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

Should you visit Brisbane 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 Brisbane and Saint John's can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Brisbane or Saint John's?

Brisbane

Although Brisbane is often overlooked as a travel destination in Australia, it is the capital of the state of Queensland, and is the third largest city in Australia. It's a very young and vibrant city with an active nightlife and a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. It's a modern and economically thriving city and, if you do have time to visit, it actually has a lot to offer travelers. It has some beautiful scenery, a wonderful warm climate all year long, and is actually one of the fastest growing cities in Australia.

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 Walking Tours in Australia, and The Best Eco Tours in Australia.


Which place is cheaper, Saint John's or Brisbane?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Brisbane is $138, 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 Brisbane and Saint John's in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Brisbane $85
    Saint John's $120
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Brisbane $170
    Saint John's $240
Compare Hotels in Brisbane and Saint John's

Looking for a hotel in Brisbane 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 Brisbane


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: Brisbane Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Brisbane $18
    Saint John's $17
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Brisbane

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


  • Airtrain to the City
    $10
  • Go Card
    $17

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Brisbane

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

  • Airport Transfer: Brisbane Airport BNE to Brisbane in Luxury Car: $148
  • Arrival Private Transfer: Brisbane Airport BNE to Brisbane in Luxury Van: $136
  • Brisbane Airport (BNE) to Brisbane hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $36
  • Brisbane Airport (BNE) to Brisbane hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $71
  • Brisbane Airport (BNE): Private Transfer to Brisbane Port: $211
  • Brisbane Airport (BNE): Private Transfer to Brisbane hotels: $189
  • Brisbane Airport Private Transfer Service to Brisbane City: $115
  • Brisbane Airport to Sunshine Coast Transfer Service: $57
  • Brisbane Airport: One-Way Private Transfer to Brisbane city: $42
  • Brisbane Airport: Shared Transfer to Gold Coast: $53
  • Brisbane Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Brisbane hotels: $211
  • Brisbane hotels to Brisbane Airport (BNE) - Departure Private Transfer: $36

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
    $1.52
  • Taxi From Airport
    $6.99

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint John's

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

  • Antigua&BarbudaV.C.Bird Airport(ANU)to island hotels-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $260
  • Private Roundtrip Airport Transfers & Tour in Antigua & Barbuda: $200
  • Biggvee Premium Airport One Way Transfer: $200
  • Antigua V.C. Bird Airport (ANU) to Island - Round-Trip Transfer : $158
  • Private Transfer from Antigua & Barbuda V.C. Bird Airport (ANU) to island: $115
  • Antigua - VIP Fast Track On Arrival ONLY And Round Trip Transfer : $99
  • Private Round Trip Transfer From Antigua Airport To NonSuch Bay: $99
  • Private Transfer from St. John's Port to Antigua Island Hotels: $80
  • VATS Antigua Airport Transfers: $79
  • Island to Antigua&Barbuda V.C.Bird Airport(ANU)- Private Transfer: $79
  • Antigua&Barbuda V.C.Bird Airport(ANU) to island Private Transfer: $79
  • VIP Meet and Greet Fast Track on Arrival at Antigua Airport - without Transfers : $74

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

Prices for flights to both Saint John's and Brisbane 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
    Brisbane $33
    Saint John's $68
Typical Food Prices in Brisbane

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


  • Hamburger Lunch
    $5.48
  • Cup of Coffee
    $2.05
  • Chinese Food Lunch
    $8.56
  • Ice cream
    $3.77
  • Japanese Meal
    $14
  • Smoothie
    $4.45
  • Japanese Soup
    $7.87
  • Coffee & Muffin
    $4.79
  • Morning Mint Tea
    $2.40
  • Veggie Burger & Chips
    $9.59
  • Bread
    $1.78

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Brisbane

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

  • Vertigo Dinner: Dining on the edge!: $134
  • Guided Food Tour with Coffee, Seafood and Wine: $607

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
  • Private Art Tour or Food Tour: $150

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Brisbane $25
    Saint John's $103
Typical Entertainment Prices in Brisbane

For Brisbane, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Concert Tickets
    $14

Tours and Activities in Brisbane

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

  • Trevena Glen Farm Animal Experience: $17
  • True Crime Tour: $23
  • Fortitude Valley Historical Crime Walking Tour: $23
  • Winery Tour and Tasting: $24
  • Haunted Brisbane CBD Ghost Tour: $24
  • Bloody Brisbane CBD Crime Tour - Crime Tours Australia | Jack Sim: $24
  • Solve a Detective Case in a themed adventure: $27
  • Brisbane City Walking Tour 90 minutes: $31
  • Boggo Road Gaol Ghost and Gallows Tour: $31
  • Afternoon Sightseeing Cruise on the Brisbane River: $33
  • City Walking Tour 90 minutes: $33
  • Midday River Guided Sightseeing Cruise: $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:


  • 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:

  • 5 Hours Private Historical Tour in Altagracia: $120
  • 6-Hours Guided Stingray Tour in the East Coast of Antigua: $190
  • Adventure Antigua - Eli's Original Eco Tour: $134
  • Adventure Antigua - The Xtreme Circumnavigation: $203
  • Adventure Power Boat Tour Antigua and Private Laviscount Island: $182
  • Animal Lovers Dream Tour: $180
  • Antigua Historic Fort & Beach Tour on Segway From St. John's: $138
  • 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: $167
  • Antigua Shore Excursion: Round Island Tour: $110

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Brisbane $53
    Saint John's $18
Typical Alcohol Prices in Brisbane

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Brisbane:


  • Evening at the Bar
    $10
  • Sixpack of Beer
    $9.59
  • Guiness Beer
    $5.82
  • Sixpack of Beer
    $8.89

Sample the Local Flavors in Brisbane

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

  • XXXX Beer Brewery Tour & Beer Tasting: $25
  • XXXX Brewery Tour: $25
  • Stone & Wood Brewery Tour: $30
  • City Winery Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch: $51
  • Brewery Tour River Cruise in Brisbane: $68
  • Sirromet Wine Tasting And Blending Workshop For 2: $84
  • Island Pub Crawl with Lunch and High Speed Boat Tour in Brisbane : $103
  • Wine tasting tour to Tamborine Mountain: $106
  • Half Day Gold Coast Brewery Tour: $109
  • Tamborine Wine & Distillery Tour + 2 Course Lunch: $128
  • Brisbane Brewery Full Day Tour with Lunch: $136
  • Gold Coast Full Day Brewery Tour: $136


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

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


Which is Bigger, Brisbane or Saint John's?

Brisbane has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Saint John's. When comparing the sizes of Brisbane 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 Brisbane or Saint John's?

Brisbane 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 Brisbane or Saint John's in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Brisbane as well as Saint John's. Most visitors come to Brisbane for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John's throughout the year.

In January, Brisbane is generally around the same temperature as Saint John'sin July. Daily temperatures in Brisbane average around 25°C (77°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 Brisbane this time of the year. In the summer, Brisbane often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Saint John'sin July. Brisbane gets 256 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. Brisbane receives a lot of rain in the summer. Brisbane usually gets more rain in January than Saint John'sin July. Brisbane gets 169 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Saint John's receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures January and July
    Brisbane 25°C (77°F) 
    Saint John's 27°C (81°F)

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

Both Saint John's and Brisbane are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Brisbane because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John's because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Brisbane is cooler than Saint John's in the autumn. The daily temperature in Brisbane averages around 22°C (71°F) in April, and Saint John's fluctuates around 27°C (80°F)in October.

It's quite sunny in Saint John's. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Brisbane. Brisbane usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Saint John's during autumn. Brisbane gets 214 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. It's quite rainy in Brisbane. In April, Brisbane usually receives less rain than Saint John'sin October. Brisbane gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Saint John's receives 228 mm (9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures April and October
    Brisbane 22°C (71°F) 
    Saint John's 27°C (80°F)

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

Both Saint John's and Brisbane during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Brisbane this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John's year-round.

In the winter, Brisbane is much colder than Saint John's. Typically, the winter temperatures in Brisbane in July average around 15°C (59°F), and Saint John's averages at about 24°C (76°F)in January.

In Saint John's, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Brisbane. In the winter, Brisbane often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Saint John'sin January. Brisbane gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint John's receives 236 hours of full sun.

Brisbane usually gets less rain in July than Saint John'sin January. Brisbane gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Saint John's receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures July and January
    Brisbane 15°C (59°F) 
    Saint John's 24°C (76°F)

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

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Brisbane and Saint John's. Many travelers come to Brisbane for the beaches and the activities around the city. Saint John's attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In October, Brisbane is generally cooler than Saint John'sin April. Daily temperatures in Brisbane average around 21°C (69°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 Brisbane, it's very sunny this time of the year. Brisbane usually receives more sunshine than Saint John's during spring. Brisbane gets 259 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 October, Brisbane usually receives less rain than Saint John'sin April. Brisbane gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Saint John's receives 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures October and April
    Brisbane 21°C (69°F) 
    Saint John's 26°C (78°F)

Typical Weather for Saint John's and Brisbane

Brisbane Saint John's
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 25°C (77°F) 169 mm (6.7 in) 24°C (76°F) 84 mm (3.3 in)
Feb 25°C (77°F) 152 mm (6 in) 24°C (76°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
Mar 24°C (75°F) 146 mm (5.7 in) 25°C (76°F) 73 mm (2.9 in)
Apr 22°C (71°F) 112 mm (4.4 in) 26°C (78°F) 123 mm (4.8 in)
May 19°C (66°F) 104 mm (4.1 in) 27°C (80°F) 148 mm (5.8 in)
Jun 16°C (61°F) 77 mm (3 in) 28°C (82°F) 118 mm (4.6 in)
Jul 15°C (59°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 27°C (81°F) 150 mm (5.9 in)
Aug 16°C (61°F) 46 mm (1.8 in) 27°C (81°F) 198 mm (7.8 in)
Sep 18°C (65°F) 33 mm (1.3 in) 27°C (81°F) 236 mm (9.3 in)
Oct 21°C (69°F) 93 mm (3.7 in) 27°C (80°F) 228 mm (9 in)
Nov 23°C (73°F) 107 mm (4.2 in) 26°C (79°F) 220 mm (8.7 in)
Dec 24°C (76°F) 127 mm (5 in) 25°C (77°F) 137 mm (5.4 in)