Which place is cheaper, El Chalten or Saint John's?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Saint John's or El Chalten?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Saint John's or El Chalten? 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: Saint John's or El Chalten?
Saint John's
If you've been to St. John's, Antigua, you were likely on a cruise - which means you likely did not have enough time to truly experience the magic of this tiny island getaway.
St. Johns is the capital of the tiny islands of Antigua and Barbuda. Located on Antigua, this tropical city lives up to its status as a tropical paradise. With 365 beaches on the island, you can enjoy the luxury of lounging in the sand every day of the year.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint John's $222El Chalten $9.93
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint John's is $222, while the average daily cost in El Chalten is $9.93. 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 Saint John's and El Chalten in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint John's $120El Chalten $4.42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint John's $240El Chalten $8.84
Compare Hotels in Saint John's and El Chalten
Looking for a hotel in Saint John's or El Chalten? 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: El Chalten Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint John's $17El Chalten $2.37
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint John's
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Saint John's:
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Local Bus$1.52
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Taxi From Airport$6.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint John's
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Saint John's:
- Round-Trip Transfer between Antigua Airport and Antigua Hotels: $32
- Private One-Way Antigua Airport Transfer To/From Antigua: $45
- Shared Roundtrip Taxi Transfer from Antigua Airport to Royalton Antigua Resort: $45
- Airport Transfer from/to all resorts in Antigua - Water Inc.: $59
- Private Airport Transfers to Antigua and Barbuda: $60
- Biggvee Airport Roundtrip Transfer: $70
- VIP Meet and Greet Fast Track on Arrival at Antigua Airport - without Transfers : $74
- Antigua&Barbuda V.C.Bird Airport(ANU) to island Private Transfer: $77
- Island to Antigua&Barbuda V.C.Bird Airport(ANU)- Private Transfer: $77
- Private Transfer from St. John's Port to Antigua Island Hotels: $78
- Antigua VC Bird Airport to Island Hotels Private Arrival Transfer: $82
- Antigua - VIP Fast Track On Arrival ONLY And Round Trip Transfer : $99
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint John's or El Chalten?
Prices for flights to both El Chalten and Saint John's 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 daySaint John's $68El Chalten $3.66
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint John's
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Saint John's.
- City Lime Food Tour: Taste our culture on Antigua's only food tour in the city!: $105
- Discover the Flavors of St. Johns Food Tour: $125
- Private Art Tour or Food Tour: $150
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint John's $103El Chalten $2.66
Typical Entertainment Prices in Saint John's
Here are a few typical costs in Saint John's for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entrance to the Museum of Antigua & Barbu$3.00
Tours and Activities in Saint John's
Here are a few actual costs in Saint John's for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Chariot City Tour Antigua: $20
- City of St John's Sightseeing Tour: $59
- Antigua Shore Excursion: City of St John's Sightseeing Tour: $59
- Cultural and Historical Home Tour in The Antiguan Experience : $66
- Small-Group Hiking Experience in Antigua: $70
- Glenmon taxi and tours: $70
- 2-Hours Stingray City Experience in Antigua: $73
- Antigua Historical Sites Island Tour: $75
- Kayak Eco Adventures Glass Kayak Nature and Snorkeling Tour: $75
- Authentic Antiguan Experience: $79
- TRIPLE ACTIVITY TOUR, Bike Kayak Hike, ANTIGUA : $80
- Nightlife Tour of Antigua and Barbuda: $80
Tours and Activities in El Chalten
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for El Chalten are as follows:
- 3 Hours Grilled Lamb Experience in Estancia Bonanza: $55
- Rafting experience on the Rio de las Vueltas in Patagonia: $90
- Rio de las Vueltas Rafting Experience - El Chalten: $90
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint John's $18El Chalten $1.22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint John's and El Chalten, we can see that Saint John's is more expensive. And not only is El Chalten much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint John's 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's would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint John's 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's Expensive? and Is El Chalten Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Saint John's or El Chalten?
El Chalten has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Saint John's experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Saint John's or El Chalten in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John's and El Chalten. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John's year-round.
In July, Saint John's is generally around the same temperature as El Chaltenin January. Daily temperatures in Saint John's average around 27°C (81°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
El Chalten receives a lot of rain in the summer. Saint John's gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Saint John's usually receives more rain than El Chaltenin January. Saint John's gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuarySaint John's 27°C (81°F)El Chalten 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or El Chalten in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Saint John's as well as El Chalten. Saint John's attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Saint John's is a little warmer than El Chalten in the autumn. The daily temperature in Saint John's averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and El Chalten fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in April.
It's quite rainy in El Chalten. Saint John's receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Saint John's usually gets more rain in October than El Chaltenin April. Saint John's gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilSaint John's 27°C (80°F)El Chalten 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or El Chalten in the Winter?
Both El Chalten and Saint John's are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John's throughout the year.
In the winter, Saint John's is much warmer than El Chalten. Typically, the winter temperatures in Saint John's in January average around 24°C (76°F), and El Chalten averages at about 16°C (61°F)in July.
In January, Saint John's usually receives more rain than El Chaltenin July. Saint John's gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulySaint John's 24°C (76°F)El Chalten 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or El Chalten in the Spring?
Both El Chalten and Saint John's during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John's because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Saint John's is generally a little warmer than El Chaltenin October. Daily temperatures in Saint John's average around 26°C (78°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
In El Chalten, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Saint John's. In the spring, Saint John's often gets more sunshine than El Chaltenin October. Saint John's gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while El Chalten receives 205 hours of full sun.
El Chalten gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. Saint John's usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as El Chaltenin October. Saint John's gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberSaint John's 26°C (78°F)El Chalten 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for El Chalten and Saint John's
| Saint John's | El Chalten | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 140 mm (5.5 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.