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

Should you visit Kathmandu 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 Kathmandu 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: Kathmandu or Saint John's?

Kathmandu

Kathmandu is the capital and largest city in the country of Nepal. Its metropolitan area forms one large urban area that includes the area of Patan to the south. As of 2011 there were 2.5 million residents in the Kathmandu metropolis and over 3 million in the entire metropolitan area. Kathmandu is likely to be your entry point into Nepal and is a great place to pick up supplies and arrange the details for any treks you hope to do. Many travelers rush through Kathmandu, turned off by the pollution and crowds, but to skip Kathmandu is to miss a major cultural, financial, and influential part of what defines the country of Nepal. The city itself is quite fun to explore if you allow it enough time and an open mind.

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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal, The Best Luxury Tours to Antigua and Barbuda, and The Best Adventure Tours to Antigua and Barbuda.


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

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Kathmandu is $54, 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 Kathmandu and Saint John's in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kathmandu $35
    Saint John's $120
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kathmandu $70
    Saint John's $240
Compare Hotels in Kathmandu and Saint John's

Looking for a hotel in Kathmandu 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 Kathmandu


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: Kathmandu Hotel Prices and Saint John's Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kathmandu $6.04
    Saint John's $17
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kathmandu

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


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.30

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kathmandu

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kathmandu:

  • Airport Transfers in Kathmandu – Pickup OR Drop-Off Service: $15
  • Chitwan to Pokhara Transfer by Private AC Car (One Way): $80
  • Day Trip to Water and Amusement Park and Kirtipur sightseeing with Transfer: $87
  • Kathmandu ↔ Chitwan Private Transfer: $131
  • Kathmandu - Arrival transfer from airport to hotel: $12
  • Kathmandu Airport Private Transfer: Arrival or Departure Service: $15
  • Kathmandu Airport Private Transfers: $16
  • Kathmandu Airport Transfer — Private Pickup or Drop: $17
  • Kathmandu VIP Airport Arrival Meet & Greet with Private Transfer: $150
  • Kathmandu to Besisahar One Way Transfer by Private AC Car: $80
  • Kathmandu to Gorkha Transfer by Private AC Car One Way: $70
  • Kathmandu to Lumbini One Way Transfer by Private AC Car: $140

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 Private Airport Transfer- South Side Hotels: $30
  • Antigua Airport Private Transfer West Side Hotels: $30
  • Private Airport Transfers 1- 2 Pax. Zone A: Hotels: $30
  • Round-Trip Transfer between Antigua Airport and Antigua Hotels: $36
  • RJT Airport Private Transfer Round Trip- North: $40
  • Antigua Roundtrip Airport Transfer: $49
  • RJT Airport Private Transfer Round Trip - East: $56
  • Antigua Airport Private Roundtrip Transfer to and from Royalton Antigua Resort: $60
  • Private and Group Airport Transfers in Antigua and Barbuda: $60
  • Private Airport Transfers to Antigua and Barbuda: $60
  • Round-Trip Transfer between Antigua Airport and Antigua Hotel: $60
  • Biggvee Airport Roundtrip Transfer: $70

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

Prices for flights to both Saint John's and Kathmandu 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
    Kathmandu $13
    Saint John's $117
Typical Food Prices in Kathmandu

Some typical examples of dining costs in Kathmandu are as follows:


  • Dessert
    $1.17
  • Dinner for Two
    $2.61

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kathmandu

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

  • Saturday Hidden Kathmandu Walk and Food Tour: $10
  • Local Foodie Food Tour around Durbar Square: $15
  • Cultural Stay in Kathmandu and experience dinner with family: $18
  • Local Women Lead Nepali Cooking & Momo-Making Class: $20
  • Authentic Private Nepali Cooking Class in Kathmandu: $23
  • Cook and Eat: Cooking Class in Kathmandu near Thamel: $24
  • Local Women Lead Nepali Cooking Class: $30
  • Best Nepali Cooking Class in Thamel with Local Market Trip: $30
  • Secret Food Tour - Food Bites and Sights Kathmandu 14+ Tastings: $35
  • Walking Food Tour in Hidden Local Eateries of Kathmandu: $36
  • Kathmandu Kitchens Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $39
  • Everest Eats Kathmandu Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $39

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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kathmandu $6.98
    Saint John's $103
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kathmandu

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Kathmandu are as follows:


  • Monkey Temple for Two
    $1.30
  • Patan Durbar Square Entrance for Two
    $3.26
  • Swayambhunath Stupa
    $1.30

Tours and Activities in Kathmandu

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kathmandu are as follows:

  • Chandragiri Cable Car Ride and Monkey Temple Tour - Private/Group: $5.00
  • Kathmandu City Tour: UNESCO World Heritage Sites Private/Group: $8.00
  • Kathmandu Heritage Highlights: Best of Kathmandu Private Day Tour: $8.00
  • Full Day 7 UNESCO Tour with Lunch - Private/Group: $8.00
  • Chitwan to Pokhara Tourist Bus Sofa seater: $9.00
  • Kathmandu to Chitwan Tourist Bus Tickets: $9.50
  • Private sightseeing Day Tour | Top 4 UNESCO Heritage: $10
  • Women Thamel Walking Tour: $10
  • Chitwan to Bandipur Tourist Bus Luxury Sofa Seater: $10
  • Chitwan to Kathmandu Tourist Bus Tickets: $10
  • Patan and Bhaktapur Durbar Square Day Tour with Lunch.: $10
  • Dhulikhel to Namo Buddha Hike & Tour - Private/Group: $10

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:

  • Falmouth Ocean Club Dance Class Experience: $12
  • Cultural and Historical Home Tour in The Antiguan Experience: $66
  • Half Day Historical Tour in Antigua with Beach: $67
  • Explore Antigua and Barbuda with local guide island tour: $80
  • Nightlife Tour of Antigua and Barbuda: $80
  • SoCoHo Eco Kayak and Snorkel Tour: $88
  • Clear Kayak Tour in Mangrove Antigua: $90
  • Trek Tours Hiking Experience in Antigua: $90
  • Antigua Round Island Tour: $94
  • Circumnavigate Tour: $95
  • Experience Antigua ( 2 persons and above only ): $104
  • Turtle Beach Power Snorkeling Adventure Pickup Excluded: $109

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kathmandu $4.97
    Saint John's $18

Sample the Local Flavors in Kathmandu

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

  • Bar Tour & Pub Crawl -Sip, Stroll, Repeat Thamel's Night: $75


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

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


Which is Bigger, Kathmandu or Saint John's?

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