A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Saint John vs. Santa Cruz for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Saint John or Santa Cruz?

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 Cruz. 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 Cruz?

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 Cruz

On the central coast of California in between Monterey Bay and San Jose lies Santa Cruz, California, a laid-back coastal college town with a reputation of locals open to liberal views and accepting of alternative lifestyles. Among its residents are University of California, Santa Cruz students, a large artist colony, and professional surfers.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint John and Santa Cruz, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. And not only is Santa Cruz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint John is in Caribbean Islands and Santa Cruz 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 Cruz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Cruz 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 Cruz.

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 Cruz Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Saint John or Santa Cruz?

Santa Cruz 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 Cruz in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John and Santa Cruz. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Santa Cruz for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

Saint John is a little warmer than Santa Cruz in the summer. The daily temperature in Saint John averages around 29°C (83°F) in July, and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 67°F (19°C).

In July, Saint John usually receives more rain than Santa Cruz. Saint John gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.1 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Saint John or Santa Cruz in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Saint John as well as Santa Cruz. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Santa Cruz in the autumn for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Saint John is much warmer than Santa Cruz. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Saint John in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Santa Cruz averages at about 63°F (17°C).

Saint John receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Saint John usually gets more rain in October than Santa Cruz. Saint John gets 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint John or Santa Cruz in the Winter?

Both Santa Cruz 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 Cruz for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

In January, Saint John is generally much warmer than Santa Cruz. Daily temperatures in Saint John average around 26°C (78°F), and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 51°F (10°C).

In January, Saint John usually receives less rain than Santa Cruz. Saint John gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Saint John or Santa Cruz in the Spring?

Both Santa Cruz 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. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Santa Cruz because of the beaches.

Saint John is much warmer than Santa Cruz in the spring. The daily temperature in Saint John averages around 27°C (80°F) in April, and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).

Saint John usually gets more rain in April than Santa Cruz. Saint John gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 1 inches (26 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Santa Cruz and Saint John