Which place is cheaper, Saint John's or Riga?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Riga or Saint John's?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Riga or Saint John's? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Riga or Saint John's?
Riga
Riga is the vibrant capital city of Latvia. It continues to gain popularity as a tourist destination in part because it is the base for the airline Air Baltic. This affordable airline offers discount flights around Europe and most of these flights pass through Riga with a forced overnight layover. This encourages travelers to visit this fascinating city for at least a night or two.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRiga €104Saint John's €206
The average daily cost (per person) in Riga is €104, while the average daily cost in Saint John's is €206. 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 Riga and Saint John's in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRiga €53Saint John's €111
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRiga €106Saint John's €222
Compare Hotels in Riga and Saint John's
Looking for a hotel in Riga 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: Riga Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Riga €15Saint John's €16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Riga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Riga:
- From Cesis and Sigulda Day Trip with Hotel Transfers: $151
- From Private Transfer to Tallinn: $344
- From Private Transfer to Tallinn with Sightseeing: $462
- From Private Transfer to Vilnius with Sightseeing: $429
- From Transfer to Tallinn with Turaida Museum Reserve: $231
- From Vilnius: One-Way Private Transfer to Riga: $183
- Paintball Adventure: Expert Guide & Transfers Included!: $81
- Private Transfer from Riga Airport (RIX) to Riga Cruise Port: $26
- Private Transfer from Riga Airport to Hotel with English speaking driver: $54
- Private Transfer from Riga Airport to Riga City: $71
- Private Transfer from Riga City Center to Riga Airport RIX: $32
- Private transfer Riga - Hill of Crosses - Riga: $104
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€1.41
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Taxi From Airport€6.49
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
- Shared Roundtrip Taxi Transfer from Antigua Airport to Royalton Antigua Resort: $45
- Private One-Way Antigua Airport Transfer To/From Antigua: $45
- Private Transfer from St. John's Port to Antigua Airport (ANU): $50
- Private Transfer from Antigua Airport (ANU) to St. John's Port: $50
- Airport Transfer from/to all resorts in Antigua - Water Inc.: $60
- Antigua Airport Private Roundtrip Transfer to and from Royalton Antigua Resort: $60
- 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
- Island to Antigua&Barbuda V.C.Bird Airport(ANU)- Private Transfer: $78
- Antigua&Barbuda V.C.Bird Airport(ANU) to island Private Transfer: $78
Is it cheaper to fly into Riga or Saint John's?
Prices for flights to both Saint John's and Riga 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 dayRiga €33Saint John's €63
Typical Food Prices in Riga
Some typical examples of dining costs in Riga are as follows:
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Fast Food Lunch€5.77
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Riga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Riga.
- Central Market Latvian Food Tour: $42
- Unique Food Tour: $52
- Medieval Guided Tour & Three-Course Dinner Experience: $97
- Riga Medieval Dinner: $114
- Private Cooking Master Class In The Latvian Family : $131
- Taste Market Tour & Cooking Masterclass: $139
- Cooking Experience with Chef: Learn & Dine: $140
- Latvian Food: Cooking Masterclass with a Chef: $153
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.Riga €21Saint John's €96
Tours and Activities in Riga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Riga are as follows:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.45
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.46
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $7.00
- Riga Old Town Legends Audio Tour on Your Phone (ENG): $7.39
- Entrance Ticket - House of the Black Heads: $7.53
- Complete Self-guided Audio Tour on your Phone: $8.50
- Boat tour in Canal and Daugava: $9.69
- Discover Riga's Art Nouveau Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Riga Nightlife Ticket: $11
- Canal Boat Sightseeing Tour: $13
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€2.78
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
- Antigua Shore Excursion: City of St John's Sightseeing Tour: $59
- 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
- Stingray City Experience Antigua - ONLY TICKET: $73
- Antigua Historical Sites Island Tour: $75
- Kayak Eco Adventures Glass Kayak Nature and Snorkeling Tour: $75
- Authentic Antiguan Experience: $79
- Nightlife Tour of Antigua and Barbuda: $80
- TRIPLE ACTIVITY TOUR, Bike Kayak Hike, ANTIGUA : $80
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRiga €20Saint John's €17
Sample the Local Flavors in Riga
Also in Riga, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Old town pub & bar crawl, hidden gems, and local party: $25
- Pub Crawl in Riga: $33
- Riga Evening Adventure: Pub Crawl & Games Night: $37
- Riga's Old Town Beer Bike Tour & Guided Pub Crawl: $38
- Riga Happy Hour Pub Crawl: $54
- Riga Beer Killer Bar Crawl: $55
- Latvian Wine Tasting & Monk Show: $75
- Old Town Sightseeing & Latvian Wine Tasting with Show: $97
- Riga Wine Tasting Session: $103
- Riga Pub Crawl & Party Bus Tour: $526
- Yacht Tour with Medieval Banquet and Wine Tasting: $3,341
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Riga and Saint John's, we can see that Saint John's is more expensive. And not only is Riga much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Riga is in Europe 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 Riga would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Riga 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 Riga.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Riga Expensive? and Is Saint John's Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Riga or Saint John's?
Riga has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Saint John's. When comparing the sizes of Riga 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 Riga or Saint John's?
Riga 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 Riga or Saint John's in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Riga and Saint John's. The summer months attract visitors to Riga because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Saint John's attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Riga is much colder than Saint John's in the summer. The daily temperature in Riga averages around 17°C (63°F) in July, and Saint John's fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
Saint John's receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Riga usually receives less rain than Saint John's. Riga gets 79 mm (3.1 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 JulyRiga 17°C (63°F)Saint John's 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Riga or Saint John's in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Riga as well as Saint John's. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Riga this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John's throughout the year.
In the autumn, Riga is much colder than Saint John's. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Riga in October average around 7°C (45°F), and Saint John's averages at about 27°C (80°F).
It's quite rainy in Saint John's. Riga usually gets less rain in October than Saint John's. Riga gets 60 mm (2.4 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 OctoberRiga 7°C (45°F)Saint John's 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Riga or Saint John's in the Winter?
Both Saint John's and Riga are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Riga for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John's because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Riga. In January, Riga is generally much colder than Saint John's. Daily temperatures in Riga average around -5°C (23°F), and Saint John's fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
In January, Riga usually receives less rain than Saint John's. Riga gets 33 mm (1.3 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 JanuaryRiga -5°C (23°F)Saint John's 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Riga or Saint John's in the Spring?
Both Saint John's and Riga during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Riga in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John's year-round.
Riga is much colder than Saint John's in the spring. The daily temperature in Riga averages around 5°C (42°F) in April, and Saint John's fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
Saint John's gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Riga usually gets less rain in April than Saint John's. Riga gets 39 mm (1.5 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 AprilRiga 5°C (42°F)Saint John's 26°C (78°F)
Typical Weather for Saint John's and Riga
| Riga | Saint John's | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -5°C (23°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Feb | -4°C (24°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | -0°C (31°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Apr | 5°C (42°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) |
| May | 12°C (53°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (63°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (62°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) |
| Oct | 7°C (45°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) |
| Nov | 2°C (36°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) |
| Dec | -2°C (28°F) | 49 mm (1.9 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.