Which place is cheaper, Saint John or Nassau?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Nassau or Saint John?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Nassau or Saint John, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Nassau or Saint John?
Nassau
There are few vacation destinations more famous than the Bahamian city of Nassau. This capital city is full of laid back locals, relaxed tourists and the iconic pastel pink government houses.
As the largest city in the Bahamas, Nassau can hold plenty of people. Not only are there hundreds of tourists on any given day, the city is also home to 260,000 people – that is 80 percent of the Bahamas' total population.
Founded around 1650, Nassau's location made it a great spot on the trade route. So great, in fact, that it also became a popular destination for pirates – including the infamous Blackbeard.
Pack light because it's going to be pretty steamy in Nassau. The climate is essentially identical to southern Florida. It is warm and humid all year with the occasional cold snap in the winter.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNassau $189Saint John $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Nassau is $189, while the average daily cost in Saint John is $192. 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 Nassau and Saint John in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNassau $109Saint John $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNassau $218Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Nassau and Saint John
Looking for a hotel in Nassau 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.
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: Nassau Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nassau $32Saint John $49
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nassau
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Nassau are as follows:
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Water Taxi$8.02
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Taxi to Cable Beach$25
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Taxi from Airport$30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nassau
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nassau:
- AirPort Transfer (One Way): $151
- Airport Transfers : $98
- Atlantis Private Luxury Roundtrip Airport Transfer: $190
- Chippies Airport/Hotel Transfers Transportation: $55
- Group transfer: $68
- Low Cost Airport Transfers: $185
- Luxury Taxi Transfer to Nassau Bahamas Paradise Island: $125
- Lynden Pindling Airport (NAS): Round-Trip Nassau Transfer: $310
- Nassau Airport (NAS) to Nassau Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $40
- Nassau Airport (NAS) to Nassau cruise port - Arrival Transfer: $40
- Nassau Airport (NAS) to Nassau cruise port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $80
- Nassau Airport (NAS) to Nassau hotels -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $108
Is it cheaper to fly into Nassau or Saint John?
Prices for flights to both Saint John and Nassau 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 dayNassau $53Saint John $56
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nassau
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nassau.
- Nassau Food Tour and Beach Break: $65
- Conch Salad Cooking Lesson and Tasting in Nassau: $80
- Savor Old Nassau Dining Stroll by Tru Bahamian Food Tours: $116
- Sail Catamaran Sunset Dinner Cruise: $116
- Dinner and Dancing: $130
- Authentic Bahamian Cooking Class: $135
- Bahamian Cooking Class Lunch Experience by Tru Bahamian Food Tour: $140
- Island Food Tour: $140
- Gourmet dinner & sunset cruise on luxury catamaran: $375
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nassau $37Saint John $23
Typical Entertainment Prices in Nassau
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Nassau are as follows:
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Jet Ski$50
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4 Hr Kayak Tour$70
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1/2 Day Snorkel Trip$75
Tours and Activities in Nassau
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nassau are as follows:
- Champagne and Diamond Shopping Experience in Downtown, Bahamas: $5.00
- Archie's Weekend Tour with Seafood Snack and Spanish Friendly: $7.00
- KINDWalk — Nassau Historical and Cultural Walking Tour: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Nassau Self-Guided Audio Tour: The Jewel of the Bahamas: $15
- Heritage Museum of The Bahamas Nassau Guided Tour: $20
- Jekyll Island Dolphin Tours: $28
- Roundtrip Shuttle from Cruise Terminal at Prince George Wharf: $29
- Nassau Sightseeing Bus Tour: $35
- Big Bus Private Tour (minimum of 15): $43
- Bahamas Ghost Walking Tour: $44
- Island Tour: $44
Tours and Activities in Saint John
Here are a few actual costs in Saint John for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- USVI: Island & Beach Tours in St. Thomas & St. John (2 Days): $199
- St. John: A Private Island Adventure Tour & Trunk Bay Beach: $627
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNassau $19Saint John $44
Typical Alcohol Prices in Nassau
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Nassau are as follows:
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Cocktail$6.52
Sample the Local Flavors in Nassau
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Nassau:
- Nassau Rum Distillery Tour: $25
- Rum Runners Pub Crawl: $135
- Rum Runners Pub Crawl: $140
When comparing the travel costs between Nassau and Saint John, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Caribbean Islands, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nassau Expensive? and Is Saint John Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Nassau or Saint John?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Nassau or Saint John in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Nassau and Saint John. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Nassau year-round. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Nassau gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Nassau usually receives more rain than Saint John. Nassau gets 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Nassau is around the same temperature as Saint John in the summer. The daily temperature in Nassau averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Saint John fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyNassau 28°C (82°F)Saint John 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Nassau or Saint John in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Nassau as well as Saint John. Nassau attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Saint John. Nassau receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Nassau usually gets more rain in October than Saint John. Nassau gets 184 mm (7.2 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Nassau is around the same temperature as Saint John. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Nassau in October average around 26°C (79°F), and Saint John averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberNassau 26°C (79°F)Saint John 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Nassau or Saint John in the Winter?
Both Saint John and Nassau are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Nassau throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Nassau usually receives more rain than Saint John. Nassau gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In January, Nassau is generally cooler than Saint John. Daily temperatures in Nassau average around 21°C (70°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryNassau 21°C (70°F)Saint John 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Nassau or Saint John in the Spring?
Both Saint John and Nassau during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Nassau because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.
Nassau usually gets less rain in April than Saint John. Nassau gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
Nassau is cooler than Saint John in the spring. The daily temperature in Nassau averages around 23°C (74°F) in April, and Saint John fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilNassau 23°C (74°F)Saint John 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint John and Nassau
| Nassau | Saint John | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°C (70°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 21°C (70°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 22°C (72°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 23°C (74°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (80°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 184 mm (7.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 24°C (75°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 22°C (71°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 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.