Which place is cheaper, Saint John or Columbus?
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 Columbus or Saint John?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Columbus 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: Columbus or Saint John?
Columbus
The capital city of Ohio, Columbus sits at the meeting point of America's Rust Belt, Bible Belt, Appalachia, and the Plains. It is also home of Ohio State University, which is a major financial and economic force in the city. While not always famous for it's sights and attractions, visitors will be pleasantly surprised by what they find here.
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 Under $1000 in United States of America, and The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America.
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Columbus Prices
USA PricesSaint John Prices
USVI Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayColumbus $193Saint John $233
The average daily cost (per person) in Columbus is $193, while the average daily cost in Saint John is $233. 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 Columbus and Saint John in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personColumbus $72Saint John $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomColumbus $144Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Columbus and Saint John
Looking for a hotel in Columbus 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.
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: Columbus Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Columbus $50Saint John $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Columbus
Also for Columbus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Columbus International Airport Private Transfer with Bus or Coach: $90
- Columbus John Glen Airport (CMH) to Columbus - Arrival Private Transfer: $106
- Columbus John Glen Airport (CMH) to Columbus - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $212
- Columbus Ohio (CMH) Airport Arrival or Departure Private Transfer: $180
- Columbus to Columbus John Glen Airport (CMH) - Departure Private Transfer: $106
Is it cheaper to fly into Columbus or Saint John?
Prices for flights to both Saint John and Columbus 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 dayColumbus $85Saint John $97
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Columbus
For Columbus, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Short North Walking Food Tour : $89
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Columbus $46Saint John $23
Tours and Activities in Columbus
For Columbus, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Columbus by Crazy Dash: $10
- Experience a Scavenger Hunt in A German Village: $15
- Experience the season with a scavenger hunt in Columbus with Holly Jolly Hunt: $20
- Columbus Ohio Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour and Game: $25
- LEGOLAND Discovery Center Columbus Admission Ticket: $26
- Shared Yoga and Coffee Experience On The Trolley Pub: $39
- Columbus Scavenger Hunt Adventure : $49
- The Perfect Half Day Columbus Adventure: $59
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayColumbus $20Saint John $44
Sample the Local Flavors in Columbus
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Columbus:
- Columbus Ohio Bar Crawl: $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Columbus and Saint John, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. And not only is Columbus much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Columbus 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 Columbus would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Columbus 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 Columbus.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Columbus Expensive? and Is Saint John Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Columbus or Saint John?
Columbus 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 Columbus or Saint John in the Summer?
Both Saint John and Columbus during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Columbus for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.
Columbus is cooler than Saint John in the summer. The daily temperature in Columbus averages around 77°F (25°C) in July, and Saint John fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Columbus. Columbus usually gets more rain in July than Saint John. Columbus gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyColumbus 77°F (25°C)Saint John 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Columbus or Saint John in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Columbus and Saint John. The autumn months attract visitors to Columbus because of the shopping scene. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, Columbus is much colder than Saint John. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Columbus in October average around 57°F (14°C), and Saint John averages at about 28°C (82°F).
Saint John receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Columbus usually receives less rain than Saint John. Columbus gets 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberColumbus 57°F (14°C)Saint John 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Columbus or Saint John in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Columbus as well as Saint John. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Columbus this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.
It's quite cold in Columbus in the winter. In January, Columbus is generally much colder than Saint John. Daily temperatures in Columbus average around 30°F (-1°C), and Saint John fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
Columbus usually gets more rain in January than Saint John. Columbus gets 2.2 inches (56 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryColumbus 30°F (-1°C)Saint John 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Columbus or Saint John in the Spring?
Both Saint John and Columbus are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Columbus is much colder than Saint John in the spring. The daily temperature in Columbus averages around 54°F (12°C) in April, and Saint John fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
In April, Columbus usually receives more rain than Saint John. Columbus gets 3.2 inches (81 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilColumbus 54°F (12°C)Saint John 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint John and Columbus
| Columbus | Saint John | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 33°F (1°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 45°F (7°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 54°F (12°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 65°F (18°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 73°F (23°C) | 4 inches (102 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 77°F (25°C) | 4.4 inches (112 mm) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 75°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 69°F (20°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 57°F (14°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 47°F (8°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 35°F (2°C) | 2.8 inches (72 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.