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

Should you visit Vientiane or Saint John's?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Vientiane or Saint John's, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Vientiane or Saint John's?

Vientiane

You wouldn't expect the capital city to have such a relaxing environment, but in Vientiane, Laos you can sit back and take in the beautiful scenery without feeling pressure to see every little thing. With Vientiane, what you see is what you get.

While picturesque temples and markets line the streets, the city is still experiencing a successful building boom. Even the Presidential Palace has undergone some hefty renovations.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Laos, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Laos.


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

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Vientiane is $15, while the average daily cost in Saint John's is $222. 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 Vientiane and Saint John's in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Vientiane $6.00
    Saint John's $120
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Vientiane $12
    Saint John's $240
Compare Hotels in Vientiane and Saint John's

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


Hotels in Saint Johns


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: Vientiane Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Vientiane $2.08
    Saint John's $17
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vientiane

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vientiane are as follows:


  • Tuk Tuk Ride
    $4.23

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vientiane

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Vientiane:

  • Private Transfer in Laos: $5.00
  • Vientian Private Airport Transfer - Wattay Airport: $15
  • Vientiane Airport Transfer: Wattay airport to hotel - Private transfer: $15
  • Vientiane Private Airport and Hotel Transfers: $9.00
  • Wattay Airport (VTE): Private Transfer to/from Vientiane: $29

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 Vientiane or Saint John's?

Prices for flights to both Saint John's and Vientiane 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
    Vientiane $6.30
    Saint John's $68

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vientiane

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

  • Private Evening Food Tour of Laos: $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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Vientiane $3.53
    Saint John's $103

Tours and Activities in Vientiane

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

  • Vientiane ATV and Canopy Walking Experience: $48
  • Vientiane Sky Luge and Roller Zipline Experience: $55
  • From Hue: Hue to Vientiane Bus tickets: $61
  • Half-Day Vientiane City Bike Tour: $67
  • Vientiane Half-Day City Tour: $69
  • Guided Vientiane City and Buddha Park Full-Day Tour: $81
  • Private Custom Tour with a Local Guide in Vientiane: $82
  • Vientiane City Day Tour and Buddha Park Visit with Lunch: $88
  • 2 Days Private Tour in Vientiane and Vang Vieng: $90
  • Private Vientiane Tour - include Buddha Park: $100
  • Private Tour: Full-day Vientiane's Must-See Sights and River Sunset with Lunch: $101
  • Private Tour: Half-day City Guided Tour of Vientiane: $113

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
  • Small-Group Hiking Experience in Antigua: $70
  • Glenmon taxi and tours: $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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Vientiane $2.34
    Saint John's $18


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Vientiane Expensive? and Is Saint John's Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Vientiane or Saint John's?

Vientiane has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Saint John's. When comparing the sizes of Vientiane and Saint John's, 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 Vientiane or Saint John's?

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 Vientiane or Saint John's in the Summer?

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

Saint John's receives a lot of rain in the summer. Vientiane gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Vientiane usually receives more rain than Saint John's. Vientiane gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while Saint John's receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint John's this time of the year. Vientiane usually receives less sunshine than Saint John's during summer. Vientiane gets 141 hours of sunny skies, while Saint John's receives 245 hours of full sun in the summer.

In the summer, Vientiane is around the same temperature as Saint John's. Typically, the summer temperatures in Vientiane in July average around 30°C (85°F), and Saint John's averages at about 27°C (81°F).


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Vientiane 30°C (85°F) 
    Saint John's 27°C (81°F)

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

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

It's quite rainy in Saint John's. Vientiane usually gets less rain in October than Saint John's. Vientiane gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Saint John's receives 228 mm (9 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vientiane this time of the year. In the autumn, Vientiane often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Saint John's. Vientiane gets 222 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint John's receives 217 hours of full sun.

In October, Vientiane is generally around the same temperature as Saint John's. Daily temperatures in Vientiane average around 28°C (83°F), and Saint John's fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Vientiane 28°C (83°F) 
    Saint John's 27°C (80°F)

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

Both Saint John's and Vientiane are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vientiane throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John's because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In January, Vientiane usually receives less rain than Saint John's. Vientiane gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Saint John's receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

It's quite sunny in Saint John's. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vientiane. Vientiane usually receives more sunshine than Saint John's during winter. Vientiane gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Saint John's receives 236 hours of full sun in the winter.

Vientiane is around the same temperature as Saint John's in the winter. The daily temperature in Vientiane averages around 24°C (75°F) in January, and Saint John's fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Vientiane 24°C (75°F) 
    Saint John's 24°C (76°F)

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

Both Saint John's and Vientiane during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Vientiane because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John's year-round.

Saint John's gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Vientiane usually gets less rain in April than Saint John's. Vientiane gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Saint John's receives 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

In Saint John's, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Vientiane. In the spring, Vientiane often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Saint John's. Vientiane gets 230 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint John's receives 240 hours of full sun.

The heat can be very extreme in Vientiane. In the spring, Vientiane is a little warmer than Saint John's. Typically, the spring temperatures in Vientiane in April average around 31°C (88°F), and Saint John's averages at about 26°C (78°F).


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Vientiane 31°C (88°F) 
    Saint John's 26°C (78°F)

Typical Weather for Saint John's and Vientiane

Vientiane Saint John's
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 24°C (75°F) 6 mm (0.2 in) 24°C (76°F) 84 mm (3.3 in)
Feb 26°C (79°F) 12 mm (0.5 in) 24°C (76°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
Mar 29°C (85°F) 36 mm (1.4 in) 25°C (76°F) 73 mm (2.9 in)
Apr 31°C (88°F) 85 mm (3.3 in) 26°C (78°F) 123 mm (4.8 in)
May 30°C (87°F) 255 mm (10 in) 27°C (80°F) 148 mm (5.8 in)
Jun 30°C (86°F) 273 mm (10.7 in) 28°C (82°F) 118 mm (4.6 in)
Jul 30°C (85°F) 266 mm (10.5 in) 27°C (81°F) 150 mm (5.9 in)
Aug 29°C (85°F) 323 mm (12.7 in) 27°C (81°F) 198 mm (7.8 in)
Sep 29°C (84°F) 295 mm (11.6 in) 27°C (81°F) 236 mm (9.3 in)
Oct 28°C (83°F) 87 mm (3.4 in) 27°C (80°F) 228 mm (9 in)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 26°C (79°F) 220 mm (8.7 in)
Dec 24°C (74°F) 3 mm (0.1 in) 25°C (77°F) 137 mm (5.4 in)


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