Which place is cheaper, Saint John's or Edinburgh?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh 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: Edinburgh or Saint John's?
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the moderately sized capital of Scotland. It is a medieval city that has managed to perfect the combination of Georgian architecture and medieval relics with a cosmopolitan population and avant-garde atmosphere. The city's population is quite young, in large part because of the University of Edinburgh. This youthful vibe gives this city a lot of vitality. There's a thriving nightlife, many restaurants, theatres, galleries and museums.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Edinburgh, and The Best 10-Day Tours from London.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEdinburgh £142Saint John's £178
The average daily cost (per person) in Edinburgh is £142, while the average daily cost in Saint John's is £178. 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 Edinburgh and Saint John's in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEdinburgh £74Saint John's £96
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEdinburgh £148Saint John's £192
Compare Hotels in Edinburgh and Saint John's
Looking for a hotel in Edinburgh 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: Edinburgh Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Edinburgh £17Saint John's £14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Edinburgh
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Edinburgh:
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Local Bus£3.60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Edinburgh
Also for Edinburgh, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer to/from Edinburgh City, St'Andrews etc.: $113
- Airport Transfer: Airport EDI to Edinburgh by Business Car: $135
- Airport Transfer: Airport EDI to Edinburgh by Luxury Car: $163
- Airport Transfer: Airport EDI to Edinburgh by Luxury Van: $163
- Airport Transfer: Edinburgh to Airport EDI by Business Car: $135
- Airport Transfer: Edinburgh to Airport EDI by Luxury Van: $163
- Arrival Transfer Edinburgh Airport EDI to Edinburgh by Minivan: $96
- Central Edinburgh Hotels to Edinburgh Airport Transfers 1-3: $256
- Edinburgh Airport (EDI) to Glasgow - Arrival Private Transfer: $60
- Edinburgh Airport (EDI) to Kinbuck - Arrival Private Transfer: $103
- Edinburgh Airport (EDI) to Kinbuck - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $206
- Edinburgh Airport (EDI) to Lecht Ski Resort - Arrival Transfer: $76
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£1.22
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Taxi From Airport£5.60
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 Edinburgh or Saint John's?
Prices for flights to both Saint John's and Edinburgh 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 dayEdinburgh £39Saint John's £54
Typical Food Prices in Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Breakfast£8.50
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Dinner at Filling Station£10
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Lunch for Two£15
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Sandwich£1.85
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Cheese & bread£7.23
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Thai Restaurant Dinner (for 2)£25
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2 Coffees and Scones£5.80
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Turkish Delight£1.40
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Soup at the Pub£5.90
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hard Rock Cafe with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $31
- Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $33
- Scottish Dinner and Folk Music Experience: $88
- Edinburgh Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $90
- Edinburgh Holiday Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $90
- Edinburgh Food Tour: $100
- 'Scotland meets Sardinia' - 8-course Dinner in Leith, Edinburgh: $110
- 3-Hour Guided Secret Food Tour: $116
- Edinburgh Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $121
- The 10 Tastings of Edinburgh With Locals: Private Food Tour: $162
- Edinburgh Food Tour with a Local Foodie Custom & Private: $188
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.Edinburgh £20Saint John's £83
Typical Entertainment Prices in Edinburgh
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Edinburgh's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Show Tickets£32
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Movie Tickets for Two£12
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Donation for Storytellers£6.00
Tours and Activities in Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Escape Game and Tour: $3.77
- Edinburgh Stand Up Comedy Ticket Show in Scotland: $5.08
- Audio Tour Royal Mile: del Castillo hasta "The Tron Kirk": $5.37
- Edinbourgh, Royal mile: walking tour with audio guide: $5.38
- Edinburgh Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & City Tour: $5.60
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.45
- Audio Tour through History of Crime: $7.00
- Edinburgh Royal mile: Self-guided walking tour: $7.20
- Must-See In App Audio Tour: $7.61
- Harry Potter’s A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Edinburgh Royal Mile (New Self Guided Tour) : $8.02
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£2.40
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 dayEdinburgh £15Saint John's £14
Typical Alcohol Prices in Edinburgh
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Edinburgh from other travelers:
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Beer & Wine£14
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Half Pint at Tollbooth Tavern£1.65
Sample the Local Flavors in Edinburgh
Also in Edinburgh, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl with Free Shots & Discounts: $11
- Edinburgh Bar Crawl: 5+ Venues, Free Shots, Free Club Entry: $19
- Pub Crawl in Edinburgh: $19
- Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour with "Real-Actors": $25
- East Lothian: Glenkinchie Whisky Distillery Tour & Tasting: $26
- Guided Gin Tasting at 56 North Distillery: $28
- Pub Crawl 7 Bars with 6 Shots: $31
- Whisky Tasting and Tales at Summerhall Distillery: $31
- Lind & Lime Gin Distillery Tour & Tasting: $31
- Pickering's Gin Jolly Distillery Tasting Tour: $31
- Visit a Working South Loch Gin Distillery: $32
- The Original Edinburgh Pub Crawl: $32
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Edinburgh and Saint John's, we can see that Saint John's is more expensive. And not only is Edinburgh much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Edinburgh is in Europe 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 Edinburgh would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Edinburgh Expensive? and Is Saint John's Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Edinburgh or Saint John's?
Edinburgh has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Saint John's. When comparing the sizes of Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh or Saint John's?
Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh or Saint John's in the Summer?
Both Saint John's and Edinburgh during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Edinburgh for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John's year-round.
Edinburgh is much colder than Saint John's in the summer. The daily temperature in Edinburgh averages around 14°C (58°F) in July, and Saint John's fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
In Saint John's, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Edinburgh often gets less sunshine than Saint John's. Edinburgh gets 163 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. Edinburgh usually gets less rain in July than Saint John's. Edinburgh gets 56 mm (2.2 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 JulyEdinburgh 14°C (58°F)Saint John's 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Edinburgh or Saint John's in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Edinburgh and Saint John's. Many visitors come to Edinburgh in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Saint John's attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, Edinburgh is much colder than Saint John's. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Edinburgh in October average around 10°C (49°F), and Saint John's averages at about 27°C (80°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint John's this time of the year. Edinburgh usually receives less sunshine than Saint John's during autumn. Edinburgh gets 90 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 October, Edinburgh usually receives less rain than Saint John's. Edinburgh gets 67 mm (2.6 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 OctoberEdinburgh 10°C (49°F)Saint John's 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Edinburgh or Saint John's in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Edinburgh as well as Saint John's. Most visitors come to Edinburgh for the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John's throughout the year.
Edinburgh can be very cold during winter. In January, Edinburgh is generally much colder than Saint John's. Daily temperatures in Edinburgh average around 3°C (38°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, Edinburgh often gets less sunshine than Saint John's. Edinburgh gets 48 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint John's receives 236 hours of full sun.
Edinburgh usually gets less rain in January than Saint John's. Edinburgh gets 61 mm (2.4 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 JanuaryEdinburgh 3°C (38°F)Saint John's 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Edinburgh or Saint John's in the Spring?
Both Saint John's and Edinburgh are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Edinburgh because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John's because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Edinburgh is much colder than Saint John's in the spring. The daily temperature in Edinburgh averages around 7°C (45°F) in April, and Saint John's fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
It's quite sunny in Saint John's. Edinburgh usually receives less sunshine than Saint John's during spring. Edinburgh gets 132 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 April, Edinburgh usually receives less rain than Saint John's. Edinburgh gets 40 mm (1.6 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 AprilEdinburgh 7°C (45°F)Saint John's 26°C (78°F)
Typical Weather for Saint John's and Edinburgh
| Edinburgh | Saint John's | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (38°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (38°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 5°C (41°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Apr | 7°C (45°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) |
| May | 10°C (49°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
| Jun | 13°C (55°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Jul | 14°C (58°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Aug | 14°C (58°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) |
| Oct | 10°C (49°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) |
| Nov | 5°C (42°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (39°F) | 64 mm (2.5 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.