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

Should you visit Wilmington or Saint John?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Wilmington 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: Wilmington or Saint John?

Wilmington

Wilmington is a port city in southeastern North Carolina. It's a great city to visit for it's nearby beaches, large historic district, and quaint atmosphere. The city has a population of about 115,000 and it's the eighth largest city in the state.

Wilmington is also home to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington as well as the EUE Screen Gems Studios. This is the largest domestic television and movie production facility outside of California. The studio, which opened in 1984, helped grow Wilmington into a major base for film and television production. The city has been the backdrop for many movies and tv shows including Iron Man 3, Sleepy Hollow, One Tree Hill, and Revolution.

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 Tours for Seniors to United States of America, and The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Saint John or Wilmington?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Wilmington is $204, 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 Wilmington and Saint John in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Wilmington $120
    Saint John $106
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Wilmington $240
    Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Wilmington and Saint John

Looking for a hotel in Wilmington 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 Wilmington


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: Wilmington Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Wilmington $47
    Saint John $49

Is it cheaper to fly into Wilmington or Saint John?

Prices for flights to both Saint John and Wilmington 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
    Wilmington $56
    Saint John $56

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Wilmington $17
    Saint John $23

Tours and Activities in Wilmington

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Wilmington.

  • Scavenger Hunt Adventure Self-Guided City Game: $10
  • Wilmington Pirate Walking Tour: $20
  • Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Wilmington by Zombie Scavengers: $20
  • Eagles Island 50 minute Narrated Boat Cruise: $21
  • History and Architecture Walking Tour : $25
  • Wilmington History and Architecture Tour: $25
  • Ghosts of the Port City Haunted Walking Tour: $26
  • Craft Beer and History Crawl Shared Experience in Wilmington: $30
  • Wilmington Ghosts: Phantoms of Pirates and Patriots Tour: $33
  • Black Water Adventure Cruise: $33
  • Trolley Pub Public Tour: $49
  • Island Hopper Cruise in Wrightsville Beach: $50

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
    Wilmington $39
    Saint John $44

Sample the Local Flavors in Wilmington

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Wilmington:

  • 2-Hour Wilmington E-Bike Bar Crawl: $55
  • 2-Hour Wilmington E-Bike Bar Crawl: $55


When comparing the travel costs between Wilmington and Saint John, we can see that Wilmington 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. Even though Wilmington is in North America and Saint John is in Caribbean Islands, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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



When is the best time to visit Wilmington or Saint John?

Wilmington 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 Wilmington or Saint John in the Summer?

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

Wilmington is around the same temperature as Saint John in the summer. The daily temperature in Wilmington averages around 81°F (27°C) in July, and Saint John fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

Wilmington receives a lot of rain in the summer. Wilmington usually gets more rain in July than Saint John. Wilmington gets 8.1 inches (207 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Wilmington 81°F (27°C) 
    Saint John 29°C (83°F)

Should I visit Wilmington or Saint John in the Autumn?

Both Saint John and Wilmington are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Wilmington in the autumn for the shopping scene. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the autumn, Wilmington is much colder than Saint John. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Wilmington in October average around 65°F (18°C), and Saint John averages at about 28°C (82°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint John. In October, Wilmington usually receives less rain than Saint John. Wilmington gets 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Wilmington 65°F (18°C) 
    Saint John 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Wilmington or Saint John in the Winter?

Both Saint John and Wilmington during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Wilmington for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.

In January, Wilmington is generally much colder than Saint John. Daily temperatures in Wilmington average around 45°F (7°C), and Saint John fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

Wilmington usually gets more rain in January than Saint John. Wilmington gets 3.9 inches (98 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Wilmington 45°F (7°C) 
    Saint John 26°C (78°F)

Should I visit Wilmington or Saint John in the Spring?

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

Wilmington is much colder than Saint John in the spring. The daily temperature in Wilmington averages around 63°F (17°C) in April, and Saint John fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

In April, Wilmington usually receives around the same amount of rain as Saint John. Wilmington gets 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Wilmington 63°F (17°C) 
    Saint John 27°C (80°F)

Typical Weather for Saint John and Wilmington

Wilmington Saint John
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 45°F (7°C) 3.9 inches (98 mm) 26°C (78°F) 43 mm (1.7 in)
Feb 47°F (9°C) 3.7 inches (94 mm) 26°C (78°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Mar 55°F (13°C) 3.9 inches (99 mm) 26°C (79°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Apr 63°F (17°C) 2.9 inches (73 mm) 27°C (80°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
May 70°F (21°C) 4.4 inches (113 mm) 28°C (82°F) 94 mm (3.7 in)
Jun 77°F (25°C) 6 inches (152 mm) 28°C (83°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
Jul 81°F (27°C) 8.1 inches (207 mm) 29°C (83°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
Aug 80°F (27°C) 6.9 inches (176 mm) 29°C (84°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Sep 75°F (24°C) 5 inches (128 mm) 28°C (83°F) 127 mm (5 in)
Oct 65°F (18°C) 2.7 inches (68 mm) 28°C (82°F) 146 mm (5.7 in)
Nov 56°F (14°C) 3.1 inches (79 mm) 27°C (81°F) 126 mm (4.9 in)
Dec 49°F (9°C) 3.6 inches (92 mm) 26°C (80°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)