Which place is cheaper, Saint John or Ushuaia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ushuaia or Saint John?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ushuaia or Saint John? 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: Ushuaia or Saint John?
Ushuaia
Ushuaia is a city on the Tierra del Fuego island of Argentina on the Beagle Strait. The city is considered to be one of the southernmost cities in the world and is often used as a base for cruises to Antarctica. Ushuaia's close proximity to Antarctica and their amazing hiking trails have made it a popular tourist destination over the past few decades.
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 Wildlife Tours to Argentina, and The Best Eco Tours in Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayUshuaia $11Saint John $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Ushuaia is $11, 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 Ushuaia and Saint John in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personUshuaia $5.64Saint John $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomUshuaia $11Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Ushuaia and Saint John
Looking for a hotel in Ushuaia 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Ushuaia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ushuaia -Saint John $49
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ushuaia
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ushuaia are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$0.03
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ushuaia
Also for Ushuaia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Airport and Hotel Transfer in Ushuaia: $139
- Private Embarkation Debarkation Transfer: $129
- Private Transfer Airport-Hotel-Airport (Ushuaia): $120
- Private Transfer Airport-Port or Port-Airport (Ushuaia): $55
- Private Transfer Hotel-Bus Station or Bus Station-Hotel (Ushuaia): $27
- Private Transfer from Ushuaia Airport (USH) to Ushuaia Port : $25
- Private Transfer from Ushuaia Airport(USH) to Ushuaia Cruise Port: $28
- Private Transfer from Ushuaia Cruise Port to Ushuaia Airport(USH): $28
- Private Transfer from Ushuaia Port to Ushuaia Airport (USH): $25
- Shared Transfer Airport-Hotel-Airport (Ushuaia): $37
- Transfer Cerro Castor (Round Trip): $25
- Transfer Ushuaia Airport - Hotel in Ushuaia - Ushuaia Airport : $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Ushuaia or Saint John?
Prices for flights to both Saint John and Ushuaia 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 dayUshuaia $2.18Saint John $56
Typical Food Prices in Ushuaia
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ushuaia:
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Lunch for Two$0.06
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ushuaia
For Ushuaia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- The Martial Glacier at Night with Dinner Included: $94
- Ushuaia at night: A Snow and Fire dinner, sledding and adventure: $280
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ushuaia $13Saint John $23
Tours and Activities in Ushuaia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ushuaia.
- Panoramic City Train Tour: $10
- Exploring Double Decker Bus Tour: $22
- Double-Decker Sightseeing Tour: $24
- Ushuaia City Tour: $26
- Ushuaia City Half-Day Tour: $31
- An Hour Tour in the City of Ushuaia: $32
- City Tour of Ushuaia: $42
- End of the World Train Ticket: $45
- Beagle Channel & Sea Wolves Island Catamaran Cruise: $45
- Half-Day Tierra del Fuego National Park (NOT CRUISE): $59
- Escondido & Fagnano Lake Tour: $60
- Tour to Tierra del Fuego National Park from Ushuaia: $62
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 dayUshuaia -Saint John $44
Typical Alcohol Prices in Ushuaia
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Ushuaia are as follows:
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Wine$0.05
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Beer$0.01
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ushuaia and Saint John, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. And not only is Ushuaia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ushuaia is in South 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 Ushuaia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ushuaia 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 Ushuaia.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ushuaia Expensive? and Is Saint John Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Ushuaia or Saint John?
Ushuaia has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Saint John experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Ushuaia or Saint John in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Ushuaia as well as Saint John. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.
Ushuaia is much colder than Saint John in the summer. The daily temperature in Ushuaia averages around 10°C (50°F) in January, and Saint John fluctuates around 29°C (83°F)in July.
Ushuaia usually gets less rain in January than Saint Johnin July. Ushuaia gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyUshuaia 10°C (50°F)Saint John 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Ushuaia or Saint John in the Autumn?
Both Saint John and Ushuaia are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the autumn, Ushuaia is much colder than Saint John. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Ushuaia in April average around 6°C (43°F), and Saint John averages at about 28°C (82°F)in October.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint John. In April, Ushuaia usually receives less rain than Saint Johnin October. Ushuaia gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberUshuaia 6°C (43°F)Saint John 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Ushuaia or Saint John in the Winter?
Both Saint John and Ushuaia during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.
It's quite cold in Ushuaia in the winter. In July, Ushuaia is generally much colder than Saint Johnin January. Daily temperatures in Ushuaia average around 2°C (36°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
Ushuaia usually gets less rain in July than Saint Johnin January. Ushuaia gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryUshuaia 2°C (36°F)Saint John 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Ushuaia or Saint John in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Ushuaia and Saint John. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Ushuaia is much colder than Saint John in the spring. The daily temperature in Ushuaia averages around 6°C (43°F) in October, and Saint John fluctuates around 27°C (80°F)in April.
In October, Ushuaia usually receives less rain than Saint Johnin April. Ushuaia gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilUshuaia 6°C (43°F)Saint John 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint John and Ushuaia
| Ushuaia | Saint John | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 10°C (50°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 6°C (43°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 3°C (37°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 1°C (34°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 2°C (36°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 2°C (36°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 4°C (39°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 6°C (43°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 8°C (46°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (48°F) | 30 mm (1.2 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.