Which place is cheaper, Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara?
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 Santa Barbara. 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 Santa Barbara?
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.
Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara is located in California, less than 100 miles from Los Angeles. It sits between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, giving it a stunning backdrop. The town has a population of just 90,000 but it still offers visitors many cultural, culinary, and shopping experiences that surpass many large cities. There are wide beaches along a beautiful coastline, impressive wineries, and many top rated restaurants. Many people see Santa Barbara as a hangout for the rich and famous, but with a university and diverse population, the city is much more relatable than you might expect, although travel prices here are still somewhat high.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America.
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Saint John Prices
USVI PricesSanta Barbara Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint John $233Santa Barbara $196
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint John is $233, while the average daily cost in Santa Barbara is $196. 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 Santa Barbara in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint John $106Santa Barbara $88
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint John $212Santa Barbara $176
Compare Hotels in Saint John and Santa Barbara
Looking for a hotel in Saint John or Santa Barbara? 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: Santa Barbara Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint John $49Santa Barbara $42
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint John or Santa Barbara?
Prices for flights to both Santa Barbara 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 $97Santa Barbara $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint John $23Santa Barbara $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 Santa Barbara
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santa Barbara are as follows:
- Santa Barbara Downtown Self Guided Walking Tour: $9.75
- Murder Mystery Detective Experience in Goleta Isla Vista CA: $15
- Santa Barbara Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour and Game: $25
- Santa Barbara Trolley Tour: $28
- Sanctum Sacrifice of Santa Barbara Ghost Tours: $32
- Santa Barbara Puzzling Adventure: $35
- Coastal Cruise on Yacht in Santa Barbara: $40
- Santa Barbara Narrated Coastal Yacht Experience: $42
- Santa Barbara Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $44
- High Ropes Adventure Course near Santa Barbara: $45
- Santa Barbara Ghost Tours "Dead of the Night" History, Mystery!: $55
- Wildlife Kayak Tour in Santa Barbara Harbor (2 Hours): $55
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint John $44Santa Barbara $12
Typical Alcohol Prices in Santa Barbara
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Santa Barbara:
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Camping$20
Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Barbara
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Santa Barbara:
- Santa Barbara Craft Brewery and History Crawl: $140
- Private Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting: $150
- Santa Ynez Valley Biking and Wine Tasting Tour: $175
- Solvang Santa Ynez Valley Small Group All-Inclusive Wine Tour : $180
- Small-Group Wine Tasting Tour of Santa Barbara Wine Country: $235
- Santa Barbara Small-Group Wine Tour to Private Estates & Wineries: $235
- Small-Group Wine Tour to Private Locations in Santa Barbara : $235
- Santa Ynez Wine Tour (All-Inclusive): $239
- Santa Ynez Cupcake & Wine Tour (All-Inclusive): $259
- Santa Barbara Wine Tour Experience - Authentic and Boutique : $265
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint John and Santa Barbara, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. And not only is Santa Barbara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint John is in Caribbean Islands and Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara.
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 Santa Barbara Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Saint John or Santa Barbara?
Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John and Santa Barbara. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round. Also, many travelers come to Santa Barbara for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Saint John is generally much warmer than Santa Barbara. Daily temperatures in Saint John average around 29°C (83°F), and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 65°F (19°C).
In July, Saint John usually receives more rain than Santa Barbara. Saint John gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySaint John 29°C (83°F)Santa Barbara 65°F (19°C)
Should I visit Saint John or Santa Barbara in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Saint John as well as Santa Barbara. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many visitors come to Santa Barbara in the autumn for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Saint John is much warmer than Santa Barbara in the autumn. The daily temperature in Saint John averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).
Saint John receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Saint John usually gets more rain in October than Santa Barbara. Saint John gets 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0.5 inches (13 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSaint John 28°C (82°F)Santa Barbara 62°F (17°C)
Should I visit Saint John or Santa Barbara in the Winter?
Both Santa Barbara and Saint John are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Santa Barbara for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
In the winter, Saint John is much warmer than Santa Barbara. Typically, the winter temperatures in Saint John in January average around 26°C (78°F), and Santa Barbara averages at about 52°F (11°C).
In January, Saint John usually receives less rain than Santa Barbara. Saint John gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySaint John 26°C (78°F)Santa Barbara 52°F (11°C)
Should I visit Saint John or Santa Barbara in the Spring?
Both Santa Barbara and Saint John during the spring 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 spring months attract visitors to Santa Barbara because of the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
In April, Saint John is generally much warmer than Santa Barbara. Daily temperatures in Saint John average around 27°C (80°F), and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).
Saint John usually gets more rain in April than Santa Barbara. Saint John gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSaint John 27°C (80°F)Santa Barbara 57°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for Santa Barbara and Saint John
| Saint John | Santa Barbara | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Feb | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 55°F (13°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) |
| Apr | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 1.1 inches (27 mm) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 59°F (15°C) | 0.2 inches (4 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 65°F (19°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) | 66°F (19°C) | 0.5 inches (12 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.5 inches (13 mm) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| Dec | 26°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 2.2 inches (56 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.