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

Should you visit Virginia Beach or Saint John?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Virginia Beach or Saint John, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Virginia Beach or Saint John?

Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay. It's a popular beach destination and has many of the characteristics of most southeastern beach towns. There are many activities that you can enjoy and there's a concrete boardwalk that runs parallel to the water for about three miles. The boardwalk is a fun place to walk or bicycle. The beach itself is wide and sandy and is a great place to soak up some sun. During the summer months and school holidays it can get quite crowded and you might struggle to find a place for your towel and beach chairs. There are also many beach side resorts that line the water front. Most have pools and hot tubs where you can relax and some hotels have indoor pools as well, which can be nice during the cool winter months.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, and The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Virginia Beach and Saint John, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. And not only is Virginia Beach much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Virginia Beach is in North America and Saint John 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 Virginia Beach would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Virginia Beach 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 John would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint John than you might in Virginia Beach.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Virginia Beach Expensive? and Is Saint John Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Virginia Beach or Saint John?

Virginia Beach has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Saint John experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Virginia Beach or Saint John in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Virginia Beach as well as Saint John. Many travelers come to Virginia Beach for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.

In July, Virginia Beach is generally around the same temperature as Saint John. Daily temperatures in Virginia Beach average around 79°F (26°C), and Saint John fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

Virginia Beach receives a lot of rain in the summer. Virginia Beach usually gets more rain in July than Saint John. Virginia Beach gets 5.7 inches (145 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Virginia Beach or Saint John in the Autumn?

Both Saint John and Virginia Beach are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Virginia Beach in the autumn for the natural beauty of the area. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Virginia Beach is much colder than Saint John in the autumn. The daily temperature in Virginia Beach averages around 62°F (16°C) in October, and Saint John fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint John. In October, Virginia Beach usually receives less rain than Saint John. Virginia Beach gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Virginia Beach or Saint John in the Winter?

Both Saint John and Virginia Beach during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Virginia Beach for the cuisine during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.

Virginia Beach can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Virginia Beach is much colder than Saint John. Typically, the winter temperatures in Virginia Beach in January average around 39°F (4°C), and Saint John averages at about 26°C (78°F).

Virginia Beach usually gets more rain in January than Saint John. Virginia Beach gets 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Virginia Beach or Saint John in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Virginia Beach and Saint John. The spring months attract visitors to Virginia Beach because of the beaches and the natural beauty. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In April, Virginia Beach is generally much colder than Saint John. Daily temperatures in Virginia Beach average around 58°F (14°C), and Saint John fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

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

Typical Weather for Saint John and Virginia Beach