Which place is cheaper, Saint John or Santa Elena?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Santa Elena or Saint John?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Santa Elena and Saint John. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Santa Elena or Saint John?
Santa Elena
Santa Elena is a cute town, and the closest to the Monteverde Cloud Forest. It's one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica, and is a great place to experience the cloud forest and see some of country's unique wildlife.
In the Monteverde Cloud Forest you have a good chance of seeing rare quetzals which are the national bird of Costa Rica. Other common animals include white-faced capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, orange-kneed tarantulas, any of 8-9 species of hummingbirds, and sloth.
Santa Elena is about 1,400 meters above sea level and has a humid and damp environment. The average yearly temperature is 64 degrees Fahrenheit and the average rainfall is 3,000 millimetres. Humidity can be anywhere between 74% and 97%.
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 G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySanta Elena $92Saint John $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Santa Elena is $92, 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 Santa Elena and Saint John in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanta Elena $55Saint John $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanta Elena $110Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Santa Elena and Saint John
Looking for a hotel in Santa Elena 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.Santa Elena $11Saint John $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Elena
Also for Santa Elena, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Direct transfer from Monteverde to San Jose, English Speaking Driver: $179
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde - Liberia: $276
- One-Way Private Transfer: Monteverde to Quepos and Manuel Antonio: $276
- Peñas Blancas to Liberia Airport (LIR) Departure Private Transfer: $38
- Private Transfer From Monteverde To La Fortuna From 1 to 6 passengers: $270
- Private Transfer Lake crossing from Monteverde To Arenal From 1 to 6 passengers: $249
Is it cheaper to fly into Santa Elena or Saint John?
Prices for flights to both Saint John and Santa Elena 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 daySanta Elena $24Saint John $56
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Elena
For Santa Elena, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Night Walk in Monteverde with Dinner Included: $55
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santa Elena $30Saint John $23
Tours and Activities in Santa Elena
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santa Elena.
- Selvatura Park: Herpetarium Tour in Monteverde: $22
- Wildlife Tour in Curicancha : $25
- Monteverde Butterfly Gardens Tour: $26
- Guided Butterfly Conservatory Tour in Costa Rica: $26
- Adventure Day - Outdoor activities for Family and Friends Special Package.: $29
- Kinkajou Night Walk Tour: $30
- Monteverde: Kinkajou Forest Night Walking Tour: $30
- Night Adventures in Monteverde: $30
- CuriCancha Reserve Admission Ticket: $33
- Curicancha Birdwatching Tour: $34
- Guided walk Monteverde Biological Reserve-John's Nature Tours-: $35
- Monteverde Cloud Forest Tour: $35
Tours and Activities in Saint John
Here are a few actual costs in Saint John for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- St. John: A Private Island Adventure Tour & Trunk Bay Beach: $627
- USVI: Island & Beach Tours in St. Thomas & St. John (2 Days): $199
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySanta Elena $6.22Saint John $44
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santa Elena and Saint John, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. And not only is Santa Elena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santa Elena Expensive? and Is Saint John Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Santa Elena or Saint John?
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 Santa Elena or Saint John in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Santa Elena as well as Saint John. Santa Elena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.
Santa Elena receives a lot of rain in the summer. Santa Elena usually gets more rain in July than Saint John. Santa Elena gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the summer, Santa Elena is around the same temperature as Saint John. Typically, the summer temperatures in Santa Elena in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Saint John averages at about 29°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySanta Elena 28°C (82°F)Saint John 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Santa Elena or Saint John in the Autumn?
Both Saint John and Santa Elena are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Santa Elena throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint John. It's quite rainy in Santa Elena. In October, Santa Elena usually receives more rain than Saint John. Santa Elena gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In October, Santa Elena is generally around the same temperature as Saint John. Daily temperatures in Santa Elena average around 27°C (81°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSanta Elena 27°C (81°F)Saint John 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Santa Elena or Saint John in the Winter?
Both Saint John and Santa Elena during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Santa Elena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.
Santa Elena usually gets less rain in January than Saint John. Santa Elena gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
Santa Elena is around the same temperature as Saint John in the winter. The daily temperature in Santa Elena averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Saint John fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySanta Elena 27°C (81°F)Saint John 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Santa Elena or Saint John in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Santa Elena and Saint John. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Santa Elena year-round. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Santa Elena usually receives less rain than Saint John. Santa Elena gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
In the spring, Santa Elena is around the same temperature as Saint John. Typically, the spring temperatures in Santa Elena in April average around 29°C (85°F), and Saint John averages at about 27°C (80°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSanta Elena 29°C (85°F)Saint John 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint John and Santa Elena
| Santa Elena | Saint John | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 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.