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

Should you visit Saint John or Moncton?

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 Moncton. 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 Moncton?

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.

Moncton

Moncton is the largest city in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. Located in the Petitcodiac River Valley with access to the Bay of Fundy, and, by extension, the Atlantic Ocean, Moncton is also at the geographic center of Canada's Maritime Provinces. Today, the city's most famous attraction is Magnetic Hill, though there are also plenty of parks, museums, galleries, theatres, and other venues for entertainment.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in Canada, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Canada.

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

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 Moncton Expensive?.

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

Moncton 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 Moncton in the Summer?

Both Moncton 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.

In July, Saint John is generally much warmer than Moncton. Daily temperatures in Saint John average around 29°C (83°F), and Moncton fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

Moncton gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Saint John usually gets less rain in July than Moncton. Saint John gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Moncton receives 103 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint John or Moncton in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John and Moncton. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.

Saint John is much warmer than Moncton in the autumn. The daily temperature in Saint John averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Moncton fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

Moncton receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Saint John gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Saint John usually receives more rain than Moncton. Saint John gets 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Moncton receives 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Saint John or Moncton in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Saint John as well as Moncton. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Moncton can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Saint John is much warmer than Moncton. Typically, the winter temperatures in Saint John in January average around 26°C (78°F), and Moncton averages at about -8°C (17°F).

It's quite rainy in Moncton. Saint John usually gets less rain in January than Moncton. Saint John gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Moncton receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint John or Moncton in the Spring?

Both Moncton 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.

Moncton can be very cold during spring. In April, Saint John is generally much warmer than Moncton. Daily temperatures in Saint John average around 27°C (80°F), and Moncton fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Moncton. In April, Saint John usually receives less rain than Moncton. Saint John gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Moncton receives 101 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Moncton and Saint John