Which place is cheaper, Saint Thomas or Puerto Iguazu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Puerto Iguazu or Saint Thomas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Puerto Iguazu 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: Puerto Iguazu or Saint Thomas?
Puerto Iguazu
Puerto Iguazu is located in the northeastern part of Argentina at the border with Paraguay and Brazil. It is a tourist city and travel destination because of its close proximity to Iguazu Falls, which is only 18 kilometers away. Much of the city's infrastructure has grown to maintain the tourist crowds that come to see the falls. The town itself has a population of slightly over 80,000.
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 Tours for Seniors to Argentina, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Iguazu $8.20Saint Thomas $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Iguazu is $8.20, 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 Puerto Iguazu and Saint Thomas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Iguazu $3.26Saint Thomas $131
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Iguazu $6.52Saint Thomas $262
Compare Hotels in Puerto Iguazu and Saint Thomas
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Iguazu 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: Puerto Iguazu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Iguazu $2.52Saint Thomas $37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Iguazu
Also for Puerto Iguazu, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer In + Transfer Out IGR Airport Puerto Iguazú Hotels Selva de Iryapu: $145
- Puerto Iguazú Combo: Iguazu Falls 2 Day Tours + transfers: $98
- Iguazu Falls Saver Package! Both sides excursions & transfers : $79
- Argentine and Brazilian Falls with transfers: $57
- Iguazú Falls Brazil & Argentina 3-Day In-Out Transfers: $52
- Transfer from Iguazú Airport to hotels on the Argentine side: $15
- Iguazu Falls Argentina Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Hotels: $13
- One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $11
- Puerto Iguazu Airport Shuttle Transfer: $8.34
- One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $8.00
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:
- Vi Top Taxi -St.Thomas Airport Transfer to Marriott Frenchman Cove : $110
- Vi Top Taxi &Tours -Airport Transfer Bluebeard's/Yacht Haven : $110
- Vi Top Taxi &Tours - Airport Transfer to the Ritz Carlton : $180
- Vi Top Taxi & Tours -Airport Transfer to Bolongo Bay/ Limetree: $110
- Transfer from Cyril E. King Airport(STT) to Charlotte Amalie Port: $28
- St Thomas to St Thomas Airport Private Departure Transfer: $109
- St Thomas Airport to St Thomas Arrival Private Transfer: $109
- Private Hotel and Resorts Transfers: $173
- Private Ground Transfers: $120
- Private Airport Transfer in St. Thomas from Cyril E. King Airport: $135
- Private Airport Transfer in Luxury Vehicle- St. Thomas, USVI: $169
- Paradise Taxi & Tours USVI-St.Thomas-Airport Transfer Bluebeard’s / Yacht Haven: $110
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Iguazu or Saint Thomas?
Prices for flights to both Saint Thomas and Puerto Iguazu 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 dayPuerto Iguazu $3.01Saint Thomas $54
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Puerto Iguazu
For Puerto Iguazu, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Iguazu Falls: The Argentine Experience Interactive Dinner: $59
- Argentine Experience: Immersive Dinner & Wine Pairing in Iguazú: $60
- Puerto Iguazú: Madero Tango Show with Optional Dinner: $76
- Experience Guamini Mision Dinner and Tango Show Selva Iriapu Hotels Exclusive: $110
- Rafain Steakhouse Dinner & Show: $117
- Dinner Show Rafain Steakhouse Gran Meliá Hotel Exclusive - Private Tour: $120
- Dinner Show Rafain Steakhouse from Puerto Iguazú Hotels Private Tour: $120
- From Foz do Iguaçu: Madero Tango with dinner: $123
- Foz do Iguaçu: Argentinean Cooking Class: $135
- Experience Guamini Mision Dinner and Tango Show Gran Meliá Iguazú Exclusive: $145
- Dinner Tango Show in Iguazú Falls: $145
- Churrascaria Rafain - Show and Dinner : $150
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:
- Sunset & Harbor Lights Dinner Sail from the Marriott's Frenchman's Cove: $109
- Afternoon Snorkel, Pizza & Sunset Tour departing from St. Thomas & St. John: $110
- Flavors of St Thomas Walking Food Tour : $111
- St. John Dinner Sail to Lovango with Open Bar and Hors d'Oeuvres - Westin: $119
- Cruz Bay - PiZZA Pi Snorkel Sail: $159
- St. Thomas Dinner Sail to Lovango w/ Open Bar and Hors D'oeuvres - Ritz-Carlton: $159
- St. Thomas Dinner Sail to St. John with Open Bar & Hors D'oeuvres - Ritz-Carlton: $169
- Waterfront Harbor Dinner Sail from Frenchman's Reef: $209
- St Thomas Legends Luxury Dinner Sail from the Ritz Carlton: $209
- Swim w/Turtles at St. John, Pizza Pi & Snorkel a shipwreck. : $250
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Iguazu $2.69Saint Thomas $60
Tours and Activities in Puerto Iguazu
For Puerto Iguazu, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 3hr Experience Learning to Make an Argentine Asado: $150
- Adventure at the Iguazú Fly Park: $80
- Argentina Iguazu Falls Bus Tour: $93
- Argentina: Full-Day Iguazu Falls and Great Adventure Tour: $144
- Argentine Falls Full-Day Guided Tour One of the 7 Wonders of the World: $31
- Argentinean Falls with Gran Aventura Boat Tour: $227
- Argentinian Iguazu Falls Full Day Tour: $31
- Bird Park & Iguassu Brazilian Side From Puerto Iguazú Hotels - Private Tour: $120
- Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Half-Day Sightseeing Tour : $41
- Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Tour from Puerto Iguazu: $55
- Brazilian Side of the Falls - All Tickets Included: $67
- City Tour Puerto Iguazú Gran Meliá Iguazú Exclusivo: $135
Tours and Activities in Saint Thomas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Saint Thomas.
- Two-Hour Sightseeing Excursion : $58
- 1 Hour Jet Ski Tour in the Virgin Islands from Westin St. John: $159
- 1-Hour Guided Jet Ski Tour in St. Thomas from Frenchman's Reef: $179
- Admission Ticket to Coral World & Coki Point Beach with Snorkeling: $40
- Admission Ticket to Coral World Ocean Park & Coki Beach: $35
- Aerial Sightseeing Adventure!: $250
- Book Your Private Two and a Half Hour Island Tour today!: $150
- Charlotte Amalie Walking Tour + Contemporary Art Experience: $79
- Children's Treasure Hunt Walking Tour: $10
- Cocktail Sunset Cruise aboard Breakaway Charters at Sapphire: $115
- Cocktail Sunset Cruise from Sapphire Beach Resort: $115
- Coral Reef and Turtle Discovery Kayak and Snorkel Tour : $169
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Iguazu $1.29Saint Thomas $27
Sample the Local Flavors in Saint Thomas
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Saint Thomas:
- Wine Tasting with Fine Art Downtown Experience: $60
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Iguazu and Saint Thomas, we can see that Saint Thomas is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Iguazu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Puerto Iguazu 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 Puerto Iguazu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Iguazu 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 Puerto Iguazu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Puerto Iguazu Expensive? and Is Saint Thomas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Puerto Iguazu or Saint Thomas?
Puerto Iguazu has a larger population, and is about 60% larger than the population of Saint Thomas. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Iguazu 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.
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.