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

Should you visit Saint John or Juneau?

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 Juneau. 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 Juneau?

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.

Juneau

Juneau, Alaska is the capital city of the state, and it is also one of the most beautiful cities. Juneau is surrounded by two large mountains and a channel, so it is the only state capital not accessible by train or car. It is lined with small streets, including what is locally known as "stair streets" which can only be accessed by foot and include walking up 100-300 stairs, depending on which level you're going to. Luckily, most of the sights and stores are on the lower level, though. The only real structures located on the stair streets are residential buildings. Juneau is the most visited city in Alaska, but its population is just over 33,000. Its economy is based mostly on government, tourism, fishing, and mining.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America, and The Best Historical Tours in United States of America.

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

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 Juneau Expensive?.

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

Juneau 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 Juneau in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John and Juneau. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round. Also, many travelers come to Juneau for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Saint John is much warmer than Juneau. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint John in July average around 29°C (83°F), and Juneau averages at about 56°F (13°C).

Juneau receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Saint John usually receives less rain than Juneau. Saint John gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Juneau receives 4.2 inches (106 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Saint John or Juneau in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Saint John as well as Juneau. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many visitors come to Juneau in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Saint John is generally much warmer than Juneau. Daily temperatures in Saint John average around 28°C (82°F), and Juneau fluctuates around 42°F (6°C).

It's quite rainy in Juneau. Saint John receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Saint John usually gets less rain in October than Juneau. Saint John gets 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Juneau receives 7.8 inches (199 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint John or Juneau in the Winter?

Both Juneau 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, most visitors come to Juneau for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Juneau can be very cold during winter. Saint John is much warmer than Juneau in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint John averages around 26°C (78°F) in January, and Juneau fluctuates around 24°F (-4°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Juneau. In January, Saint John usually receives less rain than Juneau. Saint John gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Juneau receives 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Saint John or Juneau in the Spring?

Both Juneau 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, the spring months attract visitors to Juneau because of the natural beauty.

The weather in Juneau can be very cold. In the spring, Saint John is much warmer than Juneau. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint John in April average around 27°C (80°F), and Juneau averages at about 40°F (4°C).

Saint John usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Juneau. Saint John gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Juneau receives 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Juneau and Saint John