Which place is cheaper, Saint Croix or Punta Arenas?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Punta Arenas or Saint Croix?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Punta Arenas or Saint Croix? 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: Punta Arenas or Saint Croix?
Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas is in the far south of Chile and has a long history of maritime commerce, oil extraction, and sheep farming. It's the most populated city on the Strait of Magellan and has all the facilities you might need as a traveler, including banks, markets, drugstores and equipment shops. With a population of about 130,000, the city is a comfortable place to spend time. It serves as a base for Antarctic expeditions, although many expeditions also start in Ushuaia, Argentina, and Christchurch New Zealand.
Saint Croix
Sometimes all you want out of a vacation is the warmth of the sun, the sound of the waves and the taste of a cold drink. No more. No less. That's exactly what you can expect in St. Croix.
The largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix is a place of our leisure and relaxation. It's a bit of an expensive lifestyle for its 50,000 residents and daily visitors, but when you're living on island time, money is never a worry. There are no worries on island time.
This once volcanic island is covered in incredible beaches, stunning mountains, palm tress in the wind and historic colonial towns. While they may be a bit old and rundown, the Danish architecture still stands as a unique part of this island's legacy. Don't expect much window-shopping, though. That was not a feature incorporated in this style of architecture. If you want to know if a store is open, just step on in, but remember, shop hours are also running on island time.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPunta Arenas $63Saint Croix $236
The average daily cost (per person) in Punta Arenas is $63, while the average daily cost in Saint Croix is $236. 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 Punta Arenas and Saint Croix in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPunta Arenas $32Saint Croix $149
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPunta Arenas $64Saint Croix $298
Compare Hotels in Punta Arenas and Saint Croix
Looking for a hotel in Punta Arenas or Saint Croix? 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: Punta Arenas Hotel Prices and Saint Croix Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Punta Arenas $1.80Saint Croix $35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Arenas
Also for Punta Arenas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Punta Arenas Airport to/from Punta Arenas: $33
- Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ) to Punta Arenas - Arrival Transfer: $49
- Private Transfer from Punta Arenas Port to Punta Arenas hotels: $64
- Transfer from Punta Arenas (city or airport) to Puerto Natales: $267
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Croix
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Saint Croix:
- Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) to St.Croix - Round-Trip Transfer: $217
- St Croix Airport to St Croix Hotels Private Round Trip Transfer: $217
- Private Transfer from St. Croix Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) to St. Croix : $164
- St. Croix to Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) - Departure Transfer: $109
- Saint Croix Airport (STX) to Saint Croix Hotels -Arrival Transfer: $109
- Henry E.Rohlsen Airport(STX) to St. Croix island-Arrival Transfer: $109
- Private Transfer from St. Croix Airport to St. Croix Cruise Port : $71
- Private Transfer from St. Croix Cruise Port to St. Croix Airport: $71
- Private Transfer from St.Croix hotels to St. Croix Cruise Port : $49
- Private Transfer from St.Croix Cruise Port to St.Croix hotels: $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Punta Arenas or Saint Croix?
Prices for flights to both Saint Croix and Punta Arenas 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 dayPunta Arenas $21Saint Croix $56
Typical Food Prices in Punta Arenas
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Punta Arenas:
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Donut$1.05
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Dinner$25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint Croix
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Saint Croix.
- A Evening Cultural Experience Through Food Cooking Class St. Croix: $90
- Taste of Twin City Food Tour with VI Food Tours: $129
- C'sted Sip & Savor Mixology Class with VI Food Tours: $129
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Punta Arenas $6.44Saint Croix $58
Tours and Activities in Punta Arenas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta Arenas.
- City Sightseeing and Monuments Guided Tour: $52
- Regular city cruise tour: $65
- Fort Bulnes cruises: $70
- Bike Tour in Punta Arenas, 100% local tour.: $70
- Punta Arenas Sightseeing Tour: $72
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $145
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $145
- Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas: $153
- Punta Arenas Private City Tour Shore Excursion: $155
- Magallanes Reserva and City Tour. Private Shore Excursion.: $158
- Full day Torres del Paine from Punta Arenas ,Regular tours: $180
- Mountain Bike Adventure in Punta Arenas: $192
Tours and Activities in Saint Croix
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Saint Croix are as follows:
- 1 Hour Private Jetcar Experience in Virgin Islands : $250
- 30 Minute Private Jetcar Experience in Virgin Islands: $150
- Grange Estate History and Heritage Private Tour and Luncheon : $60
- Horseback Riding Experience: $160
- Parasail Experience in St Croix: $132
- Private Sailing Tour of Pirate Waters and Shipwrecks: $75
- St Croix Island Tour: $100
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPunta Arenas $4.86Saint Croix $27
Typical Alcohol Prices in Punta Arenas
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Punta Arenas:
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Alcohol$7.34
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Punta Arenas and Saint Croix, we can see that Saint Croix is more expensive. And not only is Punta Arenas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Punta Arenas is in South America and Saint Croix 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 Punta Arenas would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Punta Arenas 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 Croix would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Croix than you might in Punta Arenas.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Punta Arenas Expensive? and Is Saint Croix Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Punta Arenas or Saint Croix?
Punta Arenas has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Saint Croix experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Punta Arenas or Saint Croix in the Summer?
Both Saint Croix and Punta Arenas during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint Croix year-round.
In January, Punta Arenas is generally much colder than Saint Croixin July. Daily temperatures in Punta Arenas average around 11°C (52°F), and Saint Croix fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
Punta Arenas usually gets less rain in January than Saint Croixin July. Punta Arenas gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyPunta Arenas 11°C (52°F)Saint Croix 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Punta Arenas or Saint Croix in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Punta Arenas and Saint Croix. Saint Croix attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Punta Arenas is much colder than Saint Croix in the autumn. The daily temperature in Punta Arenas averages around 7°C (44°F) in April, and Saint Croix fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in October.
Saint Croix receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Punta Arenas usually receives less rain than Saint Croixin October. Punta Arenas gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberPunta Arenas 7°C (44°F)Saint Croix 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Punta Arenas or Saint Croix in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Punta Arenas as well as Saint Croix. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint Croix throughout the year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Punta Arenas. In the winter, Punta Arenas is much colder than Saint Croix. Typically, the winter temperatures in Punta Arenas in July average around 1°C (35°F), and Saint Croix averages at about 26°C (78°F)in January.
Punta Arenas usually gets less rain in July than Saint Croixin January. Punta Arenas gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryPunta Arenas 1°C (35°F)Saint Croix 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Punta Arenas or Saint Croix in the Spring?
Both Saint Croix and Punta Arenas are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Saint Croix because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In October, Punta Arenas is generally much colder than Saint Croixin April. Daily temperatures in Punta Arenas average around 7°C (44°F), and Saint Croix fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
In October, Punta Arenas usually receives less rain than Saint Croixin April. Punta Arenas gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilPunta Arenas 7°C (44°F)Saint Croix 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint Croix and Punta Arenas
| Punta Arenas | Saint Croix | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 11°C (52°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 11°C (52°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (48°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 7°C (44°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 4°C (39°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 2°C (35°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 1°C (35°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 3°C (37°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 5°C (40°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 7°C (44°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 9°C (48°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 11°C (51°F) | 29 mm (1.1 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.