Which place is cheaper, Saint John or Hilton Head Island?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Hilton Head Island 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 Hilton Head Island and Saint John can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Hilton Head Island or Saint John?
Hilton Head Island
Hilton Head, also called Hilton Head Island, is primarily a resort and beach town off the coast of South Carolina. Located on a barrier island, the place is best known for its beaches and golf courses overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
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 Anchorage, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHilton Head Island $243Saint John $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Hilton Head Island is $243, while the average daily cost in Saint John is $192. 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 Hilton Head Island and Saint John in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHilton Head Island $129Saint John $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHilton Head Island $258Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Hilton Head Island and Saint John
Looking for a hotel in Hilton Head Island 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: Hilton Head Island Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hilton Head Island $34Saint John $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Hilton Head Island or Saint John?
Prices for flights to both Saint John and Hilton Head Island 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 dayHilton Head Island $60Saint John $56
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hilton Head Island
For Hilton Head Island, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Dolphin Watching 3-Course Dinner Cruise: $70
- Sunset Hibachi Dinner Cruise : $102
- Hilton Head Sunset Dinner Cruise: $106
- Sunset Dinner Cruise: $106
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hilton Head Island $23Saint John $23
Tours and Activities in Hilton Head Island
For Hilton Head Island, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Kazoo Factory Tour & Museum : $15
- Beaufort Ghost Walking Tours : $22
- Tybee Island Ghost Tour: $30
- Walking Tour in Beaufort: $30
- Historic Tour of Tybee Island: $30
- Historic Walking Tour of Tybee Island: $30
- Complete History and Movie Walking Tour of Beaufort: $30
- History and Movie Tour of Beaufort by Golf Cart: $32
- Beaufort City Minibus Tour: $35
- 90-Minute Dolphin & Nature Tour: $35
- #1 Historical Horse Drawn Carriage Tour: $35
- Beaufort’s #1 Horse & Carriage History Tour: $35
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
- USVI: Island & Beach Tours in St. Thomas & St. John (2 Days): $199
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHilton Head Island $26Saint John $44
Sample the Local Flavors in Hilton Head Island
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Hilton Head Island:
- Hilton Head's ONLY Distillery Experience: $55
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hilton Head Island and Saint John, we can see that Hilton Head Island is more expensive. And not only is Saint John much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Hilton Head Island 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 Saint John would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Saint John 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 Hilton Head Island would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hilton Head Island than you might in Saint John.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hilton Head Island Expensive? and Is Saint John Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Hilton Head Island or Saint John?
Hilton Head Island has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Saint John experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Hilton Head Island or Saint John in the Summer?
Both Saint John and Hilton Head Island during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Hilton Head Island in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.
In the summer, Hilton Head Island is around the same temperature as Saint John. Typically, the summer temperatures in Hilton Head Island in July average around 82°F (28°C), and Saint John averages at about 29°C (83°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Hilton Head Island. Hilton Head Island usually gets more rain in July than Saint John. Hilton Head Island gets 7.9 inches (200 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHilton Head Island 82°F (28°C)Saint John 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Hilton Head Island or Saint John in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Hilton Head Island and Saint John. Most visitors come to Hilton Head Island for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Hilton Head Island is generally cooler than Saint John. Daily temperatures in Hilton Head Island average around 68°F (20°C), and Saint John fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
Saint John receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Hilton Head Island usually receives less rain than Saint John. Hilton Head Island gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHilton Head Island 68°F (20°C)Saint John 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Hilton Head Island or Saint John in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Hilton Head Island as well as Saint John. The winter months attract visitors to Hilton Head Island because of the shopping scene and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.
Hilton Head Island is much colder than Saint John in the winter. The daily temperature in Hilton Head Island averages around 48°F (9°C) in January, and Saint John fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
Hilton Head Island usually gets more rain in January than Saint John. Hilton Head Island gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHilton Head Island 48°F (9°C)Saint John 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Hilton Head Island or Saint John in the Spring?
Both Saint John and Hilton Head Island are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Hilton Head Island this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the spring, Hilton Head Island is cooler than Saint John. Typically, the spring temperatures in Hilton Head Island in April average around 67°F (19°C), and Saint John averages at about 27°C (80°F).
In April, Hilton Head Island usually receives around the same amount of rain as Saint John. Hilton Head Island gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHilton Head Island 67°F (19°C)Saint John 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint John and Hilton Head Island
| Hilton Head Island | Saint John | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 48°F (9°C) | 2.9 inches (74 mm) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 52°F (11°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 58°F (15°C) | 4.4 inches (112 mm) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 67°F (19°C) | 2.9 inches (74 mm) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 73°F (23°C) | 4.2 inches (107 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 80°F (26°C) | 5.9 inches (150 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 82°F (28°C) | 7.9 inches (200 mm) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 6.5 inches (164 mm) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 77°F (25°C) | 5.6 inches (141 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 68°F (20°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 59°F (15°C) | 1.9 inches (49 mm) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 52°F (11°C) | 3.3 inches (83 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.