A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Saint John's vs. Puerto Montt for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Saint John's or Puerto Montt?

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

Should I visit Saint John's or Puerto Montt? 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 Puerto Montt?

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.

Puerto Montt

The Lake District is a region of snow capped volcanoes, pale green lakes and endless miles of virgin and ancient forests. Found 1,016 km away from Santiago de Chile, Puerto Montt is famous for its beautiful lakes and its germanic architecture, old wooden houses and its legendary Iglesia Catedral, found on the town's main square, la Plaza de Armas. The monument, entirely built with alerce (cypress) wood, is the oldest building of the city. The capital of the Lake Region is a good starting point for many memorable excursions in the area.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Puerto Montt or Saint John's?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Saint John's is $222, while the average daily cost in Puerto Montt is $89. 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 Puerto Montt in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Saint John's $120
    Puerto Montt $61
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Saint John's $240
    Puerto Montt $122
Compare Hotels in Saint John's and Puerto Montt

Looking for a hotel in Saint John's or Puerto Montt? 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 Saint Johns


Hotels in Puerto Montt


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: Puerto Montt Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Saint John's $17
    Puerto Montt $6.43
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint John's

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Saint John's:


  • Local Bus
    $1.52
  • 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

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Montt

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Montt:

  • 4 Days Tour Los Lagos Region with Transfer Chiloe and Peulla: $177
  • Cruce Andino Office Private Transfer from Puerto Montt: $44
  • Private Transfer from Puerto Airport (PMC) to Puerto Montt Port: $31
  • Private Transfer from Puerto Montt Port to Puerto Airport (PMC): $27
  • Private Transfer from Puerto Montt Port to Puerto Airport (PMC): $31
  • Puerto Airport (PMC) to Frutillar - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $42
  • Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Frutillar: Roundtrip Transfer: $46
  • Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Puerto Varas - Round-Trip Transfer: $66
  • Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Puerto Varas City- Arrival Transfer: $33
  • Puerto Montt Airport Arrival Transfer to Hotel in Puerto Varas: $24
  • Puerto Montt Airport to Puerto Varas - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $42
  • Puerto Montt Airport(PMC) to Frutillar - Arrival Private Transfer: $21

Is it cheaper to fly into Saint John's or Puerto Montt?

Prices for flights to both Puerto Montt 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Saint John's $68
    Puerto Montt $21

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Saint John's $103
    Puerto Montt $14
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:


  • 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 Puerto Montt

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

  • Frutillar Tour: $31
  • Half day Llanquihue and Frutillar City tour : $44
  • Private Tour: Puerto Montt Sightseeing: $47
  • Frutillar & Llanquihue Tour from Puerto Montt: $56
  • Osorno Volcano and Petrohué Falls Guided Tour: $62
  • Osorno Volcano Tour+Petrohue Falls / Cruises / Spanish: $68
  • Alerce Andino National Park/Alerce Millenario/Cruises: $77
  • Private. City Tour Puerto Montt and Puerto Varas: $92
  • Austral / Hornopiren Road Tour: $102
  • Frutillar & Llanquihue Private Tour from Puerto Montt: $128
  • 6 Hours Shared Tour in Calbuco and Millennial Forest : $130
  • Tagua Tagua Lake and Wild Patagonia Tour: $133

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Saint John's $18
    Puerto Montt $4.49


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

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 Puerto Montt Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Saint John's or Puerto Montt?

Puerto Montt has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Saint John's. When comparing the sizes of Saint John's and Puerto Montt, 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 Saint John's or Puerto Montt?

Puerto Montt 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 Puerto Montt in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John's and Puerto Montt. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John's year-round.

Saint John's is much warmer than Puerto Montt in the summer. The daily temperature in Saint John's averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Puerto Montt fluctuates around 16°C (60°F)in January.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Puerto Montt this time of the year. In Saint John's, it's very sunny this time of the year. Saint John's usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Montt during summer. Saint John's gets 245 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Montt receives 204 hours of full sun 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 Puerto Monttin January. Saint John's gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July and January
    Saint John's 27°C (81°F) 
    Puerto Montt 16°C (60°F)

Should I visit Saint John's or Puerto Montt in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Saint John's as well as Puerto Montt. Saint John's attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the autumn, Saint John's is much warmer than Puerto Montt. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Saint John's in October average around 27°C (80°F), and Puerto Montt averages at about 11°C (51°F)in April.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint John's this time of the year. In the autumn, Saint John's often gets more sunshine than Puerto Monttin April. Saint John's gets 217 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Montt receives 104 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Puerto Montt. Saint John's receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Saint John's usually gets more rain in October than Puerto Monttin April. Saint John's gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October and April
    Saint John's 27°C (80°F) 
    Puerto Montt 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Saint John's or Puerto Montt in the Winter?

Both Puerto Montt 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 January, Saint John's is generally much warmer than Puerto Monttin July. Daily temperatures in Saint John's average around 24°C (76°F), and Puerto Montt fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. Saint John's usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Montt during winter. Saint John's gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Montt receives 67 hours of full sun in the winter.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Montt. In January, Saint John's usually receives less rain than Puerto Monttin July. Saint John's gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 229 mm (9 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January and July
    Saint John's 24°C (76°F) 
    Puerto Montt 7°C (45°F)

Should I visit Saint John's or Puerto Montt in the Spring?

Both Puerto Montt 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.

Saint John's is much warmer than Puerto Montt in the spring. The daily temperature in Saint John's averages around 26°C (78°F) in April, and Puerto Montt fluctuates around 11°C (51°F)in October.

It's quite sunny in Saint John's. In the spring, Saint John's often gets more sunshine than Puerto Monttin October. Saint John's gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Montt receives 151 hours of full sun.

Puerto Montt 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 Puerto Monttin October. Saint John's gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 121 mm (4.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April and October
    Saint John's 26°C (78°F) 
    Puerto Montt 11°C (51°F)

Typical Weather for Puerto Montt and Saint John's

Saint John's Puerto Montt
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 24°C (76°F) 84 mm (3.3 in) 16°C (60°F) 90 mm (3.5 in)
Feb 24°C (76°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 15°C (59°F) 93 mm (3.7 in)
Mar 25°C (76°F) 73 mm (2.9 in) 13°C (55°F) 99 mm (3.9 in)
Apr 26°C (78°F) 123 mm (4.8 in) 11°C (51°F) 143 mm (5.6 in)
May 27°C (80°F) 148 mm (5.8 in) 9°C (49°F) 234 mm (9.2 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 118 mm (4.6 in) 8°C (46°F) 224 mm (8.8 in)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 150 mm (5.9 in) 7°C (45°F) 229 mm (9 in)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 198 mm (7.8 in) 8°C (46°F) 209 mm (8.2 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 236 mm (9.3 in) 9°C (47°F) 146 mm (5.7 in)
Oct 27°C (80°F) 228 mm (9 in) 11°C (51°F) 121 mm (4.8 in)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 220 mm (8.7 in) 12°C (54°F) 110 mm (4.3 in)
Dec 25°C (77°F) 137 mm (5.4 in) 14°C (58°F) 103 mm (4.1 in)