Which place is cheaper, Saint John or Auckland?
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 Auckland or Saint John?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Auckland and Saint John can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Auckland or Saint John?
Auckland
Auckland is located on the North Island of New Zealand on an isthmus between the Northland Peninsula and the other parts of the North Island. Auckland is not only a city but also a region. In 2010 New Zealand combined what had previously been four separate cities into one region. These cities include the southern city of Manukau, the western city of Waitakere, the North Shore in the north, and Auckland City. The City of Auckland is the largest city in Polynesia and is very diverse with many expatriates from elsewhere in Polynesia. This diversity becomes most apparent in Auckland's many festivals and sporting events.
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 Wildlife Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in New Zealand.
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Auckland Prices
New Zealand PricesSaint John Prices
USVI Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAuckland $172Saint John $233
The average daily cost (per person) in Auckland is $172, 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 Auckland and Saint John in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAuckland $100Saint John $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAuckland $200Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Auckland and Saint John
Looking for a hotel in Auckland 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: Auckland Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Auckland $18Saint John $49
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Auckland
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Auckland:
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Bus from Airport$9.57
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Airport Shuttle$15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Auckland
Also for Auckland, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer: Auckland Airport AKL to Auckland by Luxury Van: $133
- Arrival Private Transfer Auckland Airport to North Shore or Henderson Luxury Car: $127
- Arrival Private Transfer: Auckland Airport AKL to Auckland City: $119
- Arrival Private Transfer: Auckland Airport AKL to Auckland City by Luxury Van: $112
- Arrival Private Transfer: Auckland Airport AKL to Auckland City by Sedan Car: $88
- Auckland Airport (AKL) to Auckland - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $163
- Auckland Airport (AKL) to North Shore - Arrival Private Transfer: $108
- Auckland Airport (AKL) to North Shore-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $217
- Auckland Airport One-Way Private Transfer: Airport to CBD Hotels: $24
- Auckland Airport Premium Private Golf Transfer To Te Arai Links: $297
- Auckland Airport Private One-Way or Round-Trip Transfer: $69
- Auckland Airport Taxi Transfers for Stress-Free Travel: $59
Is it cheaper to fly into Auckland or Saint John?
Prices for flights to both Saint John and Auckland 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 dayAuckland $46Saint John $97
Typical Food Prices in Auckland
For Auckland, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Breakfast$4.79
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Auckland
For Auckland, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Harbour Sailing Cruise with 3-Course Dinner: $93
- Auckland Harbour Sailboat Cruise Including Three Course Dinner: $101
- Flavours of the City Walking Food Tour: $101
- Auckland Downtown Food Tour with 5 Locals Favorite Dishes: $128
- Waiheke Island: Private Sunset Wine Tour & 2 Course Dinner: $392
- Māori Evening Dinner and Private Show Experience: $519
- From Kiwi Bird Encounter & 3-Course Dinner Tour: $550
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Auckland $28Saint John $23
Typical Entertainment Prices in Auckland
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Auckland's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Auckland Sky Tour (for 2)$33
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Waiheke Island Tour (for 2)$121
Tours and Activities in Auckland
For Auckland, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Auckland to Volcanoes: North Island Self-Guided Adventure: $8.24
- Auckland War Memorial Museum Entry Ticket: $9.27
- Auckland City Self Guided Walking Tour with an APP: $9.99
- Maritime Museum Entry Ticket and Guided Tour: $14
- Maritime Museum Entry Ticket: $14
- Explore Self Guided Audio Tour: $15
- Skip the Line: Auckland Museum General Admission Ticket: $16
- Vibrosaun Therapy Experience: $18
- Waitematā Harbour Cruise with Live Commentary: $20
- Odyssey Sensory Maze Entry Auckland Ticket: $23
- Scenic Harbour Cruise in Auckland: $23
- Auckland Takapuna: Escape Game Adventure: $23
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 dayAuckland $13Saint John $44
Sample the Local Flavors in Auckland
Also in Auckland, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Waiheke Island: Scenic Island Wine Tour & Local Wine Tasting: $110
- Full-Day Wine Tasting Tour in Auckland with 3-Course Vineyard Lunch: $118
- Kumeu Wineries / Brewery: $133
- Waiheke Island: The Essence of Waiheke Wine Tour: $159
- Waiheke Island: Wine Tour & Lunch at Award Winning Venue: $168
- Kumeu Wine Tasting & Local Flavours Tour: Vines, Brews & Views: $178
- From Small Group Kumeu Wine Tour with Lunch: $180
- Waiheke Island Gourmet Food and Wine Tour with Platter Lunch: $183
- Small-Group Kumeu Wine Country Tour with Wine Tastings & Lunch: $184
- City Tour with Wine Tasting and Black Sand Beach: $217
- Shore Excursion from Auckland - Private Tour & Wine Tasting: $278
- Waiheke Island Scenic Wine Tour: $301
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Auckland and Saint John, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. And not only is Auckland much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Auckland is in Pacific 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 Auckland would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Auckland 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 Auckland.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Auckland Expensive? and Is Saint John Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Auckland or Saint John?
Auckland 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 Auckland or Saint John in the Summer?
Both Saint John and Auckland during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Auckland in the summer for the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.
In January, Auckland is generally cooler than Saint Johnin July. Daily temperatures in Auckland average around 20°C (68°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
Auckland usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Saint Johnin July. Auckland gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyAuckland 20°C (68°F)Saint John 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Auckland or Saint John in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Auckland and Saint John. Most visitors come to Auckland for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene during these months. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Auckland is much colder than Saint John in the autumn. The daily temperature in Auckland averages around 16°C (61°F) in April, and Saint John fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in October.
Saint John receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Auckland usually receives less rain than Saint Johnin October. Auckland gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberAuckland 16°C (61°F)Saint John 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Auckland or Saint John in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Auckland as well as Saint John. The winter months attract visitors to Auckland because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.
In the winter, Auckland is much colder than Saint John. Typically, the winter temperatures in Auckland in July average around 11°C (52°F), and Saint John averages at about 26°C (78°F)in January.
Auckland receives a lot of rain in the winter. Auckland usually gets more rain in July than Saint Johnin January. Auckland gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryAuckland 11°C (52°F)Saint John 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Auckland or Saint John in the Spring?
Both Saint John and Auckland are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Auckland 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, Auckland is generally much colder than Saint Johnin April. Daily temperatures in Auckland average around 14°C (58°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
In October, Auckland usually receives more rain than Saint Johnin April. Auckland gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilAuckland 14°C (58°F)Saint John 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint John and Auckland
| Auckland | Saint John | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 20°C (68°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 19°C (66°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (61°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 14°C (57°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 12°C (53°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 11°C (52°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 11°C (53°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 13°C (55°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (58°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (61°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 18°C (65°F) | 83 mm (3.3 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.