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

Should you visit Saint John's or San Pedro?

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

Should I visit Saint John's or San Pedro? 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 Pedro?

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 Pedro

San Pedro is the largest town on Ambergris Caye, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Belize. Here you can find a tropical paradise with warm weather, clear blue waters, plenty of activities such as snorkeling and scuba diving, and a host of hotels, restaurants, and other amenities.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Belize, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize.


Which place is cheaper, San Pedro 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 San Pedro is $135. 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 Pedro in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Saint John's $120
    San Pedro $66
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Saint John's $240
    San Pedro $132
Compare Hotels in Saint John's and San Pedro

Looking for a hotel in Saint John's or San Pedro? 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 San Pedro


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Saint John's $17
    San Pedro $34
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:

  • D.A.G Airport Transfers : $30
  • Round-Trip Transfer between Antigua Airport and Antigua Hotels: $32
  • Airport Transfer from/to all resorts in Antigua - Water Inc.: $41
  • Private One-Way Antigua Airport Transfer To/From Antigua: $45
  • 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
  • Antigua&Barbuda V.C.Bird Airport(ANU) to island Private Transfer: $78
  • Island Hotels to Antigua VC Bird Airport ANU Departure Transfer: $78
  • Island to Antigua&Barbuda V.C.Bird Airport(ANU)- Private Transfer: $78
  • Private Transfer from St. John's Port to Antigua Island Hotels: $79

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro

Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Pedro:

  • Cave Tubing and Zipline Adventure (Boat Transfer): $205

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

Prices for flights to both San Pedro 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
    San Pedro $40

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
  • Private Art Tour or Food Tour: $150

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Pedro

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Pedro.

  • Belizean Sunset and Cultural Dinner Cruise: $120

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Saint John's $103
    San Pedro $33
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:

  • City of St John's Sightseeing Tour: $59
  • Antigua Shore Excursion: City of St John's Sightseeing Tour: $59
  • Group Tour for the Best of Antigua: $65
  • Cultural and Historical Home Tour in The Antiguan Experience : $66
  • Glenmon taxi and tours: $70
  • Small-Group Hiking Experience in Antigua: $70
  • Antigua Historical Sites Island Tour: $75
  • Kayak Eco Adventures Glass Kayak Nature and Snorkeling Tour: $75
  • 2-Hours Stingray City Experience in Antigua: $77
  • Authentic Antiguan Experience: $79
  • TRIPLE ACTIVITY TOUR, Bike Kayak Hike, ANTIGUA : $80
  • Nightlife Tour of Antigua and Barbuda: $80

Tours and Activities in San Pedro

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

  • Sunset Tiki Bar Cruise in Caye Caulker, Belize: $45
  • Shark & Ray Afternoon Swim Tiki Bar Cruise: $45
  • 3 Hours Barrier Reef Tour in Caye Caulker, Belize: $54
  • Ambergris Caye Sunset Sail Tour on the 40' Sirena Azul Sailboat: $75
  • SAN PEDRO; Belizean Food Experience: $86
  • Hol Chan Marine Reserve Snorkel Tour on the 40' Sirena Azul Sailboat: $89
  • Belize Hol Chan Marine Reserve & Shark Ray Alley Snorkel Tour - Ambergris Caye: $93
  • Hol Chan Full-Day Bucket List Snorkeling and Marine Life Tour: $105
  • Hol Chan, Shark Ray Full-Day Snorkeling Tour From San Pedro Belize: $110
  • Mexico Rocks Day Sail Shared Guided Tour: $129
  • Exclusive All-in-1 Full Day Shared Guided Tour: $139
  • Hol Chan Marine Reserve Snorkel and Caye Caulker Tour 40' Sirena Azul Sailboat: $150

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Saint John's $18
    San Pedro $16


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

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 Pedro Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Saint John's or San Pedro?

Saint John's has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of San Pedro. When comparing the sizes of Saint John's and San Pedro, 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 Pedro?

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 San Pedro in the Summer?

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

San Pedro 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 San Pedro. Saint John's gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while San Pedro receives 243 mm (9.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Pedro this time of the year. In Saint John's, it's very sunny this time of the year. Saint John's usually receives more sunshine than San Pedro during summer. Saint John's gets 245 hours of sunny skies, while San Pedro receives 226 hours of full sun in the summer.

Saint John's is around the same temperature as San Pedro in the summer. The daily temperature in Saint John's averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and San Pedro fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Saint John's 27°C (81°F) 
    San Pedro 28°C (82°F)

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

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

It's quite rainy in San Pedro. Saint John's receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Saint John's usually gets less rain in October than San Pedro. Saint John's gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while San Pedro receives 255 mm (10 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 San Pedro. Saint John's gets 217 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Pedro receives 196 hours of full sun.

In the autumn, Saint John's is around the same temperature as San Pedro. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Saint John's in October average around 27°C (80°F), and San Pedro averages at about 26°C (80°F).


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Saint John's 27°C (80°F) 
    San Pedro 26°C (80°F)

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

Both San Pedro 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 San Pedro because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

It rains a lot this time of the year in San Pedro. In January, Saint John's usually receives less rain than San Pedro. Saint John's gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while San Pedro receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. Saint John's usually receives more sunshine than San Pedro during winter. Saint John's gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while San Pedro receives 199 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Saint John's is generally around the same temperature as San Pedro. Daily temperatures in Saint John's average around 24°C (76°F), and San Pedro fluctuates around 24°C (74°F).


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Saint John's 24°C (76°F) 
    San Pedro 24°C (74°F)

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

Both San Pedro 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 San Pedro 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 San Pedro. Saint John's gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while San Pedro receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

In San Pedro, 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 San Pedro. Saint John's gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Pedro receives 256 hours of full sun.

Saint John's is around the same temperature as San Pedro in the spring. The daily temperature in Saint John's averages around 26°C (78°F) in April, and San Pedro fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Saint John's 26°C (78°F) 
    San Pedro 27°C (80°F)

Typical Weather for San Pedro and Saint John's

Saint John's San Pedro
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 24°C (76°F) 84 mm (3.3 in) 24°C (74°F) 138 mm (5.4 in)
Feb 24°C (76°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 24°C (76°F) 73 mm (2.9 in)
Mar 25°C (76°F) 73 mm (2.9 in) 26°C (78°F) 25 mm (1 in)
Apr 26°C (78°F) 123 mm (4.8 in) 27°C (80°F) 52 mm (2 in)
May 27°C (80°F) 148 mm (5.8 in) 28°C (82°F) 105 mm (4.1 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 118 mm (4.6 in) 28°C (82°F) 258 mm (10.2 in)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 150 mm (5.9 in) 28°C (82°F) 243 mm (9.6 in)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 198 mm (7.8 in) 28°C (82°F) 187 mm (7.4 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 236 mm (9.3 in) 28°C (82°F) 287 mm (11.3 in)
Oct 27°C (80°F) 228 mm (9 in) 26°C (80°F) 255 mm (10 in)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 220 mm (8.7 in) 25°C (77°F) 183 mm (7.2 in)
Dec 25°C (77°F) 137 mm (5.4 in) 25°C (76°F) 138 mm (5.4 in)