Which place is cheaper, Honolulu or Saint John?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Saint John or Honolulu?
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 Honolulu. 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 Honolulu?
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.
Honolulu
Hawaii's capital city of Honolulu, on the island of Oahu, is the state's center for government, finance, and transportation. It's also the home of Waikiki Beach, one of the most famous beaches in the state of Hawaii. Nearly one million people live in this Honolulu metropolitan area. This is almost 80% of the state's population. The city is not the relaxed Hawaiian destination that you might be searching for, but is instead a fast paced, cosmopolitan city. In addition to attracting many tourists every year, you'll also find international businesses, military defense and a diverse culture and population.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint John $192Honolulu $284
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint John is $192, while the average daily cost in Honolulu is $284. 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 Saint John and Honolulu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint John $106Honolulu $183
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint John $212Honolulu $366
Compare Hotels in Saint John and Honolulu
Looking for a hotel in Saint John or Honolulu? 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: Honolulu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint John $49Honolulu $26
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Honolulu
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Honolulu are as follows:
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Rental Car for One Day$35
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Airport Shuttle for Two$30
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Hilton Parking$24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Honolulu
Also for Honolulu, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Honolulu HNL Airport Round-Trip Private Transfer in SUV: $272
- Arrival Private Transfer Honolulu Airport HNL to Beach Resorts by Executive Car: $157
- Arrival Transfer Honolulu Airport HNL to Beach Resorts by SUV: $211
- Arrival Transfer: Airport Shuttle Honolulu and Waikiki or Cruise Terminal: $18
- Chief's Luau Admission Including Transfers: $181
- Departure Transfer: Airport Shuttle Honolulu and Waikiki or Cruise Terminal: $18
- HNL Airport & Waikiki Private Transfer by Brand New Mercedes Van: $160
- Honolulu Airport & Ko Olina Hotels Private Transfer by Minivan (up to 5 people): $90
- Honolulu Airport & KoOlina Hotels Private Transfer by Luxury SUV(up to 5 People): $180
- Honolulu Airport & Waikiki Hotels Private Transfer by Luxury SUV(up to 5 people): $130
- Honolulu Airport & Waikiki Hotels Private Transfer by Passenger Van(up to 14ppl): $140
- Honolulu Airport & Waikiki Hotels Private Transfer by SUV(up to 6 people): $100
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint John or Honolulu?
Prices for flights to both Honolulu and Saint John 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
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Food Meals for one daySaint John $56Honolulu $53
Typical Food Prices in Honolulu
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Honolulu:
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Dinner for Two$73
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Lapperts Hawaii Ice Cream$5.55
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Chai's Island Bistro (for 2)$53
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Cheeseburger Waikiki (for 2)$34
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Matsumoto Shave Ice (for 2)$7.50
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Hot Dog with the Fixins'$8.30
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Sushi Dinner for Two$73
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Honolulu
For Honolulu, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hawaii Food Tour - Off The Beaten Path : $150
- Oahu Da Local's Food Tour: $150
- Lanai Tabura curated Private Aloha Plate Food Tour from Honolulu: $239
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint John $23Honolulu $40
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
- USVI: Island & Beach Tours in St. Thomas & St. John (2 Days): $199
Typical Entertainment Prices in Honolulu
For Honolulu, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Parking for Hike$5.00
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Pearl Harbor Audio Tour for Two$12
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2 hr Dinner Cruise$85
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1 Day Kayak Rental$36
Tours and Activities in Honolulu
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Honolulu.
- Historic Downtown Honolulu Tour: Audio Tour Guide: $4.99
- Heart of Waikiki Walking Tour: Audio Tour Guide: $4.99
- Oahu: USS Arizona Memorial Chief's Narrated Multimedia Tour: $7.99
- Waikīkī's Beaches and Royalty: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Hawaii‘s Historic Kingdom: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Military and Entertainment in Waikiki: A Self-Guided Tour: $7.99
- Downtown Honolulu Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $7.99
- Honolulu In-App Audio Tour: Historical & Cultural Treasures: $9.00
- Honolulu's Backyard Rainforest Tour: Audio Tour Guide: $9.99
- Waikiki Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $9.99
- USS Arizona Commander's Narrated Multimedia Tour - 23 Stops: $11
- Oahu: Grand Circle Island Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour: $14
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint John $44Honolulu $6.47
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint John and Honolulu, we can see that Honolulu is more expensive. And not only is Saint John much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint John is in Caribbean Islands and Honolulu 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 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 Honolulu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Honolulu 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 Saint John Expensive? and Is Honolulu Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Saint John or Honolulu?
Honolulu 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 Honolulu in the Summer?
Both Honolulu and Saint John during the summer 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, the summer months attract visitors to Honolulu because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
Saint John is around the same temperature as Honolulu in the summer. The daily temperature in Saint John averages around 29°C (83°F) in July, and Honolulu fluctuates around 81°F (27°C).
Saint John usually gets more rain in July than Honolulu. Saint John gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Honolulu receives 0.6 inches (15 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySaint John 29°C (83°F)Honolulu 81°F (27°C)
Should I visit Saint John or Honolulu in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John and Honolulu. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round. Furthermore, the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Honolulu this time of year.
In the autumn, Saint John is around the same temperature as Honolulu. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Saint John in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Honolulu averages at about 80°F (26°C).
Saint John gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Saint John usually receives more rain than Honolulu. Saint John gets 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Honolulu receives 2.1 inches (54 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSaint John 28°C (82°F)Honolulu 80°F (26°C)
Should I visit Saint John or Honolulu in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Saint John as well as Honolulu. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Honolulu for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Saint John is generally a little warmer than Honolulu. Daily temperatures in Saint John average around 26°C (78°F), and Honolulu fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).
Saint John usually gets less rain in January than Honolulu. Saint John gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Honolulu receives 3.9 inches (99 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySaint John 26°C (78°F)Honolulu 73°F (23°C)
Should I visit Saint John or Honolulu in the Spring?
Both Honolulu and Saint John are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Honolulu in the spring for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
Saint John is around the same temperature as Honolulu in the spring. The daily temperature in Saint John averages around 27°C (80°F) in April, and Honolulu fluctuates around 76°F (24°C).
In April, Saint John usually receives more rain than Honolulu. Saint John gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Honolulu receives 1.7 inches (42 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSaint John 27°C (80°F)Honolulu 76°F (24°C)
Typical Weather for Honolulu and Saint John
| Saint John | Honolulu | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Feb | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 74°F (24°C) | 2.4 inches (61 mm) |
| Apr | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 1.7 inches (42 mm) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 78°F (25°C) | 1.4 inches (35 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 80°F (26°C) | 0.5 inches (12 mm) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 81°F (27°C) | 0.6 inches (15 mm) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 81°F (27°C) | 0.4 inches (11 mm) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) | 81°F (27°C) | 0.7 inches (19 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) | 80°F (26°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
| Dec | 26°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 74°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
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.