Which place is cheaper, Charleston or Saint John's?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Saint John's or Charleston?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Saint John's or Charleston? 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 Charleston?
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.
Charleston
Charleston is a beautiful, southern city and seaport town in South Carolina. It has a wonderful, historic downtown area that the city government works hard to maintain. Located on a peninsula that is created by two rivers, the city is a stunning setting with much character. It is a popular place to visit for its culture, architecture and cuisine. In recent years Charleston has gained popularity and it continues to grow as both a regional and international travel destination. With its rising popularity comes increasing costs. Travel costs continue to go up as restaurants and hotels raise their prices, particularly during the peak travel season and holiday periods.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint John's $222Charleston $170
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint John's is $222, while the average daily cost in Charleston is $170. 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 Charleston in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint John's $120Charleston $90
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint John's $240Charleston $180
Compare Hotels in Saint John's and Charleston
Looking for a hotel in Saint John's or Charleston? 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: Charleston Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint John's $17Charleston $33
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint John's
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Saint John's:
-
Local Bus$1.52
-
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
- 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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Charleston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Charleston:
- Charleston Airport (CHS) to Charleston city - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $175
- Charleston Airport (CHS) to Charleston city – Arrival Private Transfer: $88
- Charleston Airport (CHS) to Folly Beach - Arrival Private Transfer: $104
- Charleston Airport (CHS) to Kiawah/Seabrook Islands – Arrival Private Transfer: $118
- Charleston Airport to Isle of Palms/Sullivans Island -Roundtrip Private Transfer: $208
- Charleston Airport to Isle of Palms/Sullivans Island– Arrival Private Transfer: $104
- Charleston Airport: One-Way Transfer to Charleston: $153
- Charleston city to Charleston Airport (CHS) - Departure Private Transfer: $88
- Folly Beach to Charleston Airport (CHS) - Departure Private Transfer: $104
- From Boone Hall Plantation Entry with Transfers: $71
- Isle of Palms/Sullivans Island to Charleston Airport –Departure Private Transfer: $104
- Private Transfer from Charleston City to Charleston Cruise Port: $55
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint John's or Charleston?
Prices for flights to both Charleston 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
-
Food Meals for one daySaint John's $68Charleston $58
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
Typical Food Prices in Charleston
Some typical examples of dining costs in Charleston are as follows:
-
Lunch in downtown Charleston for two$21
-
Breakfast$26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Charleston
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Charleston.
- Charleston Sunset Blues & BBQ Dinner Cruise: $72
- Charleston Harbor Luxury Dinner Cruise with Live Music: $88
- Luxury Harbor Dinner Cruise: $93
- Savor the Flavors Upper King Street Food Tour: $95
- Charleston Food Tour: $99
- Historic Downtown Food Tour with Tastings: $99
- 3-Hour Secret Food Tour: $108
- Charleston Farm-to-Table Food Tour and Chef's Challenge: $109
- Charleston Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $110
- Downtown Charleston Food Tour: $110
- Savor the Flavors of Charleston Walking Food Tour: $110
- Charleston's Savor the Flavors of Upper King Street Walking Food Tour: $110
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint John's $103Charleston $22
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:
-
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
- 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
- Glenmon taxi and tours: $70
- Small-Group Hiking Experience in Antigua: $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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Charleston
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Charleston are as follows:
-
Patriots Point (for 2)$60
Tours and Activities in Charleston
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Charleston are as follows:
- The French Quarter: GPS Guided Walking Tour with Audio Guide: $5.99
- Self-Guided Ghost Tour: $6.99
- Self-Guided "The French Quarter Charleston" Solo Walking Tour: $7.50
- Cinematic, Self Guided Audio Ghost Tour in Charleston: $10
- Self-Guided Highlights Walking Audio Tour: $12
- 300 Years of War and Peacetime in A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
- Self-Guided Audio History Walking Tour: $12
- Charleston Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $15
- Trolley Tour in Wadmalaw Island of South Carolina: $17
- Charleston's Miracle Mile: Church and Cemetery Walking Tour: $21
- History & Storytelling Tour: $24
- The Ghosts of Liberty Guided Walking Tour: $25
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint John's $18Charleston $36
Sample the Local Flavors in Charleston
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Charleston:
- Charleston Women and Wine Tour: $20
- Women and Wine Tour: $20
- Charleston Terrors Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $27
- Guided Pub Crawl and Haunted History Tour: $30
- Bay Street Bastards Pub Crawl Shared Tour in Charleston : $35
- Speakeasy Sagas Prohibition Pub Crawl: $35
- Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl Walking Tour: $35
- Historic District Haunted Pub Crawl Tour: $40
- Charleston Brewery District Cruise (Public Tour): $95
- Wadmalaw Island Wine Tasting and Tea Garden Trip: $135
- Half Day Party Bus Brewery Tour of Charleston: $140
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint John's and Charleston, we can see that Saint John's is more expensive. And not only is Charleston much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint John's is in Caribbean Islands and Charleston 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 Charleston would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Charleston 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 Charleston.
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 Charleston Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Saint John's or Charleston?
Charleston has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Saint John's. When comparing the sizes of Saint John's and Charleston, 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 Charleston?
Charleston 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 Charleston in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John's and Charleston. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John's year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Charleston in the summer for the beaches, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Saint John's is around the same temperature as Charleston. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint John's in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Charleston averages at about 82°F (28°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Charleston 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 Charleston during summer. Saint John's gets 245 hours of sunny skies, while Charleston receives 293 hours of full sun in the summer.
Charleston receives a lot of rain in the summer. Saint John's gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Saint John's usually receives less rain than Charleston. Saint John's gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Charleston receives 6.9 inches (176 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulySaint John's 27°C (81°F)Charleston 82°F (28°C)
Should I visit Saint John's or Charleston in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Saint John's as well as Charleston. Saint John's attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Charleston for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In October, Saint John's is generally a little warmer than Charleston. Daily temperatures in Saint John's average around 27°C (80°F), and Charleston fluctuates around 67°F (19°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint John's this time of the year. In the autumn, Saint John's often gets more sunshine than Charleston. Saint John's gets 217 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Charleston receives 197 hours of full sun.
Saint John's receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Saint John's usually gets more rain in October than Charleston. Saint John's gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Charleston receives 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain this time of the year.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSaint John's 27°C (80°F)Charleston 67°F (19°C)
Should I visit Saint John's or Charleston in the Winter?
Both Charleston and Saint John's are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John's throughout the year. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Charleston because of the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Saint John's is much warmer than Charleston in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint John's averages around 24°C (76°F) in January, and Charleston fluctuates around 47°F (9°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. Saint John's usually receives more sunshine than Charleston during winter. Saint John's gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Charleston receives 188 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Saint John's usually receives around the same amount of rain as Charleston. Saint John's gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Charleston receives 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySaint John's 24°C (76°F)Charleston 47°F (9°C)
Should I visit Saint John's or Charleston in the Spring?
Both Charleston and Saint John's during the spring 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. Also, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Charleston this time of year.
In the spring, Saint John's is a little warmer than Charleston. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint John's in April average around 26°C (78°F), and Charleston averages at about 64°F (18°C).
In Charleston, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Saint John's. In the spring, Saint John's often gets less sunshine than Charleston. Saint John's gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Charleston receives 275 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. Saint John's usually gets more rain in April than Charleston. Saint John's gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Charleston receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain this time of the year.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilSaint John's 26°C (78°F)Charleston 64°F (18°C)
Typical Weather for Charleston and Saint John's
| Saint John's | Charleston | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 47°F (9°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Mar | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 58°F (14°C) | 4.3 inches (110 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 4.2 inches (106 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 78°F (26°C) | 6.4 inches (163 mm) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 82°F (28°C) | 6.9 inches (176 mm) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) | 81°F (27°C) | 7.1 inches (181 mm) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 76°F (25°C) | 4.8 inches (121 mm) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 2.9 inches (74 mm) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 58°F (15°C) | 2.5 inches (63 mm) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 51°F (10°C) | 3.1 inches (78 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.