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

Should you visit Dubrovnik or Saint Croix?

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

Should I visit Dubrovnik 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: Dubrovnik or Saint Croix?

Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik, the "Pearl of the Adriatic", is a beautiful walled city in southern Croatia that sits on the edge of the Adriatic Sea. It's a small city, with only about 40,000 residents, but it's become one of the most significant tourist destinations in the Mediterranean. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The city was historically built on maritime trade, which is not surprising given its location near major Italian and Greek ports such as Venice, Bari, Corfu, and Trieste. It was a center of language and literature and was the home of many important poets, playwrights, painters, and scientists during the 15th and 16th centuries. Today its economy is dependent on tourism and it is one of the most popular destinations in the region. People visit the city for its impressive history, beautiful setting, great weather, and interesting architecture.

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 2-Week Tours from Split, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Croatia.


Which place is cheaper, Saint Croix or Dubrovnik?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Dubrovnik Prices
    Croatia Prices
    Saint Croix Prices
    USVI Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Dubrovnik $142
    Saint Croix $277

The average daily cost (per person) in Dubrovnik is $142, 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 Dubrovnik and Saint Croix in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dubrovnik $59
    Saint Croix $149
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dubrovnik $118
    Saint Croix $298
Compare Hotels in Dubrovnik and Saint Croix

Looking for a hotel in Dubrovnik 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.

Hotels in Dubrovnik


Hotels in Saint Croix


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: Dubrovnik Hotel Prices and Saint Croix Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dubrovnik $15
    Saint Croix $35
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dubrovnik

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubrovnik:


  • Bus Around Town
    $1.67

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dubrovnik

Also for Dubrovnik, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Shared Airport Transfer to/from City Center: $18
  • Lokrum Island Transfer with Panoramic Cruise from Dubrovnik: $18
  • Lopud Island Boat Transfer: $23
  • Sveti Jakov Beach Boat Transfer: $23
  • Koločep Island Boat Transfer: $23
  • Private transfer from Dubrovnik airport to Dubrovnik city: $24
  • Dubrovnik to Koločep Island Ferry: Scenic Transfer: $24
  • Dubrovnik to Lopud Island Ferry: Scenic Transfer: $24
  • Return transfer to Dubrovnik airport: $27
  • Convenient Bus Transfer from/to Split: $29
  • Private return transfer to Dubrovnik airport: $30
  • From Dubrovnik Airport: 1-Way Private Transfer to Dubrovnik: $30

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Croix

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Saint Croix:

  • Private Transfer from St. Croix Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) to St. Croix : $180
  • Private Transfer from St.Croix hotels to St. Croix Cruise Port : $175
  • Private Transfer from St.Croix Cruise Port to St.Croix hotels: $175
  • Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) to St.Croix - Round-Trip Transfer: $167
  • St. Croix to St. Croix Airport (STX) - Departure Private Transfer: $91
  • St.Croix Airport (STX) to St.Croix - Arrival Private Transfer: $91
  • 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 Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) - Departure Transfer: $84

Is it cheaper to fly into Dubrovnik or Saint Croix?

Prices for flights to both Saint Croix and Dubrovnik 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
    Dubrovnik $67
    Saint Croix $97
Typical Food Prices in Dubrovnik

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubrovnik:


  • Seafood Dinner (for 2)
    $34

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dubrovnik

For Dubrovnik, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Sunset Dinner Cruise around the Old Town: $82
  • Gastro Cruise | Dinner and Boat ride around Dubrovnik Old Town: $93
  • Dinner in the Sky Dubrovnik - Dine 50m above ground: $101
  • Dinner in the Sky Dubrovnik: $114
  • Secret Food Tours in Dubrovnik: $118
  • Secrets of traditional Dalmatian cuisine with a cooking class: $140
  • Croatian Traditional Cuisine: Peka Cooking Lesson: $143
  • Old Town Food Tour: $157
  • Dubrovnik Old Town Food Tour: Small-Group Experience: $168
  • Eat Like A Local On A Food Tour: $180
  • Authentic Garden to Table Cooking Class in Dubrovnik Countryside : $208
  • Konavle Wine& History&food Tour: $226

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dubrovnik $22
    Saint Croix $58
Typical Entertainment Prices in Dubrovnik

For Dubrovnik, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Boat to Lokrum Island (for 2)
    $16
  • Dubrovnik City Wall Tour (for 2)
    $62
  • Dubrovnik Cable Car (for 2)
    $53

Tours and Activities in Dubrovnik

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

  • Selfguide® Secrets Tour Dubrovnik with Game of Thrones Spots: $3.57
  • Self Guided Private Tour of Dubrovnik's Best Kept Secrets: $3.58
  • Time Traveler’s Trail: Self-Guided Puzzle Adventure in Dubrovnik: $5.99
  • Dubrovnik Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $6.67
  • Dubrovnik Old Town Walking Tour with Audioguide: $8.34
  • Old Town Highlights Tour with Audio Guide: $9.36
  • Love Stories Museum Skip-the-Line Entrance Ticket: $11
  • Red History Museum Regular Ticket: $11
  • Skip the Line: Love Stories Museum Admission Ticket: $11
  • Museum of Selfies & Illusions Dubrovnik Ticket: $11
  • A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Dubrovnik's Old Town: $12
  • Discover Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15

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
  • Frederiksted Moke Tour: $75
  • Guided Kayak Tour of Salt River Bay Ecology and History: $115
  • Horseback Riding Experience: $160
  • Parasail Experience in St Croix: $132
  • Private Sailing Tour of Pirate Waters and Shipwrecks: $175
  • St Croix Island Tour: $118
  • St. Croix Ghost Tour of Historic Christiansted: $45
  • The Frederiksted St. Croix Sea Turtles Snorkeling Tour: $89

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dubrovnik $16
    Saint Croix $27

Sample the Local Flavors in Dubrovnik

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dubrovnik:

  • Dubrovnik Sunset Tour with Wine Tasting : $42
  • Panoramic Dubrovnik Tour Golden Hour Sunset and Wine Tasting: $46
  • Sunset and Wine / Dubrovnik Sunset Tour and Premium Wine Tasting : $54
  • Brewery Tour with Food included: $66
  • Columbo Pub Crawl Dubrovnik: $70
  • Columbo Pub Crawl Dubrovnik: $72
  • Sunset Wine Tasting At Panorama Point: $74
  • Pub Crawl Nightlife Xperience: $80
  • Ston and Korcula Island Day Trip from Dubrovnik with Wine Tasting: $83
  • Day Tour of Korcula Island from Dubrovnik with Wine Tasting: $83
  • Luxury Sunset Tour with Wine Tasting: $84
  • Wine Tour - Get to know local grapes: $84

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 Dubrovnik and Saint Croix, we can see that Saint Croix is more expensive. And not only is Dubrovnik much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dubrovnik is in Europe 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 Dubrovnik would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Dubrovnik 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 Dubrovnik.

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



When is the best time to visit Dubrovnik or Saint Croix?

Dubrovnik 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 Dubrovnik or Saint Croix in the Summer?

Both Saint Croix and Dubrovnik during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Dubrovnik because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint Croix year-round.

In July, Dubrovnik is generally cooler than Saint Croix. Daily temperatures in Dubrovnik average around 25°C (77°F), and Saint Croix fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

Dubrovnik usually gets less rain in July than Saint Croix. Dubrovnik gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Dubrovnik 25°C (77°F) 
    Saint Croix 29°C (83°F)

Should I visit Dubrovnik or Saint Croix in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Dubrovnik and Saint Croix. The hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Dubrovnik this time of year. Saint Croix attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Dubrovnik is much colder than Saint Croix in the autumn. The daily temperature in Dubrovnik averages around 18°C (64°F) in October, and Saint Croix fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

Saint Croix receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Dubrovnik gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Dubrovnik usually receives more rain than Saint Croix. Dubrovnik gets 162 mm (6.4 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Dubrovnik 18°C (64°F) 
    Saint Croix 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Dubrovnik or Saint Croix in the Winter?

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

In the winter, Dubrovnik is much colder than Saint Croix. Typically, the winter temperatures in Dubrovnik in January average around 9°C (48°F), and Saint Croix averages at about 26°C (78°F).

Dubrovnik receives a lot of rain in the winter. Dubrovnik usually gets more rain in January than Saint Croix. Dubrovnik gets 139 mm (5.5 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Dubrovnik 9°C (48°F) 
    Saint Croix 26°C (78°F)

Should I visit Dubrovnik or Saint Croix in the Spring?

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

In April, Dubrovnik is generally much colder than Saint Croix. Daily temperatures in Dubrovnik average around 14°C (57°F), and Saint Croix fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

It's quite rainy in Dubrovnik. In April, Dubrovnik usually receives more rain than Saint Croix. Dubrovnik gets 104 mm (4.1 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Dubrovnik 14°C (57°F) 
    Saint Croix 27°C (80°F)

Typical Weather for Saint Croix and Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik Saint Croix
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 9°C (48°F) 139 mm (5.5 in) 26°C (78°F) 43 mm (1.7 in)
Feb 10°C (50°F) 125 mm (4.9 in) 26°C (78°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Mar 11°C (52°F) 104 mm (4.1 in) 26°C (79°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Apr 14°C (57°F) 104 mm (4.1 in) 27°C (80°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
May 18°C (64°F) 75 mm (3 in) 28°C (82°F) 94 mm (3.7 in)
Jun 22°C (72°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 28°C (83°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
Jul 25°C (77°F) 26 mm (1 in) 29°C (83°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
Aug 25°C (77°F) 38 mm (1.5 in) 29°C (84°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Sep 22°C (72°F) 101 mm (4 in) 28°C (83°F) 127 mm (5 in)
Oct 18°C (64°F) 162 mm (6.4 in) 28°C (82°F) 146 mm (5.7 in)
Nov 14°C (57°F) 198 mm (7.8 in) 27°C (81°F) 126 mm (4.9 in)
Dec 11°C (52°F) 178 mm (7 in) 26°C (80°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)