Which place is cheaper, Saint John or San Pedro?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Pedro or Saint John?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Pedro or Saint John, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: San Pedro or Saint John?
San Pedro
San Pedro is the largest town on Ambergris Caye, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Belize. Here you can find a tropical paradise with warm weather, clear blue waters, plenty of activities such as snorkeling and scuba diving, and a host of hotels, restaurants, and other amenities.
Saint John
With the popularity of the Caribbean rising, many islands have become touristy and expensive – but not St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
At only nine miles long and five miles wide, St. John is the smallest of the Virgin Islands, and, many argue, the prettiest. It's the kind of place that has maintained it's cultural identity, but still welcomes visitors from all over the world. With a population of just 5,000, the residents of St. John know everyone and everything happening on the island.
This island is perfect for people who want an undisturbed island getaway at any price. Between resorts and campgrounds there is a spot for everyone on St. John.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Belize, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Pedro $135Saint John $192
The average daily cost (per person) in San Pedro is $135, while the average daily cost in Saint John is $192. 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 San Pedro and Saint John in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Pedro $66Saint John $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Pedro $132Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in San Pedro and Saint John
Looking for a hotel in San Pedro or Saint John? 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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Pedro $34Saint John $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Pedro:
- Cave Tubing and Zipline Adventure (Boat Transfer): $205
Is it cheaper to fly into San Pedro or Saint John?
Prices for flights to both Saint John and San Pedro 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 daySan Pedro $40Saint John $56
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Pedro
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Pedro.
- Belizean Sunset and Cultural Dinner Cruise: $120
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Pedro $33Saint John $23
Tours and Activities in San Pedro
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Pedro are as follows:
- Sunset Tiki Bar Cruise in Caye Caulker, Belize: $45
- Shark & Ray Afternoon Swim Tiki Bar Cruise: $45
- 3 Hours Barrier Reef Tour in Caye Caulker, Belize: $54
- Ambergris Caye Sunset Sail Tour on the 40' Sirena Azul Sailboat: $75
- SAN PEDRO; Belizean Food Experience: $86
- Hol Chan Marine Reserve Snorkel Tour on the 40' Sirena Azul Sailboat: $89
- Belize Hol Chan Marine Reserve & Shark Ray Alley Snorkel Tour - Ambergris Caye: $93
- Hol Chan Full-Day Bucket List Snorkeling and Marine Life Tour: $95
- Hol Chan, Shark Ray Full-Day Snorkeling Tour From San Pedro Belize: $110
- All-Inclusive Full-Day Hol Chan Snorkeling Tour : $120
- Mexico Rocks Day Sail Shared Guided Tour: $129
- Exclusive All-in-1 Full Day Shared Guided Tour: $139
Tours and Activities in Saint John
Here are a few actual costs in Saint John for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- USVI: Island & Beach Tours in St. Thomas & St. John (2 Days): $199
- St. John: A Private Island Adventure Tour & Trunk Bay Beach: $627
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Pedro $16Saint John $44
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Pedro and Saint John, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. And not only is San Pedro much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Pedro is in Central America and Saint John is in Caribbean Islands, 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 San Pedro would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Pedro 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 would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint John than you might in San Pedro.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Pedro Expensive? and Is Saint John Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit San Pedro or Saint John?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit San Pedro or Saint John in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both San Pedro and Saint John. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Pedro year-round. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
San Pedro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, San Pedro usually receives more rain than Saint John. San Pedro gets 243 mm (9.6 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In July, San Pedro is generally around the same temperature as Saint John. Daily temperatures in San Pedro average around 28°C (82°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Pedro 28°C (82°F)Saint John 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit San Pedro or Saint John in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to San Pedro as well as Saint John. San Pedro attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Saint John. San Pedro receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Pedro usually gets more rain in October than Saint John. San Pedro gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
San Pedro is around the same temperature as Saint John in the autumn. The daily temperature in San Pedro averages around 26°C (80°F) in October, and Saint John fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Pedro 26°C (80°F)Saint John 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit San Pedro or Saint John in the Winter?
Both Saint John and San Pedro are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Pedro throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in San Pedro. In January, San Pedro usually receives more rain than Saint John. San Pedro gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In the winter, San Pedro is around the same temperature as Saint John. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Pedro in January average around 24°C (74°F), and Saint John averages at about 26°C (78°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Pedro 24°C (74°F)Saint John 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit San Pedro or Saint John in the Spring?
Both Saint John and San Pedro during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Pedro because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.
San Pedro usually gets less rain in April than Saint John. San Pedro gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
In April, San Pedro is generally around the same temperature as Saint John. Daily temperatures in San Pedro average around 27°C (80°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Pedro 27°C (80°F)Saint John 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint John and San Pedro
| San Pedro | Saint John | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (80°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 243 mm (9.6 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (80°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (76°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 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.