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

Should you visit Nairobi or Saint John?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Nairobi and Saint John 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: Nairobi or Saint John?

Nairobi

Nairobi is Kenya's capital as well as the country's largest city. With a population of about 3 million, it is also one of the largest cities in Africa. It is a prominent city both politically and financially within the region. There are many international companies that are located in Nairobi and the Nairobi Securities and Exchange is one of the largest in Africa.

Saint John

With the popularity of the Caribbean rising, many islands have become touristy and expensive – but not St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

At only nine miles long and five miles wide, St. John is the smallest of the Virgin Islands, and, many argue, the prettiest. It's the kind of place that has maintained it's cultural identity, but still welcomes visitors from all over the world. With a population of just 5,000, the residents of St. John know everyone and everything happening on the island.

This island is perfect for people who want an undisturbed island getaway at any price. Between resorts and campgrounds there is a spot for everyone on St. John.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Kenya, and The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya.


Which place is cheaper, Saint John or Nairobi?

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

  • Nairobi Prices
    Kenya Prices
    Saint John Prices
    USVI Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Nairobi $68
    Saint John $233

The average daily cost (per person) in Nairobi is $68, while the average daily cost in Saint John is $233. 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 Nairobi and Saint John in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Nairobi $12
    Saint John $106
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Nairobi $24
    Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Nairobi and Saint John

Looking for a hotel in Nairobi or Saint John? 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 Nairobi


Hotels in Saint John


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: Nairobi Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Nairobi $11
    Saint John $49
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nairobi

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


  • Taxi from Airport
    $9.27

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nairobi

Also for Nairobi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Airport Transfers: $40
  • Airport Transfers In Nairobi: $50
  • Airport Transfers In Nairobi City: $67
  • Airport Transfers in Nairobi: $28
  • Airport Transfers in Nairobi City: $70
  • Airport transfer; NBO to nairobi hotels: $27
  • Airport transfers: $180
  • Airport transfers in Nairobi: $60
  • From Wilson Airport: Nairobi private transfer in a car (3 pax): $30
  • Hotel, Airport Transfers in Nairobi: $45
  • Nairobi Airport One Way Private Transfer: $27
  • Nairobi Airport One Way Transfers: $30

Is it cheaper to fly into Nairobi or Saint John?

Prices for flights to both Saint John and Nairobi 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
    Nairobi $13
    Saint John $97
Typical Food Prices in Nairobi

For Nairobi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Dinner for Two
    $5.02

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nairobi

For Nairobi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Karibu Kitchens Nairobi Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $55
  • Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class & Local Market Tour: $55
  • Cooking Lesson of Local Food $ Lunch: $68
  • Dinner/Lunch Eating Experience Carnivore Restaurant & Transport: $75
  • Barbecue Lunch/ Dinner At The Carnivore Restaurant - Nairobi: $85
  • Safari Park dinner with live band music and cat dance show.: $90
  • BBQ Dinner & Cat Dancers Experience at Safari Park Hotel: $90
  • Safari Park Dinner with Safari Cats Dance Show: $97
  • Private Market Tour and Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class in Nairobi with a Local: $98
  • Safari Cat Dancers Show And Dinner: $100
  • Nairobi dinner and safari cat dancers: $100
  • Nairobi National Park Afternoon Game Drive/ Dinner Carnivore Restaurant: $100

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Nairobi $46
    Saint John $23
Typical Entertainment Prices in Nairobi

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Nairobi's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Village Visit
    $15

Tours and Activities in Nairobi

For Nairobi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Fashion African Fabric & Souvenir Market Tour: $12
  • Kibera Slum Tour with a Local: $15
  • Kibera Slum Cultural and Community Walking Tour: $15
  • Private Tour in Kibera the Largest Slum: $15
  • Nairobi Heritage Tour with Key Landmarks: $16
  • Ankara Fabric Shopping and Same Day Tailoring Experience: $17
  • Nairobi Matatu Culture Experience: $18
  • Nairobi’s ultimate Walking City Tour with Hotel pickup: $20
  • Nairobi Walking City Tour +pick-up: $20
  • Kibera Chocolate City Tour: $22
  • Nairobi City Walk Tour +pickup: $22
  • Nairobi Artistic and Literary Walking Tour Experience: $22

Tours and Activities in Saint John

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

  • St. John: A Private Island Adventure Tour & Trunk Bay Beach: $627

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Nairobi $16
    Saint John $44


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nairobi and Saint John, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. And not only is Nairobi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Nairobi is in Africa and Saint John 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 Nairobi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nairobi 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 would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint John than you might in Nairobi.

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