Which place is cheaper, Saint Thomas or Florianopolis?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Florianopolis or Saint Thomas? 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.
With a population of almost 500,000, Florianopolis is the capital city of the state of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil. The city is split between mainland Brazil and Santa Catarina Island.
Florianopolis has grown in popularity with tourists recently because of its wonderful scenery, beautiful beaches, and fascinating culture. Many Brazilians have also moved here, leaving behind the big cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
Florianopolis has a warm humid subtropical climate. There are summer, winter, spring and fall seasons. Frosts are rare but do occur occasionally. Highs during the warmest months are usually in the high 70s Fahrenheit. Rain is evenly distributed throughout the year and there is no distinct dry season.
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 G Adventures Tours to Brazil, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Rio de Janeiro.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Florianopolis is $62, while the average daily cost in Saint Thomas is $218. 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 Florianopolis and Saint Thomas in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Florianopolis 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.
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.
Also for Florianopolis, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Saint Thomas are as follows:
Also for Saint Thomas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Saint Thomas and Florianopolis 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.
For Florianopolis, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For Saint Thomas, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Florianopolis's activities, tours, and tickets:
For Florianopolis, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Saint Thomas.
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Florianopolis from other travelers:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Saint Thomas:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Florianopolis and Saint Thomas, we can see that Saint Thomas is more expensive. And not only is Florianopolis much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Florianopolis 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 Florianopolis would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Florianopolis 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 Florianopolis.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Florianopolis Expensive? and Is Saint Thomas Expensive?.
Florianopolis has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Saint Thomas. When comparing the sizes of Florianopolis 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.
Florianopolis has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Saint Thomas experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Florianopolis and Saint Thomas. Saint Thomas attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Florianopolis is generally cooler than Saint Thomasin July. Daily temperatures in Florianopolis average around 25°C (76°F), and Saint Thomas fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint Thomas this time of the year. Florianopolis usually receives less sunshine than Saint Thomas during summer. Florianopolis gets 198 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Thomas receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
Florianopolis gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Florianopolis usually receives more rain than Saint Thomasin July. Florianopolis gets 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain, while Saint Thomas receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
The autumn brings many poeple to Florianopolis as well as Saint Thomas. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint Thomas throughout the year.
Florianopolis is cooler than Saint Thomas in the autumn. The daily temperature in Florianopolis averages around 22°C (71°F) in April, and Saint Thomas fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in October.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint Thomas. In the autumn, Florianopolis often gets less sunshine than Saint Thomasin October. Florianopolis gets 179 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint Thomas receives 235 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Saint Thomas. Florianopolis usually gets less rain in April than Saint Thomasin October. Florianopolis gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Saint Thomas receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Saint Thomas and Florianopolis are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Saint Thomas because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the winter, Florianopolis is much colder than Saint Thomas. Typically, the winter temperatures in Florianopolis in July average around 17°C (62°F), and Saint Thomas averages at about 26°C (78°F)in January.
It's quite sunny in Saint Thomas. Florianopolis usually receives less sunshine than Saint Thomas during winter. Florianopolis gets 170 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Thomas receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
In July, Florianopolis usually receives more rain than Saint Thomasin January. Florianopolis gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Saint Thomas receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Both Saint Thomas and Florianopolis during the spring are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint Thomas year-round.
In October, Florianopolis is generally cooler than Saint Thomasin April. Daily temperatures in Florianopolis average around 20°C (68°F), and Saint Thomas fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
In Saint Thomas, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Florianopolis often gets less sunshine than Saint Thomasin April. Florianopolis gets 159 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint Thomas receives 272 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Florianopolis. Florianopolis usually gets more rain in October than Saint Thomasin April. Florianopolis gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Saint Thomas receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
Florianopolis | Saint Thomas | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 25°C (76°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
Apr | 22°C (71°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
May | 19°C (67°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
Jun | 17°C (63°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
Aug | 17°C (63°F) | 95 mm (3.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
Sep | 18°C (65°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
Oct | 20°C (68°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
Nov | 22°C (71°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
Dec | 24°C (74°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |