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

Should you visit New Orleans or Saint John?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between New Orleans and Saint John can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: New Orleans or Saint John?

New Orleans

New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, and it is a cultural city that is the home of jazz, unique cuisine, and Mardi Gras in the U.S. It was established in 1718 and is one of the oldest cities in the country. The culture of the city has a mix of French, Creole, African American, Caribbean, Irish, Haitian, German and Vietnamese. There's an energy and atmosphere that is unlike any place else.

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 Cultural Tours in United States of America, and The Best Photography Tours in United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Saint John or New Orleans?

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

  • New Orleans Prices
    USA Prices
    Saint John Prices
    USVI Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    New Orleans $271
    Saint John $233

The average daily cost (per person) in New Orleans is $271, 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 New Orleans and Saint John in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    New Orleans $125
    Saint John $106
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    New Orleans $250
    Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in New Orleans and Saint John

Looking for a hotel in New Orleans 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 New Orleans


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: New Orleans Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    New Orleans $51
    Saint John $49
Typical Local Transportation Prices in New Orleans

Some typical examples of transportation costs in New Orleans are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in New Orleans

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

  • Airport Transfer in New Orleans: $175
  • Airport and City Transfers in New Orleans : $135
  • Boss Nola : Luxury Private Airport Transfer: $90
  • Cruise Port Transfer New Orleans and Louis Armstrong Intl MSY: $40
  • Handicap New Orleans Airport or Hotel Transfer: $260
  • NOLA Cruise Port to New Orleans hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $105
  • NOLA Cruise Port to New Orleans hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $209
  • New Orleans Airport (MSY) to New Orleans - Round-Trip Transfer : $129
  • New Orleans Airport (MSY) to New Orleans Port Private Transfer: $64
  • New Orleans Airport One way Transfer to Baton Rouge or Slidell: $250
  • New Orleans Airport(MSY) to Port of New Orleans- Private Transfer: $48
  • New Orleans Departure Transfers: $135

Is it cheaper to fly into New Orleans or Saint John?

Prices for flights to both Saint John and New Orleans 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
    New Orleans $78
    Saint John $97

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in New Orleans

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

  • New Orleans Demonstration Cooking Class with Meal: $42
  • Steamboat Natchez Evening Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option: $58
  • Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Jazz Dinner Cruise in New Orleans: $60
  • French Quarter Food Tour: Signature Tastes of New Orleans: $75
  • New Orleans Sunset Food Tour Experience: $85
  • Private New Orleans Food Tour of the French Quarter : $85
  • Lower Garden District Food Tour: $89
  • NOLA Carte Food Tours: $96
  • Voodoo, Vampires and Delicious Bites Food Tour: $97
  • New Orleans Cooking Class and Cocktail Walking Tour: $106
  • New Orleans Small-Group Food Walking Tour and Cooking Class: $109
  • Food Tour of New Orleans Garden District: Group of Nine or Less: $129

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    New Orleans $55
    Saint John $23
Typical Entertainment Prices in New Orleans

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New Orleans's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Zoo & Aquarium Tickets (2)
    $75
  • Riverboat Cruise
    $70
  • French Quarter City Tour
    $100

Tours and Activities in New Orleans

For New Orleans, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Ghosts of Self-Guided Haunted Audio Walking Tour: $6.75
  • Ghost Hunt in Quest Experience: $7.13
  • City Park Exploration Game and Tour: $7.13
  • New Orleans French Quarter Audio Tour: Iconic Sites & Hidden Gems: $7.99
  • New Orleans Self Guided Audio Experience: $9.00
  • New Orleans Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $9.51
  • Self-Guided Walking Tour French Quarter In New Orleans: $9.75
  • Self Guided Walking Tour of New Orleans' Historic Garden District: $9.99
  • A Walk in the Park: City Park New Orleans Audio Tour: $9.99
  • Self-Guided Tour of New Orleans’ Historic French Quarter: $9.99
  • Walking the Tremé: A Self-guided Audio Tour of New Orleans: $9.99
  • Old Ursuline Convent Museum Ticket: New Pope Leo XIV Exhibit: $10

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
    New Orleans $60
    Saint John $44

Sample the Local Flavors in New Orleans

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New Orleans:

  • Ghost Tour and Haunted Pub Crawl Party with Free Shot!: $24
  • New Orleans Small-Group History Tour Pub Crawl of The Irish Channel: $25
  • NOLA Distillery Tour: $30
  • New Orleans Spooky Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl and Ghost Tour: $30
  • Vixens and Villains Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
  • New Orleans Happy Hour Ghost Walking Tour Pub Crawl: $33
  • New Orleans Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
  • Till Death Do Us Part: Haunted Pub Crawl Where Love Meets Death: $35
  • Sin and Tonic Pub Crawl in New Orleans: $35
  • New Orleans Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $36
  • Adults Only Haunted Pub Crawl in New Orleans: $37
  • New Orleans' Finest Haunted Pub Tour: $40


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between New Orleans and Saint John, we can see that New Orleans is more expensive. And not only is Saint John much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since New Orleans 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 Saint John would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Saint John 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 New Orleans would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New Orleans than you might in Saint John.

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



When is the best time to visit New Orleans or Saint John?

New Orleans 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 New Orleans or Saint John in the Summer?

Both Saint John and New Orleans during the summer are popular places to visit. The city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to New Orleans this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.

New Orleans is around the same temperature as Saint John in the summer. The daily temperature in New Orleans averages around 82°F (28°C) in July, and Saint John fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in New Orleans. New Orleans usually gets more rain in July than Saint John. New Orleans gets 5.9 inches (149 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    New Orleans 82°F (28°C) 
    Saint John 29°C (83°F)

Should I visit New Orleans or Saint John in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both New Orleans and Saint John. Many travelers come to New Orleans for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the autumn, New Orleans is cooler than Saint John. Typically, the autumn temperatures in New Orleans in October average around 69°F (21°C), and Saint John averages at about 28°C (82°F).

Saint John receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, New Orleans usually receives less rain than Saint John. New Orleans gets 3 inches (77 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    New Orleans 69°F (21°C) 
    Saint John 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit New Orleans or Saint John in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to New Orleans as well as Saint John. Many visitors come to New Orleans in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.

In January, New Orleans is generally much colder than Saint John. Daily temperatures in New Orleans average around 51°F (11°C), and Saint John fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

New Orleans receives a lot of rain in the winter. New Orleans usually gets more rain in January than Saint John. New Orleans gets 5.2 inches (131 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    New Orleans 51°F (11°C) 
    Saint John 26°C (78°F)

Should I visit New Orleans or Saint John in the Spring?

Both Saint John and New Orleans are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to New Orleans for the activities around the city during these months. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

New Orleans is cooler than Saint John in the spring. The daily temperature in New Orleans averages around 68°F (20°C) in April, and Saint John fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

It's quite rainy in New Orleans. In April, New Orleans usually receives more rain than Saint John. New Orleans gets 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    New Orleans 68°F (20°C) 
    Saint John 27°C (80°F)

Typical Weather for Saint John and New Orleans

New Orleans Saint John
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 51°F (11°C) 5.2 inches (131 mm) 26°C (78°F) 43 mm (1.7 in)
Feb 54°F (12°C) 5.8 inches (147 mm) 26°C (78°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Mar 62°F (16°C) 5 inches (126 mm) 26°C (79°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Apr 68°F (20°C) 4.5 inches (114 mm) 27°C (80°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
May 75°F (24°C) 4.3 inches (110 mm) 28°C (82°F) 94 mm (3.7 in)
Jun 80°F (27°C) 5.9 inches (151 mm) 28°C (83°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
Jul 82°F (28°C) 5.9 inches (149 mm) 29°C (83°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
Aug 82°F (28°C) 6.2 inches (157 mm) 29°C (84°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Sep 78°F (26°C) 5.5 inches (140 mm) 28°C (83°F) 127 mm (5 in)
Oct 69°F (21°C) 3 inches (77 mm) 28°C (82°F) 146 mm (5.7 in)
Nov 61°F (16°C) 4.8 inches (122 mm) 27°C (81°F) 126 mm (4.9 in)
Dec 55°F (13°C) 5.7 inches (146 mm) 26°C (80°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)