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

Should you visit Reykjavik or Saint John?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Reykjavik 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: Reykjavik or Saint John?

Reykjavik

Reykjavik is the capital and largest city in the country of Iceland. The city is where the vast majority of the country's population resides and the urban area has about 200,000 residents. The city is sprawling, with a large area covered in suburbs. The the city center is quite compact, with many interesting and colorful houses. There are a lot of things that attract tourists to this city, including an interesting culture and history as well as plenty of shopping and dining opportunities.

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 Budget Tours to Iceland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Iceland.


Which place is cheaper, Saint John or Reykjavik?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Reykjavik Prices
    Iceland Prices
    Saint John Prices
    USVI Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Reykjavik $304
    Saint John $233

The average daily cost (per person) in Reykjavik is $304, 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 Reykjavik and Saint John in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Reykjavik $158
    Saint John $106
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Reykjavik $316
    Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Reykjavik and Saint John

Looking for a hotel in Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik


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: Reykjavik Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Reykjavik $52
    Saint John $49

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Reykjavik

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

  • 1 hour ATV Mountain Peak adventure with transfer from Reykjavik: $129
  • Airport Transfer (One way) between Keflavik and Reykjavik: $200
  • Airport Transfer: Keflavik Airport (KEF) to Reykjavik Hotels: $52
  • Airport Transfer: Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik Center in Iceland: $39
  • Alesund : Private Transfer to/from Ålesund Airport and City: $116
  • Bláfjöll to Keflavik Airport (KEF) - Departure Private Transfer: $83
  • Blue Lagoon Admission with Mask, Drink, Transfers from Reykjavik: $236
  • Blue Lagoon Entry Ticket with Optional Private or Shared Transfer: $220
  • Blue Lagoon Private Transfer :From KEF or Reykjavik: $153
  • Blue Lagoon Return Bus Transfer from Reykjavik: $60
  • Blue Lagoon Transfer from Reykjavik or Keflavik Airport: $200
  • Blue Lagoon Transfer from/to Keflavik International Airport: $70

Is it cheaper to fly into Reykjavik or Saint John?

Prices for flights to both Saint John and Reykjavik 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
    Reykjavik $59
    Saint John $97
Typical Food Prices in Reykjavik

For Reykjavik, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Dinner (Fish Market)
    $202

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Reykjavik

For Reykjavik, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Harbor Cruise with 3-Course Dinner: $137
  • Harbor Cruise with Three Course Dinner from Reykjavik: $139
  • Food Tour by locals: $140
  • Authentic Reykjavik Food Tour with Flea Market Delights: $146
  • Icelandic Food Tour: $147
  • The Reykjavik Harbor Food Tour: $147
  • Weekend Reykjavik Food Tour with a stop at the Reykjavik Flea Market: $149
  • 3-Hour Shared Christmas Food Tour with Guide in Reykjavik: $149
  • Food Tour with 6+ Tastings of Icelandic Classics: $154
  • The Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour: $171
  • Christmas Food Tour with Tastings and Drinks: $171
  • Private Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour: $241

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Reykjavik $82
    Saint John $23
Typical Entertainment Prices in Reykjavik

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Reykjavik's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Art Museum
    $12
  • Wine and Spa
    $33

Tours and Activities in Reykjavik

For Reykjavik, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Reykjavík Interactive City Tour: $8.25
  • A Self-Guided Thingvellir National Park Walking Tour: $8.99
  • Viking Reykjavik GPS App Walking Tour Mobile Game: $11
  • Reykjavik History and Sightseeing Walking Tour: $16
  • Caves of Laugarvatn Standard Tour: $17
  • Reykjavík: National Museum of Iceland Entry Ticket: $21
  • Reykjavik Art Museum Entry Ticket: $21
  • Volcano Express Entry Ticket at Harpa: $24
  • Was James Bond Icelandic? Ticket with One Hour Lecture: $25
  • Mosfellsbæ: Authentic Icelandic Wool Yarn Factory Tour: $26
  • Icelandic Phallological Museum Entry Ticket: $29
  • Private audio guide of the island for self-exploration tour: $29

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
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Reykjavik $32
    Saint John $44
Typical Alcohol Prices in Reykjavik

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Reykjavik are as follows:


  • Beer
    $9.98

Sample the Local Flavors in Reykjavik

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Reykjavik:

  • Eimverk Distillery Guided Tour with Tasting: $48
  • Craft Beer and Brewery Tour in Iceland: $48
  • Icelandic Bar Crawl and Karaoke Experience: $169


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Reykjavik and Saint John, we can see that Reykjavik is more expensive. And not only is Saint John much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Reykjavik 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 Saint John would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Saint John 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 Reykjavik would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Reykjavik than you might in Saint John.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Reykjavik Expensive? and Is Saint John Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Reykjavik or Saint John?

Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik or Saint John in the Summer?

Both Saint John and Reykjavik during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Reykjavik for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.

Reykjavik is much colder than Saint John in the summer. The daily temperature in Reykjavik averages around 11°C (52°F) in July, and Saint John fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

Reykjavik usually gets less rain in July than Saint John. Reykjavik gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Reykjavik 11°C (52°F) 
    Saint John 29°C (83°F)

Should I visit Reykjavik or Saint John in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Reykjavik and Saint John. Many visitors come to Reykjavik in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Reykjavik can get quite cold in the autumn. In the autumn, Reykjavik is much colder than Saint John. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Reykjavik in October average around 5°C (41°F), and Saint John averages at about 28°C (82°F).

Saint John receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Reykjavik usually receives less rain than Saint John. Reykjavik gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Reykjavik 5°C (41°F) 
    Saint John 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Reykjavik or Saint John in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Reykjavik as well as Saint John. Most visitors come to Reykjavik for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.

Reykjavik can be very cold during winter. In January, Reykjavik is generally much colder than Saint John. Daily temperatures in Reykjavik average around -0°C (32°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

Reykjavik usually gets more rain in January than Saint John. Reykjavik gets 76 mm (3 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Reykjavik -0°C (32°F) 
    Saint John 26°C (78°F)

Should I visit Reykjavik or Saint John in the Spring?

Both Saint John and Reykjavik are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Reykjavik because of the natural beauty. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

The weather in Reykjavik can be very cold. Reykjavik is much colder than Saint John in the spring. The daily temperature in Reykjavik averages around 3°C (38°F) in April, and Saint John fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

In April, Reykjavik usually receives less rain than Saint John. Reykjavik gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Reykjavik 3°C (38°F) 
    Saint John 27°C (80°F)

Typical Weather for Saint John and Reykjavik

Reykjavik Saint John
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -0°C (32°F) 76 mm (3 in) 26°C (78°F) 43 mm (1.7 in)
Feb 1°C (33°F) 72 mm (2.8 in) 26°C (78°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Mar 1°C (34°F) 82 mm (3.2 in) 26°C (79°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Apr 3°C (38°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 27°C (80°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
May 7°C (44°F) 44 mm (1.7 in) 28°C (82°F) 94 mm (3.7 in)
Jun 10°C (49°F) 50 mm (2 in) 28°C (83°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
Jul 11°C (52°F) 52 mm (2 in) 29°C (83°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
Aug 11°C (52°F) 62 mm (2.4 in) 29°C (84°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Sep 8°C (46°F) 67 mm (2.6 in) 28°C (83°F) 127 mm (5 in)
Oct 5°C (41°F) 86 mm (3.4 in) 28°C (82°F) 146 mm (5.7 in)
Nov 1°C (35°F) 73 mm (2.9 in) 27°C (81°F) 126 mm (4.9 in)
Dec 0°C (32°F) 79 mm (3.1 in) 26°C (80°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)