Which place is cheaper, Saint John's or Auckland?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Auckland or Saint John's?
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's can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Auckland or Saint John's?
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'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 Wildlife Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in New Zealand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAuckland $141Saint John's $222
The average daily cost (per person) in Auckland is $141, while the average daily cost in Saint John's is $222. 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's in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAuckland $89Saint John's $120
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAuckland $178Saint John's $240
Compare Hotels in Auckland and Saint John's
Looking for a hotel in Auckland 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.
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 $16Saint John's $17
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$9.62
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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:
- Auckland Airport Private Transfer: $81
- Airport Transfer From Auckland Airport To Auckland City: $121
- Arrival Private Transfer from Auckland Airport AKL to Auckland in Business Car: $83
- Arrival Private Transfer from Auckland Airport AKL to Auckland in Luxury Van: $110
- Arrival Private Transfer: Auckland Airport AKL to Auckland City by Luxury Van: $108
- Auckland Airport & Ground Transfers - Private Luxury Car/ Van.: $118
- Auckland Airport (AKL) to North Shore - Arrival Private Transfer: $60
- Auckland Airport (AKL) to North Shore-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $120
- Auckland Airport (AKL): Private Transfer to Downtown hotels: $353
- Auckland Airport (AKL): Transfer to North Shore hotels: $327
- Auckland Airport Arrival Transfer to North Shore or Henderson: $121
- Auckland Airport Private Pickup / Transfer: $84
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint John's
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Saint John's:
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Local Bus$1.52
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Taxi From Airport$6.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint John's
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Saint John's:
- VIP Meet and Greet Fast Track on Arrival at Antigua Airport - without Transfers : $74
- Shared Roundtrip Taxi Transfer from Antigua Airport to Royalton Antigua Resort: $45
- Round-Trip Transfer between Antigua Airport and Antigua Hotels: $32
- Private Transfer from St. John's Port to Antigua Island Hotels: $79
- Private Transfer from St. John's Port to Antigua Airport (ANU): $50
- Private Transfer from Antigua Airport (ANU) to St. John's Port: $50
- Private Transfer from Antigua & Barbuda V.C. Bird Airport (ANU) to island: $113
- Private Roundtrip Airport Transfers & Tour in Antigua & Barbuda: $200
- Private Round Trip Transfer From Antigua Airport To NonSuch Bay: $99
- Private One-Way Antigua Airport Transfer To/From Antigua: $45
- Private Airport Transfers to Antigua and Barbuda: $60
- Private Airport Transfers 1- 2 Pax. Zone C: Hotels: $120
Is it cheaper to fly into Auckland or Saint John's?
Prices for flights to both Saint John's 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 $27Saint John's $68
Typical Food Prices in Auckland
For Auckland, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Breakfast$4.81
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Auckland
For Auckland, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Auckland Harbour 3-Course Dinner Cruise with Welcome Drink: $90
- Auckland Harbour Sailboat Cruise Including Three Course Dinner: $90
- Flavours of the City Walking Food Tour: $105
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
- Discover the Flavors of St. Johns Food Tour: $125
- Private Art Tour or Food Tour: $150
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Auckland $28Saint John's $103
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:
- Explore Auckland's Sailing Spirit: In-App Audio Tour: $5.32
- Auckland Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Maritime Museum Entry Ticket: $14
- Tree Heart Park Adventure Clue Trail Family Package: $15
- Auckland War Memorial Museum Entry Ticket: $17
- Skip the Line: Auckland Museum General Admission Entry Ticket: $17
- Vibrosaun Therapy Experience: $18
- Auckland Sky Tower General Admission Ticket : $24
- Sky Tower General Admission Ticket: $25
- Hologate Virtual Reality Gaming Experience: $29
- The Lagoon Lights Family Experience at Tree Heart Park: $30
- Hop-On Hop-Off Explorer Bus Ticket: $33
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:
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Entrance to the Museum of Antigua & Barbu$3.00
Tours and Activities in Saint John's
Here are a few actual costs in Saint John's for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 6-Hours Guided Stingray Tour in the East Coast of Antigua: $161
- Adventure Antigua - Eli's Original Eco Tour: $125
- Adventure Antigua - The Xtreme Circumnavigation: $190
- Adventure Power Boat Tour Antigua and Private Laviscount Island: $170
- Animal Lovers Dream Tour: $180
- Antigua Historical Sites Island Tour: $75
- Antigua Reef Riders Self-Drive Boat and Snorkeling Tour: $180
- Antigua Round Island Tour: $85
- Antigua Seafood Lunch Cruise From St. John's: $135
- Antigua Shore Excursion: City of St John's Sightseeing Tour: $59
- Antigua Shore Excursion: Round Island Tour: $110
- Antigua Sunset Catamaran Cruise From St. John's: $116
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAuckland $14Saint John's $18
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 Wine Tour Tasting Wines on Waiheke: $93
- Muriwai Scenic Wine Tour from Auckland: $106
- Waiheke Island: The Essence of Waiheke Wine Tour: $132
- Waiheke Island Gourmet Food and Wine Tour with Platter Lunch: $150
- Waiheke Island: Tour with Wine Tastings and Restaurant Lunch: $150
- From Waiheke Island Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch: $153
- From Small Group Kumeu Wine Tour with Lunch: $171
- Small-Group Kumeu Wine Country Tour Includes Wine Tastings & Lunch: $172
- Piha Waitakere Rainforest Wine Tour from Auckland: $178
- Auckland Coastal Experience - Small Group City & Beach Tour Incl. Wine Tasting: $196
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Auckland and Saint John's, we can see that Saint John's 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'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 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'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 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's Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Auckland or Saint John's?
Auckland has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Saint John's. When comparing the sizes of Auckland 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 Auckland or Saint John's?
Auckland 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 Auckland or Saint John's in the Summer?
Both Saint John's and Auckland during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Auckland for the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John's year-round.
Auckland is cooler than Saint John's in the summer. The daily temperature in Auckland averages around 20°C (68°F) in January, and Saint John's fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in July.
In Saint John's, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Auckland. In the summer, Auckland often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Saint John'sin July. Auckland gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint John's receives 245 hours of full sun.
Saint John's gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Auckland usually gets less rain in January than Saint John'sin July. Auckland gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Saint John's receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyAuckland 20°C (68°F)Saint John's 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Auckland or Saint John's in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Auckland and Saint John's. The autumn months attract visitors to Auckland because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene. Saint John's attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, Auckland is much colder than Saint John's. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Auckland in April average around 16°C (61°F), and Saint John's averages at about 27°C (80°F)in October.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint John's this time of the year. Auckland usually receives less sunshine than Saint John's during autumn. Auckland gets 162 hours of sunny skies, while Saint John's receives 217 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Saint John's receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Auckland usually receives less rain than Saint John'sin October. Auckland gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Saint John's receives 228 mm (9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberAuckland 16°C (61°F)Saint John's 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Auckland or Saint John's in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Auckland as well as Saint John's. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Auckland this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John's throughout the year.
In July, Auckland is generally much colder than Saint John'sin January. Daily temperatures in Auckland average around 11°C (52°F), and Saint John's fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. In the winter, Auckland often gets less sunshine than Saint John'sin January. Auckland gets 141 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint John's receives 236 hours of full sun.
Auckland receives a lot of rain in the winter. Auckland usually gets more rain in July than Saint John'sin January. Auckland gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Saint John's receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryAuckland 11°C (52°F)Saint John's 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Auckland or Saint John's in the Spring?
Both Saint John's and Auckland are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Auckland for the beaches and the activities around the city. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John's because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Auckland is much colder than Saint John's in the spring. The daily temperature in Auckland averages around 14°C (58°F) in October, and Saint John's fluctuates around 26°C (78°F)in April.
It's quite sunny in Saint John's. Auckland usually receives less sunshine than Saint John's during spring. Auckland gets 192 hours of sunny skies, while Saint John's receives 240 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. In October, Auckland usually receives less rain than Saint John'sin April. Auckland gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Saint John's receives 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilAuckland 14°C (58°F)Saint John's 26°C (78°F)
Typical Weather for Saint John's and Auckland
| Auckland | Saint John's | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 20°C (68°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 19°C (66°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (61°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) |
| May | 14°C (57°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
| Jun | 12°C (53°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Jul | 11°C (52°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Aug | 11°C (53°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
| Sep | 13°C (55°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (58°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (61°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) |
| Dec | 18°C (65°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 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.