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

Should you visit Saint John or Santa Fe?

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 Fe. 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 Fe?

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 Fe

Santa Fe is the state capital of New Mexico as well as the oldest state capital in the United States, founded in 1607. It has become a popular travel destination due to the surrounding scenic beauty, its long history, cultural diversity especially with its proximity to American Indian pueblos and culture, and a rich concentration of arts, music, and food.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, and The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Santa Fe 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.

  • Saint John Prices
    USVI Prices
    Santa Fe Prices
    USA Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Saint John $233
    Santa Fe $190

The average daily cost (per person) in Saint John is $233, while the average daily cost in Santa Fe is $190. 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 Fe in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Saint John $106
    Santa Fe $81
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Saint John $212
    Santa Fe $162
Compare Hotels in Saint John and Santa Fe

Looking for a hotel in Saint John or Santa Fe? 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.

Hotels in Saint John


Hotels in Santa Fe


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 Fe Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Saint John $49
    Santa Fe $61

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Fe

Also for Santa Fe, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • New Mexico: Private Transfer from Santa Fe Regional Airport: $196

Is it cheaper to fly into Saint John or Santa Fe?

Prices for flights to both Santa Fe 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Saint John $97
    Santa Fe $75

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Fe

For Santa Fe, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • New Mexican Flavors Food Tour of the Santa Fe Plaza: $187
  • Wander New Mexico Food Tour - Downtown Plaza 'Sip & Savor': $209
  • Santa Fe Farmers Market & Railyard Food Tour: $213
  • Savor Wine Pairing Dinner: $234
  • Downtown Plaza "Sip and Savor" Half-day Food Tour: $239

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Saint John $23
    Santa Fe $17

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 Fe

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santa Fe.

  • Santa Fe Historic Downtown Smart Phone Audio App Self Guided GPS Walking Tour : $9.75
  • Santa Fe Historic Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $13
  • Murder Mystery Detective Experience in Santa Fe NM: $15
  • Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour of Historic Santa Fe: $15
  • Santa Fe Botanical Garden General Admission Ticket : $17
  • Meow Wolf The House of Eternal Return Ticket: $35
  • Allan Houser Sculpture Garden and Studio Tour: $35
  • Canyon Road Art & History Walking Tour: $69
  • Canyon Road Art & History Walking Tour: $70
  • Santa Fe Chocolate Tasting and History Exploration Tour : $80
  • Small Group History Walking Tour Thru Santa Fe a City Different: $98
  • Santa Fe Deep Dive History Walking Tour: $109

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Saint John $44
    Santa Fe $9.68

Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Fe

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Santa Fe:

  • Tumbleroot Brewery and Distillery Tour and Tasting: $18
  • Architectural Walking Tour & Wine Tasting: $135
  • Join in Wine Tours: $145


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

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 Fe Expensive?.