Which place is cheaper, Saint Thomas or Paris?
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 Paris or Saint Thomas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Paris 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.
Where Should I go: Paris or Saint Thomas?
Paris
Paris is a dream destination for many people. It's location on the river Seine contributes to its stunning beauty and you can spend many days wandering through its wonderfully diverse neighborhoods. It's known as a city of culture, fashion, food and fun. There is never a shortage of entertainment and activities around town and a highlight of many people's trips to Paris is to explore the city at night, when it truly comes to life. It is not hard to see why this city has received the nickname as the "City of Lights."
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 Historical Tours in France, and The Best 10-Day Tours in France.
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Paris Prices
France PricesSaint Thomas Prices
USVI Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayParis $311Saint Thomas $258
The average daily cost (per person) in Paris is $311, 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 Paris and Saint Thomas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personParis $180Saint Thomas $131
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomParis $360Saint Thomas $262
Compare Hotels in Paris and Saint Thomas
Looking for a hotel in Paris 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Paris Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Paris $25Saint Thomas $37
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Paris
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Paris are as follows:
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Metro$7.51
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Train from Airport$11
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Metro tickets$7.98
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Train$23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paris
Also for Paris, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Paris : Transfer to/from Reims or Champagne region: $646
- Louvre Museum with Private Transfers: $300
- Transfer from Paris to Airport: CDG, Orly, Beauvais: $300
- Private Disneyland Return Transfer Up to 6 People : $298
- Private Transfer from Paris to CDG Airport: $298
- Private Mercedes luxury transfer from PARIS to => DISNEYLAND Paris with Cab-Bel-Air: $295
- Private transfer from Beauvais airport to Paris or back: $292
- Private direct transfer from Paris to Brussels: $292
- Private Direct Transfer From Paris to Reims: $286
- Transfer Charles de Gaulle Airport CDG to Paris: $280
- Louvre Museum Ticket with Audio Guide and Paris Hotel Transfers: $280
- Transfer by luxury Mercedes from PARIS to => AIRPORT from PARIS with Cab-Bel-Air: $280
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint Thomas
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Saint Thomas are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$65
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Taxi Ride$5.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Thomas
Also for Saint Thomas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Cyril E. King Airport STT to Charlotte Amalie RoundTrip Transfer: $204
- Prince Taxi & Tours St.Thomas Airport transfer to Redhook Ferry: $200
- Prince Taxi USVI ST.Thomas Airport transfer to Westin : $180
- Prince Taxi USVI-ST.Thomas Airport Transfer to Ritz Carlton : $180
- ST.Thomas Private Airport One-Way Transfers: $180
- Private Airport Transfer in Luxury Vehicle- St. Thomas, USVI: $179
- Private Arrival Transfer from Cyril E King Airport to Redhook Bay: $175
- Prince Taxi ST.Thomas Airport transfer to Yacht Haven/Bluebeards: $175
- Private Hotel and Resorts Transfers: $173
- PARADISE TAXI & TOURS USVI-St. Thomas- Airport Transfer to Ritz Carlton Elysian : $170
- Paradise Taxi & Tours USVI- St. Thomas - Airport Transfer to Red Hook Ferry: $160
- Paradise Taxi & Tours USVI-St Thomas- Airport Transfer Sapphire / Crystal Cove : $160
Is it cheaper to fly into Paris or Saint Thomas?
Prices for flights to both Saint Thomas and Paris 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 dayParis $85Saint Thomas $94
Typical Food Prices in Paris
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Paris:
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Ice Cream$9.39
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Breakfast$8.21
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Breakfast for 2$35
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Dinner on River Cruise$101
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Dinner$67
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Cheese$15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paris
For Paris, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Authentic Indian Dinner in Paris : $65
- Paris Capitaine Fracasse 3 Course Seine River Dinner Cruise: $68
- Paris Seine River dinner cruise from Alexandre III bridge: $70
- Paris Prestige Dinner Cruise from Eiffel Tower Area: $74
- Paris en Scene 3 Course Seine River Dinner Cruise: $77
- Paris Vegan Street Food Tour: $77
- Paris Food Tour: $82
- Seine River Sightseeing Cruise and Dinner at Le Bistro Parisien: $84
- #1 Montmartre Pastries & Chocolate Food Tour with 6+ Tastings: $89
- Champagne & Oysters Paris Food Tour: $96
- Dinner Paris by Night EN Bus Panoramic: $101
- Amazing Sweet Crêpe Cooking Class Paris: $105
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Paris $89Saint Thomas $60
Typical Entertainment Prices in Paris
For Paris, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Louvre Entry for Two$21
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Admission to Pantheon$5.87
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Catacombs (2)$27
Tours and Activities in Paris
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Paris.
- A Day at Parc Saint-Paul Ticket and Transport Included: $226
- Area ,Opera, Jewellery,Fashion,Palais Royal walking tour : $74
- Audio-Guided Montparnasse Tower Tour with Priority Admission: $42
- Bruges Guided Day Trip with Canal Cruise Option and Hotel Pickup: $270
- Guided Tour to Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur Chronicles: $36
- Half Day Giverny Monet's Gardens Tour : $172
- Louvre Evening Escape: Avoid the Crowds - Exclusive Guided Tour : $150
- Musée d'Orsay Rebels Passion Colour. A Private Guided Tour: $144
- Notre-Dame Exterior & Sainte-Chapelle Medieval Paris Tour : $70
- Père Lachaise Cemetery Walking Tour - Semi-Private 12ppl Max: $62
- Paris City Center Self-Guided Walking Tour : $12
- Paris Entrance Ticket to the Aura Invalides Immersive Show: $33
Tours and Activities in Saint Thomas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Saint Thomas.
- Island Icons & Treasures Tour - St. Thomas USVI : $199
- Magens Bay Trail Hiking Tour: $60
- Two-Hour Sightseeing Excursion : $58
- Vi Top Taxi &Tours USVI-Coki Beach Snorkeling Tour : $68
- 1 Hour Jet Ski Tour in the Virgin Islands from Westin St. John: $169
- 1-Hour Guided Jet Ski Tour in St. Thomas from Frenchman's Reef: $159
- 1.5 Hour Private Mini Jeep Tour on St. Thomas: $220
- 3 Hour Kayak and Snorkel Tour: $139
- Admission Ticket to Coral World & Coki Point Beach with Snorkeling: $40
- Best of Mangrove Lagoon Kayak, Hike and Snorkel Adventure with Picnic Lunch: $159
- Book Your Private Two and a Half Hour Island Tour today!: $150
- Children's Treasure Hunt Walking Tour: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayParis $29Saint Thomas $27
Typical Alcohol Prices in Paris
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Paris are as follows:
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Wine$16
Sample the Local Flavors in Paris
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Paris:
- Original Paris Pub Crawl : $24
- Paris Nation wine tasting: $46
- Paris St Germain Wine Tasting: $46
- Vegan Wine Tasting in Paris right next to Père Lachaise: $54
- Wine Tasting in Paris right next to Père Lachaise & l'Atelier des lumières: $54
- Wine tasting Paris Saint Germain des Pres: $56
- Cheese and Wine Tasting in the Latin Quarter with Chef Alex: $58
- Natural Wine Tasting with Cheese Pairings in Paris: $72
- French Wine Tasting and Pairing Experience in Montmartre: $90
- The only Paris Wine Tasting experience you need to do - 2 hours : $95
- Left Bank Gastronomy & Wine tour with a Culinary School : $113
- Walk & Wine Tour in the Latin Quarter: $118
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Paris and Saint Thomas, we can see that Paris is more expensive. And not only is Saint Thomas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Paris is in Europe 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 Saint Thomas would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Saint Thomas 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 Paris would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Paris than you might in Saint Thomas.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Paris Expensive? and Is Saint Thomas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Paris or Saint Thomas?
Paris has a larger population, and is about 110 times larger than the population of Saint Thomas. When comparing the sizes of Paris 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.
When is the best time to visit Paris or Saint Thomas?
Paris has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Saint Thomas experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Paris or Saint Thomas in the Summer?
Both Saint Thomas and Paris are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Paris because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Plenty of visitors come to Saint Thomas because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Paris is cooler than Saint Thomas in the summer. The daily temperature in Paris averages around 20°C (68°F) in July, and Saint Thomas fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
It's quite sunny in Saint Thomas. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Paris. Paris usually receives less sunshine than Saint Thomas during summer. Paris gets 241 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Thomas receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Paris usually receives less rain than Saint Thomas. Paris gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Saint Thomas receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyParis 20°C (68°F)Saint Thomas 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Paris or Saint Thomas in the Autumn?
Both Saint Thomas and Paris during the autumn are popular places to visit. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Paris this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint Thomas year-round.
In the autumn, Paris is much colder than Saint Thomas. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Paris in October average around 13°C (56°F), and Saint Thomas averages at about 28°C (82°F).
In Saint Thomas, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Paris often gets less sunshine than Saint Thomas. Paris gets 127 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint Thomas receives 235 hours of full sun.
Saint Thomas gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Paris usually gets less rain in October than Saint Thomas. Paris gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Saint Thomas receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberParis 13°C (56°F)Saint Thomas 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Paris or Saint Thomas in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Paris and Saint Thomas. Many travelers come to Paris for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine. Saint Thomas attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Paris. In January, Paris is generally much colder than Saint Thomas. Daily temperatures in Paris average around 5°C (40°F), and Saint Thomas fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint Thomas this time of the year. Paris usually receives less sunshine than Saint Thomas during winter. Paris gets 62 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Thomas receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Paris usually receives more rain than Saint Thomas. Paris gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Saint Thomas receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryParis 5°C (40°F)Saint Thomas 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Paris or Saint Thomas in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Paris as well as Saint Thomas. Many visitors come to Paris in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint Thomas throughout the year.
Paris is much colder than Saint Thomas in the spring. The daily temperature in Paris averages around 11°C (52°F) in April, and Saint Thomas fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint Thomas. In the spring, Paris often gets less sunshine than Saint Thomas. Paris gets 172 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint Thomas receives 272 hours of full sun.
Paris usually gets less rain in April than Saint Thomas. Paris gets 50 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Saint Thomas receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilParis 11°C (52°F)Saint Thomas 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint Thomas and Paris
| Paris | Saint Thomas | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 5°C (40°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (42°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 52 mm (2.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 11°C (52°F) | 50 mm (1.9 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 20°C (68°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 20°C (67°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 17°C (63°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (56°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 8°C (47°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 5°C (42°F) | 55 mm (2.2 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.