Which place is cheaper, Saint Thomas or Puerto Montt?
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 Puerto Montt or Saint Thomas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Puerto Montt and Saint Thomas can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Puerto Montt or Saint Thomas?
Puerto Montt
The Lake District is a region of snow capped volcanoes, pale green lakes and endless miles of virgin and ancient forests. Found 1,016 km away from Santiago de Chile, Puerto Montt is famous for its beautiful lakes and its germanic architecture, old wooden houses and its legendary Iglesia Catedral, found on the town's main square, la Plaza de Armas. The monument, entirely built with alerce (cypress) wood, is the oldest building of the city. The capital of the Lake Region is a good starting point for many memorable excursions in the area.
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 Chile, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Chile.
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Puerto Montt Prices
Chile PricesSaint Thomas Prices
USVI Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Montt $104Saint Thomas $258
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Montt is $104, 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 Puerto Montt and Saint Thomas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Montt $61Saint Thomas $131
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Montt $122Saint Thomas $262
Compare Hotels in Puerto Montt and Saint Thomas
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Montt 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 Montt Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Montt $6.42Saint Thomas $37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Montt
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Montt:
- Transfer from Puerto Montt Airport to Castro: $300
- Puerto Montt El Tepual Airport (PMC) to Pucon - Arrival Transfer: $267
- Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Puerto Varas - Round-Trip Transfer: $127
- Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Frutillar: Roundtrip Transfer: $93
- Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Puerto Varas - Round-Trip Transfer: $84
- Private Transfer from Puerto Airport (PMC) to Puerto Montt Port: $83
- Private Transfer from Puerto Montt Port to Puerto Airport (PMC): $83
- Transfer from Puerto Montt Airport to Frutillar: $80
- Private Transfer from Puerto Airport (PMC) to Puerto Montt Port: $75
- Puerto Montt Airport(PMC) to Frutillar - Arrival Private Transfer: $75
- Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Puerto Varas City- Arrival Transfer: $63
- Puerto Montt - Puerto Varas Airport English private transfer: $50
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:
- Transfer from Cyril E. King Airport(STT) to Charlotte Amalie Port: $83
- VI Top Taxi and Tours - St. Thomas - Airport Transfer to Red Hook Ferry: $90
- Paradise Taxi & Tours USVI- St.Thomas Airport Transfer to Bolongo Bay / Limetree: $110
- Vi Top Taxi & Tours -Airport Transfer to Bolongo Bay/ Limetree: $110
- PARADISE TAXI & TOURS USVI-St.Thomas-Airport Transfer to Marriott Frenchman Cove: $110
- St.Thomas to St.Thomas Airport (STT) - Departure Private Transfer: $115
- Private Ground Transfers: $120
- Exclusive Airport Transfers (up to 4 persons) One-Way: $135
- St.Thomas island to Cyril E. King Airport(STT)-Departure Transfer: $135
- St. Thomas USVI Airport Transfer to the Redhook Ferry: $144
- St. Thomas USVI Airport Transfer to The Ritz Carlton Resort: $144
- Paradise Taxi & Tours USVI- St. Thomas - Airport Transfer to Red Hook Ferry: $160
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Montt or Saint Thomas?
Prices for flights to both Saint Thomas and Puerto Montt 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 Montt $37Saint Thomas $94
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.Puerto Montt $14Saint Thomas $60
Tours and Activities in Puerto Montt
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Montt are as follows:
- 6 Hours Shared Tour in Calbuco and Millennial Forest from Hotel: $190
- Alerce Andino National Park/Alerce Millenario/Cruises: $105
- Chiloé Island Full Day Experience Castro, Ancud, Dalcahue & Lunch: $189
- Cruise Shore Private Excursion Osorno Volcano & Petrohué Falls: $256
- Explore Peulla Full Day Tour from Puerto Montt : $64
- Osorno Volcano and National Park Shore Tour for Cruisers : $90
- Petrohué Falls Osorno Volcano Pto Varas Sightseeing Driver Only: $130
- Private Day tour Petrohue Falls, Osorno Volcano & Puerto Varas: $250
- Private Shore Excursion Tour to Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas and Frutillar: $287
- Private Tour of Puerto Montt with Stops : $38
- Half day Llanquihue and Frutillar City tour : $44
- Osorno Volcano Tour Shore Tour in Private: $660
Tours and Activities in Saint Thomas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Saint Thomas.
- Nature and Sightseeing Tour at Phantasea Tropical Botanical Garden: $16
- Children's Treasure Hunt Walking Tour: $25
- Coral World Ocean Park General Admission Ticket: $29
- Cruise Ship Shuttle to Ferry going to St. John: $34
- Rum Tasting Experience in the Old Barrel House: $35
- Admission Ticket to Coral World & Coki Point Beach with Snorkeling: $40
- St. Thomas Sightseeing Tour with a Guide: $40
- Guided Tour of Coral World Ocean Park & Happy Hour: $40
- St. Thomas Ghost Tour of Historic Charlotte Amalie : $41
- Prince taxi & Tours St.Thomas Virgin Islands-Island Scenic Tour: $45
- Guided Kayak Tour from Margaritaville: $48
- Guided Kayak Tour from Elysian: $48
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Montt $4.49Saint Thomas $27
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Montt and Saint Thomas, we can see that Saint Thomas is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Montt much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Puerto Montt 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 Montt would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Montt 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 Montt.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Puerto Montt Expensive? and Is Saint Thomas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Puerto Montt or Saint Thomas?
Puerto Montt has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Saint Thomas. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Montt 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 Puerto Montt or Saint Thomas?
Puerto Montt 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 Puerto Montt or Saint Thomas in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Puerto Montt as well as Saint Thomas. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint Thomas throughout the year.
In January, Puerto Montt is generally much colder than Saint Thomasin July. Daily temperatures in Puerto Montt average around 16°C (60°F), and Saint Thomas fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint Thomas. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Puerto Montt this time of the year. In the summer, Puerto Montt often gets less sunshine than Saint Thomasin July. Puerto Montt gets 204 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint Thomas receives 287 hours of full sun.
Puerto Montt usually gets more rain in January than Saint Thomasin July. Puerto Montt gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Saint Thomas receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyPuerto Montt 16°C (60°F)Saint Thomas 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Puerto Montt or Saint Thomas in the Autumn?
Both Saint Thomas and Puerto Montt are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Saint Thomas because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Puerto Montt is much colder than Saint Thomas in the autumn. The daily temperature in Puerto Montt averages around 11°C (51°F) in April, and Saint Thomas fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in October.
It's quite sunny in Saint Thomas. Puerto Montt usually receives less sunshine than Saint Thomas during autumn. Puerto Montt gets 104 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Thomas receives 235 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint Thomas. It's quite rainy in Puerto Montt. In April, Puerto Montt usually receives around the same amount of rain as Saint Thomasin October. Puerto Montt gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Saint Thomas receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberPuerto Montt 11°C (51°F)Saint Thomas 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Puerto Montt or Saint Thomas in the Winter?
Both Saint Thomas and Puerto Montt during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint Thomas year-round.
In the winter, Puerto Montt is much colder than Saint Thomas. Typically, the winter temperatures in Puerto Montt in July average around 7°C (45°F), and Saint Thomas averages at about 26°C (78°F)in January.
In Saint Thomas, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Puerto Montt often gets less sunshine than Saint Thomasin January. Puerto Montt gets 67 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint Thomas receives 240 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Montt. Puerto Montt usually gets more rain in July than Saint Thomasin January. Puerto Montt gets 229 mm (9 in) of rain, while Saint Thomas receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryPuerto Montt 7°C (45°F)Saint Thomas 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Puerto Montt or Saint Thomas in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Puerto Montt and Saint Thomas. Saint Thomas attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Puerto Montt is generally much colder than Saint Thomasin April. Daily temperatures in Puerto Montt average around 11°C (51°F), and Saint Thomas fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint Thomas this time of the year. Puerto Montt usually receives less sunshine than Saint Thomas during spring. Puerto Montt gets 151 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Thomas receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
Puerto Montt gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Puerto Montt usually receives more rain than Saint Thomasin April. Puerto Montt gets 121 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Saint Thomas receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilPuerto Montt 11°C (51°F)Saint Thomas 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint Thomas and Puerto Montt
| Puerto Montt | Saint Thomas | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 16°C (60°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 15°C (59°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 13°C (55°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 11°C (51°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 9°C (49°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 8°C (46°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 7°C (45°F) | 229 mm (9 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 8°C (46°F) | 209 mm (8.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 9°C (47°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 14°C (58°F) | 103 mm (4.1 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.