Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Saint John's?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Saint John's or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Saint John's or San Juan? 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 San Juan?
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.
San Juan
If you've ever set foot on a Caribbean cruise, you've probably spent a bit of time in San Juan, Puerto Rico. However, maybe you should consider spending more than just a port day in this beautiful and historically rich city.
As the capital and largest city in all of Puerto Rico, San Juan is home to approximately 400,000 people. Established in 1521, it is also the second oldest European-founded settlement in the Americas.
As this city fuses a historic paradise with modern day energy, it has absolutely everything to offer. Intellectual wanderers, beach bums, rainforest adventurers and radical surfers will all find plenty to do in San Juan.
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Saint John's Prices
Antigua and Barbuda PricesSan Juan Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint John's $272San Juan $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint John's is $272, while the average daily cost in San Juan is $218. 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 San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint John's $120San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint John's $240San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Saint John's and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Saint John's or San Juan? 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: San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint John's $17San Juan $14
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:
- Private Roundtrip Airport Transfers & Tour in Antigua & Barbuda: $200
- Biggvee Premium Airport One Way Transfer: $200
- JTAT Private Transfers & Tours, Saint John's, Antigua and Barbuda: $160
- 3-Hours Eye-Opening Stingray City Antigua - Transfer R/T included: $133
- Private Transfer from Antigua & Barbuda V.C. Bird Airport (ANU) to island: $123
- Antigua - VIP Fast Track On Arrival ONLY And Round Trip Transfer : $109
- Crystal Kayak & Snorkel Eco Tour (with transfer): $99
- Antigua V.C. Bird Airport (ANU) to Island - Round-Trip Transfer : $93
- Private Antigua Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Hammock Cove: $90
- Private Round Trip Transfer From Antigua Airport To NonSuch Bay: $84
- VIP Meet and Greet Fast Track on Arrival at Antigua Airport - without Transfers : $77
- Biggvee Airport Roundtrip Transfer: $70
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer to Cruise Ships, Hotels, Airbnb in San Juan: $76
- Arrival Private Transfer SJU Airport to Old San Juan by Sedan: $120
- Carabali Rain Forest Round Trip Private Taxi Transfer: $200
- Departure Transfer from Old San Juan to to SJU Airport by Car: $86
- Double ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $289
- Premium Transfer in Airport, Hotel, Airbnb, Cruise: $25
- Private Airport Transfers to Ceiba Ferry Terminal and Airport: $155
- Private Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to San Juan Airport: $22
- Private Transfer Puerto Rico:To or From Airports, Hotels &Cruises: $33
- Private Transfer from SJU Airport to Cruise Port Roundtrip Servic: $109
- Private Transfer from SJU Airport to San Juan / Rio Grande: $115
- Private Transfer from or to San Juan and Ceiba Ferry: $93
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint John's or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan 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 $117San Juan $62
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
- Nicole's Table - Cooking with Rum: $165
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Juan
For San Juan, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $165
- FlyDining: Sunset & City Lights Dinner Over Old San Juan: $165
- Morning Old San Juan Food Tour: $169
- Cooking and Connecting with a Local in Puerto Rico: $173
- Savor the Sunset: Old San Juan Walking Food Tour: $179
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint John's $103San Juan $49
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:
- Island Flava Discovery Tour: $150
- 6-Hours Tour East Coast of Antigua: Stingray City, Lunch & Beach: $195
- Adventure Antigua - Eli's Original Eco Tour: $143
- Adventure Antigua - The Xtreme Circumnavigation: $221
- Antigua Eco Island Tour (City, Country, Beach, & Heritage Sites): $199
- Antigua Historical Sites Island Tour: $110
- Antigua Reef Riders Self-Drive Boat and Snorkeling Tour: $180
- Antigua Round Island Tour: $85
- Antigua Seafood Lunch Cruise From St. John's: $172
- Antigua Shore Excursion: Round Island Tour: $110
- Antigua VIP Tours - Private Platinum Tour: $170
- Antigua VIP Tours - Semi-Private Gold Tour: $135
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Juan
For San Juan, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Horseback Riding Tour$40
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Full Day Snorkeling Trip$100
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1 Hr Windsurfing Lesson$75
Tours and Activities in San Juan
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Juan.
- Transportation in San Juan, Isla verde, Condado, Hotels, Cruises & Airbnb's SJU: $14
- San Juan Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $17
- Eco Friendly Farming Tour to Explore Dorado's Most Beautiful Farm: $20
- Discover Superb Self-Guided Audio Tour: $20
- Group Transportation in airport, cruise ships, hotels, bnb's in San Juan, PR: $23
- Old San Juan Walking Tour with a Local Certified Guide: $25
- San Juan Ghost Tour: Shrieks in the Sugarcane: $32
- Old San Juan Walking Tour: $39
- Old San Juan City Walking Tour: $39
- Historic Old San Juan Sunset Walking Tour: $39
- Top Rated El Yunque Rainforest & Waterslide – VIP SmallGroup Tour: $45
- Ron del Barrilito Heritage Skip-the-Line Tour: $46
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint John's $18San Juan $12
Sample the Local Flavors in San Juan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Juan:
- Old San Juan Bar Crawl: Experience Local Hotspots: $65
- The Pinones Pub crawl Bar crawl : $70
- Local Puerto Rican Rum Distillery Tour - Ron Pepon: $90
- Puerto Rico's First and Only Craft Beer Brewery Tour! : $99
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint John's and San Juan, we can see that Saint John's is more expensive. And not only is San Juan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Juan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Juan 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 San Juan.
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 San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Saint John's or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Saint John's. When comparing the sizes of Saint John's and San Juan, 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 San Juan?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Saint John's or San Juan in the Summer?
Both San Juan and Saint John's during the summer 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 San Juan year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. Saint John's usually gets more rain in July than San Juan. Saint John's gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Saint John's. In the summer, Saint John's often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Saint John's gets 245 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun.
In July, Saint John's is generally around the same temperature as San Juan. Daily temperatures in Saint John's average around 27°C (81°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySaint John's 27°C (81°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or San Juan in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John's and San Juan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John's year-round. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
San Juan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Saint John's gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Saint John's usually receives more rain than San Juan. Saint John's gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan 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 San Juan during autumn. Saint John's gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Saint John's is around the same temperature as San Juan in the autumn. The daily temperature in Saint John's averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSaint John's 27°C (80°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or San Juan in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Saint John's as well as San Juan. Saint John's attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
Saint John's usually gets more rain in January than San Juan. Saint John's gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint John's this time of the year. In the winter, Saint John's often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan. Saint John's gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Saint John's is around the same temperature as San Juan. Typically, the winter temperatures in Saint John's in January average around 24°C (76°F), and San Juan averages at about 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySaint John's 24°C (76°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or San Juan in the Spring?
Both San Juan and Saint John's are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John's throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Saint John's. In April, Saint John's usually receives more rain than San Juan. Saint John's gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in San Juan. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. Saint John's usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during spring. Saint John's gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Saint John's is generally around the same temperature as San Juan. Daily temperatures in Saint John's average around 26°C (78°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSaint John's 26°C (78°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Saint John's
| Saint John's | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 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.