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

Should you visit Athens or Saint John's?

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's. 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's?

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'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.

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's or Athens?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Athens is €154, while the average daily cost in Saint John's is €238. 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's in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Athens 63
    Saint John's 105
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Athens 126
    Saint John's 210
Compare Hotels in Athens and Saint John's

Looking for a hotel in Athens or Saint John's? 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 Johns


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 and Saint John's Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Athens 27
    Saint John's 15
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Athens

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


  • Airport Bus for Two
    6.40
  • Metro
    1.50
  • Metro
    2.00
  • Metro from Airport to City Center
    8.00
  • Taxi from Airport
    35

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Athens

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

  • "Private Airport Transfer: Athens Airport to/from Piraeus Port": $80
  • "Quick Athens Highlights Tour: Airport or Cruise ship Transfers": $268
  • ATHENS HOTEL transfer to/from Piraeus Cruise Port (up to 14 pax): $255
  • Aegean Wonders Santorini Transfers: $32
  • Airport Transfer/ Athens Greece: $73
  • Airport Transfer: Athens Airport ATH to Athens by Business Car: $92
  • Airport Transfer: Athens Airport ATH to Athens by Luxury Car: $142
  • Airport Transfer: Athens Airport ATH to Athens by Luxury Van: $126
  • Airport Transfer: Athens to Athens Airport ATH by Luxury Van: $126
  • Airport transfer: $197
  • Alimos Glyfada Vouliagmeni to Athens Airport Private Transfer: $39
  • Arrival Transfer from Αthens Airport to Piraeus Port: $50

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint John's

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Saint John's:


  • Local Bus
    1.33
  • Taxi From Airport
    6.12

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint John's

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Saint John's:

  • Biggvee Premium Airport One Way Transfer: $200
  • JTAT Private Transfers & Tours, Saint John's, Antigua and Barbuda: $160
  • Private Airport Transfers 1- 2 Pax. Zone B: Hotels: $130
  • Discover the Best of Antigua Sightseeing Tour - Eagle Transfers: $125
  • Antigua - VIP Fast Track On Arrival ONLY And Round Trip Transfer: $109
  • Crown and Key Antigua Airport Private Transfers: $100
  • Never Ending Taxi Service-Islandwide Transfers Round trip Antigua: $100
  • RJT Airport Transfer to Hotel of Choice: $100
  • Antigua Private Airport Transfer (ANU) Round-Trip to All Resorts: $100
  • Private Antigua Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Hammock Cove: $90
  • Clear Boat & Offshore Islands Experience (with transfer): $89
  • Crystal Kayak & Snorkel Eco Tour (with transfer - 8:15am): $89

Is it cheaper to fly into Athens or Saint John's?

Prices for flights to both Saint John's 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 64
    Saint John's 103
Typical Food Prices in Athens

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


  • Ice cream
    3.00
  • Souvlaki
    2.20

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Athens

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

  • Foodies’ Favorite Food tour: $49
  • Street Food Tour - Sample the Food the Locals Love: $68
  • Athens's original vegan food tour: $75
  • Traditional Greek Cooking Class and Organic Lunch on Poros: $76
  • Athens Street Food Tour: Taste the best street food: $79
  • Sunset Tour to Temple of Poseidon with Dinner Stop from Athens: $80
  • Athens, Greek food tour including market visit: $80
  • Small Group Greek Traditional Food Tour in Athens 20+ Tastings: $81
  • Taste of Athens Small-Group Food Tour: $81
  • Athens Food Tour: Flavors of Asia Minor (private group): $81
  • Greek Cooking Class near Poseidon’s Temple in Sounio with Antonia: $90
  • Eat like an Athenian food tour of Athens: $92

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
  • Local Antigua Rum and Food Tour: $130
  • Caribbean Cooking Magic with Culinary ATE Tours: $150

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Athens 36
    Saint John's 90

Tours and Activities in Athens

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

  • Ancient Athens Scavenger Hunt & Self-Guided Walking Tour: $3.47
  • Athens Walking Tour: Self-Guided City Game: $4.92
  • A Neoclassical Capital: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.50
  • Ancient Agora of A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
  • Athens Interactive City Tour: $8.12
  • Athens Exploration Private Game and City Tour on your Phone: $9.27
  • Self-Guided Greece Grand Tour with Audio Guide: $9.28
  • Athens' Podoniftis Stream: A Self-Guided Walking Tour: $9.99
  • Traditional Greek Food: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Athens: $12
  • Ancient Agora of Audio Tour on Your Phone (no ticket): $14
  • Hop on Hop Off Classic tour of Athens, Piraeus & Beaches: $14
  • Secret A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15

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:


  • Entrance to the Museum of Antigua & Barbu
    2.62

Tours and Activities in Saint John's

Here are a few actual costs in Saint John's for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 6h Ultimate Antigua Tour: Stingray City, Beach & Local Lunch: $195
  • ATV Rugged Adventure- Scenic Exhilarating "four wheeling" fun!: $130
  • Adventure Antigua - Eli's Original Eco Tour: $143
  • Adventure Antigua - The Xtreme Circumnavigation tour: $221
  • Antigua Explorer Tour: $130
  • Antigua Girls Trip Tour: $130
  • Antigua Heritage and Horizon Tour: $125
  • Antigua Historical Sites Island Tour: $111
  • Antigua Mud Buggy Adventure with Beach Stop - St. Mary's: $145
  • Antigua Nice with CulinaryATE Tours: $90
  • Antigua Private Beach Hopping Land Tour: $135
  • Antigua Reef Riders Self-Drive Boat and Snorkeling Tour: $180

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Athens 23
    Saint John's 16

Sample the Local Flavors in Athens

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

  • Greek Honey Tasting Experience at our Old Distillery: $13
  • Polykala Distillery: 128 years of history & liqueur tasting.: $16
  • Athens Rooftop Pub Crawl Acropolis Views and Nightclub Fun: $17
  • Athens Party Pub Crawl w/ 1-hour Open Bar & VIP Nightclub Access: $21
  • Athens Exclusive Hellenic Wine Tasting Experience at Brettos: $37
  • Athens Small Group Wine Tasting with a Sommelier: $52
  • Greek Wine Tasting with Acropolis view: $57
  • Athens bar crawl: $58
  • Acropolis Private Wine Tasting @ Finewine store: $65
  • Athens Olive oil Honey and Wine Tasting with Snacks Experience: $88
  • Wine tasting tour of Athens Greece: $122
  • Athens Highlights: Private Half-Day Tour With Wine Tasting: $123


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Athens and Saint John's, we can see that Saint John's 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's 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'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 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's Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Athens or Saint John's?

Athens has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Saint John's. When comparing the sizes of Athens and Saint John's, 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 Athens or Saint John's?

Athens 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 Athens or Saint John's in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Athens as well as Saint John's. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Athens this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John's throughout the year.

In July, Athens is generally around the same temperature as Saint John's. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 27°C (81°F), and Saint John's fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Athens this time of the year. In the summer, Athens often gets more sunshine than Saint John's. Athens gets 357 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint John's receives 245 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Saint John's. Athens usually gets less rain in July than Saint John's. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Saint John's receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Athens 27°C (81°F) 
    Saint John's 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Athens or Saint John's in the Autumn?

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

Athens is cooler than Saint John's in the autumn. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 19°C (67°F) in October, and Saint John's fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

It's quite sunny in Saint John's. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Athens. Athens usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Saint John's during autumn. Athens gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Saint John's receives 217 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. In October, Athens usually receives less rain than Saint John's. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Saint John's receives 228 mm (9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Athens 19°C (67°F) 
    Saint John's 27°C (80°F)

Should I visit Athens or Saint John's in the Winter?

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

In the winter, Athens is much colder than Saint John's. Typically, the winter temperatures in Athens in January average around 10°C (51°F), and Saint John's averages at about 24°C (76°F).

In Saint John's, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Athens often gets less sunshine than Saint John's. Athens gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint John's receives 236 hours of full sun.

Athens usually gets less rain in January than Saint John's. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Saint John's receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Athens 10°C (51°F) 
    Saint John's 24°C (76°F)

Should I visit Athens or Saint John's in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Saint John's. Most visitors come to Athens for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months. Saint John's attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In April, Athens is generally much colder than Saint John's. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 16°C (60°F), and Saint John's fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint John's this time of the year. In Athens, it's very sunny this time of the year. Athens usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Saint John's during spring. Athens gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Saint John's receives 240 hours of full sun in the spring.

Saint John's receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Athens usually receives less rain than Saint John's. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Saint John's receives 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Athens 16°C (60°F) 
    Saint John's 26°C (78°F)

Typical Weather for Saint John's and Athens

Athens Saint John's
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 10°C (51°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) 24°C (76°F) 84 mm (3.3 in)
Feb 11°C (51°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 24°C (76°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
Mar 12°C (54°F) 44 mm (1.7 in) 25°C (76°F) 73 mm (2.9 in)
Apr 16°C (60°F) 25 mm (1 in) 26°C (78°F) 123 mm (4.8 in)
May 20°C (68°F) 14 mm (0.6 in) 27°C (80°F) 148 mm (5.8 in)
Jun 24°C (76°F) 6 mm (0.2 in) 28°C (82°F) 118 mm (4.6 in)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 6 mm (0.2 in) 27°C (81°F) 150 mm (5.9 in)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 8 mm (0.3 in) 27°C (81°F) 198 mm (7.8 in)
Sep 24°C (76°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 27°C (81°F) 236 mm (9.3 in)
Oct 19°C (67°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 27°C (80°F) 228 mm (9 in)
Nov 16°C (60°F) 51 mm (2 in) 26°C (79°F) 220 mm (8.7 in)
Dec 12°C (54°F) 66 mm (2.6 in) 25°C (77°F) 137 mm (5.4 in)