A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Riga vs. Basse-Terre for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Riga or Basse-Terre?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Riga or Basse-Terre? 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: Riga or Basse-Terre?

Riga

Riga is the vibrant capital city of Latvia. It continues to gain popularity as a tourist destination in part because it is the base for the airline Air Baltic. This affordable airline offers discount flights around Europe and most of these flights pass through Riga with a forced overnight layover. This encourages travelers to visit this fascinating city for at least a night or two.

Basse-Terre

In Guadeloupe there is Basse Terre the city and Basse-Terre the island - the city is the capital of Guadeloupe, and the island is Guadeloupe's western half of the main island. As a whole, the place is very green, featuring lush vegetation and a mountainous landscape with a sulfuric volcano.

Which place is cheaper, Basse-Terre or Riga?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Riga is €122, while the average daily cost in Basse-Terre is €185. 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 Riga and Basse-Terre in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Riga 52
    Basse-Terre 90
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Riga 104
    Basse-Terre 180
Compare Hotels in Riga and Basse-Terre

Looking for a hotel in Riga or Basse-Terre? 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.

Hotels in Riga


Hotels in Basse-Terre


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: Riga Hotel Prices and Basse-Terre Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Riga 9.63
    Basse-Terre 8.00

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Riga

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Riga:

  • Riga Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Klaipeda: $43
  • Riga Airport to Hotel Transfer: $45
  • Arrival Private Transfer from Riga Airport RIX to Riga City by Minivan: $51
  • Private Transfer Riga International Airport RIX to Jurmala City: $51
  • Transfer from Riga center to Airport: $53
  • Transfer from Riga Airport to Riga Old city: $53
  • Riga Airport to Riga City - Private Transfer: $57
  • Riga City to Riga Airport - Private Transfer: $57
  • Private Transfer to anywhere in Riga Center: $60
  • Private Transfer from Riga Airport (RIX) to Riga Cruise Port: $60
  • Departure Transfer from Riga to Riga Airport RIX by Car or Van: $68
  • Private transfer from Riga Airport RIX to Riga city by Car or Van: $68

Is it cheaper to fly into Riga or Basse-Terre?

Prices for flights to both Basse-Terre and Riga 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Riga 57
    Basse-Terre 80
Typical Food Prices in Riga

Some typical examples of dining costs in Riga are as follows:


  • Fast Food Lunch
    5.77

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Riga

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Riga.

  • Central Market Traditional Food Tour in a Small Group: $41
  • Central Market Latvian Food Tour: $53
  • Khinkali and Pelmeni Cooking Master Class: $70
  • Exclusive Igloo for Lunches, Dinners and Events: $72
  • Latvian Art Museum, Dinner, and Black Balsam Tasting: $210
  • Pizza Making Master Class in Riga: $251
  • Traditional Latvian Dinner with Private Folk Show: $252

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Riga 14
    Basse-Terre 47

Tours and Activities in Riga

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Riga are as follows:

  • An audio tour of Old from St Peter's Church to the Monument of Freedom: $6.99
  • Entrance Ticket - House of the Black Heads: $8.21
  • Canal Boat Tour with Welcome Drink & Audio Guide: $8.21
  • Panorama Riga Observation Deck Ticket: $9.38
  • Old Town Electrobus Tour + Audio Guide & Drink: $9.38
  • Riga Exploration Game and City Tour on your Phone: $9.57
  • Riga Canal and Daugava Boat Tour with Welcome Drink & Audio Guide: $9.58
  • Evening or Sunset Boat Tour with Welcome Drink: $10
  • Rowing boats and Pedal boat rental - River Cruises Latvia: $11
  • Riga English Self-guided Audio Tour on your Phone: $11
  • Evening or Sunset Boat Tour with Drink and Audio Guide: $11
  • Riga Golden Autumn Canal & River Cruise | River Cruises LV: $11

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Riga 20
    Basse-Terre 13

Sample the Local Flavors in Riga

Also in Riga, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Old town pub & bar crawl, hidden gems, and local party: $21
  • Pub Crawl with Local Guide: $29
  • Brewery Tour and Beer Tasting in Riga: $35
  • Riga Pub Crawl: $41
  • Latvian Brewery Visit & 5 Beer tasting: $47
  • Riga Evening Adventure: Pub Crawl & Games Night: $50
  • Game Night & Pub Crawl: $52
  • Riga Happy Hour Pub Crawl: $59
  • Riga Brewery Tour: $59
  • Prosecco Bike & Pub Crawl: $65
  • Riga Brewery Tour: $77
  • Riga's Old Town Beer Bike Tour & Guided Pub Crawl: $94


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Riga and Basse-Terre, we can see that Basse-Terre is more expensive. And not only is Riga much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Riga is in Europe and Basse-Terre 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 Riga would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Riga 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 Basse-Terre would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Basse-Terre than you might in Riga.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Riga Expensive? and Is Basse-Terre Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Riga or Basse-Terre?

Riga has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Basse-Terre. When comparing the sizes of Riga and Basse-Terre, 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 Riga or Basse-Terre?

Riga has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Basse-Terre experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Riga or Basse-Terre in the Summer?

Both Basse-Terre and Riga are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Riga because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Plenty of visitors come to Basse-Terre because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In July, Riga is generally much colder than Basse-Terre. Daily temperatures in Riga average around 17°C (63°F), and Basse-Terre fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. In July, Riga usually receives less rain than Basse-Terre. Riga gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Basse-Terre receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Riga 17°C (63°F) 
    Basse-Terre 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Riga or Basse-Terre in the Autumn?

Both Basse-Terre and Riga during the autumn are popular places to visit. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Riga this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Basse-Terre year-round.

Riga is much colder than Basse-Terre in the autumn. The daily temperature in Riga averages around 7°C (45°F) in October, and Basse-Terre fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

Basse-Terre gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Riga usually gets less rain in October than Basse-Terre. Riga gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Basse-Terre receives 228 mm (9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Riga 7°C (45°F) 
    Basse-Terre 27°C (80°F)

Should I visit Riga or Basse-Terre in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Riga and Basse-Terre. Many travelers come to Riga for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Basse-Terre attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Riga. In the winter, Riga is much colder than Basse-Terre. Typically, the winter temperatures in Riga in January average around -5°C (23°F), and Basse-Terre averages at about 24°C (76°F).

In January, Riga usually receives less rain than Basse-Terre. Riga gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Basse-Terre receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Riga -5°C (23°F) 
    Basse-Terre 24°C (76°F)

Should I visit Riga or Basse-Terre in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Riga as well as Basse-Terre. Many visitors come to Riga in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. The warm climate attracts visitors to Basse-Terre throughout the year.

In April, Riga is generally much colder than Basse-Terre. Daily temperatures in Riga average around 5°C (42°F), and Basse-Terre fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

It's quite rainy in Basse-Terre. Riga usually gets less rain in April than Basse-Terre. Riga gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Basse-Terre receives 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Riga 5°C (42°F) 
    Basse-Terre 26°C (78°F)

Typical Weather for Basse-Terre and Riga

Riga Basse-Terre
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -5°C (23°F) 33 mm (1.3 in) 24°C (76°F) 84 mm (3.3 in)
Feb -4°C (24°F) 25 mm (1 in) 24°C (76°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
Mar -0°C (31°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) 25°C (76°F) 73 mm (2.9 in)
Apr 5°C (42°F) 39 mm (1.5 in) 26°C (78°F) 123 mm (4.8 in)
May 12°C (53°F) 43 mm (1.7 in) 27°C (80°F) 148 mm (5.8 in)
Jun 15°C (60°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 28°C (82°F) 118 mm (4.6 in)
Jul 17°C (63°F) 79 mm (3.1 in) 27°C (81°F) 150 mm (5.9 in)
Aug 16°C (62°F) 79 mm (3.1 in) 27°C (81°F) 198 mm (7.8 in)
Sep 12°C (54°F) 76 mm (3 in) 27°C (81°F) 236 mm (9.3 in)
Oct 7°C (45°F) 60 mm (2.4 in) 27°C (80°F) 228 mm (9 in)
Nov 2°C (36°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 26°C (79°F) 220 mm (8.7 in)
Dec -2°C (28°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) 25°C (77°F) 137 mm (5.4 in)