A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cochabamba vs. Saint Thomas for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Cochabamba or Saint Thomas?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Cochabamba and Saint Thomas can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Cochabamba or Saint Thomas?

Cochabamba

With a population of about 630,000, Cochabamba is the fourth largest city in Bolivia. It's located about 240 kilometers from the capital city of La Paz and is surrounded by mountains, but sits within a valley.

The city is known for its gardens and has many sights to offer the visitor. Cochabamba offers a calming retreat that is a refreshing break from the hustle and bustle of many South American cities. It's a great location to learn Spanish and there are plenty of activities and cultural events that you can enjoy in and around town.

Cochabamba's climate is semi-arid. There is an extended dry season between May and October and the wet season is from November to March. The days are warm and the nights are cool.

Saint Thomas

Saint Thomas is a beautiful island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Together with St. John, St. Croix, and Water Island, it forms the unincorporated territory of the United States. The island is also home to the territorial capital and port of Charlotte Amalie. The island's population is just over 50,000, which is slightly less than half of the territory's total population.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Bolivia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Bolivia.


Which place is cheaper, Saint Thomas or Cochabamba?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Cochabamba Prices
    Bolivia Prices
    Saint Thomas Prices
    USVI Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Cochabamba $79
    Saint Thomas $258

The average daily cost (per person) in Cochabamba is $79, while the average daily cost in Saint Thomas is $258. 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 Cochabamba and Saint Thomas in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cochabamba $25
    Saint Thomas $131
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cochabamba $50
    Saint Thomas $262
Compare Hotels in Cochabamba and Saint Thomas

Looking for a hotel in Cochabamba or Saint Thomas? 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 Cochabamba


Hotels in Saint Thomas


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: Cochabamba Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cochabamba $16
    Saint Thomas $37

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cochabamba

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cochabamba:

  • MiniVan or Bus Transfer from Cochabamba Airport CBB to Cochabamba: $28

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint Thomas

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Saint Thomas are as follows:


  • Scooter Rental
    $65
  • Taxi Ride
    $5.00

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Thomas

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

  • Transfer from Cyril E. King Airport(STT) to Charlotte Amalie Port: $83
  • VI Top Taxi and Tours - St. Thomas - Airport Transfer to Red Hook Ferry: $90
  • Paradise Taxi & Tours USVI- St.Thomas Airport Transfer to Bolongo Bay / Limetree: $110
  • Vi Top Taxi & Tours -Airport Transfer to Bolongo Bay/ Limetree: $110
  • PARADISE TAXI & TOURS USVI-St.Thomas-Airport Transfer to Marriott Frenchman Cove: $110
  • St.Thomas to St.Thomas Airport (STT) - Departure Private Transfer: $115
  • Private Ground Transfers: $120
  • Exclusive Airport Transfers (up to 4 persons) One-Way: $135
  • St.Thomas island to Cyril E. King Airport(STT)-Departure Transfer: $135
  • St. Thomas USVI Airport Transfer to the Redhook Ferry: $144
  • St. Thomas USVI Airport Transfer to The Ritz Carlton Resort: $144
  • Paradise Taxi & Tours USVI- St. Thomas - Airport Transfer to Red Hook Ferry: $160

Is it cheaper to fly into Cochabamba or Saint Thomas?

Prices for flights to both Saint Thomas and Cochabamba 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
    Cochabamba $38
    Saint Thomas $94

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cochabamba

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

  • Adelante Mujer Bolivian Cooking Workshops: $29

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint Thomas

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

  • Flavors: Cultural Cooking Class, St Thomas, USVI, USA : $81
  • St. John Sail with Bar and Hors d'Oeuvres to Lovango Dinner: $119
  • Sunset & Harbor Lights Dinner Sail from the Marriott's Frenchman's Cove: $119
  • Afternoon Snorkel, Pizza & Sunset Tour departing from St. Thomas & St. John: $120
  • Local Experience, St. John U.S. Virgin Islands Food Tour: $125
  • Pizza Pi Shuttle (Official) - Jet Ski Trip St Thomas: $148
  • St. John PiZZA Pi Snorkel Sail with Beach Stop, Lunch & Open Bar - Westin: $149
  • Christmas Cove and Pizza Pi Happy Hour Sail Tour: $185
  • Turtles, Pizza Pi & Sunset trip: $295

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cochabamba $25
    Saint Thomas $60

Tours and Activities in Cochabamba

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

  • City of Eternal Spring: Self-Guided Tour of Downtown Cochabamba : $5.99
  • Parque Nacional Torotoro Tour 2 Días y 1 Noche : $231
  • Tigre & Delta River Cruise - half day tour from Buenos Aires: $85
  • Tour to Valle Alto (Tarata): $39

Tours and Activities in Saint Thomas

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Saint Thomas.

  • Nature and Sightseeing Tour at Phantasea Tropical Botanical Garden: $16
  • Children's Treasure Hunt Walking Tour: $25
  • Coral World Ocean Park General Admission Ticket: $29
  • Cruise Ship Shuttle to Ferry going to St. John: $34
  • Rum Tasting Experience in the Old Barrel House: $35
  • Admission Ticket to Coral World & Coki Point Beach with Snorkeling: $40
  • St. Thomas Sightseeing Tour with a Guide: $40
  • Guided Tour of Coral World Ocean Park & Happy Hour: $40
  • St. Thomas Ghost Tour of Historic Charlotte Amalie : $41
  • Prince taxi & Tours St.Thomas Virgin Islands-Island Scenic Tour: $45
  • Guided Kayak Tour from Margaritaville: $48
  • Guided Kayak Tour from Elysian: $48

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cochabamba $15
    Saint Thomas $27


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cochabamba and Saint Thomas, we can see that Saint Thomas is more expensive. And not only is Cochabamba much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cochabamba is in South America and Saint Thomas 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 Cochabamba would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cochabamba 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 Thomas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Thomas than you might in Cochabamba.

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


Which is Bigger, Cochabamba or Saint Thomas?

Cochabamba has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Saint Thomas. When comparing the sizes of Cochabamba and Saint Thomas, 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.