A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers San Juan vs. Saint Croix for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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.

Which place is cheaper, Saint Croix or San Juan?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in San Juan is $192, while the average daily cost in Saint Croix is $236. 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
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    San Juan $124
    Saint Croix $149
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    San Juan $248
    Saint 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.

Hotels in San Juan


Hotels in Saint Croix


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    San Juan $14
    Saint 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
  • Mendoza: One-Way Private Transfer from Airport: $25
  • San Juan One-way Transfer: $30
  • San Juan hotels to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
  • San Juan Luxury Private Round-Trip Transfer: SJU Airport - Cruise Pier - Hotel : $50
  • Transfer Service FROM/TO Rio Grande/Conquistador/Roosevelt Roads: $50
  • One-way transfer from SJU Airport to Cruise Port or Vice Versa: $55
  • Private Transfer from Port to SJU Airport/SJU Airport to Port: $55
  • Private Transfer Airport SJU to Old San Juan Vice versa One way: $58
  • Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Premium Sedan, Select Zone: $59
  • Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, Tesla 3 Luxury Sedan.: $63
  • Oneway Transfer- San Juan (SJU,hotel,airbnb,port) to Dorado City: $68

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Croix

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Saint Croix:

  • Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) to St.Croix - Round-Trip Transfer: $220
  • St Croix Airport to St Croix Hotels Private Round Trip Transfer: $220
  • Private Transfer from St. Croix Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) to St. Croix : $166
  • Saint Croix Airport (STX) to Saint Croix Hotels -Arrival Transfer: $110
  • Henry E.Rohlsen Airport(STX) to St. Croix island-Arrival Transfer: $110
  • St. Croix to Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) - Departure Transfer: $110
  • Private Transfer from St. Croix Airport to St. Croix Cruise Port : $72
  • Private Transfer from St. Croix Cruise Port to St. Croix Airport: $72
  • Private Transfer from St.Croix hotels to St. Croix Cruise Port : $50
  • Private Transfer from St.Croix Cruise Port to St.Croix hotels: $50

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
  • Food Meals for one day
    San Juan $36
    Saint Croix $56

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:

  • Pinones Bar Crawl Beach Hop Food Tour with Free Adult Drinks: $50
  • Pinones Bar crawl Beach Hop Food Tour Free Adult Drinks: $50
  • City Lights Sky High Dinner Experience: $132
  • Old San Juan Sunset Food Tour with Drinks: $156
  • Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $170

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
  • C'sted Sip & Savor Mixology Class with VI Food Tours: $129
  • Taste of Twin City Food Tour with VI Food Tours: $129

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    San Juan $49
    Saint Croix $58
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Juan

For San Juan, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Horseback Riding Tour
    $40
  • Full Day Snorkeling Trip
    $100
  • 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.

  • Self-Guided Audio Tour of Historic Buildings: $5.99
  • Transportation in San Juan, Isla verde, Condado, Hotels, Cruises & Airbnb's SJU: $14
  • Self-Guided Tour with Audio Guide: $14
  • Old Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $25
  • Beginner Puerto Rican Salsa Experience: $25
  • Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $30
  • Old San Juan Walking Tour: $39
  • Old San Juan City Walking Tour: $39
  • Old San Juan Walking Tour: Ponce de Leon Statue to El Arsenal: $41
  • Legacy Tour at Casa BarcadÍ in Puerto Rico: $45
  • Walking tour of Oaxaca City: $48
  • El Morro Fort Entry Ticket & Old Town Walking Tour: $49

Tours and Activities in Saint Croix

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Saint Croix are as follows:

  • 1 Hour Private Jetcar Experience in Virgin Islands : $250
  • 30 Minute Private Jetcar Experience in Virgin Islands: $150
  • Horseback Riding Experience: $160
  • Private Sailing Tour of Pirate Waters and Shipwrecks: $75
  • St Croix Island Tour: $100

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    San Juan $12
    Saint Croix $27


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).


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    San 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).


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    San 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).


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    San 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).


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    San 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)


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