Which place is cheaper, Saint John or Porto?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Porto or Saint John?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Porto and Saint John can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Porto or Saint John?
Porto
Porto is the second largest city in Portugal. It is also the capital of the Northern Region and a hub for commercial and industrial activity. The city is not as large as you might expect, with a population of only about 300,000 residents, but the metropolitan area has a population of about 2.5 million. This includes nearby cities such as Gaia, Matosinhos, Maia and Gondomar.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Portugal, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Portugal.
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Porto Prices
Portugal PricesSaint John Prices
USVI Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPorto $187Saint John $233
The average daily cost (per person) in Porto is $187, 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 Porto and Saint John in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPorto $84Saint John $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPorto $168Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Porto and Saint John
Looking for a hotel in Porto 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: Porto Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Porto $24Saint John $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Porto
Also for Porto, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Funchal to Porto Moniz: Volcanic Pools Day Transfer: $70
- Madeira: Porto da Cruz to Machico Hiking Tour with Transfer: $39
- Madeira: Vereda do Larano Trail One-Way Transfer Service: $23
- Porto Airport Transfer: $24
- Porto Airport: Transfer to/from Valenca Do Minho Station: $12
- Private transfer between Porto and Algarve with 1 stop: $558
- Service Transfer Airport to Porto or Vila Nova de Gaia: $64
- Transfer Oporto - Aeroport / Up to 4 passengers: $30
Is it cheaper to fly into Porto or Saint John?
Prices for flights to both Saint John and Porto 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 dayPorto $74Saint John $97
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Porto
For Porto, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Porto Food & Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch or Dinner Option: $94
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Porto $30Saint John $23
Tours and Activities in Porto
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Porto.
- Porto Six Bridges Panoramic Cruise on the Douro River: $21
- Porto Sunset River Cruise: Douro Magic at Dusk: $35
- Experience Porto's Charm: 3-Hour Guided Walking Tour: $35
- Douro River Boat Cruise with Port Wine and Snacks: $48
- Porto Douro River Sightseeing Sailing Cruise at Sunset or Daytime: $48
- 3-Hour Porto Highlights on a Electric Bike Guided Tour: $52
- Tour on the Douro River in a Classic Boat: $54
- Sunset or Daytime, Charming Sailboat Cruise on the Douro River: $54
- 6 Bridges cruise , Douro river with sunset option: $54
- Aveiro and Costa Nova Half Day Tour from Porto with Boat Ride: $55
- Luxury Yacht Tour on the Douro River - Sunset or Daytime: $58
- Fun Private Tuk Tuk Tour: $66
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPorto $22Saint John $44
Sample the Local Flavors in Porto
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Porto:
- Luxury Yacht Cruise with Wine Tasting & Snacks: $54
- Port Wine Tour | 3 Cellars | 7 Tastings | 12 Participants Maximum: $60
- Port Wine Lodges Tour Including 7 Port Wine Tastings (English): $62
- Authentic Food and Wine Tour in Porto by Food Lover Tour: $81
- Douro Valley Tour: Wine Tasting, Cruise and Lunch from Porto : $96
- Douro Valley Wine Tour: 3 Vineyard Visits, Wine Tastings, Lunch: $113
- Complete Douro Valley Wine Tour with Lunch, Wine Tastings and River Cruise: $118
- Douro Valley Half-Day Wine Tour with Winery and Lunch From Porto: $131
- Authentic Small Group Douro Wine Tour with Lunch & River Cruise: $131
- Small Group Douro Valley Wine Tour with Lunch and Cruise: $149
- Douro Valley Small-Group Tour with Wine Tasting, Lunch and Boat: $150
- Douro Valley Tour - 3 Wine tastings, Lunch & river Cruise: $152
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Porto and Saint John, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. And not only is Porto much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Porto is in Europe 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 Porto would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Porto 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 Porto.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Porto Expensive? and Is Saint John Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Porto or Saint John?
Porto 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 Porto or Saint John in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Porto as well as Saint John. Many visitors come to Porto in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.
Porto is cooler than Saint John in the summer. The daily temperature in Porto averages around 21°C (69°F) in July, and Saint John fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
Porto usually gets less rain in July than Saint John. Porto gets 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPorto 21°C (69°F)Saint John 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Porto or Saint John in the Autumn?
Both Saint John and Porto are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Porto for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the autumn, Porto is much colder than Saint John. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Porto in October average around 17°C (62°F), and Saint John averages at about 28°C (82°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint John. It's quite rainy in Porto. In October, Porto usually receives less rain than Saint John. Porto gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPorto 17°C (62°F)Saint John 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Porto or Saint John in the Winter?
Both Saint John and Porto during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Porto because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.
In January, Porto is generally much colder than Saint John. Daily temperatures in Porto average around 10°C (50°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Porto. Porto usually gets more rain in January than Saint John. Porto gets 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPorto 10°C (50°F)Saint John 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Porto or Saint John in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Porto and Saint John. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Porto this time of year. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Porto is much colder than Saint John in the spring. The daily temperature in Porto averages around 14°C (56°F) in April, and Saint John fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
Porto gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Porto usually receives more rain than Saint John. Porto gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPorto 14°C (56°F)Saint John 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint John and Porto
| Porto | Saint John | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (50°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 11°C (51°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (54°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (56°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 16°C (60°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (69°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 20°C (69°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (67°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (62°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 11°C (51°F) | 176 mm (6.9 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.