Which place is cheaper, Saint Croix or Punta Cana?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Punta Cana or Saint Croix?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Punta Cana or Saint Croix? 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: Punta Cana or Saint Croix?
Punta Cana
Punta Cana, located on the easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic, is renowned for its stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, and vibrant culture. This Caribbean paradise offers a diverse range of experiences that cater to all types of travelers, whether you're on a tight budget, seeking thrilling activities, exploring local cuisine, or figuring out the best ways to get around.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, and The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic.
-
Punta Cana Prices
Dominican Republic PricesSaint Croix Prices
USVI Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPunta Cana $179Saint Croix $277
The average daily cost (per person) in Punta Cana is $179, while the average daily cost in Saint Croix is $277. 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 Punta Cana and Saint Croix in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPunta Cana $100Saint Croix $149
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPunta Cana $200Saint Croix $298
Compare Hotels in Punta Cana and Saint Croix
Looking for a hotel in Punta Cana or Saint Croix? 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.
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: Punta Cana Hotel Prices and Saint Croix Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Punta Cana $6.72Saint Croix $35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Cana
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Punta Cana:
- Transfer from Punta Cana Airport to hotels - from Rep Dom: $6.40
- Bavaro|Veron: PUJ Airport to Bavaro|Veron Private Transfer: $7.00
- PUJ Airport to Punta Cana City Private Transfer: $7.00
- One Way Shared Transfer from Punta Cana : $9.34
- Private Transfers Punta Cana Airport and Hotels.: $10
- 1-way Private Transfer: $10
- Private Airport Transfer from Punta Cana safety & Comfort: $12
- Private airport transfer from punta cana to hotel in bavaro: $13
- Efficient & Private Airport Transfer Service: $13
- Private Airport Transfers, Shuttles and Taxis To Hotels in Dominican Republic: $13
- Punta Cana Airport Private Transfers to Hotels: $14
- Private Transfer Punta Cana Airport PUJ - Punta Cana Bavaro Veron: $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Croix
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Saint Croix:
- Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) to St.Croix - Round-Trip Transfer: $160
- Private Transfer from St. Croix Airport to St. Croix Cruise Port : $83
- Private Transfer from St. Croix Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) to St. Croix : $172
- Private Transfer from St. Croix Port to St. Croix Airport (STX): $83
- Private Transfer from St.Croix Cruise Port to St.Croix hotels: $168
- Private Transfer from St.Croix hotels to St. Croix Cruise Port : $168
- St. Croix to Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) - Departure Transfer: $80
- St. Croix to St. Croix Airport (STX) - Departure Private Transfer: $87
- St.Croix Airport (STX) to St.Croix - Arrival Private Transfer: $87
Is it cheaper to fly into Punta Cana or Saint Croix?
Prices for flights to both Saint Croix and Punta Cana 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 dayPunta Cana $67Saint Croix $97
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Punta Cana
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Punta Cana.
- Origen Tasting Adventure Dinner or Lunch of 8 Courses Dom Cuisine: $85
- 'Chillo al Coco' Cooking Class & Taino Concept store: $98
- Buggy Ride, Dinner and Taino Party: $118
- Punta Cana Buggy Ride, Dinner and Taino Party: $125
- Sunset Buggies Adventure with Dinner from Punta Cana: $139
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint Croix
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Saint Croix.
- A Evening Cultural Experience Through Food Cooking Class St. Croix: $90
- A Morning Cultural Experience Through Food Cooking Class St. Croix: $90
- C'sted Sip & Savor Mixology Class with VI Food Tours: $131
- Taste of Twin City Food Tour with VI Food Tours: $145
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Punta Cana $31Saint Croix $58
Typical Entertainment Prices in Punta Cana
Here are a few typical costs in Punta Cana for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
-
Dune Buggy Adventure$53
Tours and Activities in Punta Cana
Here are a few actual costs in Punta Cana for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Souvenir Shopping Tour with Traditional Tastings: $2.00
- Shopping Tour to WorldMart Souvenirs Store: $5.00
- Guided Shopping Tour - Rum tasting, chocolate factory, Cigar factory: $5.00
- Guided Shopping Tour to WordMart Souvenirs Store: $5.00
- Guided Shopping Tour at BellaMare Souvenirs Mall: $5.00
- Shopping Tour In Don Lucas Cigar Factory, Rum tasting, Cocoa factory, Souvenirs : $5.00
- Guided Tour to Don Lucas Cigar Factory & Souvenirs Store: $5.00
- Shopping Tour in Punta Cana with Round Trip Transportation: $5.00
- Guided Tour of WordMart Souvenir Store in Punta Cana: $5.00
- Adventure Buggy Punta Cana:Cave Macao Beach: $5.00
- Tour de Compras: Chocolate, Café y Artesanías en Punta Cana.: $5.00
- Guided Tour to Don Lucas Cigar Factory: Round-trip transport: $5.00
Tours and Activities in Saint Croix
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Saint Croix are as follows:
- Historic Christiansted Ghost Tour : $41
- St. Croix Local Chocolate Experience with Tasting: $43
- The Frederiksted St. Croix Sea Turtles Snorkeling Tour: $89
- Parasail Experience in St Croix: $99
- St Croix Island Tour: $125
- Horseback Riding Experience: $160
- Private Sailing Tour of Pirate Waters and Shipwrecks: $175
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayPunta Cana $11Saint Croix $27
Sample the Local Flavors in Punta Cana
Also in Punta Cana, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bar Crawl in Punta Cana: $35
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Punta Cana and Saint Croix, we can see that Saint Croix is more expensive. And not only is Punta Cana much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Punta Cana would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Punta Cana 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 Punta Cana.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Punta Cana Expensive? and Is Saint Croix Expensive?.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.