Which place is cheaper, Saint Thomas or Recife?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Recife 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 Recife 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: Recife or Saint Thomas?
Recife
One of the largest cities on Brazil's northeast coast, Recife is also the capital of the state of Pernambuco. The city gets its name from the Portuguese word for "reef," as it was built around a landscape of natural reef beaches. Many people visit to enjoy these beaches, experience the culture, and explore the history of this important Brazilian city.
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 Eco Tours in Brazil, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Brazil.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRecife $166Saint Thomas $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Recife is $166, 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 Recife and Saint Thomas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRecife $88Saint Thomas $131
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRecife $176Saint Thomas $262
Compare Hotels in Recife and Saint Thomas
Looking for a hotel in Recife 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: Recife Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Recife $8.47Saint Thomas $37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Recife
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Recife:
- Private Transfer from Recife to Carneiros Beach: $114
- Private Transfer from Recife to Tamandare Beach: $114
- Private Transfer from Igarassu to Recife (REC) Airport : $101
- Private Transfer from Recife to Serrambi Beach: $101
- Departure Transfer from Olinda to Recife Airport: $100
- Airport to Maragogi Hotels Private Transfer: $85
- Recife Boat Tour with Transfers: $72
- Airport to Porto de Galinhas Transfer: $65
- Private Transfer from Recife to Olinda: $46
- Private Transfer from Olinda to Recife (REC) Airport: $46
- Instituto Ricardo Brennand with transfers from Recife: $41
- Shared Transfer from Recife to Cabo de Santo Agostinho: $33
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: $28
- Cyril E. King Airport STT to Charlotte Amalie Arrival Transfer: $49
- Charlotte Amalie to Cyril E. King Airport(STT)-Departure Transfer: $49
- St Thomas to St Thomas Airport Private Departure Transfer: $109
- St Thomas Airport to St Thomas Arrival Private Transfer: $109
- Cyril E.King Airport (STT) to St.Thomas-Arrival Private Transfer : $109
- Paradise Taxi & Tours USVI-St.Thomas-Airport Transfer Bluebeard’s / Yacht Haven: $110
- PARADISE TAXI & TOURS USVI-St.Thomas-Airport Transfer to Marriott Frenchman Cove: $110
- Vi Top Taxi &Tours -Airport Transfer Bluebeard's/Yacht Haven : $110
- Vi Top Taxi -St.Thomas Airport Transfer to Marriott Frenchman Cove : $110
- Vi Top Taxi & Tours -Airport Transfer to Bolongo Bay/ Limetree: $110
- Private Ground Transfers: $120
Is it cheaper to fly into Recife or Saint Thomas?
Prices for flights to both Saint Thomas and Recife 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 dayRecife $70Saint Thomas $54
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.Recife $11Saint Thomas $60
Tours and Activities in Recife
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Recife are as follows:
- City Tour Recife with Catamaran included: $150
- Colonial North Coast beaches - Full-Day Tour: $35
- Olinda City Tour and Instituto Ricardo Brennand: $94
- Olinda Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.82
- Recife (Historic Centre) Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $7.65
- City Tour Recife & Olinda: $27
Tours and Activities in Saint Thomas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Saint Thomas.
- Children's Treasure Hunt Walking Tour: $10
- Unforgettable Charlotte Amalie: Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
- Nature and Sightseeing Tour at Phantasea Tropical Botanical Garden: $16
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in the US Virgin Islands: $27
- Coral World Ocean Park General Admission Ticket: $29
- Admission Ticket to Coral World Ocean Park & Coki Beach: $35
- Admission Ticket to Coral World & Coki Point Beach with Snorkeling: $40
- Cruise Ship Port Shuttle to St John Ferry : $44
- Cruise Ship Suttle to Ferry going to St. John: $45
- Sunset Kayak Tour in the Mangrove Lagoon, St Thomas: $49
- Paradise Taxi & Tours USVI - St. Thomas, Virgin Islands- Island Scenic Tour: $49
- Vi Top Taxi & Tours USVI-Scenic Island Tour ,St. Thomas: $50
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRecife -Saint 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 Recife and Saint Thomas, we can see that Saint Thomas is more expensive. And not only is Recife much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Recife 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 Recife would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Recife 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 Recife.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Recife Expensive? and Is Saint Thomas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Recife or Saint Thomas?
Recife has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Saint Thomas. When comparing the sizes of Recife 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 Recife or Saint Thomas?
Recife 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 Recife or Saint Thomas in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Recife as well as Saint Thomas. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint Thomas throughout the year.
In January, Recife is generally around the same temperature as Saint Thomasin July. Daily temperatures in Recife average around 26°C (79°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 Recife this time of the year. In the summer, Recife often gets less sunshine than Saint Thomasin July. Recife gets 246 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint Thomas receives 287 hours of full sun.
Recife receives a lot of rain in the summer. Recife usually gets more rain in January than Saint Thomasin July. Recife gets 108 mm (4.3 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 JulyRecife 26°C (79°F)Saint Thomas 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Recife or Saint Thomas in the Autumn?
Both Saint Thomas and Recife 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.
Recife is around the same temperature as Saint Thomas in the autumn. The daily temperature in Recife averages around 26°C (79°F) in April, and Saint Thomas fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in October.
It's quite sunny in Saint Thomas. Recife usually receives less sunshine than Saint Thomas during autumn. Recife gets 185 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 Recife. In April, Recife usually receives more rain than Saint Thomasin October. Recife gets 338 mm (13.3 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 OctoberRecife 26°C (79°F)Saint Thomas 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Recife or Saint Thomas in the Winter?
Both Saint Thomas and Recife during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint Thomas year-round.
In the winter, Recife is around the same temperature as Saint Thomas. Typically, the winter temperatures in Recife in July average around 24°C (76°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, Recife often gets less sunshine than Saint Thomasin January. Recife gets 170 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 Recife. Recife usually gets more rain in July than Saint Thomasin January. Recife gets 388 mm (15.3 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 JanuaryRecife 24°C (76°F)Saint Thomas 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Recife or Saint Thomas in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Recife and Saint Thomas. Saint Thomas attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Recife is generally around the same temperature as Saint Thomasin April. Daily temperatures in Recife average around 25°C (77°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. In Recife, it's very sunny this time of the year. Recife usually receives less sunshine than Saint Thomas during spring. Recife gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Thomas receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
In October, Recife usually receives less rain than Saint Thomasin April. Recife gets 63 mm (2.5 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 AprilRecife 25°C (77°F)Saint Thomas 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint Thomas and Recife
| Recife | Saint Thomas | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 257 mm (10.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 338 mm (13.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 25°C (78°F) | 319 mm (12.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 378 mm (14.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (76°F) | 388 mm (15.3 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 205 mm (8.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (76°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 57 mm (2.2 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.