Which place is cheaper, Saint Croix or San Juan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit San Juan or Saint Croix?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Juan or Saint Croix? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: San Juan or Saint Croix?
San Juan
If you've ever set foot on a Caribbean cruise, you've probably spent a bit of time in San Juan, Puerto Rico. However, maybe you should consider spending more than just a port day in this beautiful and historically rich city.
As the capital and largest city in all of Puerto Rico, San Juan is home to approximately 400,000 people. Established in 1521, it is also the second oldest European-founded settlement in the Americas.
As this city fuses a historic paradise with modern day energy, it has absolutely everything to offer. Intellectual wanderers, beach bums, rainforest adventurers and radical surfers will all find plenty to do in San Juan.
Saint Croix
Sometimes all you want out of a vacation is the warmth of the sun, the sound of the waves and the taste of a cold drink. No more. No less. That's exactly what you can expect in St. Croix.
The largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix is a place of our leisure and relaxation. It's a bit of an expensive lifestyle for its 50,000 residents and daily visitors, but when you're living on island time, money is never a worry. There are no worries on island time.
This once volcanic island is covered in incredible beaches, stunning mountains, palm tress in the wind and historic colonial towns. While they may be a bit old and rundown, the Danish architecture still stands as a unique part of this island's legacy. Don't expect much window-shopping, though. That was not a feature incorporated in this style of architecture. If you want to know if a store is open, just step on in, but remember, shop hours are also running on island time.
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San Juan Prices
Puerto Rico PricesSaint Croix Prices
USVI Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Juan $218Saint Croix $277
The average daily cost (per person) in San Juan is $218, while the average daily cost in Saint Croix is $277. 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 San Juan and Saint Croix in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Juan $124Saint Croix $149
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Juan $248Saint Croix $298
Compare Hotels in San Juan and Saint Croix
Looking for a hotel in San Juan or Saint Croix? 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: San Juan Hotel Prices and Saint Croix Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Juan $14Saint Croix $35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to San Juan Airport: $22
- Premium Transfer in Airport, Hotel, Airbnb, Cruise: $25
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan - Arrival Private Transfer: $28
- San Juan hotels to San Juan PR Cruise Port - Departure Transfer: $30
- San Juan One-way Transfer - Cruise, SJU, Hotels, Airbnb: $30
- Private Transfer Puerto Rico:To or From Airports, Hotels &Cruises: $33
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, Tesla 3 Luxury Sedan.: $56
- San Juan Port to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $60
- San juan Puerto Rico PrivateTransfers Airport,Hotels,Cruise Ports: $66
- Roundtrip-Transfer from: SJU Airport,Cruises and Hotels in Puerto Rico LuxurySUV: $70
- Roundtrip-Transfer in Puerto Rico: From Airports, Hotels, Cruises: $71
- Airport Transfer to Cruise Ships, Hotels, Airbnb in San Juan: $76
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Croix
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Saint Croix:
- Private Transfer from St. Croix Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) to St. Croix : $180
- Private Transfer from St.Croix hotels to St. Croix Cruise Port : $175
- Private Transfer from St.Croix Cruise Port to St.Croix hotels: $175
- Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) to St.Croix - Round-Trip Transfer: $167
- St. Croix to St. Croix Airport (STX) - Departure Private Transfer: $91
- St.Croix Airport (STX) to St.Croix - Arrival Private Transfer: $91
- Private Transfer from St. Croix Airport to St. Croix Cruise Port : $87
- Private Transfer from St. Croix Port to St. Croix Airport (STX): $87
- St. Croix to Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) - Departure Transfer: $84
Is it cheaper to fly into San Juan or Saint Croix?
Prices for flights to both Saint Croix and San Juan 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 daySan Juan $62Saint Croix $97
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Juan
For San Juan, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $165
- FlyDining: Sunset & City Lights Dinner Over Old San Juan: $165
- Morning Old San Juan Food Tour: $169
- Cooking and Connecting with a Local in Puerto Rico: $173
- Savor the Sunset: Old San Juan Walking Food Tour: $179
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint Croix
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Saint Croix.
- A Evening Cultural Experience Through Food Cooking Class St. Croix: $90
- A Morning Cultural Experience Through Food Cooking Class St. Croix: $90
- C'sted Sip & Savor Mixology Class with VI Food Tours: $131
- Taste of Twin City Food Tour with VI Food Tours: $145
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Juan $49Saint Croix $58
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Juan
For San Juan, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Horseback Riding Tour$40
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Full Day Snorkeling Trip$100
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1 Hr Windsurfing Lesson$75
Tours and Activities in San Juan
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Juan.
- Transportation in San Juan, Isla verde, Condado, Hotels, Cruises & Airbnb's SJU: $14
- San Juan Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $17
- Eco Friendly Farming Tour to Explore Dorado's Most Beautiful Farm: $20
- Discover Superb Self-Guided Audio Tour: $20
- Group Transportation in airport, cruise ships, hotels, bnb's in San Juan, PR: $23
- Old San Juan Walking Tour with a Local Certified Guide: $25
- San Juan Ghost Tour: Shrieks in the Sugarcane: $32
- Old San Juan Walking Tour: $39
- Old San Juan City Walking Tour: $39
- Historic Old San Juan Sunset Walking Tour: $39
- Top Rated El Yunque Rainforest & Waterslide – VIP SmallGroup Tour: $45
- Ron del Barrilito Heritage Skip-the-Line Tour: $46
Tours and Activities in Saint Croix
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Saint Croix are as follows:
- Christiansted's Artisan Shopping Tour: $33
- Frederiksted Moke Tour: $75
- Guided Kayak Tour of Salt River Bay Ecology and History: $115
- Horseback Riding Experience: $160
- Parasail Experience in St Croix: $132
- Private Sailing Tour of Pirate Waters and Shipwrecks: $175
- St Croix Island Tour: $118
- St. Croix Ghost Tour of Historic Christiansted: $45
- The Frederiksted St. Croix Sea Turtles Snorkeling Tour: $89
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Juan $12Saint Croix $27
Sample the Local Flavors in San Juan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Juan:
- Old San Juan Bar Crawl: Experience Local Hotspots: $65
- The Pinones Pub crawl Bar crawl : $70
- Local Puerto Rican Rum Distillery Tour - Ron Pepon: $90
- Puerto Rico's First and Only Craft Beer Brewery Tour! : $99
Sample the Local Flavors in Saint Croix
Also in Saint Croix, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Farm to Bottle Tour at Prosperity Farm Distillery: $35
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Juan and Saint Croix, we can see that Saint Croix is more expensive. And not only is San Juan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Juan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Juan 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 Croix would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Croix than you might in San Juan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Juan Expensive? and Is Saint Croix Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit San Juan or Saint Croix?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit San Juan or Saint Croix in the Summer?
Both Saint Croix and San Juan during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint Croix year-round.
San Juan usually gets more rain in July than Saint Croix. San Juan gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the summer, San Juan is around the same temperature as Saint Croix. Typically, the summer temperatures in San Juan in July average around 28°C (83°F), and Saint Croix averages at about 29°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Juan 28°C (83°F)Saint Croix 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit San Juan or Saint Croix in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Juan and Saint Croix. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round. Saint Croix attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Saint Croix receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Juan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, San Juan usually receives less rain than Saint Croix. San Juan gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In October, San Juan is generally around the same temperature as Saint Croix. Daily temperatures in San Juan average around 28°C (82°F), and Saint Croix fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Juan 28°C (82°F)Saint Croix 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit San Juan or Saint Croix in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to San Juan as well as Saint Croix. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint Croix throughout the year.
San Juan usually gets more rain in January than Saint Croix. San Juan gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
San Juan is around the same temperature as Saint Croix in the winter. The daily temperature in San Juan averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Saint Croix fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Juan 25°C (77°F)Saint Croix 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit San Juan or Saint Croix in the Spring?
Both Saint Croix and San Juan are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Saint Croix because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, San Juan usually receives around the same amount of rain as Saint Croix. San Juan gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
In the spring, San Juan is around the same temperature as Saint Croix. Typically, the spring temperatures in San Juan in April average around 26°C (79°F), and Saint Croix averages at about 27°C (80°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Juan 26°C (79°F)Saint Croix 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint Croix and San Juan
| San Juan | Saint Croix | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
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.