A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Saint John vs. El Chalten for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Saint John or El Chalten?

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 John and El Chalten. 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 John or El Chalten?

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.

El Chalten

El Chalten is probably one of the most beautiful areas of Patagonia, especially at the slightest ray of sunshine and one of your cheapest destination while you are travelling in Patagonia. Indeed, you will spend your days hiking and there are no park fees. There are restaurants, souvenir shops, and outdoor stores but most of them will not accept credit cards so before heading out, get cash in El Calafate or your previous stop. For the beginners, it will be long hikes in a magical setting and for the experts perhaps a week long expedition to the greatest glaciers of the world. To discover the way people live in the pampa, you may also decide to stay at an Estancia. In the stunning Estancia Santa Thelma, about 300km away from El Chalten, you will be able to explore the surroundings by horse, live a unique experience in the middle of the nature and its vast plains occupied by thousands of merino sheep and horses and of course eat a typical meal of the region.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, and The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint John and El Chalten, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. And not only is El Chalten much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint John is in Caribbean Islands and El Chalten is in South America, 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 El Chalten would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Chalten 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 El Chalten.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Saint John Expensive? and Is El Chalten Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Saint John or El Chalten?

El Chalten 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 Saint John or El Chalten in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John and El Chalten. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.

Saint John is around the same temperature as El Chalten in the summer. The daily temperature in Saint John averages around 29°C (83°F) in July, and El Chalten fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in January.

El Chalten receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Saint John usually receives less rain than El Chaltenin January. Saint John gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Saint John or El Chalten in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Saint John as well as El Chalten. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the autumn, Saint John is a little warmer than El Chalten. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Saint John in October average around 28°C (82°F), and El Chalten averages at about 21°C (70°F)in April.

It's quite rainy in El Chalten. Saint John receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Saint John usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as El Chaltenin April. Saint John gets 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint John or El Chalten in the Winter?

Both El Chalten and Saint John are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.

In January, Saint John is generally much warmer than El Chaltenin July. Daily temperatures in Saint John average around 26°C (78°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

In January, Saint John usually receives more rain than El Chaltenin July. Saint John gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Saint John or El Chalten in the Spring?

Both El Chalten and Saint John during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Saint John is a little warmer than El Chalten in the spring. The daily temperature in Saint John averages around 27°C (80°F) in April, and El Chalten fluctuates around 22°C (72°F)in October.

El Chalten gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Saint John usually gets less rain in April than El Chaltenin October. Saint John gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for El Chalten and Saint John