Which place is cheaper, Saint Croix or Sapa?
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 Sapa or Saint Croix?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Sapa and Saint Croix can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Sapa or Saint Croix?
Sapa
Sapa is a beautiful town in the northern mountains of Vietnam by the border with China. Many travelers pass through the area on their way from China into Hanoi. Alternatively, some travelers head north from Hanoi to spend a few days in the beautiful mountains where tribal cultures are still alive and well. There are a good number of ethnic minorities that populate the area. The eight populations in the area include H'mong, Dao, Tay, Giay, Muong, Thai, Hoa, and Xa Pho, but the vast majority in the area are H'mong. Within the town of Sapa itself, there are about 7,000 people. The rest of the population lives in the surrounding countryside and are peasant farmers.
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 Budget Tours to Vietnam, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Vietnam.
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Sapa Prices
Vietnam PricesSaint Croix Prices
USVI Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySapa $45Saint Croix $277
The average daily cost (per person) in Sapa is $45, 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 Sapa and Saint Croix in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSapa $12Saint Croix $149
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSapa $24Saint Croix $298
Compare Hotels in Sapa and Saint Croix
Looking for a hotel in Sapa 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: Sapa Hotel Prices and Saint Croix Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sapa $8.96Saint Croix $35
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Sapa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Sapa are as follows:
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Short Motorbike Ride$1.14
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: $175
- Private Transfer from St.Croix hotels to St. Croix Cruise Port: $171
- Private Transfer from St.Croix Cruise Port to St.Croix hotels: $171
- Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) to St.Croix - Round-Trip Transfer: $163
- St. Croix to St. Croix Airport (STX) - Departure Private Transfer: $89
- St.Croix Airport (STX) to St.Croix - Arrival Private Transfer: $89
- Private Transfer from St. Croix Airport to St. Croix Cruise Port: $85
- Private Transfer from St. Croix Port to St. Croix Airport (STX): $85
- St. Croix to Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) - Departure Transfer: $82
Is it cheaper to fly into Sapa or Saint Croix?
Prices for flights to both Saint Croix and Sapa 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 daySapa $27Saint Croix $97
Typical Food Prices in Sapa
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Sapa:
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Casual Dinner (for One)$2.58
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Quick Breakfast (for Two)$2.09
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Coffee (for Two)$2.28
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Western Dinner (for Two)$7.57
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Pho Soup$0.57
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: $155
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sapa $5.83Saint Croix $58
Typical Entertainment Prices in Sapa
For Sapa, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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CatCat Village Tax$1.52
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Ta Phin Village Tax$0.76
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Walking Stick$0.19
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Paddle Boat Rental on Sapa Lake (1 Hr)$3.04
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
- Guided Kayak Tour of Salt River Bay Ecology and History: $125
- Horseback Riding Experience: $160
- Island Chocolate Experience with Tasting: $62
- Parasail Experience in St Croix: $105
- Private Sailing Tour of Pirate Waters and Shipwrecks: $175
- Sea Turtle Snorkel Tour: $59
- St Croix Island Tour: $118
- St Croix Tiki Tours Frederiksted’s Tiki Boat Experience: $80
- St. Croix Ghost Tour of Historic Christiansted: $45
- St. Croix’s Forts, Freedom, and Beaches: A Self-Drive Audio Tour: $25
- The Frederiksted St. Croix Sea Turtles Snorkeling Tour: $89
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySapa $7.79Saint Croix $27
Typical Alcohol Prices in Sapa
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Sapa are as follows:
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Two Beers$0.95
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
- Frederiksted Historical Tour with Rum Distillery: $115
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sapa and Saint Croix, we can see that Saint Croix is more expensive. And not only is Sapa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Sapa is in Asia 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 Sapa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sapa 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 Sapa.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sapa Expensive? and Is Saint Croix Expensive?.
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.