Which place is cheaper, San Diego 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 Diego?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Saint John's or San Diego? 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 Diego?
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 Diego
For many visitors and locals alike, San Diego is a paradise. Located in southern California, not far from Los Angeles, it has the perfect climate, wonderful beaches, and a culturally rich environment. It's surrounded by beautiful landscape and has a strong focus on wildlife conservation and eco-friendly living. Home to about 1.3 million residents, it is California's second largest city. It also has many universities, a large tech industry, and a thriving economy. Despite its size, many people perceive San Diego as a slower, more relaxed city with a pleasant vibe away from the chaos of a large city.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas.
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Saint John's Prices
Antigua and Barbuda PricesSan Diego Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint John's $272San Diego $233
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint John's is $272, while the average daily cost in San Diego is $233. 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 Diego in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint John's $120San Diego $115
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint John's $240San Diego $230
Compare Hotels in Saint John's and San Diego
Looking for a hotel in Saint John's or San Diego? 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 Diego Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint John's $17San Diego $23
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 Diego
Also for San Diego, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- San Diego Airport (SAN) to Carlsbad, CA - Arrival Private Transfer: $66
- Arrival Private Transfer: San Diego Airport SAN to San Diego in Business Car: $112
- Carlsbad to San Diego Airport (SAN) - Departure Private Transfer: $66
- Departure Private Transfer: San Diego to San Diego Airport SAN in Business Car: $112
- Hot Springs/Ocotillo, CA to San Diego Airport (SAN) - Departure Private Transfer: $66
- Private Arrival Transfer - from San Diego Airport (SAN) by SUV: $89
- Private Transfer Airport Tijuana/Valle de Guadalupe (Ensenada) or back.: $165
- Private Transfer from San Diego (SAN) Airport to San Diego City: $87
- Private Transfer from San Diego Airport (SAN) to San Diego Port : $71
- Private Transfer from San Diego City Hotels to San Diego Port : $71
- Private Transfer from San Diego City to San Diego (SAN) Airport: $87
- Private Transfer from San Diego Port to San Diego Airport (SAN): $71
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint John's or San Diego?
Prices for flights to both San Diego 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 Diego $77
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 San Diego
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to San Diego:
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Mexican Lunch for Two$27
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Breakfast at Starbucks$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Diego
For San Diego, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Sushi Making Cooking Class at a Local Brewery in San Diego: $75
- 2-Hour Ravioli Cooking Class With Local Chef: $75
- 2-Hour Pasta Cooking Class at a Local Brewery: $75
- 2 Hour Ravioli Cooking Class With Local Chef in San Diego : $75
- Tijuana Street Food Tour for Foodies: $79
- Pizza and Ice Cream Walking Tour: $80
- Pizza and Gelato Tour in San Diego: $80
- Old Town Tequila and Tacos Walking Food Tour: $84
- San Diego Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour with Tastings: $85
- North Park San Diego Walking Food Tour: $85
- Gaslamp Quarter Food Tour: $89
- San Diego Vegan Food Tour: $89
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint John's $103San Diego $48
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 Diego
For San Diego, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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San Diego Zoo$15
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Sea World Parking$12
Tours and Activities in San Diego
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Diego.
- Self-guided Bike Tour App - Audio + Written: $5.00
- Self-Guided San Diego Walking or Bicycle Tour App: $5.00
- San Diego Gaslamp Quarter Self-Guided Walking Tour: $7.75
- Pies & Pickaxes: A Historic Walking Tour of Julian, CA: $7.99
- San Diego Gaslamp Quarter Walking Tour: $9.75
- Tijuana Downtown Self Guided Walking Tour: $9.75
- Gaslamp Quarter Walking Audio Tour: $9.99
- Discover San Diego’s Little Italy on a Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- A Seaside Stroll: La Jolla's Hidden Treasures Self-Guided Tour: $9.99
- Historical Walking Tour of San Diego: $10
- Sights of San Diego Harbor: a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $11
- San Diego Natural History Museum Ticket: $12
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint John's $18San Diego $21
Sample the Local Flavors in San Diego
Also in San Diego, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt: Slammin' San Diego Bar Crawl: $13
- Downtown Bar Crawl Party Pass: $25
- History Tour Pub Crawl of Famous Gaslamp Quarter: $30
- Hillcrest: LGBTQ+ Pub Crawl with Local Drag Queen: $35
- Hillcrest Drag Queen 5 Bar Crawl with Shots: $45
- Brewery Tour with Tastings and Food Pairings: $85
- $99 Valle de Guadalupe Wine Tours - DayTrip to baja from San Diego: $123
- Vino! Vino! Little Italy Wine Tasting Walking Tour: $125
- Little Italy Wine Tasting Walking Tour: $125
- Cruise & Booze Brewery tours : $149
- Brewery and Beer Tasting Tour in San Diego: $165
- Baja Tour Guide wine tour: $169
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint John's and San Diego, we can see that Saint John's is more expensive. And not only is San Diego much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint John's is in Caribbean Islands and San Diego 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 San Diego would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Diego 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 Diego.
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 Diego Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Saint John's or San Diego?
San Diego has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Saint John's. When comparing the sizes of Saint John's and San Diego, 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 Diego?
San Diego 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 San Diego in the Summer?
Both San Diego 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. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to San Diego because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
Saint John's is a little warmer than San Diego in the summer. The daily temperature in Saint John's averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and San Diego fluctuates around 71°F (22°C).
In San Diego, 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 Diego. Saint John's gets 245 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Diego receives 306 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. Saint John's usually gets more rain in July than San Diego. Saint John's gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while San Diego receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySaint John's 27°C (81°F)San Diego 71°F (22°C)
Should I visit Saint John's or San Diego in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John's and San Diego. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John's year-round. Furthermore, the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to San Diego this time of year.
In the autumn, Saint John's is a little warmer than San Diego. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Saint John's in October average around 27°C (80°F), and San Diego averages at about 68°F (20°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Diego 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 Diego during autumn. Saint John's gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while San Diego receives 244 hours of full sun 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 Diego. Saint John's gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while San Diego receives 0.4 inches (9 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSaint John's 27°C (80°F)San Diego 68°F (20°C)
Should I visit Saint John's or San Diego in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Saint John's as well as San Diego. Saint John's attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to San Diego for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Saint John's is generally much warmer than San Diego. Daily temperatures in Saint John's average around 24°C (76°F), and San Diego fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Diego. 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 Diego. Saint John's gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Diego receives 239 hours of full sun.
Saint John's usually gets more rain in January than San Diego. Saint John's gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while San Diego receives 1.8 inches (46 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySaint John's 24°C (76°F)San Diego 57°F (14°C)
Should I visit Saint John's or San Diego in the Spring?
Both San Diego 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. Also, many visitors come to San Diego in the spring for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
Saint John's is much warmer than San Diego in the spring. The daily temperature in Saint John's averages around 26°C (78°F) in April, and San Diego fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).
It's quite sunny in San Diego. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. Saint John's usually receives less sunshine than San Diego during spring. Saint John's gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while San Diego receives 277 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Saint John's. In April, Saint John's usually receives more rain than San Diego. Saint John's gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while San Diego receives 0.8 inches (20 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSaint John's 26°C (78°F)San Diego 62°F (17°C)
Typical Weather for San Diego and Saint John's
| Saint John's | San Diego | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 1.8 inches (46 mm) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 59°F (15°C) | 1.5 inches (39 mm) |
| Mar | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 59°F (15°C) | 1.8 inches (45 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.8 inches (20 mm) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 71°F (22°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 71°F (22°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 0.4 inches (9 mm) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 1.5 inches (37 mm) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 1.6 inches (40 mm) |
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.