Which place is cheaper, Saint Thomas or Tokyo?
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 Tokyo or Saint Thomas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tokyo or Saint Thomas? 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: Tokyo or Saint Thomas?
Tokyo
Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is by far the most populous city in the world with a staggering 37 million people. As a worldwide hub for technology and business, it hosts millions of visitors annually. But Tokyo is not just a place for business trips. With its incredible mixture of historical temples and shrines, remarkably beautiful parks, endless shopping malls, and genuinely wonderful people, Tokyo is a terrific place to visit and to explore.
Saint Thomas
Saint Thomas is a beautiful island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Together with St. John, St. Croix, and Water Island, it forms the unincorporated territory of the United States. The island is also home to the territorial capital and port of Charlotte Amalie. The island's population is just over 50,000, which is slightly less than half of the territory's total population.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Japan, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Japan.
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Tokyo Prices
Japan PricesSaint Thomas Prices
USVI Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTokyo $190Saint Thomas $258
The average daily cost (per person) in Tokyo is $190, while the average daily cost in Saint Thomas is $258. 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 Tokyo and Saint Thomas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTokyo $79Saint Thomas $131
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTokyo $158Saint Thomas $262
Compare Hotels in Tokyo and Saint Thomas
Looking for a hotel in Tokyo or Saint Thomas? 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: Tokyo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tokyo $18Saint Thomas $37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tokyo
Also for Tokyo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- One Way Shuttle Van Transfer, Tokyo ⇔ Nagano: $805
- One Way Shuttle Van Transfer, Tokyo ⇔ Hakone: $426
- Shuttle Van Tour Tokyo for 4 Hours or 6 Hours+Transfer Time: $368
- Yokohama Port: Private Customizable Tour with Transfer: $352
- Private Transfer from Haneda/Narita Airport to Hotel: $308
- Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) to Tachikawa City - Round-Trip Private Transfer : $296
- Private Transfer: Tokyo to Haneda Airport HND by Sedan Car: $291
- Tokyo Departure Private Transfers from Tokyo City to Tokyo-Narita Airport NRT: $289
- Departure Private Transfer: Tokyo to Haneda Airport HND in Sedan: $286
- Private Transfer: Haneda Airport HND to Tokyo in Sedan Car: $274
- Private Departure Transfer : Tokyo Disney Resort to Narita International Airport: $272
- Tokyo Airport Transfers: Tokyo City to Tokyo-Narita Airport NRT in Luxury Van: $271
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint Thomas
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Saint Thomas are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$65
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Taxi Ride$5.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Thomas
Also for Saint Thomas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Cyril E. King Airport STT to Charlotte Amalie RoundTrip Transfer: $204
- Prince Taxi & Tours St.Thomas Airport transfer to Redhook Ferry: $200
- Prince Taxi USVI ST.Thomas Airport transfer to Westin : $180
- Prince Taxi USVI-ST.Thomas Airport Transfer to Ritz Carlton : $180
- ST.Thomas Private Airport One-Way Transfers: $180
- Private Airport Transfer in Luxury Vehicle- St. Thomas, USVI: $179
- Private Arrival Transfer from Cyril E King Airport to Redhook Bay: $175
- Prince Taxi ST.Thomas Airport transfer to Yacht Haven/Bluebeards: $175
- Private Hotel and Resorts Transfers: $173
- PARADISE TAXI & TOURS USVI-St. Thomas- Airport Transfer to Ritz Carlton Elysian : $170
- Paradise Taxi & Tours USVI- St. Thomas - Airport Transfer to Red Hook Ferry: $160
- Paradise Taxi & Tours USVI-St Thomas- Airport Transfer Sapphire / Crystal Cove : $160
Is it cheaper to fly into Tokyo or Saint Thomas?
Prices for flights to both Saint Thomas and Tokyo 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 dayTokyo $67Saint Thomas $94
Typical Food Prices in Tokyo
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Tokyo:
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Late Night Noodles$5.41
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Conveyor Belt Sushi Snack$5.41
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Meal at Airport$7.05
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tokyo
For Tokyo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Tsukiji Food Tour Explore Markets and Temples in Tokyo: $18
- Hide's Table A Unique Dinner Gathering Every Wednesday Night: $21
- Tokyo : Vintage, Music & Food Tour in Shimokitazawa with a Local: $34
- Guided Tsukiji’s Local Food Tour : $34
- For First Time Visitor：Tsukiji Food Tour with Tokyo Travel Advice: $34
- Authentic Homestyle Japanese Cooking Class near Tokyo with Risa: $39
- Tokyo Bay Yakatabune Dinner/Day Cruise with Japan Show and Drinks: $44
- Weekend Japanese Cooking Demonstration with a Tokyo Mom, Toshiko: $49
- Japanese Sushi Cooking Class: $51
- Tokyo private hidden food tour: $55
- Mastering the Grill A Ninja Yakiniku A5 Wagyu Dinner in Nippori : $56
- Tokyo Retro Backstreet Tokyo Tour Option to Add Dinner: $56
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint Thomas
For Saint Thomas, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Flavors: Cultural Cooking Class, St Thomas, USVI, USA : $81
- St. John Sail with Bar and Hors d'Oeuvres to Lovango Dinner: $119
- Sunset & Harbor Lights Dinner Sail from the Marriott's Frenchman's Cove: $119
- Afternoon Snorkel, Pizza & Sunset Tour departing from St. Thomas & St. John: $120
- Local Experience, St. John U.S. Virgin Islands Food Tour: $125
- Pizza Pi Shuttle (Official) - Jet Ski Trip St Thomas: $148
- St. John PiZZA Pi Snorkel Sail with Beach Stop, Lunch & Open Bar - Westin: $149
- Christmas Cove and Pizza Pi Happy Hour Sail Tour: $185
- Turtles, Pizza Pi & Sunset trip: $295
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tokyo $71Saint Thomas $60
Tours and Activities in Tokyo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tokyo.
- 4 Hours Shibuya - Shinjuku Night Tour: $102
- Knife Sharpening Experience in Tokyo : $23
- Kyu-Yasuda, Kiyosumi and Hama-Rikyu Tokyo Garden Tour: $159
- Manga Artist Experience with Professional Guidance in Tokyo: $114
- Mount Fuji and Iconic Scenic Spots Day Tour : $99
- Mt. Fuji Roundtrip Tours From Shinjuku, Japan: $84
- Pick the Hours That Suit You In A Flexible Tokyo Guided Tour: $70
- Private Walking Tour Tokyo's Fukagawa Edo Museum: $102
- Shibuya Tokyo Private Photo Tour Activity: $277
- Shinjuku Mini Ramen Tour: Shoyu, Tonkotsu & Miso: $98
- Tokyo Skytree Private Walking Tour Experience With cafe inside: $184
- Akihabara Otaku Tour - 1.5h Guided Shopping: $94
Tours and Activities in Saint Thomas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Saint Thomas.
- Island Icons & Treasures Tour - St. Thomas USVI : $199
- Magens Bay Trail Hiking Tour: $60
- Two-Hour Sightseeing Excursion : $58
- Vi Top Taxi &Tours USVI-Coki Beach Snorkeling Tour : $68
- 1 Hour Jet Ski Tour in the Virgin Islands from Westin St. John: $169
- 1-Hour Guided Jet Ski Tour in St. Thomas from Frenchman's Reef: $159
- 1.5 Hour Private Mini Jeep Tour on St. Thomas: $220
- 3 Hour Kayak and Snorkel Tour: $139
- Admission Ticket to Coral World & Coki Point Beach with Snorkeling: $40
- Best of Mangrove Lagoon Kayak, Hike and Snorkel Adventure with Picnic Lunch: $159
- Book Your Private Two and a Half Hour Island Tour today!: $150
- Children's Treasure Hunt Walking Tour: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTokyo $34Saint Thomas $27
Typical Alcohol Prices in Tokyo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Tokyo:
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Sake$4.06
Sample the Local Flavors in Tokyo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Tokyo:
- Low-cost local pub & bar crawling: $34
- Tokyo Pub Crawl: Unique Japanese Drinks in Shimokitazawa: $34
- 3 Hours Pub Crawl Welcome Guided Tour in Shibuya: $35
- Tokyo Pub Crawl: Unique Japanese Drinks in Shimokitazawa: $38
- 3-Hour Tokyo Pub Crawl Weekly Welcome Guided Tour in Shibuya: $46
- Private Shinjuku Nightlife Walking Tour & Golden-Gai Bar Crawl: $114
- Tokyo's Oldest Sake Brewery and jump into historic town: $116
- Private Sake Tasting at 300 Years Old Sake Brewery in Tokyo : $132
- Sake Brewery and Spiritual Nature Tour in Okutama Tokyo: $142
- Cultural Sake Brewery Private Tour & Unlimited Tasting Near Tokyo: $172
- From Tokyo：Mt.fuji /Museum/Sake brewery/ 1DAY BUS TOUR: $201
- Private tour: Tokyo's Oldest Sake Brewery and riverside walk.: $242
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tokyo and Saint Thomas, we can see that Saint Thomas is more expensive. And not only is Tokyo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tokyo is in Asia and Saint Thomas 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 Tokyo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tokyo 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 Thomas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Thomas than you might in Tokyo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tokyo Expensive? and Is Saint Thomas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tokyo or Saint Thomas?
Tokyo has a larger population, and is about 420 times larger than the population of Saint Thomas. When comparing the sizes of Tokyo and Saint Thomas, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Tokyo or Saint Thomas?
Tokyo has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Saint Thomas experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Tokyo or Saint Thomas in the Summer?
Both Saint Thomas and Tokyo are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Tokyo because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Plenty of visitors come to Saint Thomas because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the summer, Tokyo is cooler than Saint Thomas. Typically, the summer temperatures in Tokyo in July average around 26°C (78°F), and Saint Thomas averages at about 29°C (83°F).
It's quite sunny in Saint Thomas. Tokyo usually receives less sunshine than Saint Thomas during summer. Tokyo gets 137 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Thomas receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
It's quite rainy in Tokyo. In July, Tokyo usually receives more rain than Saint Thomas. Tokyo gets 127 mm (5 in) of rain, while Saint Thomas receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyTokyo 26°C (78°F)Saint Thomas 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Tokyo or Saint Thomas in the Autumn?
Both Saint Thomas and Tokyo during the autumn are popular places to visit. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Tokyo this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint Thomas year-round.
In October, Tokyo is generally much colder than Saint Thomas. Daily temperatures in Tokyo average around 18°C (64°F), and Saint Thomas fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
In Saint Thomas, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Tokyo often gets less sunshine than Saint Thomas. Tokyo gets 129 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint Thomas receives 235 hours of full sun.
Saint Thomas gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Tokyo. Tokyo usually gets more rain in October than Saint Thomas. Tokyo gets 165 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Saint Thomas receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberTokyo 18°C (64°F)Saint Thomas 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Tokyo or Saint Thomas in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Tokyo and Saint Thomas. Many travelers come to Tokyo for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Saint Thomas attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Tokyo is much colder than Saint Thomas in the winter. The daily temperature in Tokyo averages around 5°C (42°F) in January, and Saint Thomas fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint Thomas this time of the year. Tokyo usually receives less sunshine than Saint Thomas during winter. Tokyo gets 175 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Thomas receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Tokyo usually receives around the same amount of rain as Saint Thomas. Tokyo gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Saint Thomas receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryTokyo 5°C (42°F)Saint Thomas 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Tokyo or Saint Thomas in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Tokyo as well as Saint Thomas. Many visitors come to Tokyo in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint Thomas throughout the year.
In the spring, Tokyo is much colder than Saint Thomas. Typically, the spring temperatures in Tokyo in April average around 14°C (58°F), and Saint Thomas averages at about 27°C (80°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint Thomas. In the spring, Tokyo often gets less sunshine than Saint Thomas. Tokyo gets 161 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint Thomas receives 272 hours of full sun.
Tokyo receives a lot of rain in the spring. Tokyo usually gets more rain in April than Saint Thomas. Tokyo gets 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Saint Thomas receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilTokyo 14°C (58°F)Saint Thomas 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint Thomas and Tokyo
| Tokyo | Saint Thomas | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 5°C (42°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (42°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (47°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (58°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 19°C (66°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (71°F) | 186 mm (7.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (78°F) | 127 mm (5 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (74°F) | 180 mm (7.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 8°C (46°F) | 46 mm (1.8 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.