Which place is cheaper, Saint Thomas or Porto?
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 Porto 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 Porto and Saint Thomas can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Porto or Saint Thomas?
Porto
Porto is the second largest city in Portugal. It is also the capital of the Northern Region and a hub for commercial and industrial activity. The city is not as large as you might expect, with a population of only about 300,000 residents, but the metropolitan area has a population of about 2.5 million. This includes nearby cities such as Gaia, Matosinhos, Maia and Gondomar.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Portugal, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Portugal.
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Porto Prices
Portugal PricesSaint Thomas Prices
USVI Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPorto $187Saint Thomas $258
The average daily cost (per person) in Porto is $187, 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 Porto and Saint Thomas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPorto $84Saint Thomas $131
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPorto $168Saint Thomas $262
Compare Hotels in Porto and Saint Thomas
Looking for a hotel in Porto 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: Porto Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Porto $24Saint Thomas $37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Porto
Also for Porto, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private transfer between Porto and Algarve with 1 stop: $558
- Private Transfer between Porto and Vigo: $299
- Private Transfer to Lisbon from Tarouca: $293
- Private Geres National Park Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $275
- From Transfer to Lisbon with up to 3 City Stops: $269
- Private transfer from Oporto to Lisbon or Lisbon to Oporto: $269
- From Private transfer to Lisbon with up to 3 Stops: $269
- Private Transfer from/to Porto - Lisbon: $250
- Need a transfer from Porto to Pinhão?: $239
- Private Airport Transfer from Porto to Lamego: $237
- Private Airport Transfer from Porto to Régua: $219
- Private Transfer between Porto and Santiago de Compostela: $209
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 Porto or Saint Thomas?
Prices for flights to both Saint Thomas and Porto 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 dayPorto $74Saint Thomas $94
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Porto
For Porto, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Pastel de Nata Cooking Class Antero de Quental: $42
- Porto Walking Food Tour: $66
- Bolhão Market Guided Food Tour: $78
- Semi - Private Oporto Food Tour : $83
- Craft Beer & Food Tour in Porto: $83
- Traditional Portuguese Cooking Class in Porto with Chef Maria: $89
- Semi Private Oporto Fado Show with Dinner: $90
- Porto Heritage Night Tour With Fado Show And Dinner Included: $94
- Porto Food & Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch or Dinner Option: $94
- Porto Food Tour of 8 Tastings: Custard Tart, Bifana & Hidden Gems: $95
- Private Walking Food Tour with Tastings: $96
- Fado Show with Dinner in a Traditional Fado House: $102
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.Porto $30Saint Thomas $60
Tours and Activities in Porto
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Porto.
- Douro Valley private tour full day : $263
- Self Guided Tour in Porto with 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.58
- Self-Guided Tour Adventure Discovering Porto: $1.17
- Walking Tour - History of Tiles in Porto: $57
- 1 Day Tour to Douro Valley from Porto: $227
- 1 Day Tour to Passages and Bridge 516 Arouca: $111
- 3 Hour Complete Porto City Tour: $237
- 3 Hour Porto Essential Private Tour: $54
- 3 Hour Tuk tuk Tour in Porto: $215
- 3-Hour Cano-Rafting Tour on the Paiva River: $48
- 3-Hour Guided Walking Tour of Porto: $36
- 3-Hour Porto Highlights on a Electric Bike Guided Tour: $53
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 dayPorto $22Saint Thomas $27
Sample the Local Flavors in Porto
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Porto:
- Wine Experience Museum with 3 Wine Tastings: $24
- Private visit with wine tasting in Alijó Douro: $24
- Pub Crawl Porto: $26
- Flavours of Portugal – Wine Tastings at WOW Wine School: $30
- Taylor's Port Cellars Visit & Port Wine Tasting: $30
- Halloween Pub Crawl 4 bars, 1 club, Scary Games & 7 Drinks: $30
- Authentic Oporto Walking Tour with Wine Tasting: $33
- Porto Wine Tasting with GUIDED TOUR: $36
- Porto City Tour with Wine Tasting: $41
- 5 Port Wine Tasting with pairings: $42
- Luxury Yacht Cruise with Wine Tasting & Snacks: $54
- Port and Douro Wine Walking Tour With 10 Wine Tastings: $54
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Porto and Saint Thomas, we can see that Saint Thomas is more expensive. And not only is Porto much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Porto 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 Porto would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Porto 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 Porto.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Porto Expensive? and Is Saint Thomas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Porto or Saint Thomas?
Porto has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Saint Thomas. When comparing the sizes of Porto 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 Porto or Saint Thomas?
Porto 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 Porto or Saint Thomas in the Summer?
Both Saint Thomas and Porto are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Porto for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Plenty of visitors come to Saint Thomas because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Porto is cooler than Saint Thomas in the summer. The daily temperature in Porto averages around 21°C (69°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 Porto. Porto usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Saint Thomas during summer. Porto gets 308 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Thomas receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Porto usually receives less rain than Saint Thomas. Porto gets 16 mm (0.6 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 JulyPorto 21°C (69°F)Saint Thomas 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Porto or Saint Thomas in the Autumn?
Both Saint Thomas and Porto during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Porto because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint Thomas year-round.
In the autumn, Porto is much colder than Saint Thomas. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Porto in October average around 17°C (62°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, Porto often gets less sunshine than Saint Thomas. Porto gets 184 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. It rains a lot this time of the year in Porto. Porto usually gets less rain in October than Saint Thomas. Porto gets 131 mm (5.2 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 OctoberPorto 17°C (62°F)Saint Thomas 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Porto or Saint Thomas in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Porto and Saint Thomas. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Porto this time of year. Saint Thomas attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Porto is generally much colder than Saint Thomas. Daily temperatures in Porto average around 10°C (50°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. Porto usually receives less sunshine than Saint Thomas during winter. Porto gets 124 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Thomas receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
Porto gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Porto usually receives more rain than Saint Thomas. Porto gets 171 mm (6.7 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 JanuaryPorto 10°C (50°F)Saint Thomas 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Porto or Saint Thomas in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Porto as well as Saint Thomas. Many travelers come to Porto for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint Thomas throughout the year.
Porto is much colder than Saint Thomas in the spring. The daily temperature in Porto averages around 14°C (56°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. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Porto this time of the year. In the spring, Porto often gets less sunshine than Saint Thomas. Porto gets 217 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint Thomas receives 272 hours of full sun.
Porto receives a lot of rain in the spring. Porto usually gets more rain in April than Saint Thomas. Porto gets 112 mm (4.4 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 AprilPorto 14°C (56°F)Saint Thomas 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint Thomas and Porto
| Porto | Saint Thomas | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (50°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 11°C (51°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (54°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (56°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 16°C (60°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (69°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 20°C (69°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (67°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (62°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 11°C (51°F) | 176 mm (6.9 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.