A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Saint John's vs. Mendoza for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Saint John's or Mendoza?

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

Should I visit Saint John's or Mendoza? 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: Saint John's or Mendoza?

Saint John's

If you've been to St. John's, Antigua, you were likely on a cruise - which means you likely did not have enough time to truly experience the magic of this tiny island getaway.

St. Johns is the capital of the tiny islands of Antigua and Barbuda. Located on Antigua, this tropical city lives up to its status as a tropical paradise. With 365 beaches on the island, you can enjoy the luxury of lounging in the sand every day of the year.

Mendoza

Mendoza is a city in western Argentina and more precisely in the desertic Cuyo region. Mendoza is the center of the Argentinian wine industry and is famed around the world for its vineyards and wine production. Spread across the valley of the Rio Mendoza and in the foothills of the Andean mountain range, Mendoza is also near the Aconcagua, the highest mountain outside of the Himalayas. The bustling and scenic city of wide, leafy avenues, atmospheric plazas and cosmopolitan cafes spoils visitors with unique natural attractions and historical landmarks. If you can, visit Mendoza during the harvest festival at the end of February. There are many events and festivals in Mendoza and they are usually free. Each has a different theme, and they usually have a stage with singing and dancing and booths that sell food around a plaza. Seventy percent of Argentina's wines are produced here, and Mendoza is especially known for its world-famous malbecs.

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, Mendoza or Saint John's?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Saint John's is $272, while the average daily cost in Mendoza is $56. 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 Saint John's and Mendoza in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Saint John's $120
    Mendoza $43
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Saint John's $240
    Mendoza $86
Compare Hotels in Saint John's and Mendoza

Looking for a hotel in Saint John's or Mendoza? 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 Saint Johns


Hotels in Mendoza


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: Mendoza Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Saint John's $17
    Mendoza $4.18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint John's

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Saint John's:


  • Local Bus
    $1.52
  • Taxi From Airport
    $6.99

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint John's

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Saint John's:

  • VIP Meet and Greet Fast Track on Arrival at Antigua Airport - without Transfers : $77
  • Round-Trip Transfer between Antigua Airport and Antigua Hotels: $32
  • Private Transfer from Antigua island hotels to St. John's Port: $57
  • Private Transfer from Antigua Airport (ANU) to St. John's Port: $42
  • Private Transfer from Antigua & Barbuda V.C. Bird Airport (ANU) to island: $123
  • Private Roundtrip Airport Transfers & Tour in Antigua & Barbuda: $200
  • Private Round Trip Transfer From Antigua Airport To NonSuch Bay: $84
  • Private Antigua Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Hammock Cove: $90
  • Private Airport Transfers to Antigua and Barbuda: $60
  • JTAT Private Transfers & Tours, Saint John's, Antigua and Barbuda: $160
  • Crystal Kayak & Snorkel Eco Tour (with transfer): $99
  • Biggvee Premium Airport One Way Transfer: $200

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mendoza

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

  • 6-Seats Private Transfer in Mendoza with Personal Driver: $21
  • Argentine BBQ Experience and Winery Visits.Transfer included: $195
  • Catena Zapata and El Enemigo Wine Tasting with Private Transfer: $290
  • Classic Wine Tour with Winery Roast. Private Transfer.: $220
  • Departure Private Transfer Valle de Uco to Mendoza Airport MDZ : $103
  • Distillery Gin + Lunch in Winery with Private Transfer.: $160
  • Essential Wine and Lunch. Private Transfer: $100
  • Luján de Cuyo/ Maipú Wineries. Full Day. Transfer.: $115
  • MDZ Airport Private Transfer to Mendoza City Center: $22
  • Mendoza Airport (MDZ) to Mendoza - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $67
  • Mendoza Airport Departure Transfer: $34
  • Mendoza Airport Shuttle Transfer: $22

Is it cheaper to fly into Saint John's or Mendoza?

Prices for flights to both Mendoza and Saint John's 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
    Saint John's $117
    Mendoza $5.85

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint John's

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Saint John's.

  • City Lime Food Tour: Taste our culture on Antigua's only food tour in the city!: $105
  • Discover the Flavors of St. Johns Food Tour: $125
  • Private Art Tour or Food Tour: $150
  • Nicole's Table - Cooking with Rum: $165

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mendoza

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

  • Argentine BBQ on Terrace with Views. Dinner, Sunset.: $80
  • Mendoza Cooking Experience with Unlimited Wine & Cocktails: $95
  • Argentine Hands-On Cooking & Wine Experience in Mendoza: $95
  • Bar Safari 4 Best Mendoza’s Bars in 1 Night with Full Dinner: $167
  • Bar Safari: 4 Best Mendoza’s Bars in 1 night. + Full Dinner: $180
  • Horseback Riding at Sunset and Dinner in Mendoza: $185
  • Tango Show with Dinner at Hualta Winery Hotel: $190
  • Full-Day Small-Group Mendoza Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $199
  • City Tour with Dinner at a Local Restaurant: $200
  • Winery Los Toneles + Dinner in Saffron Restó. Private transportation: $250

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Saint John's $103
    Mendoza $23
Typical Entertainment Prices in Saint John's

Here are a few typical costs in Saint John's for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Entrance to the Museum of Antigua & Barbu
    $3.00

Tours and Activities in Saint John's

Here are a few actual costs in Saint John's for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Island Flava Discovery Tour: $150
  • 6-Hours Tour East Coast of Antigua: Stingray City, Lunch & Beach: $195
  • Adventure Antigua - Eli's Original Eco Tour: $143
  • Adventure Antigua - The Xtreme Circumnavigation: $221
  • Antigua Eco Island Tour (City, Country, Beach, & Heritage Sites): $199
  • Antigua Historical Sites Island Tour: $110
  • Antigua Reef Riders Self-Drive Boat and Snorkeling Tour: $180
  • Antigua Round Island Tour: $85
  • Antigua Seafood Lunch Cruise From St. John's: $172
  • Antigua Shore Excursion: Round Island Tour: $110
  • Antigua VIP Tours - Private Platinum Tour: $170
  • Antigua VIP Tours - Semi-Private Gold Tour: $135

Tours and Activities in Mendoza

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

  • Self-guided bike tour of Maipu (Mendoza): $15
  • Malbec Experience in Bodega Tierras Altas: $22
  • Tour autoguiado en bicicleta por Luján de Cuyo (Mendoza): $23
  • City tour with visit to General San Martin Park: $24
  • Renacer Winery Experience: $25
  • City Tour: $25
  • City Tour of Mendoza: $25
  • City Tour: $25
  • Half-Day Sightseeing Tour: $34
  • Wine and Olive Oil Tasting Half-Day Tour: $34
  • Half-Day Sightseeing City Tour: $35
  • City Tour Mendoza Completo con Chocolatería y Cerro de la Gloria: $35

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Saint John's $18
    Mendoza $5.94

Sample the Local Flavors in Mendoza

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Mendoza:

  • Classic Wine Tasting: $44
  • Premium Wine Tasting: $66
  • Half-Day Wine Tour with Tastings: $80
  • Make an Argentine Asado BBQ w/ Local Host & Wine Tasting: $89
  • El Enemigo and Casa Vigil Wine Tour: $93
  • In Mendoza Wine Tours, Empanadas, and Olive Oil: $99
  • Mendoza Private Wine Tour Paired Lunch and Olive Oil Tasting: $115
  • Classic Wine Tour on a Budget. Lunch. Private Driver: $120
  • Wine Tour with Lunch and Transport in Mendoza: $130
  • Full Day Wine Tour with 3 Course Lunch: $164
  • Wine tasting region Uco Valley in Mendoza: $180
  • Bike Tour at Zuccardi: Olive Oil, Wine Tasting & Lunch: $182


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint John's and Mendoza, we can see that Saint John's is more expensive. And not only is Mendoza much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint John's is in Caribbean Islands and Mendoza is in South America, 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 Mendoza would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mendoza 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's would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint John's than you might in Mendoza.

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


Which is Bigger, Saint John's or Mendoza?

Mendoza has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Saint John's. When comparing the sizes of Saint John's and Mendoza, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.