Which place is cheaper, Saint John or Aqaba?
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 Aqaba or Saint John?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Aqaba 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: Aqaba or Saint John?
Aqaba
Aqaba is a port city in Jordan, in fact, it is the only port city in the country. This city is located on the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea, which is in the southern part of Jordan. The city is still being developed; many of its facilities and infrastructures are being improved. The population of Aqaba is about 190,000 and the city has been key in developing Jordan's economy via trade and tourism.
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 Luxury Tours to Jordan, and The Best Budget Tours to Jordan.
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Aqaba Prices
Jordan PricesSaint John Prices
USVI Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAqaba $157Saint John $233
The average daily cost (per person) in Aqaba is $157, 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 Aqaba and Saint John in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAqaba $59Saint John $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAqaba $118Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Aqaba and Saint John
Looking for a hotel in Aqaba 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.
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: Aqaba Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Aqaba $24Saint John $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aqaba
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aqaba:
- Amman/Death Sea: 1-Way Transfer to/from Wadi Rum in Private: $266
- Aqaba : Private Transfer From the Airport or your Hotel: $88
- Aqaba Airport (AQJ) to Petra - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $144
- Aqaba Airport Transfer to Petra : $90
- Aqaba Border (Yitzhak Rabin Terminal) to Petra Private Transfer: $140
- Aqaba Private Transfer from/to Amman, Airport, Dead Sea or K.H.B: $125
- Aqaba or Aqaba Airport Private Transfer To Dead Sea: $185
- Aqaba or Aqaba Airport Private Transfer To Wadi Rum: $60
- Aqaba to Aqaba Hussein Airport (AQJ) - Departure Private Transfer: $31
- Petra by Night Tour with Private Transfer: $198
- Private Beach, Pools, Snorkeling & Boat Trip,Transfer: $66
- Private Car Transfer with Wadi Rum Jeep Safari: $169
Is it cheaper to fly into Aqaba or Saint John?
Prices for flights to both Saint John and Aqaba 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 dayAqaba $73Saint John $97
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aqaba
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aqaba.
- Sunset Cruise with BBQ Dinner and Drinks: $54
- Overnight in Bedouin Camp. Dinner and breakfast included.: $56
- Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight + Dinner in Bedouin Camp: $75
- Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight & Dinner in Bedouin Camp: $111
- Wadi Rum New Year Eve Party (Jeep Tour + Dinner + Music + Fireworks + Overnight): $112
- From Wadi Rum Full-Day Private Jeep Tour with Dinner: $169
- Wadi Rum Private Tour with Jeep Safari and Dinner: $220
- 4 Hours Jeep Tour with Overnight in Bedouin Camp and Dinner: $286
- Petra & Wadi Rum Private Tour with Dinner one day: $425
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Aqaba $54Saint John $23
Tours and Activities in Aqaba
Here are a few actual costs in Aqaba for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Sightseeing Bike Rental in Aqaba: $7.00
- Aqaba : All Water Sports Adventure in the Red Sea: $22
- Wadi Rum Jeep Tours - Full Day Jeep Tour: $24
- Private Snorkeling Experience in Aqaba Red Sea: $27
- 4 Hour Jeep Tour Wadi Rum Nature Desert morning or sunset: $30
- Wadi Rum Jeep Tour: $30
- Stargazing Adventure in Jordan: $30
- Glass-Bottom Boat 2-hours Tour and Coral-Reef Viewing from Aqaba: $30
- Private Walking Tour in Aqaba City with Free Meal: $30
- Saraya Aqaba Waterpark entrance tickets: $33
- 2 Hour Jeep Tour (Morning or Sunset) Wadi Rum Desert Highlights: $35
- Wadi Rum 2-Hour Sunset Tour Wadi Rum Desert Highlights: $35
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAqaba $9.07Saint John $44
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aqaba and Saint John, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. And not only is Aqaba much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Aqaba is in Middle East 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 Aqaba would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Aqaba 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 Aqaba.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Aqaba Expensive? and Is Saint John Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Aqaba or Saint John?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Aqaba or Saint John in the Summer?
Both Saint John and Aqaba are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Aqaba throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In July, Aqaba usually receives less rain than Saint John. Aqaba gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Aqaba can become quite hot in the summer. In July, Aqaba is generally a little warmer than Saint John. Daily temperatures in Aqaba average around 33°C (91°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAqaba 33°C (91°F)Saint John 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Aqaba or Saint John in the Autumn?
Both Saint John and Aqaba during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Aqaba because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.
Saint John gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Aqaba usually gets less rain in October than Saint John. Aqaba gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
Aqaba is around the same temperature as Saint John in the autumn. The daily temperature in Aqaba averages around 26°C (79°F) in October, and Saint John fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAqaba 26°C (79°F)Saint John 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Aqaba or Saint John in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Aqaba and Saint John. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Aqaba year-round. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Aqaba usually receives less rain than Saint John. Aqaba gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In the winter, Aqaba is much colder than Saint John. Typically, the winter temperatures in Aqaba in January average around 14°C (57°F), and Saint John averages at about 26°C (78°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAqaba 14°C (57°F)Saint John 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Aqaba or Saint John in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Aqaba as well as Saint John. Aqaba attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.
Aqaba usually gets less rain in April than Saint John. Aqaba gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
In April, Aqaba is generally cooler than Saint John. Daily temperatures in Aqaba average around 24°C (75°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAqaba 24°C (75°F)Saint John 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint John and Aqaba
| Aqaba | Saint John | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (57°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 16°C (61°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 19°C (66°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 24°C (75°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 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.