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

Should you visit Saint John's or Granada?

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

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

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.

Granada

Granada is Nicaragua's oldest colonial city, and arguably, the most beautiful city in the country. It sits on the northern edge of Lake Nicaragua (Lago Cocibolca) and has many beautifully colored buildings and nice churches. The city's beauty and colonial architecture, along with its relative safety and accessibility, make it one of Nicaragua's top tourist destinations. The city has long been a center for commerce, but today its economy depends heavily on tourism. The city is the sixth largest in Nicaragua and a real estate boom in the early 2000's brought a large number of expats to the town.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.


Which place is cheaper, Granada 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 Granada is $40. 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 Granada in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Saint John's $120
    Granada $17
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Saint John's $240
    Granada $34
Compare Hotels in Saint John's and Granada

Looking for a hotel in Saint John's or Granada? 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 Granada


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: Granada Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Saint John's $17
    Granada $8.57
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
  • Private One-Way Antigua Airport Transfer To/From Antigua: $45
  • Shared Roundtrip Taxi Transfer from Antigua Airport to Royalton Antigua Resort: $45
  • Airport Transfer from/to all resorts in Antigua - Water Inc.: $59
  • 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
  • Antigua&Barbuda V.C.Bird Airport(ANU) to island Private Transfer: $77
  • Island to Antigua&Barbuda V.C.Bird Airport(ANU)- Private Transfer: $77
  • Private Transfer from St. John's Port to Antigua Island Hotels: $78
  • Antigua VC Bird Airport to Island Hotels Private Arrival Transfer: $82
  • Antigua - VIP Fast Track On Arrival ONLY And Round Trip Transfer : $99

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Granada

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Granada:

  • One-Way Private Transfer From/To Airport or Hotels in Granada: $80

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

Prices for flights to both Granada 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
    Granada $14

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 Granada

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


  • Pizza
    $2.29

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Saint John's $103
    Granada $10
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
  • City of St John's Sightseeing Tour: $59
  • Antigua Shore Excursion: 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
  • 2-Hours Stingray City Experience in Antigua: $73
  • Antigua Historical Sites Island Tour: $75
  • Kayak Eco Adventures Glass Kayak Nature and Snorkeling Tour: $75
  • Authentic Antiguan Experience: $79
  • TRIPLE ACTIVITY TOUR, Bike Kayak Hike, ANTIGUA : $80
  • Nightlife Tour of Antigua and Barbuda: $80

Typical Entertainment Prices in Granada

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


  • Lago de Nicaragua Boat Tour
    $8.17

Tours and Activities in Granada

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

  • Granada Kayak Tour: $30
  • Colonial Granada Horse Carriage & Walking Tour: $35
  • Paddle Boarding and Meditation Wellness Experience in Las Isletas: $39
  • Las Isletas: Kayak Tour: $39
  • Granada City Tour: $40
  • Granada's City Tour: $40
  • Las Isletas: Boat Tour: $45
  • Masaya Night Tour Minimum 2 People from Granada: $45
  • Las Isletas 2-Hour Kayak Adventure in Granada with Pickup: $48
  • City Walking Tour and Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride: $50
  • Full-Day Tour: Masaya Volcano, Art Market and White Villages: $60
  • Experience Granadas Best Sights Carriage ride + Local Guide: $65

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Saint John's $18
    Granada $7.50

Typical Alcohol Prices in Granada

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Granada:


  • Tequila
    $1.36


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint John's and Granada, we can see that Saint John's is more expensive. And not only is Granada much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint John's is in Caribbean Islands and Granada is in Central 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 Granada would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Granada 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 Granada.

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 Granada Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Saint John's or Granada?

Granada 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 Granada, 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 Granada?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.

Should I visit Saint John's or Granada in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John's and Granada. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John's year-round. Granada attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Granada 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 around the same amount of rain as Granada. Saint John's gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Granada receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.

In Saint John's, it's very sunny this time of the year. Saint John's usually receives more sunshine than Granada during summer. Saint John's gets 245 hours of sunny skies, while Granada receives 175 hours of full sun in the summer.

In the summer, Saint John's is around the same temperature as Granada. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint John's in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Granada averages at about 27°C (81°F).


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

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

The autumn brings many poeple to Saint John's as well as Granada. Saint John's attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Granada throughout the year.

It's quite rainy in Granada. Saint John's receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Saint John's usually gets more rain in October than Granada. Saint John's gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Granada receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

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 Granada. Saint John's gets 217 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Granada receives 195 hours of full sun.

In October, Saint John's is generally around the same temperature as Granada. Daily temperatures in Saint John's average around 27°C (80°F), and Granada fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Saint John's 27°C (80°F) 
    Granada 27°C (81°F)

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

Both Granada 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. Plenty of visitors come to Granada because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In January, Saint John's usually receives more rain than Granada. Saint John's gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Granada receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

It's quite sunny in Granada. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. Saint John's usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Granada during winter. Saint John's gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Granada receives 244 hours of full sun in the winter.

Saint John's is around the same temperature as Granada in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint John's averages around 24°C (76°F) in January, and Granada fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Saint John's 24°C (76°F) 
    Granada 26°C (79°F)

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

Both Granada 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Granada year-round.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. Saint John's usually gets more rain in April than Granada. Saint John's gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Granada receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

In Granada, 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 around the same amount of sunshine as Granada. Saint John's gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Granada receives 242 hours of full sun.

In the spring, Saint John's is cooler than Granada. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint John's in April average around 26°C (78°F), and Granada averages at about 29°C (84°F).


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Saint John's 26°C (78°F) 
    Granada 29°C (84°F)

Typical Weather for Granada and Saint John's

Saint John's Granada
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 24°C (76°F) 84 mm (3.3 in) 26°C (79°F) 4 mm (0.2 in)
Feb 24°C (76°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 27°C (80°F) 2 mm (0.1 in)
Mar 25°C (76°F) 73 mm (2.9 in) 28°C (82°F) 3 mm (0.1 in)
Apr 26°C (78°F) 123 mm (4.8 in) 29°C (84°F) 6 mm (0.2 in)
May 27°C (80°F) 148 mm (5.8 in) 29°C (84°F) 131 mm (5.2 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 118 mm (4.6 in) 28°C (82°F) 196 mm (7.7 in)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 150 mm (5.9 in) 27°C (81°F) 144 mm (5.7 in)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 198 mm (7.8 in) 27°C (81°F) 151 mm (5.9 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 236 mm (9.3 in) 27°C (81°F) 210 mm (8.3 in)
Oct 27°C (80°F) 228 mm (9 in) 27°C (81°F) 197 mm (7.8 in)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 220 mm (8.7 in) 31°C (88°F) 54 mm (2.1 in)
Dec 25°C (77°F) 137 mm (5.4 in) 26°C (79°F) 11 mm (0.4 in)