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

Should you visit Saint John's or San Francisco?

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

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

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 Francisco

San Francisco is a beautiful city that is famous for it's picturesque neighborhoods, liberal character, and stunning location on the bay. Some people describe San Francisco as the United State's most "European City." This title most likely comes from its compact development and its easy walkability. It also has no shortage of parks and public spaces where you can pass some time. The city sits on the end of a peninsula and offers stunning views of the blue bay, rolling green hills, and the striking Golden Gate Bridge.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, San Francisco 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 San Francisco is $251. 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 Francisco in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Saint John's $120
    San Francisco $130
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Saint John's $240
    San Francisco $260
Compare Hotels in Saint John's and San Francisco

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


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 Francisco Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Saint John's $17
    San Francisco $16
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:

  • 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

Typical Local Transportation Prices in San Francisco

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in San Francisco:


  • Taxi to SFO
    $45
  • Golden Gate Bridge Toll
    $6.00
  • Alcatraz Tour
    $30

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Francisco

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

  • Private One Way Transfer to San Francisco Airport: $147
  • Private Transfer from SFO to San Francisco: $125
  • Airport Transfer: Airport SFO to San Francisco by Luxury SUV: $138
  • Airport Transfer: San Francisco to Airport SFO by Luxury SUV: $138
  • Arrival Private Transfer SFO Airport to San Francisco City by SUV: $270
  • Arrival Private Transfer: Airport SFO to San Francisco in Business Car: $131
  • California: Oakland Airport Transfer from San Francisco: $180
  • California: Oakland Airport Transfer to San Francisco: $180
  • California: SFE Airport Transfer from San Francisco: $140
  • California: SFE Airport Transfer to San Francisco: $140
  • Departure Private Transfer San Francisco to SFO Airport in a SUV: $245
  • Departure Private Transfer: San Francisco to Airport SFO in Luxury SUV: $155

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

Prices for flights to both San Francisco 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
    San Francisco $79

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 Francisco

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

  • Online Cooking Class Pepper Steak Great for Team Building: $20
  • Online Cooking Class Beijing Dumplings by Chef Sunflower Li: $25
  • No Diet Club - Best street food tour in San Francisco !: $64
  • North Beach and Little Italy Food Tour: $84
  • North Beach & Chinatown Authentic Food Tour: $84
  • San Francisco North Beach & Chinatown Food Tour with 5 Tastings: $85
  • Mission District Food Tour with 6 Tastings: $89
  • Mission District Food Tour with Tastings: $92
  • San Francisco Food Tour: Ferry Building and Ferry Plaza Farmers Market: $95
  • Chinatown Walking Food Tour: $99
  • Mission District Walking Food Tour: $99
  • Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 Food Tour: $99

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Saint John's $103
    San Francisco $31
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

Tours and Activities in San Francisco

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Francisco.

  • San Francisco Uncovered Self-Guided Adventure: $3.59
  • Golden Gate Bridge: Self-guided Tour App - Audio + Written: $5.00
  • Self-Guided Golden Gate Bridge Bike or Walking App Tour: $5.00
  • The Ghosts of San Francisco Haunted Audio App Walking Tour: $6.99
  • San Francisco (District 3) Scavenger Hunt and Self Guided Tour: $7.73
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour of the Golden Gate Bridge: $7.99
  • Self Guided Chinatown Tour: Food, History and Culture: $7.99
  • San Francisco's Barbary Past: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
  • Over the Rainbow in the Castro: A San Francisco Chronicle Self-Guided Tour: $8.99
  • San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf Private 1-Hour Walking Tour: $9.00
  • Mafia Heist at the Bay: Escape Adventure in San Francisco: $9.61
  • Self Guided Walking Tour of San Francisco Chinatown: $9.99

For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Museums in San Francisco, The Best Outdoor Activities in San Francisco, and Things to Do In San Francisco on a Rainy Day.


Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Saint John's $18
    San Francisco $22

Sample the Local Flavors in San Francisco

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in San Francisco:

  • SF Pub Crawl and Clubbing Experience: $17
  • San Francisco Pub Crawl + Clubbing Experience: $27
  • Ghosts, Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
  • San Francisco Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl : $36
  • Walk with Spirits: A Haunted Pub Crawl in San Francisco: $44
  • Walk with Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl: $44
  • Local Distillery Cocktail Class: $49
  • Local Distillery Cocktail Class: Skyline Views and City History: $69
  • Wine Tasting on the Bay: $85
  • From Napa & Sonoma Valley Wine Tour with Tastings: $103
  • Napa Valley Half-Day Wine Tour with Tastings: $103
  • 5 hours private napa wine tour from san francisco up to 7 people: $120


When comparing the travel costs between Saint John's and San Francisco, we can see that Saint John's is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Saint John's is in Caribbean Islands and San Francisco is in North America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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 Francisco Expensive?.


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

San Francisco has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Saint John's. When comparing the sizes of Saint John's and San Francisco, 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 Francisco?

San Francisco 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 Francisco in the Summer?

Both San Francisco 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. Also, many visitors come to San Francisco in the summer for the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Saint John's is much warmer than San Francisco. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint John's in July average around 27°C (81°F), and San Francisco averages at about 63°F (17°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. Saint John's usually gets more rain in July than San Francisco. Saint John's gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 0.1 inches (2 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Saint John's 27°C (81°F) 
    San Francisco 63°F (17°C)

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

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John's and San Francisco. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John's year-round. Also, most visitors come to San Francisco for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In October, Saint John's is generally much warmer than San Francisco. Daily temperatures in Saint John's average around 27°C (80°F), and San Francisco fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).

Saint John's gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Saint John's usually receives more rain than San Francisco. Saint John's gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 1.3 inches (33 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Saint John's 27°C (80°F) 
    San Francisco 63°F (17°C)

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

The winter brings many poeple to Saint John's as well as San Francisco. Saint John's attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the winter months attract visitors to San Francisco because of the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.

Saint John's is much warmer than San Francisco in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint John's averages around 24°C (76°F) in January, and San Francisco fluctuates around 50°F (10°C).

Saint John's usually gets less rain in January than San Francisco. Saint John's gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Saint John's 24°C (76°F) 
    San Francisco 50°F (10°C)

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

Both San Francisco 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, the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty are the main draw to San Francisco this time of year.

In the spring, Saint John's is much warmer than San Francisco. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint John's in April average around 26°C (78°F), and San Francisco averages at about 58°F (14°C).

It's quite rainy in Saint John's. In April, Saint John's usually receives more rain than San Francisco. Saint John's gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 1.2 inches (31 mm) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Saint John's 26°C (78°F) 
    San Francisco 58°F (14°C)

Typical Weather for San Francisco and Saint John's

Saint John's San Francisco
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 24°C (76°F) 84 mm (3.3 in) 50°F (10°C) 3.8 inches (96 mm)
Feb 24°C (76°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 54°F (12°C) 2.7 inches (69 mm)
Mar 25°C (76°F) 73 mm (2.9 in) 56°F (13°C) 2.7 inches (69 mm)
Apr 26°C (78°F) 123 mm (4.8 in) 58°F (14°C) 1.2 inches (31 mm)
May 27°C (80°F) 148 mm (5.8 in) 60°F (15°C) 0.2 inches (5 mm)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 118 mm (4.6 in) 62°F (17°C) 0.1 inches (3 mm)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 150 mm (5.9 in) 63°F (17°C) 0.1 inches (2 mm)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 198 mm (7.8 in) 64°F (18°C) 0.1 inches (1 mm)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 236 mm (9.3 in) 66°F (19°C) 0.3 inches (7 mm)
Oct 27°C (80°F) 228 mm (9 in) 63°F (17°C) 1.3 inches (33 mm)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 220 mm (8.7 in) 57°F (14°C) 2.8 inches (71 mm)
Dec 25°C (77°F) 137 mm (5.4 in) 51°F (11°C) 2.7 inches (68 mm)