Which place is cheaper, Quepos 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 Quepos?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Saint John's or Quepos? 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 Quepos?
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.
Quepos
Quepos is both a district and the capital of Aguirre canton in the Puntareanas Province of Costa Rica. The town is quite small, and the district has a population of about 22,000 people. Quepos is a popular tourist destination in Costa Rica due to its close proximity to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific Coast. The town's economy is centered around tourism and there is no shortage of bars and restaurants in the area. The town also has a lively nightlife for such a small community.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint John's $222Quepos $117
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint John's is $222, while the average daily cost in Quepos is $117. 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 Quepos in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint John's $120Quepos $77
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint John's $240Quepos $154
Compare Hotels in Saint John's and Quepos
Looking for a hotel in Saint John's or Quepos? 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: Quepos Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint John's $17Quepos $9.56
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
- Shared Roundtrip Taxi Transfer from Antigua Airport to Royalton Antigua Resort: $45
- Round-Trip Transfer between Antigua Airport and Antigua Hotels: $32
- Private Transfer from St. John's Port to Antigua Island Hotels: $78
- Private Transfer from Antigua & Barbuda V.C. Bird Airport (ANU) to island: $112
- Private Roundtrip Airport Transfers & Tour in Antigua & Barbuda: $200
- Private Round Trip Transfer From Antigua Airport To NonSuch Bay: $99
- Private One-Way Antigua Airport Transfer To/From Antigua: $45
- Private Airport Transfers to Antigua and Barbuda: $60
- Private Airport Transfers 1- 2 Pax. Zone C: Hotels: $120
- Private Airport Transfers 1- 2 Pax Zone D: Hotels: $130
- JTAT Private Transfers & Tours, Saint John's, Antigua and Barbuda: $160
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quepos
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Manuel Antonio & Quepos one way transfer to SJO hotels - Airport up to 5 people.: $274
- One-Way Private Transfer from Quepos - Manuel Antonio to Monteverde: $276
- One-Way Private Transfer from Uvita to Quepos - Manuel Antonio: $140
- Private Transfer - San Jose Airport & Manuel Antonio/Quepos : $300
- Private Transfer From San Jose Airport To Manuel Antonio Beach: $125
- Private Transfer from Manuel Antonio to Nauyaca Waterfalls (Round Trip): $199
- Private Transfer from Quepos Cruise Port to San Jose City Hotels: $91
- Private transfer from SJ Airport to Manuel Antonio and vice versa: $230
- Shuttle Transfer from Manuel Antonio to San Jose: $60
- Transfer from Manuel Antonio to SJO Airport and surroundings : $209
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint John's or Quepos?
Prices for flights to both Quepos 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 $68Quepos $30
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
Typical Food Prices in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$15
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Seafood Dinner (for 1)$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Night Jungle Tour with Dinner (Rainmaker Park): $59
- 3 Hour Cooking Class and Medical Plants Garden: $77
- Cooking Class & Medicinal Plants Garden Manuel Antonio: $77
- Night Mangrove Safari Boat Tour with Dinner | Manuel Antonio: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint John's $103Quepos $17
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:
- 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
Tours and Activities in Quepos
For Quepos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Beach Day Experience in Manuel Antonio: $20
- Manuel Antonio National Park tour : $27
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $28
- Manuel Antonio National Park Tour: $28
- Manuel Antonio Park Tour and its Amazing Wildlife and Beaches: $30
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $30
- Manuel Antonio National Park Group Guided Tour: $30
- Guided Tour in Manuel Antonio National Park!: $35
- Manuel Antonio Jungle Night Tour with pick up included: $39
- Guided hiking Tour by the Mystic Ebano Rainforest in Costa Rica: $40
- Manuel Antonio: Manuel Antonio National Park Tour: $45
- Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour: $45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint John's $18Quepos $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint John's and Quepos, we can see that Saint John's is more expensive. And not only is Quepos much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint John's is in Caribbean Islands and Quepos 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 Quepos would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Quepos 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 Quepos.
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 Quepos Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Saint John's or Quepos?
Saint John's has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Saint John's and Quepos, 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 Quepos?
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 Quepos in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Saint John's as well as Quepos. Saint John's attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Quepos throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Quepos. Saint John's receives a lot of rain in the summer. Saint John's usually gets less rain in July than Quepos. Saint John's gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Quepos 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 Quepos. Saint John's gets 245 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 164 hours of full sun.
In the summer, Saint John's is around the same temperature as Quepos. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint John's in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Quepos averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySaint John's 27°C (81°F)Quepos 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or Quepos in the Autumn?
Both Quepos 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 Quepos because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Quepos. It's quite rainy in Saint John's. In October, Saint John's usually receives less rain than Quepos. Saint John's gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Quepos 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 Quepos during autumn. Saint John's gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Saint John's is generally around the same temperature as Quepos. Daily temperatures in Saint John's average around 27°C (80°F), and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSaint John's 27°C (80°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or Quepos in the Winter?
Both Quepos 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 Quepos year-round.
Saint John's usually gets more rain in January than Quepos. Saint John's gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Quepos, 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 Quepos. Saint John's gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 264 hours of full sun.
Saint John's is cooler than Quepos in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint John's averages around 24°C (76°F) in January, and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySaint John's 24°C (76°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or Quepos in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John's and Quepos. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John's year-round. Quepos 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 April, Saint John's usually receives more rain than Quepos. Saint John's gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Quepos 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 Quepos during spring. Saint John's gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In the spring, Saint John's is cooler than Quepos. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint John's in April average around 26°C (78°F), and Quepos averages at about 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSaint John's 26°C (78°F)Quepos 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Quepos and Saint John's
| Saint John's | Quepos | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.