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

Should you visit Dubrovnik or Saint John?

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

Should I visit Dubrovnik 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: Dubrovnik or Saint John?

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


Which place is cheaper, Saint John 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 John Prices
    USVI Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Dubrovnik $142
    Saint John $233

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



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dubrovnik $59
    Saint John $106
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dubrovnik $118
    Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Dubrovnik and Saint John

Looking for a hotel in Dubrovnik 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.

Hotels in Dubrovnik


Hotels in Saint John


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dubrovnik $15
    Saint John $49
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:

  • Private Transfer: Dubrovnik City to Dubrovnik Airport: $52
  • Airport Private Transfer Dubrovnik: $69
  • Airport Transfer Dubrovnik Town to Herceg Novi / Portonovi: $275
  • Airport Transfer Dubrovnik to Herceg Novi / Portonovi: $286
  • Airport Transfer: Dubrovnik Airport DBV to Dubrovnik by MB Van: $62
  • Airport Transfer: Dubrovnik to Dubrovnik Airport DBV by MB Van: $66
  • Arrival Private Transfer Dubrovnik Airport DBV to Dubrovnik City by Business Car: $45
  • Arrival Private Transfer from Dubrovnik Airport DBV to Dubrovnik City by Minivan: $65
  • Arrival Transfer: Airport DBV to Dubrovnik by Luxury Van: $59
  • Budva to Dubrovnik one way transfer: $222
  • Bus transfer between Dubrovnik and Herceg Novi: $34
  • Departure Private Transfer from Dubrovnik City to Dubrovnik Airport by Minivan: $60

Is it cheaper to fly into Dubrovnik or Saint John?

Prices for flights to both Saint John 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 John $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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dubrovnik $22
    Saint John $23
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 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
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dubrovnik $16
    Saint John $44

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


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dubrovnik and Saint John, we can see that Saint John 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 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 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 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 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 John Expensive?.



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

Dubrovnik 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 Dubrovnik or Saint John in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Dubrovnik as well as Saint John. Most visitors come to Dubrovnik for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.

In the summer, Dubrovnik is cooler than Saint John. Typically, the summer temperatures in Dubrovnik in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Saint John averages at about 29°C (83°F).

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


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

Should I visit Dubrovnik or Saint John in the Autumn?

Both Saint John and Dubrovnik are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Dubrovnik because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In October, Dubrovnik is generally much colder than Saint John. Daily temperatures in Dubrovnik average around 18°C (64°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint John. It's quite rainy in Dubrovnik. In October, Dubrovnik usually receives more rain than Saint John. Dubrovnik gets 162 mm (6.4 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


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

Should I visit Dubrovnik or Saint John in the Winter?

Both Saint John and Dubrovnik during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Dubrovnik this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.

Dubrovnik is much colder than Saint John in the winter. The daily temperature in Dubrovnik averages around 9°C (48°F) in January, and Saint John fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

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


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

Should I visit Dubrovnik or Saint John in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Dubrovnik and Saint John. Many travelers come to Dubrovnik for the beaches and the natural beauty. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the spring, Dubrovnik is much colder than Saint John. Typically, the spring temperatures in Dubrovnik in April average around 14°C (57°F), and Saint John averages at about 27°C (80°F).

Dubrovnik gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Dubrovnik usually receives more rain than Saint John. Dubrovnik gets 104 mm (4.1 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.


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

Typical Weather for Saint John and Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik Saint John
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)