Which place is cheaper, Saint Croix or Cuenca?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cuenca or Saint Croix?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Cuenca and Saint Croix. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Cuenca or Saint Croix?
Cuenca
Cuenca is a vibrant colonial city in southern Ecuador, the third largest in the country, and the capital of Azuay Province. Cuenca is considered as Ecuador's most important and beautiful colonial city after Quito. Dating from the 16th century, Cuenca's historic center, a Unesco World Heritage Site with its trademark skyline of massive rotundas and soaring steeples, is a magical sight in which you will feel like you are moving back in time. Cuenca is the center of many craft traditions, including ceramics, metalwork and the internationally famous panama hat. The nearby villages also offer many other handicrafts. Tourists enjoy wandering the ancient streets discovering picturesque alleys and hidden corners, where nuns march along cobblestone streets and kids in Catholic-school uniforms skip past historic churches. Fascinating historic monuments and fabulous views are found at every turn. Cuenca also has outstanding art museums and festivals. For a rewarding cultural experience, visit during Easter to attend the Festival of Religious Music.
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 Wildlife Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ecuador.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCuenca $42Saint Croix $236
The average daily cost (per person) in Cuenca is $42, 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 Cuenca and Saint Croix in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCuenca $13Saint Croix $149
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCuenca $26Saint Croix $298
Compare Hotels in Cuenca and Saint Croix
Looking for a hotel in Cuenca 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: Cuenca Hotel Prices and Saint Croix Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cuenca $11Saint Croix $35
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cuenca
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cuenca:
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Taxi Ride$2.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cuenca
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cuenca:
- Shared transfer from Hotel to Airport in Cuenca: $47
- Private Transfer from Cuenca to Guayaquil.: $104
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Croix
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Saint Croix:
- Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) to St.Croix - Round-Trip Transfer: $217
- Henry E.Rohlsen Airport(STX) to St. Croix island-Arrival Transfer: $109
- Private Transfer from St. Croix Airport to St. Croix Cruise Port : $71
- Private Transfer from St. Croix Cruise Port to St. Croix Airport: $71
- Private Transfer from St. Croix Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) to St. Croix : $164
- Private Transfer from St.Croix Cruise Port to St.Croix hotels: $49
- Private Transfer from St.Croix hotels to St. Croix Cruise Port : $49
- Saint Croix Airport (STX) to Saint Croix Hotels -Arrival Transfer: $109
- St Croix Airport to St Croix Hotels Private Round Trip Transfer: $217
- St. Croix to Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) - Departure Transfer: $109
Is it cheaper to fly into Cuenca or Saint Croix?
Prices for flights to both Saint Croix and Cuenca 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 dayCuenca $15Saint Croix $56
Typical Food Prices in Cuenca
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cuenca:
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Lunch$10
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Snacks$5.00
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Empanada$1.50
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Hot Dog$1.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cuenca
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cuenca.
- Street food Tour in Cuenca,Ecuador: $33
- Cooking Class & Market Tour in Cuenca: $55
- Cuenca City Tour & Cooking Class (PRIVATE Tour from Cuenca): $112
- Private Cooking Class: $125
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.Cuenca $16Saint Croix $58
Tours and Activities in Cuenca
Here are a few actual costs in Cuenca for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cuenca, Ecuador Half-Day City Shared Tour: $25
- Cuenca-Ec- City Tour with Panama Hat factory Half Day: $30
- Cuenca Half-Day City Tour Including Panama Hat Factory: $30
- Private Cuenca City Tour including Turi Viewpoint: $40
- Cajas National Park Half Day Tour from Cuenca: $40
- El Chorro waterfalls and Busa lake tour from Cuenca: $44
- Experience Historical City Tour: $44
- City Sightseeing Tour: $45
- Cuenca, Ecuador Half-Day City Tour: $46
- Amazing Cajas National Park Tour from Cuenca: $48
- Cuenca City Tour: $48
- Cajas National Park Small-Group tour from Cuenca: $49
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 dayCuenca $14Saint Croix $27
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cuenca and Saint Croix, we can see that Saint Croix is more expensive. And not only is Cuenca much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cuenca is in South 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 Cuenca would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cuenca 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 Cuenca.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cuenca Expensive? and Is Saint Croix Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Cuenca or Saint Croix?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Cuenca or Saint Croix in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Cuenca and Saint Croix. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cuenca year-round. Saint Croix attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Cuenca usually receives less rain than Saint Croix. Cuenca gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Cuenca is cooler than Saint Croix in the summer. The daily temperature in Cuenca averages around 22°C (72°F) in July, and Saint Croix fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCuenca 22°C (72°F)Saint Croix 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Cuenca or Saint Croix in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Cuenca as well as Saint Croix. Cuenca attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint Croix throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Saint Croix. Cuenca usually gets less rain in October than Saint Croix. Cuenca gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Cuenca is much colder than Saint Croix. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Cuenca in October average around 12°C (54°F), and Saint Croix averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCuenca 12°C (54°F)Saint Croix 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Cuenca or Saint Croix in the Winter?
Both Saint Croix and Cuenca are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cuenca throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Saint Croix because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Cuenca usually receives less rain than Saint Croix. Cuenca gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Cuenca can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Cuenca is generally much colder than Saint Croix. Daily temperatures in Cuenca average around 4°C (39°F), and Saint Croix fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCuenca 4°C (39°F)Saint Croix 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Cuenca or Saint Croix in the Spring?
Both Saint Croix and Cuenca during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Cuenca because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint Croix year-round.
Cuenca usually gets less rain in April than Saint Croix. Cuenca gets 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
Cuenca is much colder than Saint Croix in the spring. The daily temperature in Cuenca averages around 10°C (50°F) in April, and Saint Croix fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCuenca 10°C (50°F)Saint Croix 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint Croix and Cuenca
| Cuenca | Saint Croix | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 4°C (39°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (43°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 10°C (50°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 14°C (57°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 22°C (72°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 22°C (72°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 17°C (63°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 12°C (54°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 5°C (41°F) | 15 mm (0.6 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.