Which place is cheaper, Saint John's or Beijing?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Beijing or Saint John's?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Beijing and Saint John's can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Beijing or Saint John's?
Beijing
Beijing is the capital of China and, with 21.5 million people, it is the second most populated city in the world after Shanghai. It is a city that keeps pockets of its history hidden in old neighborhoods or back alleys, despite the constant change and modernization that goes on around it. As the capital city of China, there is plenty of history and culture. You can still get yourself lost in one of the last remaining hutongs, which are old neighborhoods that remain untouched by the city's modernization. The alleys that weave between the old homes are lined with drying clothes, corner markets, and people going about their daily lives the way they have for centuries. Surrounding these hutongs you'll find modern buildings and a booming economy, all threatening to destroying these last bits of Beijing's history. Beijing offers a glimpse into a microcosm that represents the entire country of China. Make sure you give yourself enough time in China to truly experience Beijing. You can pass a lot of time soaking up life in the city, which remains as diverse as the country it resides within.
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 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBeijing $77Saint John's $222
The average daily cost (per person) in Beijing is $77, 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 Beijing and Saint John's in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBeijing $39Saint John's $120
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBeijing $78Saint John's $240
Compare Hotels in Beijing and Saint John's
Looking for a hotel in Beijing 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Beijing $7.63Saint John's $17
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Beijing
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Beijing:
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Taxi$4.71
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Train from Airport for Two$6.90
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Taxi to Hotel$8.28
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2 Metro Passes$2.21
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Metro$0.55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beijing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Beijing:
- Jinshanling Great Wall Self-hiking Tour by Private Transfer Service : $98
- Private English Transfer to Shilin Gorge Platform And Ming City Wall : $140
- Private One-Way Transfer Between Beijing Railway Station and Hotel: $30
- 1 Day Pass for Universal Beijing and Private Transfer Package: $265
- 1-Day Beijing Layover Private Tour: Forbidden City with Round Airport transfers: $198
- 1-Day Bejing Layover Tour:Mutianyu Great Wall,Forbidden City & Airport Transfers: $250
- 1-Way Private Transfer between Beijing Airport and City Hotels: $30
- 4-Hour Huanghuacheng Great Wall Sunset Tour with Airport Transfer: $160
- 5 Hours Round Trip Transfer Service to Mutianyu Great Wall: $70
- Acrobatic Show at Red Theater With Private Transfer: $45
- Acrobatics Show with Private Driver Service and Hotel Round Transfer: $65
- Airport Layover Transfer Service to Mutianyu Great Wall & City Sightseeing : $115
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:
- 3-Hours Stingray City - Transfer, Spanish-Italian Guide Included: $155
- Airport Transfer from/to all resorts in Antigua - Water Inc.: $60
- Airport Transfers to Antigua Hotels/Resorts: $170
- Antigua - VIP Fast Track On Arrival ONLY And Round Trip Transfer : $99
- Antigua Airport Private Roundtrip Transfer to and from Royalton Antigua Resort: $60
- Antigua V.C. Bird Airport (ANU) to Island - Round-Trip Transfer : $156
- Antigua&Barbuda V.C.Bird Airport(ANU) to island Private Transfer: $78
- Antigua&BarbudaV.C.Bird Airport(ANU)to island hotels-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $255
- Biggvee Airport Roundtrip Transfer: $70
- Biggvee Premium Airport One Way Transfer: $200
- Island to Antigua&Barbuda V.C.Bird Airport(ANU)- Private Transfer: $78
- Luxury Airport transfer from or to Antigua Airport : $85
Is it cheaper to fly into Beijing or Saint John's?
Prices for flights to both Saint John's and Beijing 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 dayBeijing $21Saint John's $68
Typical Food Prices in Beijing
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Beijing:
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Popcorn$0.83
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Hot Pot Dinner$6.90
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Dumpling Breakfast for Two$2.76
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Watermelon$1.93
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Peking Duck Dinner for 2$16
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Two Popsicles$0.83
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beijing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Beijing.
- Online Cooking Class Handmade Noodles by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class Beijing Dumplings and Cuisine by Sunflowerli Renowned Chef : $20
- Online Cooking Class Orange Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- Deal 20% off Beijing Nango HotSpring Water World with Dinner: $38
- Beijing Acrobatic Show Tickets w/ Optional Dinner or Transfer: $48
- 3.5-Hour Walking Food Tour: A Bite of History at Beijing Niujie Street: $49
- Beijing Hutong Breakfast Food Tour: $55
- Temple of Heaven Private Tour w/Option Show &Dinner: $60
- 3 hours Morning or Afternoon Tea Tasting on Maliandao Street and Tea Restaurant Lunch or Dinner Tour: $69
- Mogolian Hot Pot Dinner with no limit soft drink and local beer .: $70
- Old Beijing Dinner Tour: $80
- Acrobatic Show with Peking Duck Dinner Private Tour: $80
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.Beijing $24Saint John's $103
Typical Entertainment Prices in Beijing
Here are a few typical costs in Beijing for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entry to Summer Palace for Two$8.28
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Two Opera Tickets$59
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Temple of Heaven Park Entrance (for 2)$9.66
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Forbidden City (for 2)$17
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Forbidden City Tickets$17
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Audio Guides at Forbidden City$11
Tours and Activities in Beijing
Here are a few actual costs in Beijing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Beijing's Old Hutongs: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $4.99
- Summer Palace Free Walking Tour: $5.00
- Temple of Heaven Free Walking Tour: $5.00
- Hutongs Free Walking Tour : $5.00
- Beijing's Old Hutongs: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.34
- Panda House+City Attractions or Mutianyu Day Tour: $7.19
- Temple of Heaven Ticket: $7.90
- Beijing Summer Palace Entrance Ticket (with Optional Guided Service): $8.00
- The Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan) Entrance Ticket: $8.00
- Summer Palace+Ming Tombs/Heaven Temple/China National Museum Tour: $8.00
- Beijing Temple of Heaven Entrance Ticket (with Optional Guided Service): $8.00
- Confucius Temple and Imperial College Entrance Ticket : $8.00
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:
- Chariot City Tour Antigua: $20
- Antigua Shore Excursion: City of St John's Sightseeing Tour: $59
- City of St John's Sightseeing Tour: $59
- Cultural and Historical Home Tour in The Antiguan Experience : $66
- Glenmon taxi and tours: $70
- Small-Group Hiking Experience in Antigua: $70
- Stingray City Experience Antigua - ONLY TICKET: $73
- Antigua Historical Sites Island Tour: $75
- Kayak Eco Adventures Glass Kayak Nature and Snorkeling Tour: $75
- Authentic Antiguan Experience: $79
- Nightlife Tour of Antigua and Barbuda: $80
- TRIPLE ACTIVITY TOUR, Bike Kayak Hike, ANTIGUA : $80
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBeijing $12Saint John's $18
Sample the Local Flavors in Beijing
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Beijing:
- Beijing Brewery Bike Tour: $99
- Evening Food Private Tour with Brewery Taproom Hopping at Slow Boat in Beijing: $110
- Private Tour-Drum Tower, Hutong Food Taste and Local Brewery Beer: $150
- Full Day Private Chateau Changyu Wine Tour from Beijing: $162
- 5-Hour Private Changyu Chateau Wine Tasting Tour from Beijing: $178
- Private Changyu Chateau Wine Tasting Tour and Mutianyu Great Wall Visit: $238
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Beijing and Saint John's, we can see that Saint John's is more expensive. And not only is Beijing much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Beijing is in Asia 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 Beijing would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Beijing 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 Beijing.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Beijing Expensive? and Is Saint John's Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Beijing or Saint John's?
Beijing has a larger population, and is about 310 times larger than the population of Saint John's. When comparing the sizes of Beijing 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 Beijing or Saint John's?
Beijing 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 Beijing or Saint John's in the Summer?
Both Saint John's and Beijing are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Beijing for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John's because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In July, Beijing is generally around the same temperature as Saint John's. Daily temperatures in Beijing average around 27°C (80°F), and Saint John's fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
It's quite sunny in Saint John's. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Beijing. Beijing usually receives less sunshine than Saint John's during summer. Beijing gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Saint John's receives 245 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. It's quite rainy in Beijing. In July, Beijing usually receives more rain than Saint John's. Beijing gets 176 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Saint John's receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBeijing 27°C (80°F)Saint John's 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Beijing or Saint John's in the Autumn?
Both Saint John's and Beijing during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Beijing in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John's year-round.
Beijing is much colder than Saint John's in the autumn. The daily temperature in Beijing averages around 14°C (56°F) in October, and Saint John's fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
In Saint John's, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Beijing. In the autumn, Beijing often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Saint John's. Beijing gets 227 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint John's receives 217 hours of full sun.
Saint John's gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Beijing usually gets less rain in October than Saint John's. Beijing gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Saint John's receives 228 mm (9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBeijing 14°C (56°F)Saint John's 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Beijing or Saint John's in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Beijing and Saint John's. Most visitors come to Beijing for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Saint John's attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Beijing can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Beijing is much colder than Saint John's. Typically, the winter temperatures in Beijing in January average around -4°C (26°F), and Saint John's averages at about 24°C (76°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint John's this time of the year. In Beijing, it's very sunny this time of the year. Beijing usually receives less sunshine than Saint John's during winter. Beijing gets 201 hours of sunny skies, while Saint John's receives 236 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Beijing usually receives less rain than Saint John's. Beijing gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Saint John's receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBeijing -4°C (26°F)Saint John's 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Beijing or Saint John's in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Beijing as well as Saint John's. The spring months attract visitors to Beijing because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John's throughout the year.
In April, Beijing is generally much colder than Saint John's. Daily temperatures in Beijing average around 14°C (57°F), and Saint John's fluctuates around 26°C (78°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 Beijing this time of the year. In the spring, Beijing often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Saint John's. Beijing gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint John's receives 240 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Saint John's. Beijing usually gets less rain in April than Saint John's. Beijing gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Saint John's receives 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBeijing 14°C (57°F)Saint John's 26°C (78°F)
Typical Weather for Saint John's and Beijing
| Beijing | Saint John's | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -4°C (26°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Feb | -1°C (30°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (42°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (57°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (76°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (80°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (78°F) | 182 mm (7.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (69°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (56°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) |
| Nov | 5°C (41°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) |
| Dec | -1°C (29°F) | 2 mm (0.1 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.