Should you visit Nassau or Saint Croix?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Nassau or Saint Croix, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Nassau
There are few vacation destinations more famous than the Bahamian city of Nassau. This capital city is full of laid back locals, relaxed tourists and the iconic pastel pink government houses.
As the largest city in the Bahamas, Nassau can hold plenty of people. Not only are there hundreds of tourists on any given day, the city is also home to 260,000 people – that is 80 percent of the Bahamas' total population.
Founded around 1650, Nassau's location made it a great spot on the trade route. So great, in fact, that it also became a popular destination for pirates – including the infamous Blackbeard.
Pack light because it's going to be pretty steamy in Nassau. The climate is essentially identical to southern Florida. It is warm and humid all year with the occasional cold snap in the winter.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Saint Croix or Nassau?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Nassau is $151, while the average daily cost in Saint Croix is $189. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Nassau and Saint Croix in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Nassau is about $174 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $119. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Saint Croix the cost is $238 on average.
Food
Food in Nassau costs travelers about $42 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
While meal prices in Saint Croix can vary, the average travelers spends about $45 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Saint Croix should cost around $18 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Saint Croix is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Nassau $42
Saint Croix $45
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nassau
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nassau.
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The Original Bahamian Local Food Tour:
$46
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Island Food Tour:
$67
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Conch Salad Cooking Lesson and Tasting in Nassau:
$67
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Cooking in Paradise:
$99
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Conch & Kalik - Cooking & Drinking Two Local Favorites:
$102
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An Exquisite Evening Cooking Gourmet International Dishes With Unlimited Wine:
$108
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Island Food Tour:
$115
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Flavors of Nassau Food Tour:
$118
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Nassau Cooking Demonstration and Lunch at Graycliff Restaurant:
$179
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Authentic Bahamian Cooking Class with Lunch:
$180
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Nassau Cooking Class at Graycliff Restaurant:
$215
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Nassau is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $26 per person, per day, on local transportation in Nassau.
The average price of local transportation around Saint Croix is $28 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Nassau
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Nassau are as follows:
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Water Taxi
$8.00
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Taxi to Cable Beach
$25
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Taxi from Airport
$30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nassau
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nassau:
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Private Airport Transfers for 4 or More People:
$15
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Private Airport Transfer: Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) to Nassau:
$26
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Private Airport Transfer: Nassau to Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS):
$26
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Shared Round-Trip Transfer: Nassau Airport:
$32
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Airport Transfers:
$36
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Shared transfer from Nassau Airport to Nassau island:
$39
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Shared transfer from Nassau island to Nassau Airport:
$39
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Roundtrip Transfer to Cable Beach:
$50
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Transfer in Private Vehicle from Nassau Airport to Nassau Island:
$50
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Transfer in Private Vehicle from Nassau City to Airport:
$50
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Roundtrip Transfer to Downtown Nassau:
$60
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Private Airport Transfer for 4 People or Less:
$60
Is it cheaper to fly into Nassau or Saint Croix?
Prices for flights to both Saint Croix and Nassau 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.
Entertainment
Entertainment and activities in Nassau typically cost an average of $29 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Saint Croix's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $46 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Typical Entertainment prices in Nassau
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Nassau are as follows:
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Jet Ski
$50
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4 Hr Kayak Tour
$70
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1/2 Day Snorkel Trip
$75
Tours and Activities in Nassau
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nassau are as follows:
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Nassau Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$12
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State Of The Art Virtual Reality Experiences:
$15
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Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$20
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Banana Boat Adventure:
$20
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Heritage Museum of The Bahamas Nassau Guided Tour:
$21
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RoundTrip from Cruise-ship Port to Atlantis, Atlantis Beach, Casino, Warwick,Riu:
$23
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Bahamian talk tour:
$26
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4 Hour Beach Cruiser Rental:
$26
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Dis We Culture Tour (At least 6 passengers):
$26
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Nassau Sightseeing Bus Tour:
$30
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Premium Historical island tours:
$32
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Catch a Ride from your Cruise Ship to Atlantis: Shuttle:
$32
Alcohol
The average person spends about $15 on alcoholic beverages in Nassau per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
The average person spends about $22 on alcoholic beverages in Saint Croix per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Typical Alcohol prices in Nassau
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Nassau are as follows:
Sample the Local Flavors in Nassau
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Nassau:
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Day Drinkers Pub Crawl:
$118
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Wine Blending Class with Wine Tasting and Chocolate Factory Tour:
$179
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nassau and Saint Croix, we can see that Saint Croix is more expensive. And not only is Nassau much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Nassau would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nassau 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 Nassau.
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