Which place is cheaper, San Francisco 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 San Francisco?
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 San Francisco. 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 San Francisco?
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.
San Francisco
San Francisco is a beautiful city that is famous for it's picturesque neighborhoods, liberal character, and stunning location on the bay. Some people describe San Francisco as the United State's most "European City." This title most likely comes from its compact development and its easy walkability. It also has no shortage of parks and public spaces where you can pass some time. The city sits on the end of a peninsula and offers stunning views of the blue bay, rolling green hills, and the striking Golden Gate Bridge.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America.
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Saint John Prices
USVI PricesSan Francisco Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint John $233San Francisco $251
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint John is $233, while the average daily cost in San Francisco is $251. 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 San Francisco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint John $106San Francisco $130
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint John $212San Francisco $260
Compare Hotels in Saint John and San Francisco
Looking for a hotel in Saint John or San Francisco? 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: San Francisco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint John $49San Francisco $16
Typical Local Transportation Prices in San Francisco
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in San Francisco:
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Taxi to SFO$45
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Golden Gate Bridge Toll$6.00
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Alcatraz Tour$30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Francisco
Also for San Francisco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer: Airport SFO to San Francisco by Luxury SUV: $137
- Airport Transfer: San Francisco to Airport SFO by Luxury SUV: $137
- Arrival Private Transfer: Airport SFO to San Francisco in Business Car: $130
- Arrival Private Transfer: Airport SFO to San Francisco in Luxury Car: $185
- California: Oakland Airport Transfer from San Francisco: $180
- California: Oakland Airport Transfer to San Francisco: $180
- California: SFE Airport Transfer from San Francisco: $140
- California: SFE Airport Transfer to San Francisco: $140
- Departure Private Transfer San Francisco to SFO Airport in a SUV: $245
- Departure Private Transfer: San Francisco to Airport SFO in Luxury SUV: $154
- Napa Valley 1-Way Transfer to/from the San Francisco Airport: $400
- Private Airport Transfer From San Francisco Union Square To SFO: $180
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint John or San Francisco?
Prices for flights to both San Francisco 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 $97San Francisco $79
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Francisco
For San Francisco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Online Cooking Class Pepper Steak Great for Team Building: $20
- Online Cooking Class Beijing Dumplings by Chef Sunflower Li: $25
- No Diet Club - Best street food tour in San Francisco !: $64
- North Beach and Little Italy Food Tour: $84
- North Beach & Chinatown Authentic Food Tour: $84
- San Francisco North Beach & Chinatown Food Tour with 5 Tastings: $85
- Mission District Food Tour with 6 Tastings: $89
- Mission District Food Tour with Tastings: $92
- Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 Food Tour: $99
- Mission District Walking Food Tour: $99
- Fisherman’s Wharf & Pier 39 Food Tour - Includes Full Meal, 3 hrs: $99
- San Francisco North Beach Food Tour: $99
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint John $23San Francisco $31
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 San Francisco
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Francisco.
- San Francisco Uncovered Self-Guided Adventure: $3.57
- Self-Guided Golden Gate Bridge Bike or Walking App Tour: $5.00
- Golden Gate Bridge: Self-guided Tour App - Audio + Written: $5.00
- Mafia Heist at the Bay: Escape Adventure in San Francisco: $5.96
- The Ghosts of San Francisco Haunted Audio App Walking Tour: $6.99
- San Francisco's Barbary Past: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Self Guided Chinatown Tour: Food, History and Culture: $7.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of the Golden Gate Bridge: $7.99
- Over the Rainbow in the Castro: A San Francisco Chronicle Self-Guided Tour: $8.99
- San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf Private 1-Hour Walking Tour: $9.00
- San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf Self Guided Walking Tour: $9.75
- Self-Guided Palace of Fine Arts to Golden Gate Bridge Audio Tour: $9.99
For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Museums in San Francisco, The Best Outdoor Activities in San Francisco, and Things to Do In San Francisco on a Rainy Day.
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint John $44San Francisco $22
Sample the Local Flavors in San Francisco
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in San Francisco:
- SF Pub Crawl and Clubbing Experience: $17
- Ultimate San Francisco Pub Crawl + Clubbing Experience: $27
- Ghosts, Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- Walk with Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl: $44
- Walk with Spirits: A Haunted Pub Crawl in San Francisco: $44
- Local Distillery Cocktail Class: $49
- Wine Tasting on the Bay: $85
- Napa Valley Half-Day Wine Tour with Tastings: $103
- From Napa & Sonoma Valley Wine Tour with Tastings: $103
- 5 hours private napa wine tour from san francisco up to 7 people: $120
- Half-Day Wine Country Tour with Wine Tastings: $130
- Small Group Napa and Sonoma Full-Day Wine Tour from San Francisco: $132
When comparing the travel costs between Saint John and San Francisco, we can see that San Francisco is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Saint John is in Caribbean Islands and San Francisco is in North America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
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 San Francisco Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Saint John or San Francisco?
San Francisco 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 San Francisco in the Summer?
Both San Francisco and Saint John during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to San Francisco for the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, Saint John is generally much warmer than San Francisco. Daily temperatures in Saint John average around 29°C (83°F), and San Francisco fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).
Saint John usually gets more rain in July than San Francisco. Saint John gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 0.1 inches (2 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySaint John 29°C (83°F)San Francisco 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Saint John or San Francisco in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John and San Francisco. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to San Francisco because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Saint John is much warmer than San Francisco in the autumn. The daily temperature in Saint John averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and San Francisco fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).
Saint John gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Saint John usually receives more rain than San Francisco. Saint John gets 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 1.3 inches (33 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSaint John 28°C (82°F)San Francisco 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Saint John or San Francisco in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Saint John as well as San Francisco. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine are the main draw to San Francisco this time of year.
In the winter, Saint John is much warmer than San Francisco. Typically, the winter temperatures in Saint John in January average around 26°C (78°F), and San Francisco averages at about 50°F (10°C).
Saint John usually gets less rain in January than San Francisco. Saint John gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySaint John 26°C (78°F)San Francisco 50°F (10°C)
Should I visit Saint John or San Francisco in the Spring?
Both San Francisco and Saint John are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to San Francisco for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
In April, Saint John is generally much warmer than San Francisco. Daily temperatures in Saint John average around 27°C (80°F), and San Francisco fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).
In April, Saint John usually receives more rain than San Francisco. Saint John gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 1.2 inches (31 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSaint John 27°C (80°F)San Francisco 58°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for San Francisco and Saint John
| Saint John | San Francisco | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| Feb | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| Apr | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 58°F (14°C) | 1.2 inches (31 mm) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 60°F (15°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.1 inches (1 mm) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) | 66°F (19°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.3 inches (33 mm) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Dec | 26°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 51°F (11°C) | 2.7 inches (68 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.