Which place is cheaper, New York City or Saint John?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Saint John or New York City?
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 New York City. 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 New York City?
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.
New York City
The most populated city in the United States, New York City, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River and encompasses both the island of Manhattan as well as the surrounding land on Long Island, most of which is known as Brooklyn. It's a cultural, culinary, theatrical, and art center that has much to offer domestic and international travelers alike. The city covers an area of 305 square miles and has a population of about 8.2 million people in the city proper with 18.7 million in the metropolitan area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, and The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint John $192New York City $326
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint John is $192, while the average daily cost in New York City is $326. 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 New York City in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint John $106New York City $175
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint John $212New York City $350
Compare Hotels in Saint John and New York City
Looking for a hotel in Saint John or New York City? 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: New York City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint John $49New York City $49
Typical Local Transportation Prices in New York City
Some typical examples of transportation costs in New York City are as follows:
-
Subway$4.50
-
Taxi Ride$8.00
-
Subway$2.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in New York City
Also for New York City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 10-Minute Helicopter Transfer from Manhattan to JFK : $245
- Airport Limousine Transfer one-way - LaGuardia Airport - Lincoln MKT: $275
- Airport Transfer and Chauffeur Services NYC & New Jersey : $150
- Arrival Private Transfer: Newark Airport EWR to New York in Business Car: $152
- Arrival Transfer: Newark Airport EWR to New York by Luxury SUV: $162
- Brooklyn - JFK: Private Airport Departure Transfers: $100
- Central Park Private Walking Tour with Transfers : $171
- Central Park Zoo Skip the line Tickets and Private Transfers : $291
- Central Park Zoo Skip-the-line Tickets & Private Transfers: $291
- Departure Private Transfer: New York to J.F. Kennedy Airport JFK in Luxury Car: $217
- Departure Private Transfer: New York to Newark Airport EWR in Business Car: $152
- Departure Transfer: New York to J.F. Kennedy Airport JFK in Sedan: $143
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint John or New York City?
Prices for flights to both New York City 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
-
Food Meals for one daySaint John $56New York City $50
Typical Food Prices in New York City
For New York City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Gelato$7.50
-
Snacks for Two at Yankees Game$34
-
Coffee$6.53
-
Smoothie$6.95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in New York City
For New York City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- New York, Queens Culinary Stroll : Food Tour on Foot: $26
- Lower East Side and Essex Market Multicultural Food Tour: $39
- Half-Day Private Pizza Crawl in Manhattan: $40
- New York City Pizza Crawl: Best of Manhattan route: $41
- Ultimate Greenwich Village NYC Food Tour: $63
- NYC: Greenwich Village Guided Food Tour: $63
- Pizza Walking Tour of Downtown Brooklyn: $65
- West Village Pizza Walk: $65
- Greenwich Village NYC Pizza Walking Tour: $65
- East Village NYC Pizza Walking Tour: $65
- Downtown Brooklyn Pizza Walking Tour: $65
- East Village Pizza Walk: $65
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint John $23New York City $180
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 New York City
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New York City's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
Comedy Show Tickets$56
-
City Map$8.00
-
Broadway Musical$111
-
Broadway Show Program$10
-
Magazine$6.99
Tours and Activities in New York City
For New York City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Central Park NYC: First Discovery Walk and Reading Tour: $3.21
- Brooklyn Bridge Self-Guided Bike or Walking Tour Application: $5.00
- Central Park: Self-guided Bike Tour App - Audio + Written: $5.00
- Self Guided Central Park Bike or Walking Tour Application: $5.00
- New York City's Financial District: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.34
- Broadway: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of the World's Iconic Theatre District: $5.39
- New York World's Fair Site: Explore its utopian future on an audio tour: $5.39
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in New York: $5.45
- Central Park Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Self Guided "Central Park Movie Tour" Solo Walking Tour in New York City: $6.75
- Private Haunted and Historic Audio Tour in Greenwich Village: $6.95
- Self-Guided Tour of the Museum at Eldridge Street: $7.50
For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Things to do in New York City with Kids, Things to Do in Central Park in NYC, and The Best Museums in New York City.
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint John $44New York City $29
Sample the Local Flavors in New York City
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New York City:
- NYC West Village Pub Crawl: $19
- NYC Pub Crawl and Rooftop Clubbing Experience: $29
- NYC: Brooklyn Nightlife Pub Crawl: $34
- New York Rooftop Pub Crawl: $39
- NYC: Manhattan's Only Whiskey Distillery Tour & Tasting: $42
- Little Italy Prohibition Pub Crawl: $64
- Lower East Side Prohibition Pub Crawl: $74
- Guided Brooklyn Craft Brewery Tour: $99
- 1920s Schooner Sail with Wine Tasting: $139
- Full day Long Island Brewery Tour : $150
- Long Island Wine Tour from Manhattan (3 Wineries & Tasty Lunch): $159
- Snow Tubing and Brewery Day Trip From NYC: $159
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint John and New York City, we can see that New York City 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 New York City 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 New York City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New York City 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 New York City Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Saint John or New York City?
New York City 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 New York City in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Saint John as well as New York City. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to New York City this time of year.
Saint John is a little warmer than New York City in the summer. The daily temperature in Saint John averages around 29°C (83°F) in July, and New York City fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).
It's quite rainy in New York City. Saint John usually gets less rain in July than New York City. Saint John gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while New York City receives 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulySaint John 29°C (83°F)New York City 77°F (25°C)
Should I visit Saint John or New York City in the Autumn?
Both New York City and Saint John are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to New York City for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Saint John is much warmer than New York City. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Saint John in October average around 28°C (82°F), and New York City averages at about 57°F (14°C).
It's quite rainy in Saint John. In October, Saint John usually receives more rain than New York City. Saint John gets 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSaint John 28°C (82°F)New York City 57°F (14°C)
Should I visit Saint John or New York City in the Winter?
Both New York City and Saint John during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to New York City in the winter for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
New York City can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Saint John is generally much warmer than New York City. Daily temperatures in Saint John average around 26°C (78°F), and New York City fluctuates around 31°F (-1°C).
Saint John usually gets less rain in January than New York City. Saint John gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySaint John 26°C (78°F)New York City 31°F (-1°C)
Should I visit Saint John or New York City in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John and New York City. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round. Also, most visitors come to New York City for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
Saint John is much warmer than New York City in the spring. The daily temperature in Saint John averages around 27°C (80°F) in April, and New York City fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).
In April, Saint John usually receives less rain than New York City. Saint John gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.8 inches (98 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilSaint John 27°C (80°F)New York City 52°F (11°C)
Typical Weather for New York City and Saint John
| Saint John | New York City | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 31°F (-1°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) |
| Feb | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 33°F (1°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 42°F (6°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
| Apr | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 3.8 inches (98 mm) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 4.5 inches (114 mm) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) | 47°F (8°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Dec | 26°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 36°F (2°C) | 3.4 inches (88 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.