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

Should you visit Antigua Guatemala or Saint John?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Antigua Guatemala or Saint John, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Antigua Guatemala or Saint John?

Antigua Guatemala

Before a disastrous earthquake in 1773, Antigua was the colonial capital of Guatemala. For 200 years it had reigned as so and today shows remnants of its glorious past with Spanish colonial buildings and other architectural landmarks still standing. Due to this large amount of preserved architecture, Antigua was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is now the most touristed city of Guatemala.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Guatemala City, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Guatemala.


Which place is cheaper, Saint John or Antigua Guatemala?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Antigua Guatemala Prices
    Guatemala Prices
    Saint John Prices
    USVI Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Antigua Guatemala $74
    Saint John $233

The average daily cost (per person) in Antigua Guatemala is $74, while the average daily cost in Saint John is $233. 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 Antigua Guatemala and Saint John in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Antigua Guatemala $22
    Saint John $106
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Antigua Guatemala $44
    Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Antigua Guatemala and Saint John

Looking for a hotel in Antigua Guatemala or Saint John? 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 Antigua Guatemala


Hotels in Saint John


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: Antigua Guatemala Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Antigua Guatemala $12
    Saint John $49

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antigua Guatemala

Also for Antigua Guatemala, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Ground Transfer From Antigua To Guatemala City Airport: $25
  • Private Transfer From Antigua to Panajachel Atitlan: $66
  • Private Transfer from Antigua Guatemala to La Aurora Airport: $25
  • Private Transfer from Antigua Guatemala to Panajachel: $65
  • Private Transfer from Antigua Guatemala to Puerto Quetzal Port: $185
  • Private Transfer from Antigua to La Aurora Airport: $28
  • Private Transfer from Antigua to the Airport: $90
  • Shared Transfer From Antigua to Panajachel (Atitlan): $27

Is it cheaper to fly into Antigua Guatemala or Saint John?

Prices for flights to both Saint John and Antigua Guatemala 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
    Antigua Guatemala $25
    Saint John $97
Typical Food Prices in Antigua Guatemala

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Antigua Guatemala:


  • Lunch
    $3.26
  • Lunch
    $7.82

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antigua Guatemala

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

  • Taste of Guatemala,Walking Food Tour in Antigua Guatemala : $50
  • Antigua Street Food Tour : $65
  • Private Cooking Class of Typical Guatemalan Dishes: $70
  • Local Street Food Tour of Antigua: $75
  • Street Food Tour Around Antigua: $80
  • Guatemalan Cooking Class & Market Tour: $85
  • Private Pacaya Volcano Hike & Optional Pizza Experience: $85
  • Guatemalan Cooking Class and Market Tour: $85
  • Authentic Guatemalan Cooking Class in Antigua: $90
  • Foodie & Street Food Tour in Antigua: $95
  • Guatemalan Cooking Class and Market Tour: $98
  • The Culinary Antigua Food Tour: $116

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Antigua Guatemala $15
    Saint John $23

Tours and Activities in Antigua Guatemala

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Antigua Guatemala.

  • Antigua Walking Tour: $23
  • Colonial Antigua Afternoon Walking Tour: $25
  • Guided Walking Tour Legends of Antigua Guatemala: $25
  • Antigua Walking Tour: $25
  • Walking Tour of the Wonders of La Antigua Guatemala: $25
  • Antigua Guatemala Walking Tour History Architecture & Facades: $29
  • Coffee Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $30
  • Coffee Tour Adventure Antigua Guatemala: $30
  • Antigua Sightseeing: Private Walking Tour Culture and History: $30
  • Antigua Guatemala Walking Group Tour: $30
  • Walking Tour Antigua, an open Museum: $32
  • Guided Walking Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $32

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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Antigua Guatemala $11
    Saint John $44

Sample the Local Flavors in Antigua Guatemala

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Antigua Guatemala:

  • Antigua Bar Crawl: $26


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Antigua Guatemala Expensive? and Is Saint John Expensive?.