Which place is cheaper, Saint John or Cancun?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Cancun or Saint John?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Cancun and Saint John can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Cancun or Saint John?
Cancun
In the northeast corner of the Mexican Caribbean, Cancun is one of Mexico's most popular destinations. The area that is now Cancun was actually selected specifically by the Mexican government for development as a tourist destination. The area was chosen because it has fourteen miles of beautiful white beaches, nearby Mayan ruins, and turquoise blue water with nearby snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities. Prior to its development as a tourist destination, there were few inhabitants in the area.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun.
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Cancun Prices
Mexico PricesSaint John Prices
USVI Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCancun $153Saint John $233
The average daily cost (per person) in Cancun is $153, while the average daily cost in Saint John is $233. 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 Cancun and Saint John in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCancun $89Saint John $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCancun $178Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Cancun and Saint John
Looking for a hotel in Cancun 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: Cancun Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cancun $16Saint John $49
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cancun
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cancun:
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Taxi Around Town$1.52
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Airport Shuttle (for 2)$13
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Ferry to Isla de Mujeres (for 2)$15
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Local Bus (for 2)$1.85
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cancun
Also for Cancun, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Cancun Private Round trip Airport Transfer: $65
- Airport Transfer Cancun: $60
- Airport Transfers to Costa Mujeres - Private van (ROUND TRIP) FLAT RATE: $215
- Akumal One Way Or Roundtrip Private Transfer: $139
- Atv Cancun (cenote, Ziplines, Lunch And Transfer Included) : $49
- Best SpeedBoat and Snorkeling tour with Transfer from Cancun: $25
- Cancún Airport (CUN) Cancun hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $77
- Cancún Airport (CUN) to Akumal - Private Arrival Transfer: $107
- Cancún Airport (CUN) to Akumal - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $214
- Cancún Airport (CUN) to Cancun hotel or address - Private Arrival Transfer: $38
- Cancún Airport (CUN) to El Dorado Maroma - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $212
- Cancún Airport (CUN) to Playa del Carmen - Private Round-Trip Transfer: $180
Is it cheaper to fly into Cancun or Saint John?
Prices for flights to both Saint John and Cancun 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 dayCancun $45Saint John $97
Typical Food Prices in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cancun Pirate Ship Adventure : Dinner & Show at Sea 2 for 1 Deal: $50
- Pirate Show in Cancun! Dinner & drinks: $62
- Cancun Street Food Tour with Food Stalls, Local Market and Murals: $64
- Pirate Shop & Dinner at Cancun! Drinks, Adventure and Fun: $65
- Cancun Walking Food Tour: Local Food, Markets, and Street Art.: $77
- Puerto Morelos Walking Food Tour: $77
- Mexican Cooking Class with fresh Local Market ingredients selection and transpor: $79
- Cancun Taco & Mexican Food Tour with Tequila Tasting: $79
- Cancun Private Mural Art and Food Tour: $81
- Hands-On Cooking Class in Drink & Cook Authentic Dishes: $85
- Pirate’s Night Out: Dinner and Entertainment in the Caribbean: $89
- Unforgettable Pirate Dinner Adventure in the Mexican Caribbean: $89
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cancun $32Saint John $23
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cancun
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cancun's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Seasick Pills$0.54
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Whale Shark Tour (for 2)$92
Tours and Activities in Cancun
For Cancun, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- ATV Tour, Zip Lines, Horseback Riding, Cenote and Tequila Tasting: $10
- Tour to Kin Ha Cenotes with Craft Jewelry Workshop : $12
- Tulum Mayan Ruins + Shopping Tour + Tulum Jaguar Park: $13
- Discover Isla Mujeres tour with snorkel, buffet and open bar : $14
- Visit to 5th Avenue in Playa del Carmen + Shopping Tour: $14
- Speedboat jungle tour and snorkel: $15
- Chichen Itza full day tour: $16
- Catamaran Adventure in Cancun: $16
- Isla Mujeres Catamaran Tour with Snorkeling, Open Bar and Buffet: $16
- Tour to Tulum and Cenote for the best price! : $16
- Full Day Tour to Coba and Tulum Cenote Swim and Lunch: $16
- Chichen Itza Tour Full day food included: $16
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCancun $12Saint John $44
Sample the Local Flavors in Cancun
Also in Cancun, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Social Pub Crawl in Cancun: $35
- Bar Crawl Madness Tour in Cancun: $99
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cancun and Saint John, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. And not only is Cancun much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cancun is in North 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 Cancun would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cancun 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 Cancun.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cancun Expensive? and Is Saint John Expensive?.
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.