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

Should you visit Chapel Hill or Saint John?

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

Should I visit Chapel Hill or Saint John? 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: Chapel Hill or Saint John?

Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill is a college town in North Carolina that, together with Raleigh and Durham, makes up the Research Triangle area. The town is 28 miles northwest of Raleigh and 12 miles southwest of Durham. Chapel Hill dates back to 1819 when it was founded to support the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. With a population of just over 52,000, Chapel Hill has the vibe of a small college town with the amenities of a larger community. It's proximity to both Raleigh and Durham give it an economic boost that provides economic diversity and security.

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 3-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chapel Hill and Saint John, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. And not only is Chapel Hill much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Chapel Hill 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 Chapel Hill would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chapel Hill 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 Chapel Hill.

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

When is the best time to visit Chapel Hill or Saint John?

Chapel Hill 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 Chapel Hill or Saint John in the Summer?

Both Saint John and Chapel Hill are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Chapel Hill for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the summer, Chapel Hill is around the same temperature as Saint John. Typically, the summer temperatures in Chapel Hill in July average around 79°F (26°C), and Saint John averages at about 29°C (83°F).

It's quite rainy in Chapel Hill. In July, Chapel Hill usually receives more rain than Saint John. Chapel Hill gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Chapel Hill or Saint John in the Autumn?

Both Saint John and Chapel Hill during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Chapel Hill because of the shopping scene. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.

In October, Chapel Hill is generally much colder than Saint John. Daily temperatures in Chapel Hill average around 61°F (16°C), and Saint John fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

Saint John gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Chapel Hill usually gets less rain in October than Saint John. Chapel Hill gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Chapel Hill or Saint John in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Chapel Hill and Saint John. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Chapel Hill this time of year. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

It's quite cold in Chapel Hill in the winter. Chapel Hill is much colder than Saint John in the winter. The daily temperature in Chapel Hill averages around 40°F (5°C) in January, and Saint John fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

In January, Chapel Hill usually receives more rain than Saint John. Chapel Hill gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Chapel Hill or Saint John in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Chapel Hill as well as Saint John. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.

In the spring, Chapel Hill is much colder than Saint John. Typically, the spring temperatures in Chapel Hill in April average around 60°F (16°C), and Saint John averages at about 27°C (80°F).

Chapel Hill usually gets more rain in April than Saint John. Chapel Hill gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Saint John and Chapel Hill