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

Should you visit New Bern or Saint John?

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

Should I visit New Bern or Saint John? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: New Bern or Saint John?

New Bern

New Bern is a town in the coastal region of North Carolina. The town, which has a population of about 30,000, is the county seat of Craven County. It sits at the confluence of the Trent and Neuse Rivers close to the North Carolina coast, although there is no coastline in town. The town makes a nice daytrip from Raleigh, which is 112 miles away, and Wilmington, which is 87 miles away. It's also 162 miles from Norfolk, Virginia.

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 2-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between New Bern and Saint John, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. And not only is New Bern much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since New Bern 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 New Bern would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in New Bern 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 John would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint John than you might in New Bern.

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

When is the best time to visit New Bern or Saint John?

New Bern 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 New Bern or Saint John in the Summer?

Both Saint John and New Bern are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to New Bern for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

New Bern is around the same temperature as Saint John in the summer. The daily temperature in New Bern averages around 80°F (27°C) in July, and Saint John fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

It's quite rainy in New Bern. In July, New Bern usually receives more rain than Saint John. New Bern gets 6.6 inches (169 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit New Bern or Saint John in the Autumn?

Both Saint John and New Bern during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to New Bern because of the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.

In the autumn, New Bern is much colder than Saint John. Typically, the autumn temperatures in New Bern in October average around 65°F (18°C), and Saint John averages at about 28°C (82°F).

Saint John gets a good bit of rain this time of year. New Bern usually gets less rain in October than Saint John. New Bern gets 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or Saint John in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both New Bern and Saint John. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to New Bern this time of year. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In January, New Bern is generally much colder than Saint John. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 44°F (7°C), and Saint John fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

New Bern gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, New Bern usually receives more rain than Saint John. New Bern gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit New Bern or Saint John in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to New Bern as well as Saint John. Many travelers come to New Bern for the small town charm. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.

New Bern is much colder than Saint John in the spring. The daily temperature in New Bern averages around 62°F (16°C) in April, and Saint John fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

New Bern usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Saint John. New Bern gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Saint John and New Bern