Which place is cheaper, Santa Cruz or Saint John's?
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's or Santa Cruz?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Saint John's or Santa Cruz? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Saint John's or Santa Cruz?
Saint John's
If you've been to St. John's, Antigua, you were likely on a cruise - which means you likely did not have enough time to truly experience the magic of this tiny island getaway.
St. Johns is the capital of the tiny islands of Antigua and Barbuda. Located on Antigua, this tropical city lives up to its status as a tropical paradise. With 365 beaches on the island, you can enjoy the luxury of lounging in the sand every day of the year.
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.
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Saint John's Prices
Antigua and Barbuda PricesSanta Cruz Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint John's $272Santa Cruz $156
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint John's is $272, while the average daily cost in Santa Cruz is $156. 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's and Santa Cruz in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint John's $120Santa Cruz $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint John's $240Santa Cruz $122
Compare Hotels in Saint John's and Santa Cruz
Looking for a hotel in Saint John's or Santa Cruz? 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 Cruz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint John's $17Santa Cruz $40
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint John's
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Saint John's:
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Local Bus$1.52
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Taxi From Airport$6.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint John's
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Saint John's:
- Round-Trip Transfer between Antigua Airport and Antigua Hotels: $32
- Private Transfer from Antigua Airport (ANU) to St. John's Port: $42
- Antigua&Barbuda Airport (ANU) to Antigua&Barbuda Private Transfer: $46
- Private Transfer from Antigua island hotels to St. John's Port: $57
- Antigua Airport Private Roundtrip Transfer to and from Royalton Antigua Resort: $60
- Private Airport Transfers to Antigua and Barbuda: $60
- Antigua to Antigua V.C. Bird Airport (ANU) - Departure Transfer: $64
- Biggvee Airport Roundtrip Transfer: $70
- VIP Meet and Greet Fast Track on Arrival at Antigua Airport - without Transfers : $77
- Private Round Trip Transfer From Antigua Airport To NonSuch Bay: $84
- Private Antigua Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Hammock Cove: $90
- Antigua V.C. Bird Airport (ANU) to Island - Round-Trip Transfer : $93
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint John's or Santa Cruz?
Prices for flights to both Santa Cruz and Saint John's 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's $117Santa Cruz $70
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint John's
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Saint John's.
- City Lime Food Tour: Taste our culture on Antigua's only food tour in the city!: $105
- Discover the Flavors of St. Johns Food Tour: $125
- Private Art Tour or Food Tour: $150
- Nicole's Table - Cooking with Rum: $165
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Cruz
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santa Cruz.
- Capitola Friday Night Food Tour: $129
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint John's $103Santa Cruz $18
Typical Entertainment Prices in Saint John's
Here are a few typical costs in Saint John's for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entrance to the Museum of Antigua & Barbu$3.00
Tours and Activities in Saint John's
Here are a few actual costs in Saint John's for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- City of St John's Sightseeing Tour: $59
- Shore Excursion: City of St John's Sightseeing Tour: $59
- Cultural and Historical Home Tour in The Antiguan Experience : $66
- Half Day Historical Tour in Antigua with Beach: $70
- Glenmon taxi and tours: $70
- Nightlife Tour of Antigua and Barbuda: $80
- SoCoHo Eco Kayak and Snorkel Tour: $85
- Antigua Round Island Tour: $85
- Biggvee Bus Adventure: $90
- Clear Kayak Tour in Mangrove Antigua: $90
- Trek Tours Hiking Experience in Antigua: $90
- Circumnavigate Tour: $95
Tours and Activities in Santa Cruz
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santa Cruz are as follows:
- Self Guided UC Santa Cruz Walking Tour: Unlock Secret Stories : $20
- Capitola Private 2-Hour Walking Tour: $30
- Half Day Private Beach Tour in Santa Cruz: $35
- Santa Cruz Guided eBike Ride & Most Fun Bike e-Bike Tour : $110
- Santa Cruz 2Hour Guided eBike Tour for Small E-Bike Groups: $110
- Santa Cruz Family Friendly Guided Electric Bike Tour (eBike): $110
- Guided eBike Tour: $120
- Mermaid Experience & Photoshoot: $220
- Capitola Watercolor Journaling Experience: $297
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint John's $18Santa Cruz $8.57
Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Cruz
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Santa Cruz:
- Wine Tasting Experience: $25
- Private Brewery Tour: $500
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint John's and Santa Cruz, we can see that Saint John's is more expensive. And not only is Santa Cruz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint John's 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's would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint John's 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's Expensive? and Is Santa Cruz Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Saint John's or Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Saint John's. When comparing the sizes of Saint John's and Santa Cruz, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Saint John's or Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Saint John's experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Saint John's or Santa Cruz in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John's and Santa Cruz. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John's year-round. Furthermore, the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Santa Cruz this time of year.
In July, Saint John's is generally a little warmer than Santa Cruz. Daily temperatures in Saint John's average around 27°C (81°F), and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 67°F (19°C).
Saint John's gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Saint John's usually receives more rain than Santa Cruz. Saint John's gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.1 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySaint John's 27°C (81°F)Santa Cruz 67°F (19°C)
Should I visit Saint John's or Santa Cruz in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Saint John's as well as Santa Cruz. Saint John's attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Santa Cruz for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
Saint John's is much warmer than Santa Cruz in the autumn. The daily temperature in Saint John's averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).
Saint John's receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Saint John's usually gets more rain in October than Santa Cruz. Saint John's gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSaint John's 27°C (80°F)Santa Cruz 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Saint John's or Santa Cruz in the Winter?
Both Santa Cruz and Saint John's are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John's throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Santa Cruz in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Saint John's is much warmer than Santa Cruz. Typically, the winter temperatures in Saint John's in January average around 24°C (76°F), and Santa Cruz averages at about 51°F (10°C).
In January, Saint John's usually receives more rain than Santa Cruz. Saint John's gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySaint John's 24°C (76°F)Santa Cruz 51°F (10°C)
Should I visit Saint John's or Santa Cruz in the Spring?
Both Santa Cruz and Saint John's during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John's because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Santa Cruz for the beaches during these months.
In April, Saint John's is generally much warmer than Santa Cruz. Daily temperatures in Saint John's average around 26°C (78°F), and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. Saint John's usually gets more rain in April than Santa Cruz. Saint John's gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 1 inches (26 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSaint John's 26°C (78°F)Santa Cruz 58°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for Santa Cruz and Saint John's
| Saint John's | Santa Cruz | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 51°F (10°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| Mar | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 55°F (13°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) | 58°F (14°C) | 1 inches (26 mm) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 62°F (16°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 65°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (1 mm) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) | 67°F (20°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.8 inches (21 mm) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 51°F (10°C) | 2.1 inches (53 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.