Antigua Airport : $65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Viejo
Also for Puerto Viejo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Puerto Viejo de Limon: Transfer to San Jose or Alajuela: $373
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint John's or Puerto Viejo?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Viejo 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 $68Puerto Viejo $32
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
- Private Art Tour or Food Tour: $150
- Nicole's Table - Cooking with Rum: $164
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint John's $103Puerto Viejo $76
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 Guided Stingray Tour in the East Coast of Antigua: $190
- Adventure Antigua - Eli's Original Eco Tour: $134
- Adventure Antigua - The Xtreme Circumnavigation: $203
- Adventure Power Boat Tour Antigua and Private Laviscount Island: $182
- Animal Lovers Dream Tour: $180
- Antigua Historic Fort & Beach Tour on Segway From St. John's: $138
- 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: $167
- Antigua Shore Excursion: Round Island Tour: $110
- Antigua Sunset Catamaran Cruise From St. John's: $130
Tours and Activities in Puerto Viejo
For Puerto Viejo, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private night adventure in Manzanillo refuge: $55
- Bribri: Chocolate Experience by Bribri indigenous people: $90
- San Jose: Rainforest Chocolate Tour with Hanging Bridge: $235
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint John's $18Puerto Viejo $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint John's and Puerto Viejo, we can see that Saint John's is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Viejo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint John's is in Caribbean Islands and Puerto Viejo 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 Puerto Viejo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Viejo 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 Viejo.
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 Viejo Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Saint John's or Puerto Viejo?
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 Puerto Viejo in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Saint John's as well as Puerto Viejo. Saint John's attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Puerto Viejo throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Puerto Viejo. Saint John's receives a lot of rain in the summer. Saint John's usually gets less rain in July than Puerto Viejo. Saint John's gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 408 mm (16.1 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 summer, Saint John's often gets more sunshine than Puerto Viejo. Saint John's gets 245 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 124 hours of full sun.
In the summer, Saint John's is around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint John's in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Puerto Viejo averages at about 26°C (79°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySaint John's 27°C (81°F)Puerto Viejo 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or Puerto Viejo in the Autumn?
Both Puerto Viejo 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 Puerto Viejo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Viejo. It's quite rainy in Saint John's. In October, Saint John's usually receives more rain than Puerto Viejo. Saint John's gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 198 mm (7.8 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 Puerto Viejo during autumn. Saint John's gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Saint John's is generally around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo. Daily temperatures in Saint John's average around 27°C (80°F), and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSaint John's 27°C (80°F)Puerto Viejo 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or Puerto Viejo in the Winter?
Both Puerto Viejo 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 Puerto Viejo year-round.
Puerto Viejo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Saint John's usually gets less rain in January than Puerto Viejo. Saint John's gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 319 mm (12.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Saint John's. In the winter, Saint John's often gets more sunshine than Puerto Viejo. Saint John's gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun.
Saint John's is around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint John's averages around 24°C (76°F) in January, and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySaint John's 24°C (76°F)Puerto Viejo 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or Puerto Viejo in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John's and Puerto Viejo. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John's year-round. Puerto Viejo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Puerto Viejo receives a lot of rain in the spring. Saint John's gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Saint John's usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejo. Saint John's gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
In Saint John's, it's very sunny this time of the year. Saint John's usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Viejo during spring. Saint John's gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.
In the spring, Saint John's is around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint John's in April average around 26°C (78°F), and Puerto Viejo averages at about 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSaint John's 26°C (78°F)Puerto Viejo 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Puerto Viejo and Saint John's
| Saint John's | Puerto Viejo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 319 mm (12.6 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 201 mm (7.9 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 193 mm (7.6 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 281 mm (11.1 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 408 mm (16.1 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 367 mm (14.4 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 402 mm (15.8 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.