Which place is cheaper, Vancouver 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 Vancouver?
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 Vancouver. 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 Vancouver?
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.
Vancouver
Vancouver is a beautiful and cosmopolitan city in Western Canada. It is also the largest city in British Columbia, and is dramatically positioned between the coast and mountains. It's a very international city, with a high level of energy and countless activites that you can enjoy while you're in town. In addition to offering all of the activities and entertainment of a modern city, it is also in jumping off distance to any number of outdoor activities.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Vancouver, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada.
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Saint John Prices
USVI PricesVancouver Prices
Canada Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint John $233Vancouver $165
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint John is $233, while the average daily cost in Vancouver is $165. 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 Vancouver in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint John $106Vancouver $87
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint John $212Vancouver $174
Compare Hotels in Saint John and Vancouver
Looking for a hotel in Saint John or Vancouver? 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: Vancouver Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint John $49Vancouver $15
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vancouver
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vancouver are as follows:
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SkyTrain from Airport$6.35
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Taxi from Airport to Downtown$21
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15 min Taxi Ride$8.71
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SkyTrain DayPass$6.53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vancouver
Also for Vancouver, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Airport Transfer to/from Whistler one way: $92
- Vancouver Cruise Ship to/from YVR Airport.Hotel Private Transfer: $219
- Airport Transfer: $154
- Arrival Private Transfer Vancouver YVR or Cruise Port to Vancouver by Minibus: $172
- Arrival Private Transfer from Vancouver YVR or Cruise Port to Vancouver by SUV: $125
- Arrival Transfer: Vancouver Airport YVR - Vancouver by Luxury SUV: $139
- Canada Cruise Port to Vancouver Airport (YVR) - Private Transfer: $121
- Canada Place Cruise Port to Vancouver Arrival Private Transfer: $86
- Canada Place Cruise Port to Vancouver hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $121
- Cypress/Grouse Mountain to Vancouver Airport (YVR) - Transfer: $117
- Departure Private Transfer Vancouver to Vancouver YVR or Cruise Port by Minibus: $151
- Departure Private Transfer Vancouver to YVR Airport or Cruise Port- Business Car: $87
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint John or Vancouver?
Prices for flights to both Vancouver 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 $97Vancouver $54
Typical Food Prices in Vancouver
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Vancouver:
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All You Can Eat Sushi Lunch$8.79
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vancouver
For Vancouver, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Vancouver Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $75
- Mt Pleasant Food Tour from Vancouver: $81
- A Wok Around Food Tour of the Granville Island Public Market: $82
- Vancouver Street Food Tour in Mount Pleasant Neighborhood: $92
- Experience Gastown Vancouver's Elite Walking Food Tour: $96
- Vancouver Food Tour with 6 Tastings of Sushi, Poutine, Chocolate: $97
- Food Tours Gastown & Downtown with 6+ tastings: $98
- Experience Gastown Vancouver's Elite Walking Food Tour: $99
- Vancouver Local Taste Trail Food Tour: $100
- Granville Island Vancouver's Elite Walking Food Tour: $113
- Gastown Historic Walking Food Tour: $114
- Granville Island Market VIP Walking Food Tour : $115
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint John $23Vancouver $36
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 Vancouver
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vancouver.
- Stanley Park Self Guided Bike Tour: $3.58
- Gratuity-Based Vancouver City Highlights 3 Hour Walking Tour: $4.00
- Self-Guided Smartphone Walking Tour of Gastown: $4.66
- Stanley Park Self Guided Walking Tour: $5.27
- Stanley Park Self Guided Bike Tour: $6.59
- Walking Tour Along Stanley Park's Seawall: $6.59
- Discover Stanley Park: A Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $6.65
- Spy Escape in Outdoor Puzzle Adventure: $7.16
- Self-Guided Smartphone Tour of Stanley Park: $7.17
- Self-Guided Smartphone Walking Tours of Stanley Park: $7.32
- VanDusen Botanical Garden Admission Ticket: $8.21
- Ticket to Immersive Museum in Chinatown: $8.87
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint John $44Vancouver $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Vancouver
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Vancouver:
- Vancouver British Columbia Bar Crawl: $15
- Gastown Pub Crawl: $22
- Gastown Pub Crawl: $26
- Vancouver Craft Brewery Neighbourhood Walking Tour: $65
- 3.5-Hour Craft Brewery Tour: $86
- Vancouver Craft Brewery Tour: $88
- Vancouver Behind-the-Scenes Brewery Tour: $92
- North Vancouver Elite Walking Brewery Tour: $95
- Vancouver Wine Tour (Fraser Valley): $121
- From Fraser Valley Wine Tour with Local Tastings: $129
- Fraser Valley Wine Tour: $132
- From Half-Day Fraser Valley Wine Tour: $135
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint John and Vancouver, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. And not only is Vancouver much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint John is in Caribbean Islands and Vancouver 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 Vancouver would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vancouver 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 Vancouver.
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 Vancouver Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Saint John or Vancouver?
Vancouver 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 Vancouver in the Summer?
Both Vancouver 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. Furthermore, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Vancouver this time of year.
Saint John is much warmer than Vancouver in the summer. The daily temperature in Saint John averages around 29°C (83°F) in July, and Vancouver fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
Saint John usually gets more rain in July than Vancouver. Saint John gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySaint John 29°C (83°F)Vancouver 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Saint John or Vancouver in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John and Vancouver. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Vancouver for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Saint John is much warmer than Vancouver. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Saint John in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Vancouver averages at about 11°C (51°F).
Vancouver receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Saint John gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Saint John usually receives less rain than Vancouver. Saint John gets 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSaint John 28°C (82°F)Vancouver 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Saint John or Vancouver in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Saint John as well as Vancouver. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Vancouver in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Vancouver can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Saint John is generally much warmer than Vancouver. Daily temperatures in Saint John average around 26°C (78°F), and Vancouver fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).
It's quite rainy in Vancouver. Saint John usually gets less rain in January than Vancouver. Saint John gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySaint John 26°C (78°F)Vancouver 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit Saint John or Vancouver in the Spring?
Both Vancouver 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, most visitors come to Vancouver for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
Saint John is much warmer than Vancouver in the spring. The daily temperature in Saint John averages around 27°C (80°F) in April, and Vancouver fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Vancouver. In April, Saint John usually receives less rain than Vancouver. Saint John gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSaint John 27°C (80°F)Vancouver 9°C (49°F)
Typical Weather for Vancouver and Saint John
| Saint John | Vancouver | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 179 mm (7.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
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.