Which place is cheaper, Saint Croix or Santa Elena?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Santa Elena or Saint Croix?
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 Santa Elena and Saint Croix. 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: Santa Elena or Saint Croix?
Santa Elena
Santa Elena is a cute town, and the closest to the Monteverde Cloud Forest. It's one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica, and is a great place to experience the cloud forest and see some of country's unique wildlife.
In the Monteverde Cloud Forest you have a good chance of seeing rare quetzals which are the national bird of Costa Rica. Other common animals include white-faced capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, orange-kneed tarantulas, any of 8-9 species of hummingbirds, and sloth.
Santa Elena is about 1,400 meters above sea level and has a humid and damp environment. The average yearly temperature is 64 degrees Fahrenheit and the average rainfall is 3,000 millimetres. Humidity can be anywhere between 74% and 97%.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySanta Elena $92Saint Croix $236
The average daily cost (per person) in Santa Elena is $92, 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 Santa Elena and Saint Croix in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanta Elena $55Saint Croix $149
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanta Elena $110Saint Croix $298
Compare Hotels in Santa Elena and Saint Croix
Looking for a hotel in Santa Elena 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: Saint Croix Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santa Elena $11Saint Croix $35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Elena
Also for Santa Elena, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Peñas Blancas to Liberia Airport (LIR) Departure Private Transfer: $38
- Direct transfer from Monteverde to San Jose, English Speaking Driver: $180
- Private Transfer Lake crossing from Monteverde To Arenal From 1 to 6 passengers: $249
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde to Samara : $269
- Private Transfer From Monteverde To La Fortuna From 1 to 6 passengers: $270
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde - Liberia: $276
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: $218
- St Croix Airport to St Croix Hotels Private Round Trip Transfer: $218
- Private Transfer from St. Croix Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) to St. Croix : $164
- St. Croix to Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) - Departure Transfer: $109
- Saint Croix Airport (STX) to Saint Croix Hotels -Arrival Transfer: $109
- Henry E.Rohlsen Airport(STX) to St. Croix island-Arrival Transfer: $109
- Private Transfer from St. Croix Airport to St. Croix Cruise Port : $71
- Private Transfer from St. Croix Cruise Port to St. Croix Airport: $71
- Private Transfer from St.Croix hotels to St. Croix Cruise Port : $49
- Private Transfer from St.Croix Cruise Port to St.Croix hotels: $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Santa Elena or Saint Croix?
Prices for flights to both Saint Croix and Santa Elena 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 daySanta Elena $24Saint Croix $56
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Elena
For Santa Elena, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Night Walk in Monteverde with Dinner Included: $55
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
- Taste of Twin City Food Tour with VI Food Tours: $129
- C'sted Sip & Savor Mixology Class with VI Food Tours: $129
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santa Elena $30Saint Croix $58
Tours and Activities in Santa Elena
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santa Elena.
- Wildlife Tour in Curicancha : $25
- Monteverde Butterfly Gardens Tour: $26
- Adventure Day - Outdoor activities for Family and Friends Special Package.: $29
- Monteverde: Kinkajou Forest Night Walking Tour: $30
- Monteverde Cloud Forest Tour: $30
- Kinkajou Night Walk Tour: $30
- CuriCancha Reserve Admission Ticket: $33
- Curicancha Birdwatching Tour: $34
- Night Adventures in Monteverde: $35
- Natural History Tour - Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve: $35
- Authentic experience of Coffee, Cane and Caco inside the forest: $37
- Regular Guided tour Monteverde Reserve: $38
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
- Grange Estate History and Heritage Private Tour and Luncheon : $60
- Horseback Riding Experience: $160
- Parasail Experience in St Croix: $132
- Private Sailing Tour of Pirate Waters and Shipwrecks: $75
- St Croix Island Tour: $100
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySanta Elena $6.22Saint Croix $27
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santa Elena and Saint Croix, we can see that Saint Croix is more expensive. And not only is Santa Elena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Santa Elena is in Central America and Saint Croix is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Santa Elena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santa Elena Expensive? and Is Saint Croix Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena or Saint Croix in the Summer?
Both Saint Croix and Santa Elena during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Santa Elena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint Croix year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Santa Elena. Santa Elena usually gets more rain in July than Saint Croix. Santa Elena gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
In July, Santa Elena is generally around the same temperature as Saint Croix. Daily temperatures in Santa Elena average around 28°C (82°F), and Saint Croix fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySanta Elena 28°C (82°F)Saint Croix 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Santa Elena or Saint Croix in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Santa Elena and Saint Croix. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Santa Elena 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. Santa Elena gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Santa Elena usually receives more rain than Saint Croix. Santa Elena gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Santa Elena is around the same temperature as Saint Croix in the autumn. The daily temperature in Santa Elena averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Saint Croix fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSanta Elena 27°C (81°F)Saint Croix 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Santa Elena or Saint Croix in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Santa Elena as well as Saint Croix. Santa Elena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint Croix throughout the year.
Santa Elena usually gets less rain in January than Saint Croix. Santa Elena gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the winter, Santa Elena is around the same temperature as Saint Croix. Typically, the winter temperatures in Santa Elena in January average around 27°C (81°F), and Saint Croix averages at about 26°C (78°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySanta Elena 27°C (81°F)Saint Croix 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Santa Elena or Saint Croix in the Spring?
Both Saint Croix and Santa Elena are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Santa Elena throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Saint Croix because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Santa Elena usually receives less rain than Saint Croix. Santa Elena gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
In April, Santa Elena is generally around the same temperature as Saint Croix. Daily temperatures in Santa Elena average around 29°C (85°F), and Saint Croix fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSanta Elena 29°C (85°F)Saint Croix 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint Croix and Santa Elena
| Santa Elena | Saint Croix | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 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.