Should you visit Nassau or Saint Thomas?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Nassau or Saint Thomas, 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 Thomas
Saint Thomas is a beautiful island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Together with St. John, St. Croix, and Water Island, it forms the unincorporated territory of the United States. The island is also home to the territorial capital and port of Charlotte Amalie. The island's population is just over 50,000, which is slightly less than half of the territory's total population.
Which city is cheaper, Saint Thomas 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 Thomas is $175. 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 Thomas in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Nassau is about $174 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $210 in Saint Thomas For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
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.
The price of a meal in Saint Thomas can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $43 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $17 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
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Food
Meals for one day
Nassau $42
Saint Thomas $43
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.
To get around in Saint Thomas, the average visitor spends $29 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
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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Nassau Roundtrip Airport Transfer to Paradise Island:
$360
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Round-Trip Airport Transfer by Limousine:
$360
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Nassau Airport Group Round-Trip Transfers:
$340
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Round-Trip Cable Beach Limousine Transfers:
$290
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Nassau Airport (NAS) to Nassau hotel or cruise port -Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$221
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Private AirPort Transfer:
$204
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Round-Trip Transfer in Private Minivan from-to Nassau Airport in Nassau Island:
$200
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Luxury Sprinter Van Transfer:
$175
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Round trip Airport Private Transfer (Nassau Limousine):
$160
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Atlantis Private Luxury Roundtrip Transfer:
$153
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Nassau Shore Excursion: Bob Marley Resort with transfers & lunch:
$149
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Private transfer: Nassau to Nassau Airport (NAS):
$146
Typical Local Transportation prices in Saint Thomas
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Saint Thomas are as follows:
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Scooter Rental
$65
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Taxi Ride
$5.00
Is it cheaper to fly into Nassau or Saint Thomas?
Prices for flights to both Saint Thomas 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.
In Saint Thomas, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $48 per person, per day.
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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1hr Jet Ski Tour:
$205
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4 Hour Beach Cruiser Rental:
$26
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ATV Island Tour (Beach Break, Lunch, Free Tropical Drinks & Rum Cake Souvenir):
$187
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Abu Dhabi City & Ferrari World Full Day Tour (Admission Ticket Included):
$130
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At YOUR Pace Private Tours - Nassau, Bahamas:
$138
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Bahama Bonanza Cultural Tour:
$50
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Bahama Life Cultural Scenic Tour:
$138
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Bahamas Culture Tour from Nassau Including Rum Cake:
$51
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Bahamian talk tour:
$26
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Basic city tours of historical site stops at the distilleries fun beach day:
$80
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Bi-lingual Walking Tour:
$450
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Big Bus Private Tour (minimum of 15):
$43
Tours and Activities in Saint Thomas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Saint Thomas.
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Snorkel St. John Tour from Sapphire & Margaritaville:
$135
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.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Saint Thomas, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $22.
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 comparing the travel costs between Nassau and Saint Thomas, we can see that Saint Thomas 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. Since both cities are in Caribbean Islands, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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