Which place is cheaper, Saint John 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 John?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Punta Arenas or Saint John? 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 John?
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 John
With the popularity of the Caribbean rising, many islands have become touristy and expensive – but not St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
At only nine miles long and five miles wide, St. John is the smallest of the Virgin Islands, and, many argue, the prettiest. It's the kind of place that has maintained it's cultural identity, but still welcomes visitors from all over the world. With a population of just 5,000, the residents of St. John know everyone and everything happening on the island.
This island is perfect for people who want an undisturbed island getaway at any price. Between resorts and campgrounds there is a spot for everyone on St. John.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPunta Arenas $63Saint John $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Punta Arenas is $63, while the average daily cost in Saint John is $192. 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 John in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPunta Arenas $32Saint John $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPunta Arenas $64Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Punta Arenas and Saint John
Looking for a hotel in Punta Arenas or Saint John? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Punta Arenas $1.80Saint John $49
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
- Private Transfer from Punta Arenas Port to Punta Arenas hotels: $64
- Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ) to Punta Arenas - Arrival Transfer: $49
- Transfer from Punta Arenas (city or airport) to Puerto Natales: $267
Is it cheaper to fly into Punta Arenas or Saint John?
Prices for flights to both Saint John 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 John $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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Punta Arenas $6.44Saint John $23
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 John
Here are a few actual costs in Saint John for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- St. John: A Private Island Adventure Tour & Trunk Bay Beach: $627
- USVI: Island & Beach Tours in St. Thomas & St. John (2 Days): $199
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPunta Arenas $4.86Saint John $44
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 John, we can see that Saint John 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 John 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 John would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint John 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 John Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Punta Arenas or Saint John?
Punta Arenas has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Saint John experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Punta Arenas or Saint John in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Punta Arenas as well as Saint John. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.
In the summer, Punta Arenas is much colder than Saint John. Typically, the summer temperatures in Punta Arenas in January average around 11°C (52°F), and Saint John averages at about 29°C (83°F)in July.
Punta Arenas usually gets less rain in January than Saint Johnin July. Punta Arenas gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Saint John 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 John 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Punta Arenas or Saint John in the Autumn?
Both Saint John and Punta Arenas are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Punta Arenas is generally much colder than Saint Johnin October. Daily temperatures in Punta Arenas average around 7°C (44°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint John. In April, Punta Arenas usually receives less rain than Saint Johnin October. Punta Arenas gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Saint John 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 John 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Punta Arenas or Saint John in the Winter?
Both Saint John and Punta Arenas during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.
It's quite cold in Punta Arenas in the winter. Punta Arenas is much colder than Saint John in the winter. The daily temperature in Punta Arenas averages around 1°C (35°F) in July, and Saint John fluctuates around 26°C (78°F)in January.
Punta Arenas usually gets less rain in July than Saint Johnin January. Punta Arenas gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Saint John 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 John 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Punta Arenas or Saint John in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Punta Arenas and Saint John. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the spring, Punta Arenas is much colder than Saint John. Typically, the spring temperatures in Punta Arenas in October average around 7°C (44°F), and Saint John averages at about 27°C (80°F)in April.
In October, Punta Arenas usually receives less rain than Saint Johnin April. Punta Arenas gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Saint John 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 John 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint John and Punta Arenas
| Punta Arenas | Saint John | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.