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

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

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'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 Safaris in Kenya, and The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya.


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

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 Nairobi is $68, 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 Nairobi and Saint John's in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Nairobi $12
    Saint John's $120
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Nairobi $24
    Saint John's $240
Compare Hotels in Nairobi and Saint John's

Looking for a hotel in Nairobi 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 Nairobi


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: Nairobi Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Nairobi $11
    Saint John's $17
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

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:

  • VIP Meet and Greet Fast Track on Arrival at Antigua Airport - without Transfers: $77
  • Shirley's Heights Sunset Party Transfer: $80
  • Shared Airport Transfers Antigua Resorts: $58
  • Round-Trip Transfer between Antigua Airport and Antigua Hotels: $36
  • Private and Group Airport Transfers in Antigua and Barbuda: $60
  • Private Transfer Service in Antigua: $80
  • Private One-Way Transfer From Antigua To Antigua Airport: $49
  • Private Airport Transfers to Antigua and Barbuda: $60
  • Private Airport Transfers 1- 2 Pax Zone D: Hotels: $130
  • Private Airport Transfer Antigua: $135
  • JTAT Private Transfers & Tours, Saint John's, Antigua and Barbuda: $160
  • Discover the Best of Antigua Sightseeing Tour - Eagle Transfers: $125

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

Prices for flights to both Saint John's 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's $117
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

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
  • Local Antigua Rum and Food Tour: $130
  • Nicole's Table - Cooking with Rum: $165

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Nairobi $46
    Saint John's $103
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

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:

  • 6-Hours Tour East Coast of Antigua: Stingray City, Lunch & Beach: $205
  • ATV Rugged Adventure- Scenic Exhilarating "four wheeling" fun!: $130
  • Adventure Antigua - Eli's Original Eco Tour: $143
  • Adventure Antigua - The Xtreme Circumnavigation tour: $221
  • Antigua Explorer Tour: $130
  • Antigua Heritage and Horizon Tour: $125
  • Antigua Historical Sites Island Tour: $111
  • Antigua Island Tour Top Attractions and Hidden Gems: $99
  • Antigua Mud Buggy Adventure with Beach Stop - St. Mary's: $145
  • Antigua Private Beach Hopping Land Tour: $135
  • Antigua Reef Riders Self-Drive Boat and Snorkeling Tour: $180
  • Antigua Round Island Tour: $94

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Nairobi $16
    Saint John's $18


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nairobi and Saint John's, we can see that Saint John's 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'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 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'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 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's Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Nairobi or Saint John's?

Nairobi has a larger population, and is about 110 times larger than the population of Saint John's. When comparing the sizes of Nairobi 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.