Which place is cheaper, Saint John or La Serena?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit La Serena or Saint John?
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 La Serena and Saint John can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: La Serena or Saint John?
La Serena
La Serena is a charming town in Northern Chile. It is Chile's second-oldest city and the thriving capital of Region IV. With its beautiful architecture, its long golden shoreline, dignified stone churches, tree-shaded avenues and pretty plazas, La Serena has everything you could ask for!
Chileans on holidays flood in the city in January and February, though it is fairly peaceful outside the summer rush. Some of the city's architecture is from the colonial era, but most is actually neocolonial thanks to president Gabriel Gonzalez Videla, born in La Serena, and her 'Plan Serena' of the late 1940s.
Saint John
With the popularity of the Caribbean rising, many islands have become touristy and expensive – but not St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
At only nine miles long and five miles wide, St. John is the smallest of the Virgin Islands, and, many argue, the prettiest. It's the kind of place that has maintained it's cultural identity, but still welcomes visitors from all over the world. With a population of just 5,000, the residents of St. John know everyone and everything happening on the island.
This island is perfect for people who want an undisturbed island getaway at any price. Between resorts and campgrounds there is a spot for everyone on St. John.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Chile, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLa Serena $87Saint John $192
The average daily cost (per person) in La Serena is $87, while the average daily cost in Saint John is $192. 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 La Serena and Saint John in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLa Serena $42Saint John $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLa Serena $84Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in La Serena and Saint John
Looking for a hotel in La Serena or Saint John? 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: La Serena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.La Serena $20Saint John $49
Is it cheaper to fly into La Serena or Saint John?
Prices for flights to both Saint John and La Serena 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 dayLa Serena $27Saint John $56
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.La Serena $24Saint John $23
Tours and Activities in La Serena
For La Serena, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Full Day History and Flavors Tour in the Elqui Valley: $50
- La Serena and Coquimbo City Tour (SIB): $66
- La Serena and Coquimbo Guided City Tour: $76
- Full day Tour to Elqui Valley : $80
- Elqui Valley Full Day Tour: magical towns, pisco and mountains: $85
- Elqui Valley Tour from La Serena: $120
- La Serena & Coquimbo City Tour - Short excursion for cruise ships: $128
- Tour to the internationally renowned Pangue Observatory: $139
- Tour to Valle del Encanto Archeology, Petroglyphs, Flora, Fauna and Springs: $140
- Dama Island or Chañaral Navigation Tour Humboldt Penguin Reserve: $140
- Elqui Valley: Pisco Tour, Wine, Beer: $174
- Elqui Valley and Vicuña Private Tour Including Lunch: $183
Tours and Activities in Saint John
Here are a few actual costs in Saint John for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- St. John: A Private Island Adventure Tour & Trunk Bay Beach: $627
- USVI: Island & Beach Tours in St. Thomas & St. John (2 Days): $199
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLa Serena $22Saint John $44
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between La Serena and Saint John, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. And not only is La Serena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since La Serena is in South America and Saint John 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 La Serena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Serena 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 would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint John than you might in La Serena.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is La Serena Expensive? and Is Saint John Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit La Serena or Saint John?
La Serena has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Saint John experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit La Serena or Saint John in the Summer?
Both Saint John and La Serena during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.
La Serena is much colder than Saint John in the summer. The daily temperature in La Serena averages around 18°C (64°F) in January, and Saint John fluctuates around 29°C (83°F)in July.
La Serena usually gets less rain in January than Saint Johnin July. La Serena gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyLa Serena 18°C (64°F)Saint John 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit La Serena or Saint John in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both La Serena and Saint John. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, La Serena is much colder than Saint John. Typically, the autumn temperatures in La Serena in April average around 15°C (59°F), and Saint John averages at about 28°C (82°F)in October.
Saint John receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, La Serena usually receives less rain than Saint Johnin October. La Serena gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberLa Serena 15°C (59°F)Saint John 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit La Serena or Saint John in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to La Serena as well as Saint John. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.
In July, La Serena is generally much colder than Saint Johnin January. Daily temperatures in La Serena average around 12°C (54°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
La Serena usually gets less rain in July than Saint Johnin January. La Serena gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryLa Serena 12°C (54°F)Saint John 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit La Serena or Saint John in the Spring?
Both Saint John and La Serena are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
La Serena is much colder than Saint John in the spring. The daily temperature in La Serena averages around 14°C (57°F) in October, and Saint John fluctuates around 27°C (80°F)in April.
In October, La Serena usually receives less rain than Saint Johnin April. La Serena gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilLa Serena 14°C (57°F)Saint John 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint John and La Serena
| La Serena | Saint John | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 18°C (64°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 18°C (64°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 17°C (63°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 13°C (55°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 12°C (54°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 12°C (54°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 12°C (54°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 13°C (55°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (57°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (59°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 17°C (63°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
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.