Which place is cheaper, Saint John or Philadelphia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Philadelphia or Saint John?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Philadelphia 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: Philadelphia or Saint John?
Philadelphia
Philadelphia is the fourth largest urban area, and the fifth largest city in the United States. It's located in southeastern Pennsylvania and has a rich history, having once been the capital of the United States. The city has very impressive architecture, museums, universities, and entertainment venues. It's a cultural and artistic center for the country and it continues to climb as a top travel destination.
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 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, and The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPhiladelphia $188Saint John $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Philadelphia is $188, 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 Philadelphia and Saint John in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPhiladelphia $119Saint John $106
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPhiladelphia $238Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Philadelphia and Saint John
Looking for a hotel in Philadelphia 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: Philadelphia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Philadelphia $28Saint John $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Philadelphia
Also for Philadelphia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Philadelphia Airport (PHL) to Philadelphia - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $131
- Philadelphia Airport (PHL): Private Transfer to Philadelphia: $353
- Philadelphia City to Washington City - Private Car Transfer: $135
- Philadelphia to Philadelphia Airport (PHL) - Departure Private Transfer: $66
- Private Transfer: Philadelphia Airport PHL to Philadelphia in Business Car: $95
Is it cheaper to fly into Philadelphia or Saint John?
Prices for flights to both Saint John and Philadelphia 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 dayPhiladelphia $49Saint John $56
Typical Food Prices in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Casual Lunch (for 3)$27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Flavors of Philly Food Tour: $52
- Locals' Favorites Food Tour: $52
- Best of Philly Food Tour: $55
- Best of Philadelphia Food Tour-Small Group Walking Tour: $59
- Bites and Booze: Walking Food Tour in Philadelphia : $65
- Philadelphia's Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $65
- Flavors of Philly Food Tour: $65
- Buffet Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner Cruise: $66
- 9th Street Italian Market Walking Food Tour: $69
- Secret Food Tour: $84
- Highlights of East Passyunk Food Tour: $85
- Chef-Led Taste of the Italian Market Food Tour: $90
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Philadelphia $28Saint John $23
Typical Entertainment Prices in Philadelphia
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Philadelphia's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
Big Bus Tour (family of 3)$99
Tours and Activities in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Philadelphia's Lost Waterfront: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.40
- Art and Controversy: An audio tour of Philadelphia's most infamous art scandals: $5.40
- Road to Revolution GPS Walking Audio Tour: $8.99
- The Road to Revolution: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in Philadelphia: $8.99
- Philadelphia Self-Guided Audio Tour : $9.00
- Philadelphia In App Walking Audio Tour: $9.00
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Philadelphia by Operation City Quest: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $12
- National Liberty Museum Entrance Ticket: $12
- Philadelphia Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $13
- Fantastic Philadelphia Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
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
- USVI: Island & Beach Tours in St. Thomas & St. John (2 Days): $199
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayPhiladelphia $21Saint John $44
Sample the Local Flavors in Philadelphia
Also in Philadelphia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Liberty History Tour Pub Crawl: $45
- Guided Tour with Pub Crawl: $45
- Half-Day Philadelphia's Brewery Bike Tour with Tastings: $100
- Philly Signature Guided Brewery Tour: $105
- Guided Craft Brewery Tours with a Snack: $120
When comparing the travel costs between Philadelphia 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. Even though Philadelphia is in North America and Saint John is in Caribbean Islands, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Philadelphia Expensive? and Is Saint John Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Philadelphia or Saint John?
Philadelphia has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Saint John experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Philadelphia or Saint John in the Summer?
Both Saint John and Philadelphia during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Philadelphia for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.
In July, Philadelphia is generally cooler than Saint John. Daily temperatures in Philadelphia average around 77°F (25°C), and Saint John fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Philadelphia. Philadelphia usually gets more rain in July than Saint John. Philadelphia gets 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyPhiladelphia 77°F (25°C)Saint John 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Philadelphia or Saint John in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Philadelphia and Saint John. Many visitors come to Philadelphia in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Philadelphia is much colder than Saint John in the autumn. The daily temperature in Philadelphia averages around 56°F (14°C) in October, and Saint John fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
Saint John receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Philadelphia usually receives less rain than Saint John. Philadelphia gets 1.9 inches (48 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPhiladelphia 56°F (14°C)Saint John 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Philadelphia or Saint John in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Philadelphia as well as Saint John. Most visitors come to Philadelphia for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.
Philadelphia can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Philadelphia is much colder than Saint John. Typically, the winter temperatures in Philadelphia in January average around 30°F (-1°C), and Saint John averages at about 26°C (78°F).
Philadelphia usually gets more rain in January than Saint John. Philadelphia gets 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPhiladelphia 30°F (-1°C)Saint John 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Philadelphia or Saint John in the Spring?
Both Saint John and Philadelphia are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Philadelphia because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Philadelphia is generally much colder than Saint John. Daily temperatures in Philadelphia average around 52°F (11°C), and Saint John fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
In April, Philadelphia usually receives around the same amount of rain as Saint John. Philadelphia gets 2.8 inches (70 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilPhiladelphia 52°F (11°C)Saint John 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint John and Philadelphia
| Philadelphia | Saint John | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 33°F (1°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 42°F (6°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 52°F (11°C) | 2.8 inches (70 mm) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 63°F (17°C) | 2.8 inches (70 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 72°F (22°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 77°F (25°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 76°F (24°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 68°F (20°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 56°F (14°C) | 1.9 inches (48 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 46°F (8°C) | 2.5 inches (64 mm) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 36°F (2°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | 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.