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

Should you visit Kampala or Saint John's?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Kampala 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: Kampala or Saint John's?

Kampala

Kampala is the capital of Uganda in the South part of the country near Lake Victoria. It is the largest city in Uganda, with a population of over two million people. This city is very safe and the locals are known to be very kind and approachable.

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 Camping Tours in Uganda, and The Best Safaris in Uganda.


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

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Kampala is $69, 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 Kampala and Saint John's in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kampala $59
    Saint John's $120
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kampala $118
    Saint John's $240
Compare Hotels in Kampala and Saint John's

Looking for a hotel in Kampala 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 Kampala


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: Kampala Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kampala $2.48
    Saint John's $17
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kampala

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kampala are as follows:


  • Taxi around town
    $3.98

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kampala

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kampala:

  • Entebbe Airport Transfers: $80
  • Entebbe Airport taxi. For a safe, affordable and reliable 24/7 airport transfer.: $45
  • From 3-Day Murchison Falls Safari with Transfer: $2,200
  • Full-Day Kampala Trip with Lunch and Hotel Transfers: $200
  • Private Transfer from Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda to Kampala: $128

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:

  • 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 Kampala or Saint John's?

Prices for flights to both Saint John's and Kampala 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
    Kampala $8.36
    Saint John's $68
Typical Food Prices in Kampala

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Kampala:


  • Lunch for 2
    $1.59

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kampala

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kampala.

  • Like a local cooking Tours: $26
  • Three-Hour Food Tour: $41
  • Private Cooking Class with a Local Host: $47
  • Momma Ida's Ugandan Cuisine Cooking Tour: $75
  • Kampala City Walking Food Tour: $77
  • Night-time Boda Boda Street Food Tour: $91
  • Amazing Race - Food Tour: $103
  • Half-day Kampala City Tour and Traditional Dance Show with Dinner (7-Hours): $147
  • Kampala food tour: $205

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kampala -
    Saint John's $103

Tours and Activities in Kampala

Here are a few actual costs in Kampala for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Uganda Community Tour: $15
  • African Fabric Market Tour : $18
  • 3-Hour Walking Tour with Optional Gaddafi Mosque: $24
  • Kampala:Guided walking tour: $25
  • Entebbe Walking Tour (3 Hours) with Zoo and Botanical Gardens Options: $25
  • Tombs, King’s palace and Gaddafi mosque walk tours: $26
  • Steve Kampala Walking tours: $27
  • Safe Motorbike Tour in Kampala (Boda Boda Tour): $30
  • Kampala Guided walking Tour: $30
  • Free Female Guided Walking Tours Kampala (3 Hours): $30
  • Inside Kampala walking tour (Female guided): $32
  • Running City Tour of Kampala at Dawn (7 KMs | Sundays): $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:

  • 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
  • Small-Group Hiking Experience in Antigua: $70
  • Glenmon taxi and tours: $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
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kampala -
    Saint John's $18

Sample the Local Flavors in Kampala

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Kampala:

  • Entebbe and club,pub and bar crawl experiences: $35
  • Kampala Pub Crawl | Uganda | 4 hours: $65


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

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


Which is Bigger, Kampala or Saint John's?

Kampala has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Saint John's. When comparing the sizes of Kampala 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.

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