Which place is cheaper, Saint John 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 John?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Punta Cana 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: Punta Cana or Saint John?
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 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 Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, and The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic.
-
Punta Cana Prices
Dominican Republic PricesSaint John Prices
USVI Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPunta Cana $181Saint John $233
The average daily cost (per person) in Punta Cana is $181, 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 Punta Cana and Saint John in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPunta Cana $101Saint John $106
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPunta Cana $202Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Punta Cana and Saint John
Looking for a hotel in Punta Cana 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.
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.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Punta Cana $6.80Saint John $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Cana
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Punta Cana:
- “Private Airport Transfer to La Romana & Bayahibe from Punta Cana: $47
- “Private Transfer: Punta Cana Airport to Dreams Macao Beach”: $26
- “Round-Trip Private Transfer: Punta Cana Airport ↔ Bávaro Hotels”: $25
- 1 Hour Beach Photoshoot in Punta Cana with Round Trip Transfer: $240
- Affordable Private SUBURBAN Transfer from Punta Cana Airport: $6.50
- Airport Transfer from/to Uvero Alto to Punta Cana: $30
- Airport Transfer to Hotels in Punta Cana: $79
- Airport Transfers Punta Cana - Punta Cana Airport Transfers: $55
- Airport Transfers to Punta Cana / Bavaro and Uvero Alto Hotels: $28
- Airport Transportation Transfer Private to/from Uvero Alto Hotels: $35
- Arrive in Punta Cana Like a Star – VIP Escalade Luxury Transfer: $47
- Bayahibe - Coco Bongo Punta Cana Entry ticket Open Bar & transfer: $140
Is it cheaper to fly into Punta Cana or Saint John?
Prices for flights to both Saint John 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 $68Saint John $97
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Punta Cana
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Punta Cana.
- Half Day Punta Cana Food Tour Including Transportation: $35
- Origen Tasting Adventure Dinner or Lunch of 8 Courses Dom Cuisine: $85
- 3hr Punta Cana Cooking Class: Mofonguitos & Morir Soñando: $85
- Priv Dominican Cooking Class with Meal & Drinks: $98
- 'Chillo al Coco' Cooking Class & Taino Concept store: $98
- Buggy Ride, Dinner and Taino Party: $108
- Unique Night Tour, Cenote Swim, & Dinner: $122
- Punta Cana Buggy Ride and Taino Party with Dinner: $139
- Sunset Buggies Adventure with Dinner from Punta Cana: $145
- Private: Nighttime Buggy Ride with Dinner & Open: $145
- Dinner in the Sky Experience in Punta Cana: $149
- Punta Cana Night Buggy Tour, Cenote Swim, Dinner and show: $190
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Punta Cana $32Saint John $23
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$54
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
- Tour de Compras: Chocolate, Café y Artesanías en Punta Cana.: $5.00
- Shopping Tour in Punta Cana with Round Trip Transportation: $5.00
- Saona Island Classic Tour with Lunch & Drinks: $5.00
- Santo Domingo: Panoramic tour to Punta Cana with Buggy Ride: $5.00
- Guided Tour to Don Lucas Cigars Factory and Souvenirs Store: $5.00
- Shopping Tour In Don Lucas Cigar Factory: $5.00
- Guided Shopping Tour - Rum tasting, chocolate factory, Cigar factory: $5.00
- Punta Cana Souvenir Shopping Tour with Pickup: $6.00
- Punta Cana Souvenir Shopping Tour with Free Pickup: $6.00
- Guided Shopping Tour to Bella Mare Store (Cigars, Chocolate, Rum and Souvenirs): $6.00
- Souvenir Shopping Tour in Punta Cana Pickup Included: $9.00
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: $627
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayPunta Cana $11Saint John $44
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Punta Cana and Saint John, we can see that Saint John 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 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 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 John 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.