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

Should you visit Athens or Saint John?

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 Athens and Saint John. 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: Athens or Saint John?

Athens

Athens is the capital city of Greece and is home to a population of over 3.7 million people. It's most famous as the birthplace of Classical Greece and the history in the city is incomparable to that found anywhere. It became the national capital of the modern Greek State in the 1830s, before which it was just a small village with a very impressive history. The city was redesigned by architects and city planners and incorporated large public squares, lots of green space, and wide avenues. The city has had its ups and downs both economically and politically, but it remains a beautiful and impressive place to explore.

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 10-Day Tours in Greece, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Greece.


Which place is cheaper, Saint John or Athens?

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

  • Athens Prices
    Greece Prices
    Saint John Prices
    USVI Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Athens $181
    Saint John $233

The average daily cost (per person) in Athens is $181, 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 Athens and Saint John in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Athens $74
    Saint John $106
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Athens $148
    Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Athens and Saint John

Looking for a hotel in Athens 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 Athens


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: Athens Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Athens $32
    Saint John $49
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Athens

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Athens:


  • Airport Bus for Two
    $7.51
  • Metro
    $1.76
  • Metro
    $2.35
  • Metro from Airport to City Center
    $9.39
  • Taxi from Airport
    $41

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Athens

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

  • Athens Airport Private Transfer to and from Hotels: $69
  • Athens Airport Transfer: $119
  • Limo Transfer From Vouliagmeni or Glyfada to Athens Airport : $240
  • Santorini Airport Private Transfer: $25
  • "Private Airport Transfer: Athens Airport to/from Piraeus Port": $83
  • A mini Embark / Disembark Tour In Athens With Transfers from airport / port.: $294
  • ATHENS HOTEL transfer to/from Piraeus Cruise Port (up to 14 pax) : $265
  • Airport Athens - Piraeus Port Transfer with Private Minivan: $150
  • Airport Private Minivan Transfers: $179
  • Airport Private Transfers: $87
  • Airport Transfer/ Athens Greece: $76
  • Airport Transfer: Athens Airport ATH to Athens by Luxury Car: $147

Is it cheaper to fly into Athens or Saint John?

Prices for flights to both Saint John and Athens 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
    Athens $76
    Saint John $97
Typical Food Prices in Athens

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


  • Ice cream
    $3.52
  • Souvlaki
    $2.58

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Athens

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

  • Hard Rock Cafe Athens with Set Lunch or Dinner: $30
  • Street Food Tour - Sample the Food the Locals Love: $71
  • Koukaki Food Tour with a Local Friend: $78
  • Athens's original vegan food tour: $78
  • Small Group, Delicious Athens Food Tour: $81
  • Get a Taste of Athens Food Tour: $82
  • Traditional Greek Cooking Class and Organic Lunch on Poros: $82
  • Athens, Greek food tour including market visit: $83
  • Eat like an Athenian food tour of Athens: $83
  • Athens Walking Food Tour with Visit to Varvakios Central Market: $83
  • Athens Evening Food Tour: $88
  • Greek Cooking Class by Poseidon’s Temple in Sounio with Antonia: $90

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Athens $42
    Saint John $23

Tours and Activities in Athens

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

  • Self Guided Walking Tour in Athens Hidden Gems: $3.59
  • A Neoclassical Capital: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.50
  • Athens Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $6.01
  • Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Athens: $7.20
  • Self-Guided Greece Grand Tour with Audio Guide: $7.69
  • The Best of Piraeus: A Self-Guided Walking Tour: $7.99
  • South Slope Acropolis Self-Guided 3D Audio Tour (No Ticket): $8.40
  • Athens Interactive City Tour: $8.42
  • Temple of Olympian Zeus: Self-Guided Audio Tour on your Phone (without ticket): $9.61
  • Acropolis of Athens Self-Guided Tour with 3D & Audio (No Ticket): $9.61
  • Private Self-Guided Audio City-Tour in Athens: $9.62
  • Athens Olympic Museum ticket: $11

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
    Athens $26
    Saint John $44

Sample the Local Flavors in Athens

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

  • The Original Athens Pub Crawl: $11
  • Greek Honey Tasting Experience at our Old Distillery: $14
  • Saturday Night Pub Crawl for Professionals in Athens, Greece: $25
  • Experience Ouzo Tasting at Athens Oldest Distillery: $26
  • Athens Ultimate Bar Crawl: $48
  • 2 Hours Wine Tasting Odyssey in Athens: $59
  • Best rated Acropolis Wine Tasting : $59
  • Greek Wine Tasting with Acropolis view: $59
  • Acropolis Private Wine Tasting @ Finewine store : $67
  • Greek food and wine tasting: $71
  • Noble Greeks Acropolis Wine Tasting with Private Sommelier: $72
  • Athens by Night Walking and Wine Tasting Experience: $84


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

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



When is the best time to visit Athens or Saint John?

Athens 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 Athens or Saint John in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Athens as well as Saint John. The summer months attract visitors to Athens because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.

In the summer, Athens is around the same temperature as Saint John. Typically, the summer temperatures in Athens in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Saint John averages at about 29°C (83°F).

Athens usually gets less rain in July than Saint John. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Athens 27°C (81°F) 
    Saint John 29°C (83°F)

Should I visit Athens or Saint John in the Autumn?

Both Saint John and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Athens this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In October, Athens is generally cooler than Saint John. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 19°C (67°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint John. In October, Athens usually receives less rain than Saint John. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Athens 19°C (67°F) 
    Saint John 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Athens or Saint John in the Winter?

Both Saint John and Athens during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Athens for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.

Athens is much colder than Saint John in the winter. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 10°C (51°F) in January, and Saint John fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

Athens usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Saint John. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Athens 10°C (51°F) 
    Saint John 26°C (78°F)

Should I visit Athens or Saint John in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Saint John. Many visitors come to Athens in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the spring, Athens is much colder than Saint John. Typically, the spring temperatures in Athens in April average around 16°C (60°F), and Saint John averages at about 27°C (80°F).

In April, Athens usually receives less rain than Saint John. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Athens 16°C (60°F) 
    Saint John 27°C (80°F)

Typical Weather for Saint John and Athens

Athens Saint John
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 10°C (51°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) 26°C (78°F) 43 mm (1.7 in)
Feb 11°C (51°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 26°C (78°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Mar 12°C (54°F) 44 mm (1.7 in) 26°C (79°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Apr 16°C (60°F) 25 mm (1 in) 27°C (80°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
May 20°C (68°F) 14 mm (0.6 in) 28°C (82°F) 94 mm (3.7 in)
Jun 24°C (76°F) 6 mm (0.2 in) 28°C (83°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 6 mm (0.2 in) 29°C (83°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 8 mm (0.3 in) 29°C (84°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Sep 24°C (76°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 28°C (83°F) 127 mm (5 in)
Oct 19°C (67°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 28°C (82°F) 146 mm (5.7 in)
Nov 16°C (60°F) 51 mm (2 in) 27°C (81°F) 126 mm (4.9 in)
Dec 12°C (54°F) 66 mm (2.6 in) 26°C (80°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)