Which place is cheaper, Saint Croix or Charleston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Charleston or Saint Croix?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Charleston or Saint Croix, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Charleston or Saint Croix?
Charleston
Charleston is a beautiful, southern city and seaport town in South Carolina. It has a wonderful, historic downtown area that the city government works hard to maintain. Located on a peninsula that is created by two rivers, the city is a stunning setting with much character. It is a popular place to visit for its culture, architecture and cuisine. In recent years Charleston has gained popularity and it continues to grow as both a regional and international travel destination. With its rising popularity comes increasing costs. Travel costs continue to go up as restaurants and hotels raise their prices, particularly during the peak travel season and holiday periods.
Saint Croix
Sometimes all you want out of a vacation is the warmth of the sun, the sound of the waves and the taste of a cold drink. No more. No less. That's exactly what you can expect in St. Croix.
The largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix is a place of our leisure and relaxation. It's a bit of an expensive lifestyle for its 50,000 residents and daily visitors, but when you're living on island time, money is never a worry. There are no worries on island time.
This once volcanic island is covered in incredible beaches, stunning mountains, palm tress in the wind and historic colonial towns. While they may be a bit old and rundown, the Danish architecture still stands as a unique part of this island's legacy. Don't expect much window-shopping, though. That was not a feature incorporated in this style of architecture. If you want to know if a store is open, just step on in, but remember, shop hours are also running on island time.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCharleston $170Saint Croix $236
The average daily cost (per person) in Charleston is $170, while the average daily cost in Saint Croix is $236. 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 Charleston and Saint Croix in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCharleston $90Saint Croix $149
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCharleston $180Saint Croix $298
Compare Hotels in Charleston and Saint Croix
Looking for a hotel in Charleston or Saint Croix? 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: Charleston Hotel Prices and Saint Croix Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Charleston $33Saint Croix $35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Charleston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Charleston:
- Private Transfer from Charleston Cruise Port to Charleston city: $55
- Private Transfer from Charleston City to Charleston Cruise Port: $55
- Private Transfer from Charleston Port to Charleston Airport (CHS): $59
- From Boone Hall Plantation Entry with Transfers: $71
- Charleston Airport (CHS) to Charleston city – Arrival Private Transfer: $88
- Charleston city to Charleston Airport (CHS) - Departure Private Transfer: $88
- Folly Beach to Charleston Airport (CHS) - Departure Private Transfer: $104
- Isle of Palms/Sullivans Island to Charleston Airport –Departure Private Transfer: $104
- Charleston Airport (CHS) to Folly Beach - Arrival Private Transfer: $104
- Charleston Airport to Isle of Palms/Sullivans Island– Arrival Private Transfer: $104
- Charleston Airport (CHS) to Kiawah/Seabrook Islands – Arrival Private Transfer: $118
- Charleston Airport: One-Way Transfer to Charleston: $153
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Croix
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Saint Croix:
- Private Transfer from St.Croix Cruise Port to St.Croix hotels: $49
- Private Transfer from St.Croix hotels to St. Croix Cruise Port : $49
- Private Transfer from St. Croix Airport to St. Croix Cruise Port : $71
- Private Transfer from St. Croix Cruise Port to St. Croix Airport: $71
- St. Croix to Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) - Departure Transfer: $109
- Saint Croix Airport (STX) to Saint Croix Hotels -Arrival Transfer: $109
- Henry E.Rohlsen Airport(STX) to St. Croix island-Arrival Transfer: $109
- Private Transfer from St. Croix Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) to St. Croix : $164
- Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) to St.Croix - Round-Trip Transfer: $218
- St Croix Airport to St Croix Hotels Private Round Trip Transfer: $218
Is it cheaper to fly into Charleston or Saint Croix?
Prices for flights to both Saint Croix and Charleston 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 dayCharleston $58Saint Croix $56
Typical Food Prices in Charleston
Some typical examples of dining costs in Charleston are as follows:
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Lunch in downtown Charleston for two$21
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Breakfast$26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Charleston
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Charleston.
- Charleston Sunset Blues & BBQ Dinner Cruise: $72
- Charleston Harbor Luxury Dinner Cruise with Live Music: $88
- Luxury Harbor Dinner Cruise: $93
- Savor the Flavors Upper King Street Food Tour: $95
- Charleston Food Tour: $99
- Historic Downtown Food Tour with Tastings: $99
- 3-Hour Secret Food Tour: $108
- Charleston Farm-to-Table Food Tour and Chef's Challenge: $109
- Charleston Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $110
- Downtown Charleston Food Tour: $110
- Savor the Flavors of Charleston Walking Food Tour: $110
- Charleston's Savor the Flavors of Upper King Street Walking Food Tour: $110
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint Croix
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Saint Croix.
- A Evening Cultural Experience Through Food Cooking Class St. Croix: $90
- Taste of Twin City Food Tour with VI Food Tours: $129
- C'sted Sip & Savor Mixology Class with VI Food Tours: $129
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Charleston $22Saint Croix $58
Typical Entertainment Prices in Charleston
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Charleston are as follows:
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Patriots Point (for 2)$60
Tours and Activities in Charleston
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Charleston are as follows:
- The French Quarter: GPS Guided Walking Tour with Audio Guide: $5.99
- Self-Guided Ghost Tour: $6.99
- Self-Guided "The French Quarter Charleston" Solo Walking Tour: $7.50
- Cinematic, Self Guided Audio Ghost Tour in Charleston: $10
- Self-Guided Highlights Walking Audio Tour: $12
- 300 Years of War and Peacetime in A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
- Self-Guided Audio History Walking Tour: $12
- Charleston Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $15
- Trolley Tour in Wadmalaw Island of South Carolina: $17
- Charleston's Miracle Mile: Church and Cemetery Walking Tour: $21
- History & Storytelling Tour: $24
- The Ghosts of Liberty Guided Walking Tour: $25
Tours and Activities in Saint Croix
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Saint Croix are as follows:
- Grange Estate History and Heritage Private Tour and Luncheon : $60
- Private Sailing Tour of Pirate Waters and Shipwrecks: $75
- St Croix Island Tour: $100
- Parasail Experience in St Croix: $132
- 30 Minute Private Jetcar Experience in Virgin Islands: $150
- Horseback Riding Experience: $160
- 1 Hour Private Jetcar Experience in Virgin Islands : $250
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCharleston $36Saint Croix $27
Sample the Local Flavors in Charleston
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Charleston:
- Charleston Women and Wine Tour: $20
- Women and Wine Tour: $20
- Charleston Terrors Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $27
- Guided Pub Crawl and Haunted History Tour: $30
- Bay Street Bastards Pub Crawl Shared Tour in Charleston : $35
- Speakeasy Sagas Prohibition Pub Crawl: $35
- Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl Walking Tour: $35
- Historic District Haunted Pub Crawl Tour: $40
- Charleston Brewery District Cruise (Public Tour): $95
- Wadmalaw Island Wine Tasting and Tea Garden Trip: $135
- Half Day Party Bus Brewery Tour of Charleston: $140
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Charleston and Saint Croix, we can see that Saint Croix is more expensive. And not only is Charleston much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Charleston is in North America and Saint Croix 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 Charleston would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Charleston 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 Croix would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Croix than you might in Charleston.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Charleston Expensive? and Is Saint Croix Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Charleston or Saint Croix?
Charleston has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Saint Croix experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Charleston or Saint Croix in the Summer?
Both Saint Croix and Charleston are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Charleston in the summer for the beaches, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Plenty of visitors come to Saint Croix because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In July, Charleston is generally around the same temperature as Saint Croix. Daily temperatures in Charleston average around 82°F (28°C), and Saint Croix fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
It's quite rainy in Charleston. In July, Charleston usually receives more rain than Saint Croix. Charleston gets 6.9 inches (176 mm) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCharleston 82°F (28°C)Saint Croix 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Charleston or Saint Croix in the Autumn?
Both Saint Croix and Charleston during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Charleston for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint Croix year-round.
Charleston is cooler than Saint Croix in the autumn. The daily temperature in Charleston averages around 67°F (19°C) in October, and Saint Croix fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
Saint Croix gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Charleston usually gets less rain in October than Saint Croix. Charleston gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCharleston 67°F (19°C)Saint Croix 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Charleston or Saint Croix in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Charleston and Saint Croix. The winter months attract visitors to Charleston because of the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Saint Croix attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the winter, Charleston is much colder than Saint Croix. Typically, the winter temperatures in Charleston in January average around 47°F (9°C), and Saint Croix averages at about 26°C (78°F).
In January, Charleston usually receives more rain than Saint Croix. Charleston gets 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCharleston 47°F (9°C)Saint Croix 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Charleston or Saint Croix in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Charleston as well as Saint Croix. The beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Charleston this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint Croix throughout the year.
In April, Charleston is generally cooler than Saint Croix. Daily temperatures in Charleston average around 64°F (18°C), and Saint Croix fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
Charleston usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Saint Croix. Charleston gets 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCharleston 64°F (18°C)Saint Croix 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint Croix and Charleston
| Charleston | Saint Croix | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 47°F (9°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 50°F (10°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 58°F (14°C) | 4.3 inches (110 mm) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 64°F (18°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 72°F (22°C) | 4.2 inches (106 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 78°F (26°C) | 6.4 inches (163 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 82°F (28°C) | 6.9 inches (176 mm) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 7.1 inches (181 mm) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 76°F (25°C) | 4.8 inches (121 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 67°F (19°C) | 2.9 inches (74 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 58°F (15°C) | 2.5 inches (63 mm) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 51°F (10°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) | 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.