A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers El Calafate vs. Saint John for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit El Calafate or Saint John?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit El Calafate 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: El Calafate or Saint John?

El Calafate

Located in Patagonia, El Calafate has become a popular tourist destination in Argentina because of its beautiful setting on the stunningly blue Lago Argentina. The town sits on the southern border of the lake in the southwestern part of the Santa Cruz Province. It's about 320 kilometers from Rio Gallegos.

The rise in popularity of Patagonia as a tourist destination has truly put this small town on the map. You'll find no shortage of trekkers in the town and it makes an excellent base to explore different parts of the Los Glaciares National Park. Popular places to visit include Perito Moreno Glacier, Cerro Chalten, and Cerro Torre.

El Calafate has a cold semi-arid climate. The summers are cool to warm and very dry while the winters are cold and damp. Lago Argentino has a significant influence over the town's climate. The shallow bay where the town is located is usually frozen during the winter months.

Check out our ultimate guide to Hiking in Patagonia.

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 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, Saint John or El Calafate?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • El Calafate Prices
    Argentina Prices
    Saint John Prices
    USVI Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    El Calafate $58
    Saint John $233

The average daily cost (per person) in El Calafate is $58, 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 El Calafate and Saint John in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    El Calafate $37
    Saint John $106
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    El Calafate $74
    Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in El Calafate and Saint John

Looking for a hotel in El Calafate 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.

Hotels in El Calafate


Hotels in Saint John


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: El Calafate Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    El Calafate $4.20
    Saint John $49

Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Calafate

Also for El Calafate, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • "Todo Glaciares" Boat Tour + optional transfers from El Calafate : $205
  • Perito Moreno Glacier Mini Trek with Transfer: $441
  • Private Airport Transfer: $296
  • Punta Walichu Reserve W Lunch & Transfer: $18
  • Transfers Between Airport and Hotels: $44
  • Excursion to the Perito Moreno Glacier, with guide and transfer to / from the hotel: $79
  • FTE Aiport transfer Group 4 to 6 people with luggage: $116
  • Perito Moreno Full Day Minitrekking with Transfer & Walkways: $460
  • Private Airport Transfer in Calafate: $45
  • Private Transfer from El Calafate Airport (FTE): $29
  • Private Transfer to El Calafate Airport (FTE): $29
  • Private Transfer: Calafate Airport to City Center: $59

Is it cheaper to fly into El Calafate or Saint John?

Prices for flights to both Saint John and El Calafate 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    El Calafate $6.69
    Saint John $97

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in El Calafate

For El Calafate, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Estancia 25 de Mayo Dinner & Show with Transfer: $72
  • Estancia 25 de Mayo Tour with Dinner & Transfer: $98
  • Country Afternoon with Dinner Show - Estancia 25 de Mayo: $115
  • Stargazing Tour with Dinner and Transfers: $120
  • Estancia 25 de Mayo in El Calafate - PM visit with dinner: $165
  • Estancia 25 de Mayo Experience with Dinner from Calafate: $190
  • Lakes and Caves Tour with Dinner and Wine Included: $190
  • Lakes and Caves Tour with Dinner: $255

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    El Calafate $52
    Saint John $23

Tours and Activities in El Calafate

For El Calafate, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Self-Guided History Museum Tour: $15
  • Guided Tour National Park+Perito Moreno Glacier+Sailing (optional): $47
  • Perito Moreno Glacier & Optional Boat Cruise: $67
  • From Perito Moreno walkways + Boat Tour (optional): $70
  • Perito Moreno Glacier Walkway Tour: $71
  • Perito Moreno Glacier Guided Tour: $79
  • Tour to Walkways of the Perito Moreno Glacier: $83
  • Day Tour to the Perito Moreno Glacier from El Calafate: $88
  • From Full-Day Tour to El Chaltén: $89
  • Full Day Guided Tour Perito Moreno National Park and Glacier: $90
  • Los Glaciares National Park and Perito Moreno Glacier Tour: $92
  • Perito Moreno Glacier Full Day Tour with optional Navigation : $96

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
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    El Calafate $8.33
    Saint John $44


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between El Calafate and Saint John, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. And not only is El Calafate much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since El Calafate 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 El Calafate would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Calafate 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 El Calafate.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is El Calafate Expensive? and Is Saint John Expensive?.