Which place is cheaper, Quebec City 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 Quebec City?
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 Quebec City. 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 Quebec City?
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.
Quebec City
Quebec City is the capital of the Quebec province. It has a dramatic location on the cliffs by St. Lawrence Seaway and the city's Old Town has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Quebec is a mid sized city with a population of about 700,000. Most of the economy is administrative and bureaucratic, but the city has a very impressive history as the fortress capital of New France. French is the official language of the entire province, but most people in the tourist areas of Quebec City speak English.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Canada, and The Best Northern Lights Tours in Canada.
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Saint John Prices
USVI PricesQuebec City Prices
Canada Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint John $233Quebec City $152
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint John is $233, while the average daily cost in Quebec City is $152. 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 Quebec City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint John $106Quebec City $73
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint John $212Quebec City $146
Compare Hotels in Saint John and Quebec City
Looking for a hotel in Saint John or Quebec City? 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: Quebec City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint John $49Quebec City $16
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Quebec City
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Quebec City are as follows:
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Parking in Quebec City$3.63
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quebec City
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Quebec City:
- From Quebec City : Cruise & Visit to Grosse-Ile with bus transfer: $106
- From Grosse Île Tour & Cruise + Bus Transfer: $104
- Le Terminal Quebec Cruise Port to Quebec - Arrival Private Transfer: $74
- Le Terminal Quebec Cruise Port to Quebec - Round-Trip Private Transfer : $149
- Le Terminal Quebec Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Quebec: $249
- Le Terminal Quebec Port to Québec Airport (YQB) - Departure Private Transfer: $104
- Private Arrival Transfer from Quebec Airport YQB: $120
- Private Departure Transfer to Quebec Airport YQB: $120
- Private Transfer from Jean Lesage Airport (YQB) to Québec City: $96
- Private Transfer from Québec City to Jean Lesage Airport (YQB): $96
- Private Transfer from Quebec City Hotels to Saguenay Cruise Port: $262
- Private Transfer from Quebec City to YQB airport: $111
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint John or Quebec City?
Prices for flights to both Quebec City 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 $97Quebec City $63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quebec City
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Quebec City.
- Quebecois Aperitif Food Tour in Quebec City: $61
- Québec City: 3 or 5-Course Dinner Cruise with DJ & Dancing: $129
- Progressive Dinner on Grande-Allée and History Tour: $202
- Old Quebec 5-Course Gourmet Food Tour: $202
- Combo Historical and Food Tour of the Old Quebec City: $207
- Evening Gourmet Tour 5 Course Dinner - History and Food in Old Quebec City: $207
- 5-course Progressive Dinner on Grande-Allée and History Tour: $208
- Private Food Tour in Quebec With A Local Guide : $263
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint John $23Quebec City $24
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 Quebec City
Here are a few actual costs in Quebec City for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Quebec City Scavenger Hunt and City Highlights Walking Tour: $7.70
- APP Self-Guided Tours Quebec with Audioguide: $9.56
- Observatoire de la Capitale Entry Ticket: $11
- MNBAQ National Fine Arts Museum Entry Ticket: $11
- Québec: Fortifications-of-Québec Guided Walking Tour: $15
- Old Quebec Walking Tour with a Certified Local Guide: $15
- Private Québec City Scavenger Hunt Experience: $15
- Quebec: La Citadelle de Québec Ticket and Guided Tour: $16
- Guided Tour of Fairmont Le Château Frontenac: $18
- Quebec : Death in New-France Animated Walking tour: $19
- Quebec: Crimes of New France Animated Walking Tour: $20
- Animated Crime Walking Tour in Old Quebec: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint John $44Quebec City $18
Sample the Local Flavors in Quebec City
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Quebec City:
- Quebec City Bar Crawl: $15
- Honey and Distillery Tour with Tasting: $21
- Craft Brewery and Beer Tasting Tour: $50
- Island of Orleans Wine Tour: $94
- Wine Tasting on Ile d'Orleans: $96
- Montmorency Falls and Microbrewery eBike Tour: $107
- Montmorency Falls and Microbrewery eBike Tour: $109
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint John and Quebec City, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. And not only is Quebec City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint John is in Caribbean Islands and Quebec City 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 Quebec City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Quebec City 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 Quebec City.
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 Quebec City Expensive?.
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.