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

Should you visit Saint John or Newport?

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 Newport. 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 Newport?

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.

Newport

Established in colonial times as one of the most important ports of Rhode Island, Newport has since transformed into a historic seaside city and resort town for many summer visitors. It has one of the highest concentrations of colonial homes in the nation in the downtown Newport Historic District, and is perhaps most known for the famous Newport Mansions. The area is also home to Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War College, the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, and a major United States Navy training center. With its rich history, culture, and prime location overlooking the ocean, Newport has been host to many seaside events like the America's Cup sailing regatta as well as the Newport Folk Festival.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in United States of America, and The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Newport or Saint John?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Saint John is $192, while the average daily cost in Newport is $159. 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 Newport in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Saint John $106
    Newport $92
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Saint John $212
    Newport $184
Compare Hotels in Saint John and Newport

Looking for a hotel in Saint John or Newport? 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.

Hotels in Saint John


Hotels in Newport


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: Newport Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Saint John $49
    Newport $36

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Newport

Also for Newport, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer from Newport Cruise Port to Boston city hotels: $88
  • Private Transfer from Newport Port to Boston Logan Airport (BOS) : $88
  • Private Transfer from Newport Port to Providence Airport (PVD): $49
  • Private Transfer from Newport Port to Providence city Hotels: $61

Is it cheaper to fly into Saint John or Newport?

Prices for flights to both Newport 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 day
    Saint John $56
    Newport $45

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Newport

For Newport, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Newport Neighborhood Food Tour: $89

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Saint John $23
    Newport $17

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

Tours and Activities in Newport

For Newport, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Downtown Historic Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $6.50
  • Newport Downtown Historic Audio APP Self Guided Smart Phone Tour: $6.75
  • Newport Cliff Walk: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
  • Newport's Cliff Walk: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
  • Newport, Rhode Island: Cliff Walk Gilded Age Audio Tour: $7.99
  • Cliff Walk Self-Guided Walking Tour: $8.49
  • Newport Cliff Walk - Legends of the Gilded Age GPS Guided Audio Tour: $8.99
  • Ocean Drive Historic District: A Newport Self-Guided Driving Tour: $9.99
  • Newport Cliff Walk Self-Guided Walking Tour: $9.99
  • Ocean Drive Historic District Self-Guided Tour: $9.99
  • Discover Newport's Grandeur: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
  • Newport, Rhode Island: Scenic Self-Driving Audio Tour: $13

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Saint John $44
    Newport $14


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

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 Newport Expensive?.



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

Newport 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 Newport in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Saint John as well as Newport. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many visitors come to Newport in the summer for the beaches, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Saint John is generally a little warmer than Newport. Daily temperatures in Saint John average around 29°C (83°F), and Newport fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).

Saint John usually gets less rain in July than Newport. Saint John gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Newport receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Saint John 29°C (83°F) 
    Newport 73°F (23°C)

Should I visit Saint John or Newport in the Autumn?

Both Newport 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, most visitors come to Newport for the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Saint John is much warmer than Newport in the autumn. The daily temperature in Saint John averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Newport fluctuates around 53°F (12°C).

It's quite rainy in Saint John. In October, Saint John usually receives more rain than Newport. Saint John gets 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Newport receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Saint John 28°C (82°F) 
    Newport 53°F (12°C)

Should I visit Saint John or Newport in the Winter?

Both Newport 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. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Newport because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Newport can be very cold. In the winter, Saint John is much warmer than Newport. Typically, the winter temperatures in Saint John in January average around 26°C (78°F), and Newport averages at about 28°F (-2°C).

Saint John usually gets less rain in January than Newport. Saint John gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Newport receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Saint John 26°C (78°F) 
    Newport 28°F (-2°C)

Should I visit Saint John or Newport in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John and Newport. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round. Furthermore, the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty are the main draw to Newport this time of year.

In April, Saint John is generally much warmer than Newport. Daily temperatures in Saint John average around 27°C (80°F), and Newport fluctuates around 48°F (9°C).

In April, Saint John usually receives less rain than Newport. Saint John gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Newport receives 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Saint John 27°C (80°F) 
    Newport 48°F (9°C)

Typical Weather for Newport and Saint John

Saint John Newport
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 26°C (78°F) 43 mm (1.7 in) 28°F (-2°C) 3.5 inches (89 mm)
Feb 26°C (78°F) 39 mm (1.5 in) 30°F (-1°C) 3.5 inches (88 mm)
Mar 26°C (79°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) 38°F (3°C) 4 inches (101 mm)
Apr 27°C (80°F) 72 mm (2.8 in) 48°F (9°C) 3.7 inches (94 mm)
May 28°C (82°F) 94 mm (3.7 in) 58°F (15°C) 3.5 inches (89 mm)
Jun 28°C (83°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 67°F (20°C) 2.6 inches (67 mm)
Jul 29°C (83°F) 66 mm (2.6 in) 73°F (23°C) 2.8 inches (72 mm)
Aug 29°C (84°F) 101 mm (4 in) 72°F (22°C) 3.9 inches (99 mm)
Sep 28°C (83°F) 127 mm (5 in) 64°F (18°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm)
Oct 28°C (82°F) 146 mm (5.7 in) 53°F (12°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm)
Nov 27°C (81°F) 126 mm (4.9 in) 44°F (7°C) 4.5 inches (115 mm)
Dec 26°C (80°F) 71 mm (2.8 in) 33°F (0°C) 4.1 inches (105 mm)


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