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

Should you visit Saint John's or Philadelphia?

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

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

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.

Philadelphia

Philadelphia is the fourth largest urban area, and the fifth largest city in the United States. It's located in southeastern Pennsylvania and has a rich history, having once been the capital of the United States. The city has very impressive architecture, museums, universities, and entertainment venues. It's a cultural and artistic center for the country and it continues to climb as a top travel destination.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, and The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Philadelphia 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.

The average daily cost (per person) in Saint John's is $272, while the average daily cost in Philadelphia is $224. 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 Philadelphia in more detail.



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

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


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: Philadelphia Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Saint John's $17
    Philadelphia $28
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:

  • VIP Meet and Greet Fast Track on Arrival at Antigua Airport - without Transfers : $77
  • Round-Trip Transfer between Antigua Airport and Antigua Hotels: $32
  • Private Transfer from Antigua island hotels to St. John's Port: $57
  • Private Transfer from Antigua Airport (ANU) to St. John's Port: $42
  • Private Transfer from Antigua & Barbuda V.C. Bird Airport (ANU) to island: $123
  • Private Roundtrip Airport Transfers & Tour in Antigua & Barbuda: $200
  • Private Round Trip Transfer From Antigua Airport To NonSuch Bay: $84
  • Private Antigua Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Hammock Cove: $90
  • Private Airport Transfers to Antigua and Barbuda: $60
  • JTAT Private Transfers & Tours, Saint John's, Antigua and Barbuda: $160
  • Crystal Kayak & Snorkel Eco Tour (with transfer): $99
  • Biggvee Premium Airport One Way Transfer: $200

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Philadelphia

Also for Philadelphia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Philadelphia Airport (PHL) to Philadelphia - Arrival Private Transfer: $109
  • Philadelphia City to Baltimore City - Private Car Transfer: $210
  • Private Transfer Philadelphia to Philadephia Airport PHL by SUV: $146
  • Private Transfer Philadephia to Philadelphia Airport PHL by Sedan: $94
  • Private Transfer: Philadelphia Airport PHL to Philadelphia in Business Car: $104
  • Private Transfer: Philadelphia Airport PHL to Philadelphia in Luxury SUV: $115
  • Private transfer from PHL to Philadelphia Downtown: $130

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

Prices for flights to both Philadelphia 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 $117
    Philadelphia $84

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

Typical Food Prices in Philadelphia

For Philadelphia, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Casual Lunch (for 3)
    $27

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Philadelphia

For Philadelphia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Nibble Food Tour: $58
  • Philadelphia Italian Market Public Food Tour: $59
  • Center City Philadelphia Food Tour with Reading Market : $59
  • Flavors of Philly Food Tour: $65
  • Behind The Scenes Food Tour: South Philly & Italian Market: $95
  • Highlights of East Passyunk Food Tour: $105
  • City Cruises Signature Dinner Cruise with Buffet: $123

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Saint John's $103
    Philadelphia $28
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:

  • 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 Philadelphia

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Philadelphia's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Big Bus Tour (family of 3)
    $99

Tours and Activities in Philadelphia

For Philadelphia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Philadelphia Haunted Ghost Smartphone Guided Audio Walking Tour: $7.75
  • Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Philadelphia by Operation City Quest: $10
  • The Road to Revolution: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in Philadelphia: $12
  • Philadelphia Architecture: Discover Every American Style on a GPS Audio Tour: $12
  • Philadelphia 76ers Basketball Game Ticket at Wells Fargo Center: $12
  • University of Pennsylvania Scavenger Hunt Experience: $15
  • Experience the season with a scavenger hunt in Philadelphia with Holly Jolly: $20
  • The Constitutional Walking Tour of Philadelphia: $24
  • The Ghosts of Philadelphia Tour: $25
  • Museum of the American Revolution Admission Ticket with Audio Guided Option: $27
  • Revolution and the Founders: History Tour of Philadelphia: $29
  • 90 Minute History Walking Tour of Old City Philadelphia: $29

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Saint John's $18
    Philadelphia $21

Sample the Local Flavors in Philadelphia

Also in Philadelphia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Philly Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $36
  • Liberty History Tour Pub Crawl: $45
  • Philadelphia Prohibition Pub Crawl: $50
  • Philly Signature Guided Brewery Tour: $105


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

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 Philadelphia Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Saint John's or Philadelphia?

Philadelphia has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Saint John's. When comparing the sizes of Saint John's and Philadelphia, 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 Philadelphia?

Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Saint John's as well as Philadelphia. Saint John's attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Philadelphia in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

Saint John's is around the same temperature as Philadelphia in the summer. The daily temperature in Saint John's averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Philadelphia fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Philadelphia. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint John's this time of the year. In the summer, Saint John's often gets less sunshine than Philadelphia. Saint John's gets 245 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Philadelphia receives 273 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Philadelphia. Saint John's receives a lot of rain in the summer. Saint John's usually gets more rain in July than Philadelphia. Saint John's gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Philadelphia receives 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Saint John's 27°C (81°F) 
    Philadelphia 77°F (25°C)

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

Both Philadelphia and Saint John's are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John's throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Philadelphia for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Saint John's is much warmer than Philadelphia. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Saint John's in October average around 27°C (80°F), and Philadelphia averages at about 56°F (14°C).

It's quite sunny in Philadelphia. 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 Philadelphia during autumn. Saint John's gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while Philadelphia receives 202 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Saint John's. In October, Saint John's usually receives more rain than Philadelphia. Saint John's gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Philadelphia receives 1.9 inches (48 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Saint John's 27°C (80°F) 
    Philadelphia 56°F (14°C)

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

Both Philadelphia and Saint John's during the winter 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. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Philadelphia because of the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.

The weather in Philadelphia can be very cold. In January, Saint John's is generally much warmer than Philadelphia. Daily temperatures in Saint John's average around 24°C (76°F), and Philadelphia fluctuates around 30°F (-1°C).

It's quite sunny in Saint John's. In the winter, Saint John's often gets more sunshine than Philadelphia. Saint John's gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Philadelphia receives 152 hours of full sun.

Saint John's usually gets more rain in January than Philadelphia. Saint John's gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Philadelphia receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Saint John's 24°C (76°F) 
    Philadelphia 30°F (-1°C)

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

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John's and Philadelphia. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John's year-round. Also, the activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Philadelphia this time of year.

Saint John's is much warmer than Philadelphia in the spring. The daily temperature in Saint John's averages around 26°C (78°F) in April, and Philadelphia fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia during spring. Saint John's gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Philadelphia receives 216 hours of full sun in the spring.

Saint John's gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Saint John's usually receives more rain than Philadelphia. Saint John's gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Philadelphia receives 2.8 inches (70 mm) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Saint John's 26°C (78°F) 
    Philadelphia 52°F (11°C)

Typical Weather for Philadelphia and Saint John's

Saint John's Philadelphia
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 24°C (76°F) 84 mm (3.3 in) 30°F (-1°C) 2.3 inches (58 mm)
Feb 24°C (76°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 33°F (1°C) 2.1 inches (54 mm)
Mar 25°C (76°F) 73 mm (2.9 in) 42°F (6°C) 2.7 inches (68 mm)
Apr 26°C (78°F) 123 mm (4.8 in) 52°F (11°C) 2.8 inches (70 mm)
May 27°C (80°F) 148 mm (5.8 in) 63°F (17°C) 2.8 inches (70 mm)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 118 mm (4.6 in) 72°F (22°C) 3 inches (76 mm)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 150 mm (5.9 in) 77°F (25°C) 3.9 inches (100 mm)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 198 mm (7.8 in) 76°F (24°C) 3 inches (75 mm)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 236 mm (9.3 in) 68°F (20°C) 2.8 inches (71 mm)
Oct 27°C (80°F) 228 mm (9 in) 56°F (14°C) 1.9 inches (48 mm)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 220 mm (8.7 in) 46°F (8°C) 2.5 inches (64 mm)
Dec 25°C (77°F) 137 mm (5.4 in) 36°F (2°C) 2.7 inches (69 mm)