Which place is cheaper, Saint John's or Buzios?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Buzios or Saint John's?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Buzios or Saint John's? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Buzios or Saint John's?
Buzios
Initially a fishing village, Armação dos Buzios is a small beach resort town about three hours from Rio de Janeiro by bus. Buzios is a common weekend getaway destination for Cariocas. With 23 beaches, visitors from all over come to swim, snorkel, surf and enjoy sun and sand.
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 Adventure Tours to Brazil, and The Best Eco Tours in Brazil.
-
Buzios Prices
Brazil PricesSaint John's Prices
Antigua and Barbuda Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBuzios $91Saint John's $272
The average daily cost (per person) in Buzios is $91, while the average daily cost in Saint John's is $272. 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 Buzios and Saint John's in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBuzios $36Saint John's $120
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBuzios $72Saint John's $240
Compare Hotels in Buzios and Saint John's
Looking for a hotel in Buzios 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
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Buzios $18Saint John's $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Buzios
Also for Buzios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Departure Transfer : $45
- Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Private Transfer: $45
- Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) to Beach Resorts - Round-Trip Transfer: $91
- Executive private transfer from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 3 pax to Buzios: $115
- Executive private transfer from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 4 pax to Buzios: $115
- Private Transfer Buzios to Rio de Janeiro: $91
- Private Transfer from Buzios Port to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB): $118
- Private Transfer from Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) to Buzios Port: $118
- Private Transfer from Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro: $91
- Private Transfer from GIG Airport to City Buzios in Rio : $170
- Private transfer Buzios in Rio to the SDU Airport : $182
- Private transfer Minivan from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 6 pax to Buzios: $134
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:
- Private Roundtrip Airport Transfers & Tour in Antigua & Barbuda: $200
- Biggvee Premium Airport One Way Transfer: $200
- JTAT Private Transfers & Tours, Saint John's, Antigua and Barbuda: $160
- 3-Hours Eye-Opening Stingray City Antigua - Transfer R/T included: $133
- Private Transfer from Antigua & Barbuda V.C. Bird Airport (ANU) to island: $123
- Antigua - VIP Fast Track On Arrival ONLY And Round Trip Transfer : $109
- Crystal Kayak & Snorkel Eco Tour (with transfer): $99
- Antigua V.C. Bird Airport (ANU) to Island - Round-Trip Transfer : $93
- Private Antigua Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Hammock Cove: $90
- Private Round Trip Transfer From Antigua Airport To NonSuch Bay: $84
- VIP Meet and Greet Fast Track on Arrival at Antigua Airport - without Transfers : $77
- Biggvee Airport Roundtrip Transfer: $70
Is it cheaper to fly into Buzios or Saint John's?
Prices for flights to both Saint John's and Buzios 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 dayBuzios $40Saint John's $117
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
- Nicole's Table - Cooking with Rum: $165
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Buzios $25Saint John's $103
Tours and Activities in Buzios
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Buzios.
- Tour of the most beautiful beaches and islands of Buzios by Buziana Tour: $11
- Boat Tour Open Bar A Floor Arraial do Cabo : $13
- Buggy Ride in Buzios by Buziana Tour: $19
- Tour of Bugre in Arraial (Buggy): $21
- Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo: $23
- Catamaran Boat Tour in Búzios: $26
- Half-Day Schooner Sightseeing Trip in Buzios Peninsula Beaches: $27
- 3-hour Small Group Buzios Peninsula Open Air Trolley Tour: $31
- Buzios Trolley City Tour: $31
- Tour in Boat Tour in Buzios: $38
- Underwater Adventure in Diving and Snorkeling: $46
- Schooner Tour in Buzios - Departure from Buzios: $51
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:
- Island Flava Discovery Tour: $150
- 6-Hours Tour East Coast of Antigua: Stingray City, Lunch & Beach: $195
- Adventure Antigua - Eli's Original Eco Tour: $143
- Adventure Antigua - The Xtreme Circumnavigation: $221
- Antigua Eco Island Tour (City, Country, Beach, & Heritage Sites): $199
- Antigua Historical Sites Island Tour: $110
- Antigua Reef Riders Self-Drive Boat and Snorkeling Tour: $180
- Antigua Round Island Tour: $85
- Antigua Seafood Lunch Cruise From St. John's: $172
- Antigua Shore Excursion: Round Island Tour: $110
- Antigua VIP Tours - Private Platinum Tour: $170
- Antigua VIP Tours - Semi-Private Gold Tour: $135
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayBuzios $17Saint John's $18
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Buzios and Saint John's, we can see that Saint John's is more expensive. And not only is Buzios much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Buzios is in South America 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 Buzios would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Buzios 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 Buzios.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Buzios Expensive? and Is Saint John's Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Buzios or Saint John's?
Saint John's has a larger population, and is about 3% larger than the population of Buzios. When comparing the sizes of Buzios 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.
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.