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

Should you visit Saint John's or Gainesville?

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

Should I visit Saint John's or Gainesville? 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 Gainesville?

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.

Gainesville

Home to the University of Florida as well as Santa Fe College, the town of Gainesville has all of the shopping, entertainment, and restaurants that you could want in a college town - plus easy access to a number of outdoor adventures from canoeing, diving, and kayaking to birding, fishing, hiking, and biking. Some of the top features include the Butterfly Rainforest, the Florida Museum of Natural History, the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, and Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Gainesville or Saint John's?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Saint John's is $222, while the average daily cost in Gainesville is $221. 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 Gainesville in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Saint John's $120
    Gainesville $119
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Saint John's $240
    Gainesville $238
Compare Hotels in Saint John's and Gainesville

Looking for a hotel in Saint John's or Gainesville? 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 Saint Johns


Hotels in Gainesville


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: Gainesville Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Saint John's $17
    Gainesville $40
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

Is it cheaper to fly into Saint John's or Gainesville?

Prices for flights to both Gainesville 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 day
    Saint John's $68
    Gainesville $70

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 Gainesville

Some typical examples of dining costs in Gainesville are as follows:


  • Diner Breakfast for Two
    $17
  • Lunch at Chop Stix (for 2)
    $24

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Saint John's $103
    Gainesville $44
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 Gainesville

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Gainesville are as follows:


  • Manatee Tour for Two
    $98
  • Tour Guide Tip
    $5.00

Tours and Activities in Gainesville

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Gainesville are as follows:

  • Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Gainesville by Operation City Quest: $10
  • Butterfly Rainforest at Florida Museum of Natural History Ticket: $15
  • Private Snorkeling Tour in Florida Springs: $250

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Saint John's $18
    Gainesville $49


When comparing the travel costs between Saint John's and Gainesville, we can see that Saint John's is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Saint John's is in Caribbean Islands and Gainesville is in North America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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 Gainesville Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Saint John's or Gainesville?

Gainesville has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Saint John's. When comparing the sizes of Saint John's and Gainesville, 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 Gainesville?

Gainesville 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 Gainesville in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John's and Gainesville. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John's year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Gainesville in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Saint John's is generally around the same temperature as Gainesville. Daily temperatures in Saint John's average around 27°C (81°F), and Gainesville fluctuates around 81°F (27°C).

Gainesville 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 Gainesville. Saint John's gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Gainesville receives 6.8 inches (174 mm) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Saint John's 27°C (81°F) 
    Gainesville 81°F (27°C)

Should I visit Saint John's or Gainesville in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Saint John's as well as Gainesville. Saint John's attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Gainesville for the shopping scene during these months.

Saint John's is a little warmer than Gainesville in the autumn. The daily temperature in Saint John's averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and Gainesville fluctuates around 71°F (22°C).

Saint John's receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Saint John's usually gets more rain in October than Gainesville. Saint John's gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Gainesville receives 2 inches (51 mm) of rain this time of the year. Keep in mind that June to November is the hurricane season in Gainesville.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Saint John's 27°C (80°F) 
    Gainesville 71°F (22°C)

Should I visit Saint John's or Gainesville in the Winter?

Both Gainesville 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 Gainesville because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Saint John's is much warmer than Gainesville. Typically, the winter temperatures in Saint John's in January average around 24°C (76°F), and Gainesville averages at about 54°F (12°C).

In January, Saint John's usually receives more rain than Gainesville. Saint John's gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Gainesville receives 2.9 inches (75 mm) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Saint John's 24°C (76°F) 
    Gainesville 54°F (12°C)

Should I visit Saint John's or Gainesville in the Spring?

Both Gainesville 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.

In April, Saint John's is generally a little warmer than Gainesville. Daily temperatures in Saint John's average around 26°C (78°F), and Gainesville fluctuates around 69°F (20°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. Saint John's usually gets more rain in April than Gainesville. Saint John's gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Gainesville receives 2 inches (50 mm) of rain this time of the year. Also, June to November in Gainesville is the hurricane season.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Saint John's 26°C (78°F) 
    Gainesville 69°F (20°C)

Typical Weather for Gainesville and Saint John's

Saint John's Gainesville
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 24°C (76°F) 84 mm (3.3 in) 54°F (12°C) 2.9 inches (75 mm)
Feb 24°C (76°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 57°F (14°C) 4.5 inches (115 mm)
Mar 25°C (76°F) 73 mm (2.9 in) 63°F (17°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm)
Apr 26°C (78°F) 123 mm (4.8 in) 69°F (20°C) 2 inches (50 mm)
May 27°C (80°F) 148 mm (5.8 in) 75°F (24°C) 3.1 inches (79 mm)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 118 mm (4.6 in) 80°F (26°C) 6.8 inches (174 mm)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 150 mm (5.9 in) 81°F (27°C) 6.8 inches (174 mm)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 198 mm (7.8 in) 81°F (27°C) 8.3 inches (211 mm)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 236 mm (9.3 in) 78°F (26°C) 5.5 inches (139 mm)
Oct 27°C (80°F) 228 mm (9 in) 71°F (22°C) 2 inches (51 mm)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 220 mm (8.7 in) 63°F (17°C) 2.4 inches (61 mm)
Dec 25°C (77°F) 137 mm (5.4 in) 56°F (14°C) 2.9 inches (74 mm)