Which place is cheaper, Oahu 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 Oahu?
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 Oahu. 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 Oahu?
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.
Oahu
Hawaii is the epitome of paradise, and at the heart of paradise is the island of O'ahu (or Oahu). While it's only the third largest of the Hawaiian islands, O'ahu, or "the gathering place," is the most populous in the state with approximately 976,000 people calling O'ahu home, many of which live in the capital city of Honolulu.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City.
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Saint John Prices
USVI PricesOahu Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint John $233Oahu $371
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint John is $233, while the average daily cost in Oahu is $371. 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 Oahu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint John $106Oahu $237
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint John $212Oahu $474
Compare Hotels in Saint John and Oahu
Looking for a hotel in Saint John or Oahu? 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: Oahu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint John $49Oahu $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Oahu
Also for Oahu, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Departure Transfer: Airport Shuttle From Ko'olina To Honolulu Airport: $53
- Honolulu Airport & Ko Olina Hotels Private Transfer by Passenger Van(14 ppl): $170
- Luxury Private Airport Transfers-Waikiki Honolulu up to 6 Seats : $70
- Honolulu Airport Private Transfer: $80
- Honolulu Harbor Cruise Terminal Transfer: $105
- Manoa Falls Waterfall Hike with Lunch and Transfers: $119
- One-Way VIP Transfer: Honolulu Airport, Ko Olina, Cruise Port: $265
- Polynesian Show and Dining experience with Transfer: $230
- Private Transfer from Honolulu (HLN) Airport to North Shore : $224
- Private Transfer from Honolulu (HLN) Airport to Pupukea: $224
- Private Transfer from Honolulu (HNL) Airport to Wakiki Beach: $111
- Private Transfer from Honolulu Port to Honolulu Airport (HNL): $22
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint John or Oahu?
Prices for flights to both Oahu 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 $97Oahu $91
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Oahu
For Oahu, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Waikiki Fireworks Dinner Cruise: Sail & Sparkle on Friday Nights: $129
- Ka Moana Luau Dinner and Show at Aloha Tower: $135
- Sunset Dinner Cruise in Honolulu: $140
- Honolulu Sunset & Friday Fireworks Dinner Cruise: $151
- Germaine's Traditional Luau Show & Buffet Dinner: $159
- Chief's Luau Dinner Show: $177
- Three Star Deluxe Sunset Dinner and Show: $193
- Friday Fireworks Dinner Sail from the Hilton Hawaiian Village : $211
- Nova Five Star Sunset Dinner and Jazz: $236
- Traditional Canoe Sunset Cruise with Dinner: $250
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint John $23Oahu $27
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
Tours and Activities in Oahu
For Oahu, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Waikiki Surf Legends History Tour: $5.00
- Oahu Grand Circle Guided Tour: $5.00
- Honolulu Downtown Walking Tour: $5.00
- Downtown Honolulu Self-Guided Walking Tour: $5.00
- Waikiki Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $5.00
- Walk The Deck of The USS Arizona Virtual Reality Experience: $6.99
- Honolulu's Waikiki Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $8.99
- Downtown Honolulu Self Guided Walking Audio Tour: $8.99
- Diamond Head Official Self-Guided Narrated Audio Tour: $8.99
- Honolulu Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $9.61
- Chief's Official Pearl Harbor Self-Guided Multimedia Tour: $9.99
- Air Raid Pearl Harbor Virtual Reality Experience: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint John $44Oahu $6.47
Sample the Local Flavors in Oahu
Also in Oahu, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Honolulu Self Guided Bar Crawl and Sightseeing: $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint John and Oahu, we can see that Oahu 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 Oahu 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 Oahu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Oahu 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 Oahu Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Saint John or Oahu?
Oahu 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 Oahu in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Saint John as well as Oahu. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to Oahu for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Saint John is around the same temperature as Oahu. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint John in July average around 29°C (83°F), and Oahu averages at about 81°F (27°C).
Saint John usually gets more rain in July than Oahu. Saint John gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Oahu receives 0.6 inches (15 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySaint John 29°C (83°F)Oahu 81°F (27°C)
Should I visit Saint John or Oahu in the Autumn?
Both Oahu 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, the autumn months attract visitors to Oahu because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Saint John is generally around the same temperature as Oahu. Daily temperatures in Saint John average around 28°C (82°F), and Oahu fluctuates around 80°F (26°C).
It's quite rainy in Saint John. In October, Saint John usually receives more rain than Oahu. Saint John gets 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Oahu receives 2.1 inches (54 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSaint John 28°C (82°F)Oahu 80°F (26°C)
Should I visit Saint John or Oahu in the Winter?
Both Oahu 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, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Oahu this time of year.
Saint John is a little warmer than Oahu in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint John averages around 26°C (78°F) in January, and Oahu fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).
Saint John usually gets less rain in January than Oahu. Saint John gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Oahu receives 3.9 inches (99 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySaint John 26°C (78°F)Oahu 73°F (23°C)
Should I visit Saint John or Oahu in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John and Oahu. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Oahu for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Saint John is around the same temperature as Oahu. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint John in April average around 27°C (80°F), and Oahu averages at about 76°F (24°C).
In April, Saint John usually receives more rain than Oahu. Saint John gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Oahu receives 1.7 inches (42 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSaint John 27°C (80°F)Oahu 76°F (24°C)
Typical Weather for Oahu and Saint John
| Saint John | Oahu | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Feb | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 74°F (24°C) | 2.4 inches (61 mm) |
| Apr | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 1.7 inches (42 mm) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 78°F (25°C) | 1.4 inches (35 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 80°F (26°C) | 0.5 inches (12 mm) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 81°F (27°C) | 0.6 inches (15 mm) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 81°F (27°C) | 0.4 inches (11 mm) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) | 81°F (27°C) | 0.7 inches (19 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) | 80°F (26°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
| Dec | 26°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 74°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (98 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.