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

Should you visit Hofn or Saint John?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Hofn or Saint John, 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: Hofn or Saint John?

Hofn

Hofn is a very small fishing town on the southeast of Iceland, measuring just over half a mile across. It is best known for being located in the beautiful Vatnajokull Region, where the largest glacier in Europe is located. Hofn, and the surrounding area, is full of breathtaking natural scenery including lagoons, icefalls, and mountains.

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 Northern Lights Tours in Iceland, and The Best Luxury Tours to Iceland.


Which place is cheaper, Saint John or Hofn?

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 Hofn is $205, 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 Hofn and Saint John in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Hofn $112
    Saint John $106
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Hofn $224
    Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Hofn and Saint John

Looking for a hotel in Hofn 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 Hofn


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: Hofn Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Hofn $31
    Saint John $49

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hofn

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

  • Private Hofn Airport Hotel Transfer: $80

Is it cheaper to fly into Hofn or Saint John?

Prices for flights to both Saint John and Hofn 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
    Hofn $72
    Saint John $97

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Hofn $20
    Saint John $23

Tours and Activities in Hofn

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Hofn.

  • Ice Exploration Tour from the Glacier Lagoon: $149
  • Ice Cave Tour in the National Park of Vatnajökull: $157
  • Crystal Ice Cave & Super Jeep Tour from Jökulsárlón: $177
  • Glacier Kayak Adventure: $189
  • The Original Ice Cave Tour in Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon: $195
  • Blue Ice Cave Exploration from Jökulsárlón (Small Group Tour): $200

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: $520

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Hofn $13
    Saint John $44


When comparing the travel costs between Hofn and Saint John, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Hofn is in Europe and Saint John is in Caribbean Islands, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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



When is the best time to visit Hofn or Saint John?

Hofn 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 Hofn or Saint John in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Hofn as well as Saint John. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.

In July, Hofn is generally much colder than Saint John. Daily temperatures in Hofn average around 9°C (48°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

Hofn usually gets more rain in July than Saint John. Hofn gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Hofn 9°C (48°F) 
    Saint John 29°C (83°F)

Should I visit Hofn or Saint John in the Autumn?

Both Saint John and Hofn are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Hofn can get quite cold in the autumn. Hofn is much colder than Saint John in the autumn. The daily temperature in Hofn averages around 4°C (40°F) in October, and Saint John fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint John. It's quite rainy in Hofn. In October, Hofn usually receives around the same amount of rain as Saint John. Hofn gets 153 mm (6 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Hofn 4°C (40°F) 
    Saint John 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Hofn or Saint John in the Winter?

Both Saint John and Hofn during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.

Hofn can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Hofn is much colder than Saint John. Typically, the winter temperatures in Hofn in January average around -0°C (31°F), and Saint John averages at about 26°C (78°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Hofn. Hofn usually gets more rain in January than Saint John. Hofn gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Hofn -0°C (31°F) 
    Saint John 26°C (78°F)

Should I visit Hofn or Saint John in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Hofn and Saint John. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

The weather in Hofn can be very cold. In April, Hofn is generally much colder than Saint John. Daily temperatures in Hofn average around 2°C (36°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

In April, Hofn usually receives more rain than Saint John. Hofn gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Hofn 2°C (36°F) 
    Saint John 27°C (80°F)

Typical Weather for Saint John and Hofn

Hofn Saint John
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -0°C (31°F) 138 mm (5.4 in) 26°C (78°F) 43 mm (1.7 in)
Feb 0°C (32°F) 122 mm (4.8 in) 26°C (78°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Mar 0°C (32°F) 111 mm (4.4 in) 26°C (79°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Apr 2°C (36°F) 83 mm (3.3 in) 27°C (80°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
May 5°C (40°F) 87 mm (3.4 in) 28°C (82°F) 94 mm (3.7 in)
Jun 8°C (46°F) 78 mm (3.1 in) 28°C (83°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
Jul 9°C (48°F) 77 mm (3 in) 29°C (83°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
Aug 9°C (48°F) 100 mm (3.9 in) 29°C (84°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Sep 7°C (44°F) 112 mm (4.4 in) 28°C (83°F) 127 mm (5 in)
Oct 4°C (40°F) 153 mm (6 in) 28°C (82°F) 146 mm (5.7 in)
Nov 1°C (34°F) 101 mm (4 in) 27°C (81°F) 126 mm (4.9 in)
Dec -0°C (32°F) 124 mm (4.9 in) 26°C (80°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)