Which place is cheaper, Fairbanks or Saint John?
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 Saint John or Fairbanks?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Saint John and Fairbanks. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Saint John or Fairbanks?
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.
Fairbanks
Fairbanks is the only 'city' in the interior region of Alaska, and the largest settlement for hundreds of miles, but it has many characteristics of a small town where everyone seems to know everyone. Because the city sits at the nexus of some truly epic routes - north to the Arctic, east to Canada and south to Denali - you'll almost inevitably end up spending time here, and that time is rarely boring. The residential streets of compact downtown are pretty as a picture, and during winter, this is ground zero for viewing the aurora borealis.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage.
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Saint John Prices
USVI PricesFairbanks Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint John $233Fairbanks $318
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint John is $233, while the average daily cost in Fairbanks is $318. 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 Saint John and Fairbanks in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint John $106Fairbanks $154
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint John $212Fairbanks $308
Compare Hotels in Saint John and Fairbanks
Looking for a hotel in Saint John or Fairbanks? 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: Fairbanks Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint John $49Fairbanks $66
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Fairbanks
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Fairbanks:
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Full Tank of Gas$90
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint John or Fairbanks?
Prices for flights to both Fairbanks and Saint John 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 daySaint John $97Fairbanks $109
Typical Food Prices in Fairbanks
For Fairbanks, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two at Pike's Landing$63
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Totem Inn Breakfast for Two$46
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Fairbanks
For Fairbanks, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Aurora Viewing and Dinner : $120
- Late Night Yurt Dinner and Northern Lights: $210
- "Aurora Ice" - Ice Fishing & Salmon Dinner Tour: $239
- Best Northern Lights Aurora Adventure FREE Portraits & Hot Pizza : $270
- Northern Lights Adventure with Photos & HOT PIZZA: $300
- Moonlight Dog Sled, Dinner & Northern Lights: $320
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint John $23Fairbanks $65
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Fairbanks
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Fairbanks's activities, tours, and tickets:
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The Riverboat Discovery Trip$55
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1 Day Mountain Bike Rental$27
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Canoe Rental with Pickup$56
Tours and Activities in Fairbanks
For Fairbanks, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Axe Throwing Experience with Ninja Stars: $45
- Siberian Husky Kennel Tour: $49
- 1.5-Hour Beer and Puppies Guided Experience in Fairbanks: $58
- Extreme Cold Clothing Pkg - (Parka Snowpant Bibs Boots) No Tour: $65
- Walking with Reindeer Experience: $85
- Sledding and Homesteading Adventure: $95
- Husky Hiking Tour: $99
- Dog Sledding and Mushing Experience: $105
- Dog Sledding and Mushing Experience in North Pole: $105
- Fairbanks Snowmobile Adventure from North Pole: $113
- 3-Hour Small Group 9-Hole Self-Guided Fairbanks Golf Experience: $114
- First or Last Call Aurora Tour: $115
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint John $44Fairbanks $27
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint John and Fairbanks, we can see that Fairbanks is more expensive. And not only is Saint John much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint John is in Caribbean Islands and Fairbanks is in North America, 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 Fairbanks would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Fairbanks 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 Saint John Expensive? and Is Fairbanks Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Saint John or Fairbanks?
Fairbanks 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 Saint John or Fairbanks in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Saint John as well as Fairbanks. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Fairbanks for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Saint John is generally much warmer than Fairbanks. Daily temperatures in Saint John average around 29°C (83°F), and Fairbanks fluctuates around 64°F (18°C).
Saint John usually gets more rain in July than Fairbanks. Saint John gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Fairbanks receives 2 inches (51 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySaint John 29°C (83°F)Fairbanks 64°F (18°C)
Should I visit Saint John or Fairbanks in the Autumn?
Both Fairbanks and Saint John are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Fairbanks in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Fairbanks can get quite cold in the autumn. Saint John is much warmer than Fairbanks in the autumn. The daily temperature in Saint John averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Fairbanks fluctuates around 27°F (-3°C).
It's quite rainy in Saint John. In October, Saint John usually receives more rain than Fairbanks. Saint John gets 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Fairbanks receives 0.9 inches (22 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSaint John 28°C (82°F)Fairbanks 27°F (-3°C)
Should I visit Saint John or Fairbanks in the Winter?
Both Fairbanks and Saint John during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, most visitors come to Fairbanks for the skiing, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Fairbanks can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Saint John is much warmer than Fairbanks. Typically, the winter temperatures in Saint John in January average around 26°C (78°F), and Fairbanks averages at about -9°F (-23°C).
Saint John usually gets more rain in January than Fairbanks. Saint John gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Fairbanks receives 0.5 inches (13 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySaint John 26°C (78°F)Fairbanks -9°F (-23°C)
Should I visit Saint John or Fairbanks in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John and Fairbanks. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Fairbanks because of the natural beauty.
The weather in Fairbanks can be very cold. In April, Saint John is generally much warmer than Fairbanks. Daily temperatures in Saint John average around 27°C (80°F), and Fairbanks fluctuates around 32°F (0°C).
In April, Saint John usually receives more rain than Fairbanks. Saint John gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Fairbanks receives 0.4 inches (9 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSaint John 27°C (80°F)Fairbanks 32°F (0°C)
Typical Weather for Fairbanks and Saint John
| Saint John | Fairbanks | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | -9°F (-23°C) | 0.5 inches (13 mm) |
| Feb | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | -2°F (-19°C) | 0.4 inches (11 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 13°F (-11°C) | 0.5 inches (12 mm) |
| Apr | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 32°F (0°C) | 0.4 inches (9 mm) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 50°F (10°C) | 0.6 inches (16 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 62°F (16°C) | 1.4 inches (36 mm) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 2 inches (51 mm) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 58°F (15°C) | 2.2 inches (57 mm) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) | 47°F (8°C) | 0.9 inches (24 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) | 27°F (-3°C) | 0.9 inches (22 mm) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) | 4°F (-15°C) | 0.9 inches (22 mm) |
| Dec | 26°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | -5°F (-21°C) | 0.9 inches (23 mm) |
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.