Which place is cheaper, Saint John's or Chiang Mai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Chiang Mai or Saint John's?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Chiang Mai and Saint John's. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Chiang Mai or Saint John's?
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is both the cultural center of northern Thailand and a launching point for trips into the rural areas, small towns, and lush jungles of the country's northern regions. Known for great food, historic temples, arts and crafts, and a lively night market, Chiang Mai is a very popular destination for travelers. In some areas, tourists and ex-pats dominate, but it's quite easy to get away from the tourist scene and into the real culture of Thailand, as Chiang Mai (and the surrounding countryside) is quite large.
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 G Adventures Tours to Thailand, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChiang Mai $45Saint John's $222
The average daily cost (per person) in Chiang Mai is $45, 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 Chiang Mai and Saint John's in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChiang Mai $26Saint John's $120
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChiang Mai $52Saint John's $240
Compare Hotels in Chiang Mai and Saint John's
Looking for a hotel in Chiang Mai 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: Chiang Mai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chiang Mai $3.61Saint John's $17
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Chiang Mai
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Chiang Mai are as follows:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$1.09
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Moped Rental$4.89
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chiang Mai
Also for Chiang Mai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 2-Day Transfer Luang Prabang from Chiang Mai by Sleeper Bus : $83
- ATV Riding and Grand Canyon Chiang Mai Include Pickup Transfer: $90
- Chiang Mai #1 Way Private Car transfer to/from Bangkok City: $273
- Chiang Mai #Private Car transfer to/from Mae Sot: $196
- Chiang Mai : Sticky Waterfalls transfer: $23
- Chiang Mai Airport (CNX): One-Way Private Transfer: $12
- Chiang Mai Airport Arrival – Private Transfer from Airport to Four Seasons Hotel: $24
- Chiang Mai Airport CNX to Chiang Dao Private Arrival Transfer: $27
- Chiang Mai Airport CNX to Pai Resorts Round Trip Private Transfer: $154
- Chiang Mai Airport CNX to Pai Thermal Resorts Arrival Transfer: $77
- Chiang Mai Airport Departure – Private Transfer from Hotel to Airport: $13
- Chiang Mai Airport PRIVATE Arrival or Departure Transfer : $21
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:
- Antigua&BarbudaV.C.Bird Airport(ANU)to island hotels-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $255
- Biggvee Premium Airport One Way Transfer: $200
- Private Roundtrip Airport Transfers & Tour in Antigua & Barbuda: $200
- Airport Transfers to Antigua Hotels/Resorts: $170
- Antigua V.C. Bird Airport (ANU) to Island - Round-Trip Transfer : $156
- 3-Hours Stingray City - Transfer, Spanish-Italian Guide Included: $155
- Private Airport Transfers 1- 2 Pax Zone D: Hotels: $130
- Private Airport Transfers 1- 2 Pax. Zone C: Hotels: $120
- Private Transfer from Antigua & Barbuda V.C. Bird Airport (ANU) to island: $113
- Antigua - VIP Fast Track On Arrival ONLY And Round Trip Transfer : $99
- Private Round Trip Transfer From Antigua Airport To NonSuch Bay: $99
- Luxury Airport transfer from or to Antigua Airport : $85
Is it cheaper to fly into Chiang Mai or Saint John's?
Prices for flights to both Saint John's and Chiang Mai 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 dayChiang Mai $10Saint John's $68
Typical Food Prices in Chiang Mai
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Chiang Mai:
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Sit Down Dinner (for One)$5.30
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Roti Snack (Bread)$0.65
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Casual Breakfast$1.09
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$5.43
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Mangoes$0.82
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Coffee$1.36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chiang Mai
For Chiang Mai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Evening Class Chiang Mai Visit Organic Garden and Market: $11
- Cooking Morning Class Chiang Mai Visit Organic Garden and Market : $11
- Traditional Khantoke Dinner and Show from Chiang Mai: $19
- Khantoke Dinner with Traditional Performance: $22
- Afternoon Cooking Class in Organic Garden in Chiang Mai: $22
- Evening Cooking Class in Organic Garden Chiang Mai: $22
- Half-Day Thai Cooking Class at Organic Farm in Chiang Mai: $22
- Cooking Class, Market and Thai Herbs Garden Tour: $25
- Authentic Easy Thai Recipes for Home-Style Cooking Half Day AM: $25
- Half Day Evening Cooking Class with Yummy Tasty Thai Cooking School: $25
- Half-Day Thai Cuisine Cooking Experience in Chiang Mai : $27
- Thai and Isaan Cooking Class & Local Market Tour: $27
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.Chiang Mai $13Saint John's $103
Typical Entertainment Prices in Chiang Mai
For Chiang Mai, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Thai Cooking Class$35
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Doi Suthep Entrance Ticket$1.63
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Kratong Lessons$2.72
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Pedicure$4.08
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Chiang Mai Museum (for Two)$4.89
Tours and Activities in Chiang Mai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chiang Mai.
- Scavenger Hunt City Tour for Your Smartphone: $7.73
- Chiang Mai Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.84
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Art in Paradise Illusion Museum Entry Ticket: $11
- Mae Ping River Cruise: $12
- Old City and Temples Guided Walking Tour: $14
- Local Food and Markets Guided Walking Tour: $14
- Skip the Line: Chiang Mai Art in Paradise Admission Ticket: $14
- Tweechol Botanic Garden Half Day Adventure : $15
- Chiang Mai Michelin Food Walking Tour with Professional Tour Guide: $15
- Chiang Mai Old City & Temples Guided Walking Tour - 2 Hrs: $15
- Circuit Karting Experience at Chiang Mai Circuit - Go Kart: $16
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 dayChiang Mai $6.73Saint John's $18
Typical Alcohol Prices in Chiang Mai
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Chiang Mai are as follows:
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Wine$2.72
Sample the Local Flavors in Chiang Mai
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Chiang Mai:
- Chiang Mai Pub Crawl: The Best Bars & Pubs in Chiang Mai!: $9.55
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chiang Mai and Saint John's, we can see that Saint John's is more expensive. And not only is Chiang Mai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Chiang Mai 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 Chiang Mai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chiang Mai 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 Chiang Mai.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Chiang Mai Expensive? and Is Saint John's Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chiang Mai or Saint John's?
Chiang Mai has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Saint John's. When comparing the sizes of Chiang Mai 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 Chiang Mai or Saint John's?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Chiang Mai or Saint John's in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Chiang Mai as well as Saint John's. Chiang Mai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John's throughout the year.
June to September in Chiang Mai is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Saint John's. Chiang Mai receives a lot of rain in the summer. Chiang Mai usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Saint John's. Chiang Mai gets 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while Saint John's receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. In the summer, Chiang Mai often gets less sunshine than Saint John's. Chiang Mai gets 146 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint John's receives 245 hours of full sun.
In the summer, Chiang Mai is around the same temperature as Saint John's. Typically, the summer temperatures in Chiang Mai in July average around 30°C (86°F), and Saint John's averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyChiang Mai 30°C (86°F)Saint John's 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Chiang Mai or Saint John's in the Autumn?
Both Saint John's and Chiang Mai are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Chiang Mai throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John's because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Chiang Mai is November to February. It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. It's quite rainy in Chiang Mai. In October, Chiang Mai usually receives less rain than Saint John's. Chiang Mai gets 122 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Saint John's receives 228 mm (9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
It's quite sunny in Saint John's. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Saint John's during autumn. Chiang Mai gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Saint John's receives 217 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Chiang Mai is generally around the same temperature as Saint John's. Daily temperatures in Chiang Mai average around 29°C (83°F), and Saint John's fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberChiang Mai 29°C (83°F)Saint John's 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Chiang Mai or Saint John's in the Winter?
Both Saint John's and Chiang Mai during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Chiang Mai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John's year-round.
November to February is the dry season in Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai usually gets less rain in January than Saint John's. Chiang Mai gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Saint John's receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Saint John's, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Chiang Mai. In the winter, Chiang Mai often gets more sunshine than Saint John's. Chiang Mai gets 283 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint John's receives 236 hours of full sun.
Chiang Mai is around the same temperature as Saint John's in the winter. The daily temperature in Chiang Mai averages around 23°C (74°F) in January, and Saint John's fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryChiang Mai 23°C (74°F)Saint John's 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Chiang Mai or Saint John's in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Chiang Mai and Saint John's. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Chiang Mai year-round. Saint John's attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Also, June to September is the rainy season in Chiang Mai. Saint John's receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Chiang Mai usually receives less rain than Saint John's. Chiang Mai gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Saint John's receives 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint John's this time of the year. In Chiang Mai, it's very sunny this time of the year. Chiang Mai usually receives more sunshine than Saint John's during spring. Chiang Mai gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Saint John's receives 240 hours of full sun in the spring.
The heat can be very extreme in Chiang Mai. In the spring, Chiang Mai is a little warmer than Saint John's. Typically, the spring temperatures in Chiang Mai in April average around 31°C (88°F), and Saint John's averages at about 26°C (78°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilChiang Mai 31°C (88°F)Saint John's 26°C (78°F)
Typical Weather for Saint John's and Chiang Mai
| Chiang Mai | Saint John's | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (74°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (78°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (83°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Apr | 31°C (88°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) |
| May | 31°C (87°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (86°F) | 161 mm (6.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (85°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (85°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (83°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (75°F) | 20 mm (0.8 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.