Which place is cheaper, Ottawa 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 Ottawa?
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 Ottawa. 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 Ottawa?
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.
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital city of Canada, located on the Ontario side of the Ottawa River. A city of many ethnic populations, Ottawa is uniquely bilingual with English as the first language of the population's majority and French as a close second. It is best known as the nation's capital, which is centered on Parliament Hill, an architectural landmark as well as the seat of government.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Canada, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Canada.
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Saint John Prices
USVI PricesOttawa Prices
Canada Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint John $233Ottawa $134
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint John is $233, while the average daily cost in Ottawa is $134. 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 Ottawa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint John $106Ottawa $18
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint John $212Ottawa $36
Compare Hotels in Saint John and Ottawa
Looking for a hotel in Saint John or Ottawa? 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: Ottawa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint John $49Ottawa $7.21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ottawa
Also for Ottawa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Ottawa Airport YOW Private Transfer to Ottawa/University/Chelsea: $42
- Ottawa Parc Omega Private Tour with Hotel Transfer: $218
- Private Arrival Transfer from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport YOW: $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint John or Ottawa?
Prices for flights to both Ottawa 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 $97Ottawa $29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ottawa
For Ottawa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Ottawa Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $77
- Oh Canada Eh!? Dinner Musical : $78
- Taste of the ByWard Market Food Tour: $104
- Evening Taste of the ByWard Market Food Tour: $104
- Guided ByWard Market Food Tour: $107
- A Taste of Canada Food Tour: $108
- Taste of Canada Food Tour with Guide: $113
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint John $23Ottawa $40
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 Ottawa
For Ottawa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Ottawa City Highlights 3 Hour Walking Tour | Gratuity-Based : $5.00
- Rockcliffe Exploration Game and Tour: $7.20
- Street Art Exploration Game and Self-Guided Tour in Ottawa: $7.20
- Ottawa Downtown Historic Smartphone Guided Walking Tour: $7.75
- Ottawa Mystery Quest: Self-Guided Detective Adventure: $8.40
- A Self Guided Audio Tour of Ottawa's Hidden History: $8.99
- Ottawa Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $9.61
- Ottawa Valleyview Little Animal Farm Tour: $10
- Ottawa's Original Historical Highlights Public Walking Tour: $18
- Ottawa : Historic Tour of the Ottawa Jail Hostel: $18
- Aqua Taxi Hop-on and Hop-Off Tour: $18
- Ottawa Senators Ice Hockey Game Ticket: $22
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint John $44Ottawa $18
Sample the Local Flavors in Ottawa
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Ottawa:
- Chelsea: Guided tour of the Square Distillery: $25
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint John and Ottawa, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. And not only is Ottawa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint John is in Caribbean Islands and Ottawa 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 Ottawa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ottawa 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 Ottawa.
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 Ottawa Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Saint John or Ottawa?
Ottawa 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 Ottawa in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Saint John as well as Ottawa. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Ottawa for the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Saint John is generally a little warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Saint John average around 29°C (83°F), and Ottawa fluctuates around 21°C (71°F).
Saint John usually gets less rain in July than Ottawa. Saint John gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySaint John 29°C (83°F)Ottawa 21°C (71°F)
Should I visit Saint John or Ottawa in the Autumn?
Both Ottawa 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 Ottawa in the autumn for the shopping scene.
Saint John is much warmer than Ottawa in the autumn. The daily temperature in Saint John averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Ottawa fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
It's quite rainy in Saint John. In October, Saint John usually receives more rain than Ottawa. Saint John gets 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSaint John 28°C (82°F)Ottawa 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Saint John or Ottawa in the Winter?
Both Ottawa 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 Ottawa for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Ottawa can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Saint John is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the winter temperatures in Saint John in January average around 26°C (78°F), and Ottawa averages at about -10°C (14°F).
Saint John usually gets less rain in January than Ottawa. Saint John gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySaint John 26°C (78°F)Ottawa -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Saint John or Ottawa in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John and Ottawa. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.
In April, Saint John is generally much warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Saint John average around 27°C (80°F), and Ottawa fluctuates around 6°C (44°F).
In April, Saint John usually receives more rain than Ottawa. Saint John gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSaint John 27°C (80°F)Ottawa 6°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Ottawa and Saint John
| Saint John | Ottawa | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | -10°C (14°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | -9°C (16°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 21°C (71°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | -7°C (20°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
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.