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

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.


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.

The average daily cost (per person) in Porto is $185, 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
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Porto $83
    Saint John $106
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Porto $166
    Saint 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.

Hotels in Porto


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: Porto Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Porto $24
    Saint John $49

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Porto

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

  • Airport Private Transfer to/from Porto: $44
  • Airport Transfer from Porto to Aveiro: $162
  • Arrival Transfer: Porto Airport OPO to Porto in Luxury Car: $140
  • Arrival Transfer: Porto Airport OPO to Porto in Luxury Van: $100
  • Departure Transfer: Porto to Porto Airport OPO by Luxury Van: $100
  • Douro Valley Private One-Way Transfer (Régua, Pinhão, Lamego): $189
  • From Private Transfer to Lisbon with up to 3 Stops: $265
  • From Transfer to Lisbon with up to 3 City Stops: $265
  • Gaia Private Transfer to Oporto Airport: $19
  • Minivan Departure Transfer from Porto City to Porto Airport OPO: $72
  • Ofir Private Transfer to Porto: $44
  • Oporto Airport Private Transfer to Esposende: $77

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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Porto $73
    Saint 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:

  • Pastel de Nata Cooking Class with Porto Wine (Sé do Porto): $41
  • Porto Food Tour Market Tapas and Port Wine Cellar Experience: $71
  • Dinner with Fado and Portuguese Traditional Music: $71
  • Bolhão Market Guided Food Tour: $77
  • Private Fabulist Food Tour: $83
  • Taste of the Ocean Authentic Porto Seafood Tour: $83
  • Authentic Porto Small Group Food Tour with Local Tastings: $87
  • 4 Hour Traditional Aveiro Portuguese Food Tour: $88
  • Porto Food Tour: $88
  • Private Walking Food Tour with Tastings: $100
  • Fado Tour with Guide, Dinner & Live Show in Porto: $100
  • Authentic Porto Food Tour & Market Experience: $101

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Porto $29
    Saint John $23

Tours and Activities in Porto

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Porto.

  • Porto Walking Tour - The Perfect Introduction to the City: $1.18
  • Porto Gaia Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $1.42
  • Porto Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $2.46
  • Aveiro Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $3.17
  • Self-Guided Tours in Porto with 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.53
  • Porto - Origin & Present - Guided Tour: $3.54
  • Porto Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $3.54
  • Porto's #1 Walking Tour: $3.54
  • Porto History and Culture Walking Tour with Local Guides: $3.54
  • Porto Highlights the Original Walking Tour: $4.72
  • Porto Self Guided Audio Experience: $6.00
  • Porto Audio guided walking tour 3h00 and 27 audio commentary: $6.96

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: $520

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Porto $21
    Saint John $44

Sample the Local Flavors in Porto

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Porto:

  • Crazy Pub Crawl with 9 Drinks, Free Shots, Wild Games +VIP: $14
  • Porto Pub Crawl With Unlimited Beer: $21
  • Private visit with wine tasting in Alijó Douro: $24
  • Chocolate and Wine Tasting Activity in Matosinhos Portugal: $25
  • Pub Crawl Porto: $25
  • Poças Guided Visit and Port Wine Tasting with Pastel de Nata: $27
  • Premium wine tasting at Quinta das Arcas: $28
  • Wine tasting of 5 Port Wines with a Sommelier: $29
  • Fado Concert with Port Wine Tasting at Quinta da Boeira: $29
  • Port : Cockburn's Port Lodge Tour & Main Room Wine Tasting: $31
  • Porto Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour with Wine tasting & Night tour: $32
  • Cálem Cellar Tour, Live Fado Show and Wine Tasting: $33


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.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Porto 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.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Porto 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.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Porto 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.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Porto 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)