Which place is cheaper, Big Pine Key or Saint John's?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Saint John's or Big Pine Key?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Saint John's or Big Pine Key? 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: Saint John's or Big Pine Key?
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.
Big Pine Key
If you are yearning for a slice of paradise without the hustle and bustle of an ever-growing tourist population, the calm, turquoise waters and the untouched sands of Big Pine Key will surely do. Located 100 miles south of Miami and 30 miles north of Key West, this small community huddled in the family of Florida keys is often overlooked by many. However, Big Pine Key is truly a gem for all who seek a tropical vacation as activities like boating, fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling are found throughout the town. Besides its oceanic wonders, Big Pine Key also boasts in containing some of the United States' best seafood restaurants. Enjoy the aquatic wonders of the Keys and stop at Big Pine Key!
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America, and The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint John's $222Big Pine Key $144
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint John's is $222, while the average daily cost in Big Pine Key is $144. 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 Saint John's and Big Pine Key in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint John's $120Big Pine Key $64
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint John's $240Big Pine Key $128
Compare Hotels in Saint John's and Big Pine Key
Looking for a hotel in Saint John's or Big Pine Key? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint John's $17Big Pine Key $56
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:
- VIP Meet and Greet Fast Track on Arrival at Antigua Airport - without Transfers : $74
- Shared Roundtrip Taxi Transfer from Antigua Airport to Royalton Antigua Resort: $45
- Round-Trip Transfer between Antigua Airport and Antigua Hotels: $32
- Private Transfer from St. John's Port to Antigua Island Hotels: $79
- Private Transfer from St. John's Port to Antigua Airport (ANU): $50
- Private Transfer from Antigua Airport (ANU) to St. John's Port: $50
- Private Transfer from Antigua & Barbuda V.C. Bird Airport (ANU) to island: $113
- Private Roundtrip Airport Transfers & Tour in Antigua & Barbuda: $200
- Private Round Trip Transfer From Antigua Airport To NonSuch Bay: $99
- Private One-Way Antigua Airport Transfer To/From Antigua: $45
- Private Airport Transfers to Antigua and Barbuda: $60
- Private Airport Transfers 1- 2 Pax. Zone C: Hotels: $120
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint John's or Big Pine Key?
Prices for flights to both Big Pine Key and Saint John's 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 daySaint John's $68Big Pine Key $42
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.Saint John's $103Big Pine Key $42
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:
- 6-Hours Guided Stingray Tour in the East Coast of Antigua: $161
- Adventure Antigua - Eli's Original Eco Tour: $125
- Adventure Antigua - The Xtreme Circumnavigation: $190
- Adventure Power Boat Tour Antigua and Private Laviscount Island: $170
- Animal Lovers Dream Tour: $180
- Antigua Historical Sites Island Tour: $75
- Antigua Reef Riders Self-Drive Boat and Snorkeling Tour: $180
- Antigua Round Island Tour: $85
- Antigua Seafood Lunch Cruise From St. John's: $135
- Antigua Shore Excursion: City of St John's Sightseeing Tour: $59
- Antigua Shore Excursion: Round Island Tour: $110
- Antigua Sunset Catamaran Cruise From St. John's: $116
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint John's $18Big Pine Key $9.29
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint John's and Big Pine Key, we can see that Saint John's is more expensive. And not only is Big Pine Key much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint John's is in Caribbean Islands and Big Pine Key is in North America, 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 Big Pine Key would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Big Pine Key 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 Big Pine Key.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Saint John's Expensive? and Is Big Pine Key Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Saint John's or Big Pine Key?
Saint John's has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Big Pine Key. When comparing the sizes of Saint John's and Big Pine Key, 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 Saint John's or Big Pine Key?
Big Pine Key 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 Saint John's or Big Pine Key in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Saint John's as well as Big Pine Key. Saint John's attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Saint John's is around the same temperature as Big Pine Key in the summer. The daily temperature in Saint John's averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Big Pine Key fluctuates around 84°F (29°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Big Pine Key. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint John's this time of the year. In the summer, Saint John's often gets less sunshine than Big Pine Key. Saint John's gets 245 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Big Pine Key receives 328 hours of full sun.
Saint John's receives a lot of rain in the summer. Saint John's usually gets more rain in July than Big Pine Key. Saint John's gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Big Pine Key receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySaint John's 27°C (81°F)Big Pine Key 84°F (29°C)
Should I visit Saint John's or Big Pine Key in the Autumn?
Both Big Pine Key and Saint John's are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John's throughout the year.
In the autumn, Saint John's is around the same temperature as Big Pine Key. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Saint John's in October average around 27°C (80°F), and Big Pine Key averages at about 80°F (27°C).
It's quite sunny in Big Pine Key. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. Saint John's usually receives less sunshine than Big Pine Key during autumn. Saint John's gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while Big Pine Key receives 258 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Big Pine Key. It's quite rainy in Saint John's. In October, Saint John's usually receives more rain than Big Pine Key. Saint John's gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Big Pine Key receives 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSaint John's 27°C (80°F)Big Pine Key 80°F (27°C)
Should I visit Saint John's or Big Pine Key in the Winter?
Both Big Pine Key and Saint John's during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John's because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Saint John's is generally a little warmer than Big Pine Key. Daily temperatures in Saint John's average around 24°C (76°F), and Big Pine Key fluctuates around 70°F (21°C).
In Big Pine Key, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Saint John's. In the winter, Saint John's often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Big Pine Key. Saint John's gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Big Pine Key receives 252 hours of full sun.
Saint John's usually gets more rain in January than Big Pine Key. Saint John's gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Big Pine Key receives 1.7 inches (43 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySaint John's 24°C (76°F)Big Pine Key 70°F (21°C)
Should I visit Saint John's or Big Pine Key in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John's and Big Pine Key. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John's year-round.
Saint John's is around the same temperature as Big Pine Key in the spring. The daily temperature in Saint John's averages around 26°C (78°F) in April, and Big Pine Key fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Big Pine Key this time of the year. In Saint John's, it's very sunny this time of the year. Saint John's usually receives less sunshine than Big Pine Key during spring. Saint John's gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Big Pine Key receives 326 hours of full sun in the spring.
Saint John's gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Saint John's usually receives more rain than Big Pine Key. Saint John's gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Big Pine Key receives 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSaint John's 26°C (78°F)Big Pine Key 77°F (25°C)
Typical Weather for Big Pine Key and Saint John's
| Saint John's | Big Pine Key | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 70°F (21°C) | 1.7 inches (43 mm) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 71°F (21°C) | 1.4 inches (36 mm) |
| Mar | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 74°F (23°C) | 1.7 inches (42 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 0.8 inches (21 mm) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 81°F (27°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 83°F (28°C) | 4.5 inches (114 mm) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 84°F (29°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) | 84°F (29°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 83°F (29°C) | 5.7 inches (144 mm) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 80°F (27°C) | 5.1 inches (129 mm) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 2 inches (50 mm) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 1.4 inches (35 mm) |
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.