Known for its stunning beaches, jaw-dropping Piton mountains, and lush rainforests, St. Lucia is a Caribbean paradise. No wonder so many couples plan a trip to this Eastern Caribbean island each year.
Before deciding to vacation or honeymoon here, you will want to know what a trip to St. Lucia costs. You’re probably wondering, is St. Lucia expensive? As with other Caribbean islands, St. Lucia costs can vary depending on when you visit, the type of accommodations you choose, the restaurants you eat at, and the activities you plan on doing.
In this article, we’ll discuss the the cost of a week in St. Lucia, including budget hotels to all-inclusive resorts, local eats to fine dining experiences, and more.
St. Lucia Cost: Overview
If you’ve done any research on St. Lucia, it probably didn’t take long to see that there is a lot to appreciate. The island nation is known for its iconic twin-volcanic Piton mountains, beautiful beaches, numerous waterfalls, and hiking trails in the lush rainforest.
While a Caribbean island with this type of landscape doesn’t take much convincing to visit, you still need to consider what the St. Lucia cost of travel is. The average traveler can expect to pay $150-$400 per day when visiting St. Lucia. This means the cost of a week in St. Lucia will be, on average, between $1,000 to $2,800 per person or more.
These costs include accommodation, food, transportation, and activities and can be more or less, depending on what type of vacation experience you are looking for.
As with traveling to other Caribbean destinations such as Jamaica, Mexico, Grenada, and the Dominican Republic, a stay in St. Lucia can be as expensive or inexpensive as you’d like.
Sometimes flights will be the bulk of your travel costs. Depending on where you are departing from and the time of year, flights to St. Lucia can cost between $550 and $1,800. If you want to avoid crowds and save money, plan your trip during the shoulder season (March-April or October-November).
If you’re flexible on your travel dates, getting alerts for flight deals is best. Several apps will help you track discounts from various airlines, which could save you hundreds of dollars.
St. Lucia Cost: Accommodation
After booking flights, accommodations will be the next big cost of traveling to St. Lucia. St. Lucia has a variety of accommodations options for every kind of traveler. You will find budget hotels, luxury villas, and all-inclusive resorts on the beach.
Let’s look at each to give you an idea of what to expect.
St. Lucia Cost: Budget Accommodation
For backpackers, St. Lucia has extremely budget-friendly hostel options. On average, you can find dormitories for as low as $11 per night. If you want a private room, those will cost you a little more, but you can still find options for $25 a night.
While hostels aren’t luxurious, they are a great way to see a country without breaking the bank. Plus, it’s an excellent opportunity to meet like-minded people from all over the world.
You don’t need to be a backpacker to find budget accommodations in St. Lucia. If you have a slightly higher budget, you can find 2- or 3-star hotels for around $50 to $70 a night. While it’s unlikely you’ll be on the beach, you should have other amenities such as a pool, restaurant, and bar.
You can also look at apps such as Airbnb for private rooms and small apartments in St. Lucia.
St. Lucia Cost: Mid-Level Accommodation
Travelers with a higher budget can stay at a 3- or 4-star hotel near the beach. These hotels usually are priced between $100 to $200 per night but offer more amenities than a hostel or budget hotel will. This could include bigger pools, fitness centers, spacious rooms, nicer restaurants, and even spas.
If you don’t want to stay in a hotel, you can also find bigger apartments and villas on Airbnb, which are better suited for families and friend groups.
St. Lucia Cost: Luxury Accommodations
Luxury accommodations in St. Lucia consist of a variety of resorts, including all-inclusive resorts like the three Sandals adults-only resorts here. While these resorts can cost between $200 to $500 or more per night, you will have everything you need for an unforgettable vacation.
Luxurious accommodations like this will generally be beachfront and will have several pools, restaurants, bars, and activities. You will find incredible room options like honeymoon suites and overwater bungalows.
If you choose an all-inclusive resort in St. Lucia, your food, drinks, and some activities are included in the price. For some couples this is the only way to go, as all you need to do is show up and everything else is taken care of.
How Much Is the Average Meal in St. Lucia?
If you aren’t staying at an all-inclusive resort when visiting St. Lucia, you will find many dining options to choose from. St. Lucia cost of food can range anywhere from $5 to $50 for a meal.
For backpackers and adventurous travelers, seek out street food and mom-and-pop restaurants. Eating at these types of places can fill your belly for $5-$7. Plus, this is a great way to see the culture and mingle with the locals.
Those who like casual dining can expect to pay $10-$20 for lunch or dinner. Fine dining experiences can cost as high as $50 per dish. Of course, the price can rise drastically if you are drinking alcohol and ordering appetizers.
St. Lucia Cost: Transportation
Like other travel costs, transportation costs can range depending on how you get around. Obviously, walking is the least expensive method, but it isn’t always feasible. There is a bus system, which costs between $1-$3.
The next option would be to get taxis. While they are convenient, the costs can add up quickly if you use them often. For example, depending on how far you need to go, a taxi in St. Lucia can cost $15 for short rides and as much as $100 for a long trip across the island.
Lastly, you can rent a vehicle during your stay in St. Lucia. Of course, this will be the most expensive way to get around, but it’s nice to be able to go where you want, whenever you want.
It’s important to note that you will need to get a temporary driver’s license to drive in St. Lucia, which can cost around $20. In addition, you can expect to pay around $60 per day for a rental vehicle, but you can get better deals if you rent the vehicle for a week or more.
St. Lucia Cost: Tours and Activities
Due to its diverse landscape, you will find there are endless things to do in St. Lucia. If you are looking for free to low-cost activities, then it’s a good idea to beach hop. St. Lucia has several beaches where you can swim and snorkel directly from the shore.
Other activities such as private day tours, scuba diving, jet skiing, windsurfing, and kayaking will cost you more. You can expect to pay anywhere from $80 to $300 per person for these activities.
St. Lucia Cost: Conclusion
At the end of the day, money comes and goes, but memories from a honeymoon or romantic trip to a place like St. Lucia last forever. The key is to plan ahead, and, if possible, be flexible with your travel dates. This way, you can find discounts on flights and accommodations without breaking the bank.
Ready to book a trip to St. Lucia? Check out our other articles on this amazing destination, such as Top 10 St. Lucia Honeymoon Resorts and Planning Guide, St. Lucia’s 5 Most Romantic Suites for Honeymoons, The Only Overwater Bungalows in St. Lucia, What to Pack for Your Trip to St. Lucia, The Best Beaches in St. Lucia, and Top 30 Things to Do in St. Lucia.
