A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Saint-Etienne vs. Costa de Prata for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Saint-Etienne or Costa de Prata?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Saint-Etienne and Costa de Prata. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Saint-Etienne or Costa de Prata?

Saint-Etienne

Saint-Etienne (Saint Stephen), a city southwest of Lyon, is drawing on its Industrial Revolution origins and its history of arms, bicycle, textile and ribbon production, to reinvent itself as design city. And the change is noticeable. After almost 30 years of decline, the city is now looking optimistically towards the future. Its center and suburbs are smartening up at a rapid pace. There are plenty of good surprises, including two great museums and a great eating scene.

Costa de Prata

Costa de Prata is a region located on the Silver Coast of Portugal, an hour north of Lisbon. The area is known for its beautiful beaches, ancient architecture, and relaxed, welcoming, atmosphere. The area experiences gorgeous weather nearly all year round, with temperatures in the high 70's and 80's Fahrenheit from May-September. June-August sees the warmest ocean temperatures, making these the best months for swimming. Even during their winter, temperatures rarely dip below 60°F, although ocean temperatures drop, making swimming a bit colder.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Paris, The Best 10-Day Tours from Paris, The Best 10-Day Tours in Portugal, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Portugal.

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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Saint-Etienne Expensive? and Is Costa de Prata Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Saint-Etienne or Costa de Prata?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Saint-Etienne or Costa de Prata in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint-Etienne and Costa de Prata. The hiking and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Saint-Etienne this time of year.

Saint-Etienne is around the same temperature as Costa de Prata in the summer. The daily temperature in Saint-Etienne averages around 22°C (71°F) in July, and Costa de Prata fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Costa de Prata this time of the year. In Saint-Etienne, it's very sunny this time of the year. Saint-Etienne usually receives less sunshine than Costa de Prata during summer. Saint-Etienne gets 285 hours of sunny skies, while Costa de Prata receives 308 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Saint-Etienne usually receives more rain than Costa de Prata. Saint-Etienne gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Costa de Prata receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Saint-Etienne or Costa de Prata in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Saint-Etienne as well as Costa de Prata. Many travelers come to Saint-Etienne for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Saint-Etienne is cooler than Costa de Prata. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Saint-Etienne in October average around 14°C (56°F), and Costa de Prata averages at about 18°C (65°F).

In the autumn, Saint-Etienne often gets less sunshine than Costa de Prata. Saint-Etienne gets 127 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Costa de Prata receives 184 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Costa de Prata. Saint-Etienne usually gets less rain in October than Costa de Prata. Saint-Etienne gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Costa de Prata receives 101 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint-Etienne or Costa de Prata in the Winter?

Both Costa de Prata and Saint-Etienne are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Saint-Etienne in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Saint-Etienne can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Saint-Etienne is generally much colder than Costa de Prata. Daily temperatures in Saint-Etienne average around 4°C (39°F), and Costa de Prata fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

Saint-Etienne usually receives less sunshine than Costa de Prata during winter. Saint-Etienne gets 62 hours of sunny skies, while Costa de Prata receives 124 hours of full sun in the winter.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Costa de Prata. In January, Saint-Etienne usually receives less rain than Costa de Prata. Saint-Etienne gets 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Costa de Prata receives 139 mm (5.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Saint-Etienne or Costa de Prata in the Spring?

Both Costa de Prata and Saint-Etienne during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Saint-Etienne for the natural beauty during these months.

Saint-Etienne is cooler than Costa de Prata in the spring. The daily temperature in Saint-Etienne averages around 11°C (53°F) in April, and Costa de Prata fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).

In Costa de Prata, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Saint-Etienne often gets less sunshine than Costa de Prata. Saint-Etienne gets 174 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Costa de Prata receives 217 hours of full sun.

Saint-Etienne usually gets less rain in April than Costa de Prata. Saint-Etienne gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Costa de Prata receives 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Costa de Prata and Saint-Etienne