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

Should you visit Paris or Saint John?

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

Should I visit Paris 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: Paris or Saint John?

Paris

Paris is a dream destination for many people. It's location on the river Seine contributes to its stunning beauty and you can spend many days wandering through its wonderfully diverse neighborhoods. It's known as a city of culture, fashion, food and fun. There is never a shortage of entertainment and activities around town and a highlight of many people's trips to Paris is to explore the city at night, when it truly comes to life. It is not hard to see why this city has received the nickname as the "City of Lights."

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 Historical Tours in France, and The Best 10-Day Tours in France.


Which place is cheaper, Saint John or Paris?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Paris Prices
    France Prices
    Saint John Prices
    USVI Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Paris $302
    Saint John $233

The average daily cost (per person) in Paris is $302, 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 Paris and Saint John in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Paris $175
    Saint John $106
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Paris $350
    Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Paris and Saint John

Looking for a hotel in Paris 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 Paris


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: Paris Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Paris $25
    Saint John $49
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Paris

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Paris are as follows:


  • Metro
    $7.30
  • Train from Airport
    $10
  • Metro tickets
    $7.75
  • Train
    $23

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paris

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

  • 1 Way Private Transfer from Your Paris Hotel to Versailles Palace: $93
  • Airport Transfer Charles De Gaulle or Orly to and from Paris: $55
  • Airport Transfer Paris - Disneyland - Minivan 1-8 Passengers: $141
  • Airport Transfer at Paris (Mercedes E), From/to Paris-CDG: $212
  • Airport Transfer: Paris Airport CDG to Paris City by Business Car: $108
  • Airport transfer CDG - Paris | Driver Professional: $187
  • Airport transfer from Paris to Disneyland Paris/Parc Asterix (8pax): $234
  • Airport transfer of Charles de Gaulle or Orly to or from Disney: $61
  • Arrival Private Transfer Paris Airport CDG to Paris by Sedan: $108
  • Arrival Transfer from CDG Airport to Disneyland París by Van: $155
  • Arrival Transfer from Paris Airport CDG to Paris in Private Car: $108
  • Arrival Transfer from Paris ORY Airport to Paris City by Sedan: $108

Is it cheaper to fly into Paris or Saint John?

Prices for flights to both Saint John and Paris 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
    Paris $82
    Saint John $97
Typical Food Prices in Paris

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Paris:


  • Ice Cream
    $9.12
  • Breakfast
    $7.98
  • Breakfast for 2
    $34
  • Dinner on River Cruise
    $98
  • Dinner
    $65
  • Cheese
    $15

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paris

For Paris, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Paris Marais Walking Food Tour with Audioguide on Your Smartphone: $7.63
  • Paris Capitaine Fracasse 3 Course Seine River Dinner Cruise: $67
  • Seine River Cruise and Dinner at Traditional Parisian Restaurant: $75
  • Award Winning Paris Secret Food Tour with Cheese, Wines & Stories: $76
  • Paris en Scene 3 Course Seine River Dinner Cruise: $76
  • Authentic Indian Dinner in Paris: $76
  • Paris Food Tour: $81
  • Seine River Sightseeing Cruise and Dinner at Le Bistro Parisien: $84
  • St Germain Food Tour with 10+ French Delicacies Tastings: $86
  • Paris Bakery Food Tour: Chocolate, Macarons and 10 Sweet Tastings: $87
  • Paris Guided Food Tour by Bike - Ile de la Cité and Marais: $93
  • 2 Hour Paris Centre Food Tour with 4 Tastings & Fine Wine: $94

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Paris $87
    Saint John $23
Typical Entertainment Prices in Paris

For Paris, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Louvre Entry for Two
    $21
  • Admission to Pantheon
    $5.70
  • Catacombs (2)
    $26

Tours and Activities in Paris

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

  • Paris Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $2.35
  • Free Perfume Museum & Opera District Tour in English: $2.81
  • Paris City Center Free Walking Tour (Tip-Based): $2.81
  • Paris - Latin Quarter Free Tour in English (Tip-Based): $3.29
  • Montmartre Walking Tour: Artists & the Soul of Paris: $3.52
  • Paris Hidden Gems: Self Guided Secret Spots Tour: $3.52
  • Montmartre in Depth Art History and Bohemian Life Tour: $3.52
  • Paris Notre-Dame Tour with Scheduled Group Access: $3.53
  • Rude Bastards Tour of Paris: $4.69
  • Paris Time Machine: Hidden Gems Walking Tour (Tips-Based): $4.70
  • Louvre Museum, Self Guided Video Tour: $5.00
  • Marais Walk Self Guided Audio Tour: $5.29

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
    Paris $28
    Saint John $44
Typical Alcohol Prices in Paris

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Paris are as follows:


  • Wine
    $16

Sample the Local Flavors in Paris

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Paris:

  • The Original Pub Crawl + Free Shots + VIP Club Entry: $20
  • Paris City Center Guided Pub Crawl With Shots & Club Entry: $21
  • Paris Pub Crawl : Bars with Club Entry and Shots: $29
  • Paris International Pub Crawl with Free Shots & Fun Games: $29
  • Paris Guided Pub Crawl with Bars Shots and Club Entry: $32
  • Visit and tasting at the distillery L'Alambic Parisien: $33
  • Paris Gin Craft Distillery Tour and Tasting: $35
  • Guided Tour of Montmartre with Cheese and Wine Tasting: $42
  • Paris A burlesque cabaret in a former brothel: $44
  • Vegan Wine Tasting in Paris right next to Père Lachaise: $53
  • Wine Tasting in Paris right next to Père Lachaise & l'Atelier des lumières: $53
  • Wine tasting Paris Saint Germain des Pres: $55


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Paris and Saint John, we can see that Paris is more expensive. And not only is Saint John much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Paris is in Europe 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 Paris would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Paris 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 Paris Expensive? and Is Saint John Expensive?.



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

Paris 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 Paris or Saint John in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Paris as well as Saint John. Most visitors come to Paris for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.

Paris is cooler than Saint John in the summer. The daily temperature in Paris averages around 20°C (68°F) in July, and Saint John fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

Paris usually gets less rain in July than Saint John. Paris gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Paris 20°C (68°F) 
    Saint John 29°C (83°F)

Should I visit Paris or Saint John in the Autumn?

Both Saint John and Paris are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Paris because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the autumn, Paris is much colder than Saint John. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Paris in October average around 13°C (56°F), and Saint John averages at about 28°C (82°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint John. In October, Paris usually receives less rain than Saint John. Paris gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Paris 13°C (56°F) 
    Saint John 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Paris or Saint John in the Winter?

Both Saint John and Paris during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine are the main draw to Paris this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.

It's quite cold in Paris in the winter. In January, Paris is generally much colder than Saint John. Daily temperatures in Paris average around 5°C (40°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

Paris usually gets more rain in January than Saint John. Paris gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Paris 5°C (40°F) 
    Saint John 26°C (78°F)

Should I visit Paris or Saint John in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Paris and Saint John. Many travelers come to Paris for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Paris is much colder than Saint John in the spring. The daily temperature in Paris averages around 11°C (52°F) in April, and Saint John fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

In April, Paris usually receives less rain than Saint John. Paris gets 50 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Paris 11°C (52°F) 
    Saint John 27°C (80°F)

Typical Weather for Saint John and Paris

Paris Saint John
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 5°C (40°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 26°C (78°F) 43 mm (1.7 in)
Feb 6°C (42°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) 26°C (78°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Mar 8°C (47°F) 52 mm (2.1 in) 26°C (79°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Apr 11°C (52°F) 50 mm (1.9 in) 27°C (80°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
May 15°C (59°F) 62 mm (2.4 in) 28°C (82°F) 94 mm (3.7 in)
Jun 18°C (64°F) 53 mm (2.1 in) 28°C (83°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
Jul 20°C (68°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 29°C (83°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
Aug 20°C (67°F) 46 mm (1.8 in) 29°C (84°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Sep 17°C (63°F) 53 mm (2.1 in) 28°C (83°F) 127 mm (5 in)
Oct 13°C (56°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 28°C (82°F) 146 mm (5.7 in)
Nov 8°C (47°F) 57 mm (2.2 in) 27°C (81°F) 126 mm (4.9 in)
Dec 5°C (42°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 26°C (80°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)