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

Should you visit Cocoa Beach or Saint John?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Cocoa Beach and Saint John. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Cocoa Beach or Saint John?

Cocoa Beach

Cocoa Beach, Florida has long been a favorite vacation spot for travelers looking for sun, sand, and waves. The location was also made famous as the setting for the 1960's television show, "I Dream of Jeannie". The town of just over 11,000 is located in Brevard County along the Atlantic coast. Many people visit the area because of its excellent surfing. There are many surfing festivals and competitions held here yearly and the famous Ron Jon's surf shop receives about 2 million visitors a year. The city is also home to the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame.

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 Northern Lights Tours in Alaska, and The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America.

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

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

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

Cocoa 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 Cocoa Beach or Saint John in the Summer?

Both Saint John and Cocoa Beach during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Cocoa Beach because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.

In the summer, Cocoa Beach is around the same temperature as Saint John. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cocoa Beach in July average around 81°F (27°C), and Saint John averages at about 29°C (83°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Cocoa Beach. Cocoa Beach usually gets more rain in July than Saint John. Cocoa Beach gets 8.3 inches (211 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Cocoa Beach and Saint John. The shopping scene are the main draw to Cocoa Beach this time of year. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In October, Cocoa Beach is generally cooler than Saint John. Daily temperatures in Cocoa Beach average around 77°F (25°C), and Saint John fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

Saint John receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Cocoa Beach gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Cocoa Beach usually receives less rain than Saint John. Cocoa Beach gets 4.1 inches (103 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn. June to November is the hurricane season in Cocoa Beach.

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

The winter brings many poeple to Cocoa Beach as well as Saint John. Many travelers come to Cocoa Beach for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.

Cocoa Beach is much colder than Saint John in the winter. The daily temperature in Cocoa Beach averages around 63°F (17°C) in January, and Saint John fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

Cocoa Beach usually gets more rain in January than Saint John. Cocoa Beach gets 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

Both Saint John and Cocoa Beach are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Cocoa Beach in the spring for the beaches. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the spring, Cocoa Beach is cooler than Saint John. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cocoa Beach in April average around 73°F (23°C), and Saint John averages at about 27°C (80°F).

In April, Cocoa Beach usually receives around the same amount of rain as Saint John. Cocoa 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. June to November in Cocoa Beach is the hurricane season.

Typical Weather for Saint John and Cocoa Beach