Which place is cheaper, Saint John's or Recife?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Recife 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 Recife 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: Recife or Saint John's?
Recife
One of the largest cities on Brazil's northeast coast, Recife is also the capital of the state of Pernambuco. The city gets its name from the Portuguese word for "reef," as it was built around a landscape of natural reef beaches. Many people visit to enjoy these beaches, experience the culture, and explore the history of this important Brazilian city.
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 Eco Tours in Brazil, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Brazil.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRecife $166Saint John's $222
The average daily cost (per person) in Recife is $166, while the average daily cost in Saint John's is $222. 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 Recife and Saint John's in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRecife $88Saint John's $120
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRecife $176Saint John's $240
Compare Hotels in Recife and Saint John's
Looking for a hotel in Recife 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.
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: Recife Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Recife $8.47Saint John's $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Recife
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Recife:
- Departure Transfer from Olinda to Recife Airport: $100
- Instituto Ricardo Brennand with transfers from Recife: $41
- Private Transfer from Igarassu to Recife (REC) Airport : $101
- Private Transfer from Olinda to Recife (REC) Airport: $46
- Private Transfer from Recife to Carneiros Beach: $114
- Private Transfer from Recife to Olinda: $46
- Private Transfer from Recife to Serrambi Beach: $101
- Private Transfer from Recife to Tamandare Beach: $114
- Recife Boat Tour with Transfers: $72
- Airport to Maragogi Hotels Private Transfer: $85
- Airport to Porto de Galinhas Transfer: $65
- Shared Transfer from Recife to Cabo de Santo Agostinho: $33
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint John's
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Saint John's:
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Local Bus$1.52
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Taxi From Airport$6.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint John's
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Saint John's:
- Round-Trip Transfer between Antigua Airport and Antigua Hotels: $32
- Private One-Way Antigua Airport Transfer To/From Antigua: $45
- Shared Roundtrip Taxi Transfer from Antigua Airport to Royalton Antigua Resort: $45
- Airport Transfer from/to all resorts in Antigua - Water Inc.: $59
- Private Airport Transfers to Antigua and Barbuda: $60
- Biggvee Airport Roundtrip Transfer: $70
- VIP Meet and Greet Fast Track on Arrival at Antigua Airport - without Transfers : $74
- Antigua&Barbuda V.C.Bird Airport(ANU) to island Private Transfer: $77
- Island to Antigua&Barbuda V.C.Bird Airport(ANU)- Private Transfer: $77
- Private Transfer from St. John's Port to Antigua Island Hotels: $78
- Antigua VC Bird Airport to Island Hotels Private Arrival Transfer: $82
- Antigua - VIP Fast Track On Arrival ONLY And Round Trip Transfer : $99
Is it cheaper to fly into Recife or Saint John's?
Prices for flights to both Saint John's and Recife 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 dayRecife $70Saint John's $68
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
- Discover the Flavors of St. Johns Food Tour: $125
- Private Art Tour or Food Tour: $150
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Recife $11Saint John's $103
Tours and Activities in Recife
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Recife are as follows:
- Recife (Historic Centre) Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $7.65
- Olinda Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.82
- City Tour Recife & Olinda: $27
- Colonial North Coast beaches - Full-Day Tour: $35
- Olinda City Tour and Instituto Ricardo Brennand: $94
- City Tour Recife with Catamaran included: $150
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:
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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:
- Chariot City Tour Antigua: $20
- City of St John's Sightseeing Tour: $59
- Antigua Shore Excursion: City of St John's Sightseeing Tour: $59
- Cultural and Historical Home Tour in The Antiguan Experience : $66
- Small-Group Hiking Experience in Antigua: $70
- Glenmon taxi and tours: $70
- 2-Hours Stingray City Experience in Antigua: $73
- Antigua Historical Sites Island Tour: $75
- Kayak Eco Adventures Glass Kayak Nature and Snorkeling Tour: $75
- Authentic Antiguan Experience: $79
- TRIPLE ACTIVITY TOUR, Bike Kayak Hike, ANTIGUA : $80
- Nightlife Tour of Antigua and Barbuda: $80
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRecife -Saint John's $18
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Recife and Saint John's, we can see that Saint John's is more expensive. And not only is Recife much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Recife is in South America 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 Recife would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Recife 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 Recife.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Recife Expensive? and Is Saint John's Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Recife or Saint John's?
Recife has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Saint John's. When comparing the sizes of Recife 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.
When is the best time to visit Recife or Saint John's?
Recife has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Saint John's experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Recife or Saint John's in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Recife and Saint John's. Saint John's attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Recife is around the same temperature as Saint John's in the summer. The daily temperature in Recife averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Saint John's fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in July.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint John's this time of the year. In Recife, it's very sunny this time of the year. Recife usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Saint John's during summer. Recife gets 246 hours of sunny skies, while Saint John's receives 245 hours of full sun in the summer.
Saint John's receives a lot of rain in the summer. Recife gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Recife usually receives less rain than Saint John'sin July. Recife gets 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Saint John's receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyRecife 26°C (79°F)Saint John's 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Recife or Saint John's in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Recife as well as Saint John's. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John's throughout the year.
In the autumn, Recife is around the same temperature as Saint John's. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Recife in April average around 26°C (79°F), and Saint John's averages at about 27°C (80°F)in October.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. In the autumn, Recife often gets less sunshine than Saint John'sin October. Recife gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint John's receives 217 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Saint John's. Recife receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Recife usually gets more rain in April than Saint John'sin October. Recife gets 338 mm (13.3 in) of rain, while Saint John's receives 228 mm (9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberRecife 26°C (79°F)Saint John's 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Recife or Saint John's in the Winter?
Both Saint John's and Recife are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John's because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In July, Recife is generally around the same temperature as Saint John'sin January. Daily temperatures in Recife average around 24°C (76°F), and Saint John's fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
It's quite sunny in Saint John's. Recife usually receives less sunshine than Saint John's during winter. Recife gets 170 hours of sunny skies, while Saint John's receives 236 hours of full sun in the winter.
It's quite rainy in Recife. In July, Recife usually receives more rain than Saint John'sin January. Recife gets 388 mm (15.3 in) of rain, while Saint John's receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryRecife 24°C (76°F)Saint John's 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Recife or Saint John's in the Spring?
Both Saint John's and Recife during the spring are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John's year-round.
Recife is around the same temperature as Saint John's in the spring. The daily temperature in Recife averages around 25°C (77°F) in October, and Saint John's fluctuates around 26°C (78°F)in April.
In Saint John's, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Recife. In the spring, Recife often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Saint John'sin April. Recife gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint John's receives 240 hours of full sun.
Saint John's gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Recife usually gets less rain in October than Saint John'sin April. Recife gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Saint John's receives 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilRecife 25°C (77°F)Saint John's 26°C (78°F)
Typical Weather for Saint John's and Recife
| Recife | Saint John's | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 257 mm (10.1 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 338 mm (13.3 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) |
| May | 25°C (78°F) | 319 mm (12.5 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 378 mm (14.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (76°F) | 388 mm (15.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 205 mm (8.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (76°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 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.