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

Should you visit San Juan or Saint John?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit San Juan or Saint John? 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 John?

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 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.

Which place is cheaper, Saint John 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 John is $192. 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 John in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    San Juan $124
    Saint John $106
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    San Juan $248
    Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in San Juan and Saint John

Looking for a hotel in San Juan or Saint John? 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 John


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    San Juan $14
    Saint John $49

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan

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

  • Carabali Rain Forest Round Trip Private Taxi Transfer: $210
  • Mendoza: One-Way Private Transfer from Airport: $25
  • Old Walking Tour with Shopping and Hotel Transfer: $70
  • One-way transfer from SJU Airport to Cruise Port or Vice Versa: $55
  • Oneway Transfer San Juan to Ceiba: Ferry, Vieques/Culebra Airport: $80
  • Oneway Transfer- San Juan (SJU,hotel,airbnb,port) to Dorado City: $68
  • Private Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to San Juan Airport: $22
  • Private Transfer Airport SJU to Old San Juan Vice versa One way: $58
  • Private Transfer from Port to SJU Airport/SJU Airport to Port: $55
  • Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, Tesla 3 Luxury Sedan.: $63
  • Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Ford Premium SUV, Select Zone: $87
  • Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Lexus Luxury Sedan, Select Zone: $81

Is it cheaper to fly into San Juan or Saint John?

Prices for flights to both Saint John 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 John $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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    San Juan $49
    Saint John $23
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 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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    San Juan $12
    Saint John $44


When comparing the travel costs between San Juan and Saint John, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Caribbean Islands, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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 John Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit San Juan or Saint John?

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 John in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to San Juan as well as Saint John. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.

San Juan usually gets more rain in July than Saint John. San Juan gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

San Juan is around the same temperature as Saint John in the summer. The daily temperature in San Juan averages around 28°C (83°F) in July, and Saint John fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    San Juan 28°C (83°F) 
    Saint John 29°C (83°F)

Should I visit San Juan or Saint John in the Autumn?

Both Saint John and San Juan are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint John. It's quite rainy in San Juan. In October, San Juan usually receives less rain than Saint John. San Juan gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

In the autumn, San Juan is around the same temperature as Saint John. Typically, the autumn temperatures in San Juan in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Saint John averages at about 28°C (82°F).


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    San Juan 28°C (82°F) 
    Saint John 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit San Juan or Saint John in the Winter?

Both Saint John and San Juan during the winter 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 John year-round.

San Juan usually gets more rain in January than Saint John. San Juan gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

In January, San Juan is generally around the same temperature as Saint John. Daily temperatures in San Juan average around 25°C (77°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    San Juan 25°C (77°F) 
    Saint John 26°C (78°F)

Should I visit San Juan or Saint John in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both San Juan and Saint John. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In April, San Juan usually receives around the same amount of rain as Saint John. San Juan gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

San Juan is around the same temperature as Saint John in the spring. The daily temperature in San Juan averages around 26°C (79°F) in April, and Saint John fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    San Juan 26°C (79°F) 
    Saint John 27°C (80°F)

Typical Weather for Saint John and San Juan

San Juan Saint John
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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