A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Saint John vs. Carmel-by-the-Sea for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Saint John or Carmel-by-the-Sea?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Saint John and Carmel-by-the-Sea. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Saint John or Carmel-by-the-Sea?

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.

Carmel-by-the-Sea

A small, beach town on the Monterey Peninsula, Carmel-by-the-Sea is known for its idyllic natural scenery and artistic history. Carmel's village, just one square mile in size, is unlike any other in California with its picturesque views, European style and unusual laws.

Clint Eastwood served as mayor of Carmel from 1986-88. Without a single fast food or chain restaurants, visitors can easily feel that Carmel still preserves its slow and easy lifestyle, with all private-owned restaurants, coffee shops and pubs. This town is undoubtedly charming, even with its anti-high heel laws (though they aren't strictly enforced and permits are free at the City Hall), lack of street addresses and has been named the top destination for dog-friendly towns in the country. Grab your furry friends, leave your heels at home and get ready to explore this quaint and lovely town by the sea.

If you want to avoid the heat, Carmel is the perfect place to go, with year-round mild temperatures. Even during the summer seasons, you may not feel the heat through the fog and cool coastal weather. Peak seasons for travel are during summer months in August and September, (especially popular for weddings) and even then, the highs are still in the low 70s. Winter season lows dip only down to low 50s, with the Pacific Oceans maintaining moderate temperatures.

If you're driving to the city, keep in mind that the businesses do not have numbers in their addresses. To get directions or arrange a meeting, be sure to remember the name of the business and grab a map from the Carmel Chamber of Commerce.

Some famous artists who have resided in Carmel are Upton Sinclair, Jack London and Mary Austin. Carmel is known to be particularly dog-friendly, as almost all hotels allow guests to bring their dogs.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint John and Carmel-by-the-Sea, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. And not only is Carmel-by-the-Sea much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint John is in Caribbean Islands and Carmel-by-the-Sea is in North America, 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 Carmel-by-the-Sea would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Carmel-by-the-Sea 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 Carmel-by-the-Sea.

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

When is the best time to visit Saint John or Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Carmel-by-the-Sea 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 Saint John or Carmel-by-the-Sea in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John and Carmel-by-the-Sea. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Carmel-by-the-Sea because of the beaches, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Saint John is generally much warmer than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Daily temperatures in Saint John average around 29°C (83°F), and Carmel-by-the-Sea fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).

In July, Saint John usually receives more rain than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Saint John gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Carmel-by-the-Sea receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Saint John or Carmel-by-the-Sea in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Saint John as well as Carmel-by-the-Sea. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Carmel-by-the-Sea this time of year.

Saint John is much warmer than Carmel-by-the-Sea in the autumn. The daily temperature in Saint John averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Carmel-by-the-Sea fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).

Saint John receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Saint John usually gets more rain in October than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Saint John gets 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Carmel-by-the-Sea receives 0.6 inches (14 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint John or Carmel-by-the-Sea in the Winter?

Both Carmel-by-the-Sea and Saint John are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Carmel-by-the-Sea for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Saint John is much warmer than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Typically, the winter temperatures in Saint John in January average around 26°C (78°F), and Carmel-by-the-Sea averages at about 51°F (11°C).

In January, Saint John usually receives less rain than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Saint John gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Carmel-by-the-Sea receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Saint John or Carmel-by-the-Sea in the Spring?

Both Carmel-by-the-Sea and Saint John during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many visitors come to Carmel-by-the-Sea in the spring for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.

In April, Saint John is generally much warmer than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Daily temperatures in Saint John average around 27°C (80°F), and Carmel-by-the-Sea fluctuates around 56°F (13°C).

Saint John usually gets more rain in April than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Saint John gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Carmel-by-the-Sea receives 1.1 inches (29 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Carmel-by-the-Sea and Saint John