Which place is cheaper, Saint Croix or Columbia?
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 Columbia or Saint Croix?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Columbia or Saint Croix? 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: Columbia or Saint Croix?
Columbia
Both the largest and capital city of South Carolina, Columbia is literally the center of everything. Geographically it is located in the middle of the state, and it is the home to the University of South Carolina, the Army's Fort Jackson, as well as a variety of museums that celebrate the city's art, history, and culture.
Saint Croix
Sometimes all you want out of a vacation is the warmth of the sun, the sound of the waves and the taste of a cold drink. No more. No less. That's exactly what you can expect in St. Croix.
The largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix is a place of our leisure and relaxation. It's a bit of an expensive lifestyle for its 50,000 residents and daily visitors, but when you're living on island time, money is never a worry. There are no worries on island time.
This once volcanic island is covered in incredible beaches, stunning mountains, palm tress in the wind and historic colonial towns. While they may be a bit old and rundown, the Danish architecture still stands as a unique part of this island's legacy. Don't expect much window-shopping, though. That was not a feature incorporated in this style of architecture. If you want to know if a store is open, just step on in, but remember, shop hours are also running on island time.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America.
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Columbia Prices
USA PricesSaint Croix Prices
USVI Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayColumbia $0.00Saint Croix $277
The average daily cost (per person) in Columbia is $0.00, while the average daily cost in Saint Croix is $277. 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 Columbia and Saint Croix in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personColumbia -Saint Croix $149
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomColumbia $0.00Saint Croix $298
Compare Hotels in Columbia and Saint Croix
Looking for a hotel in Columbia or Saint Croix? 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: Columbia Hotel Prices and Saint Croix Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Columbia -Saint Croix $35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Croix
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Saint Croix:
- St. Croix to Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) - Departure Transfer: $84
- Private Transfer from St. Croix Airport to St. Croix Cruise Port : $87
- Private Transfer from St. Croix Port to St. Croix Airport (STX): $87
- St. Croix to St. Croix Airport (STX) - Departure Private Transfer: $91
- St.Croix Airport (STX) to St.Croix - Arrival Private Transfer: $91
- Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) to St.Croix - Round-Trip Transfer: $167
- Private Transfer from St.Croix hotels to St. Croix Cruise Port : $175
- Private Transfer from St.Croix Cruise Port to St.Croix hotels: $175
- Private Transfer from St. Croix Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) to St. Croix : $180
Is it cheaper to fly into Columbia or Saint Croix?
Prices for flights to both Saint Croix and Columbia 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 dayColumbia $8.70Saint Croix $97
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint Croix
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Saint Croix.
- A Evening Cultural Experience Through Food Cooking Class St. Croix: $90
- A Morning Cultural Experience Through Food Cooking Class St. Croix: $90
- C'sted Sip & Savor Mixology Class with VI Food Tours: $131
- Taste of Twin City Food Tour with VI Food Tours: $145
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Columbia -Saint Croix $58
Tours and Activities in Columbia
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Columbia are as follows:
- Lanterns and Lunacy of the Lost: Cruel Columbia Ghost Tours: $24
Tours and Activities in Saint Croix
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Saint Croix are as follows:
- Christiansted's Artisan Shopping Tour: $33
- St. Croix Ghost Tour of Historic Christiansted: $45
- Frederiksted Moke Tour: $75
- The Frederiksted St. Croix Sea Turtles Snorkeling Tour: $89
- Guided Kayak Tour of Salt River Bay Ecology and History: $115
- St Croix Island Tour: $118
- Parasail Experience in St Croix: $132
- Horseback Riding Experience: $160
- Private Sailing Tour of Pirate Waters and Shipwrecks: $175
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayColumbia $88Saint Croix $27
Sample the Local Flavors in Saint Croix
Also in Saint Croix, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Farm to Bottle Tour at Prosperity Farm Distillery: $35
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Columbia and Saint Croix, we can see that Saint Croix is more expensive. And not only is Columbia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Columbia is in North America and Saint Croix 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 Columbia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Columbia 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 Croix would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Croix than you might in Columbia.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Columbia Expensive? and Is Saint Croix Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Columbia or Saint Croix?
Columbia has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Saint Croix experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Columbia or Saint Croix in the Summer?
Both Saint Croix and Columbia are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Columbia because of the family-friendly experiences. Plenty of visitors come to Saint Croix because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Columbia is around the same temperature as Saint Croix in the summer. The daily temperature in Columbia averages around 82°F (28°C) in July, and Saint Croix fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
It's quite rainy in Columbia. In July, Columbia usually receives more rain than Saint Croix. Columbia gets 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyColumbia 82°F (28°C)Saint Croix 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Columbia or Saint Croix in the Autumn?
Both Saint Croix and Columbia during the autumn are popular places to visit. The shopping scene are the main draw to Columbia this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint Croix year-round.
In the autumn, Columbia is much colder than Saint Croix. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Columbia in October average around 64°F (18°C), and Saint Croix averages at about 28°C (82°F).
Saint Croix gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Columbia usually gets less rain in October than Saint Croix. Columbia gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberColumbia 64°F (18°C)Saint Croix 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Columbia or Saint Croix in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Columbia and Saint Croix. Many travelers come to Columbia for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Saint Croix attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Columbia is generally much colder than Saint Croix. Daily temperatures in Columbia average around 45°F (7°C), and Saint Croix fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
In January, Columbia usually receives more rain than Saint Croix. Columbia gets 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryColumbia 45°F (7°C)Saint Croix 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Columbia or Saint Croix in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Columbia as well as Saint Croix. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint Croix throughout the year.
Columbia is cooler than Saint Croix in the spring. The daily temperature in Columbia averages around 64°F (18°C) in April, and Saint Croix fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
Columbia usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Saint Croix. Columbia gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilColumbia 64°F (18°C)Saint Croix 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint Croix and Columbia
| Columbia | Saint Croix | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 45°F (7°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 48°F (9°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 56°F (13°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 64°F (18°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 72°F (22°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 78°F (26°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 82°F (28°C) | 4.6 inches (116 mm) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 5.8 inches (147 mm) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 75°F (24°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 64°F (18°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 56°F (13°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 48°F (9°C) | 2.6 inches (67 mm) | 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.