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

Should you visit Saint John's or Puerto Natales?

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

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

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 Natales

Puerto Natales is a beautiful town located in the Chilean Patagonia on the Senoret Channel. The city is often used as a base camp for trips to the surrounding national parks due to their plentiful restaurant options and access to internet. Puerto Natales is also known for being the base city to the Torres del Paine National Park, which was named the 5th most beautiful place in the world by National Geographic.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Chile, and The Best Budget Tours to Chile.


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

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 Saint John's is $272, while the average daily cost in Puerto Natales is $105. 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 Natales in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Saint John's $120
    Puerto Natales $38
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Saint John's $240
    Puerto Natales $76
Compare Hotels in Saint John's and Puerto Natales

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


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 Natales Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Saint John's $17
    Puerto Natales $19
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:

  • 3-Hours Eye-Opening Stingray City Antigua - Transfer R/T included: $133
  • Antigua - VIP Fast Track On Arrival ONLY And Round Trip Transfer : $109
  • Antigua Airport Private Roundtrip Transfer to and from Royalton Antigua Resort: $60
  • Antigua V.C. Bird Airport (ANU) to Island - Round-Trip Transfer : $93
  • Antigua to Antigua V.C. Bird Airport (ANU) - Departure Transfer: $64
  • Antigua&Barbuda Airport (ANU) to Antigua&Barbuda Private Transfer: $46
  • Biggvee Airport Roundtrip Transfer: $70
  • Biggvee Premium Airport One Way Transfer: $200
  • Crystal Kayak & Snorkel Eco Tour (with transfer): $99
  • JTAT Private Transfers & Tours, Saint John's, Antigua and Barbuda: $160
  • Private Airport Transfers to Antigua and Barbuda: $60
  • Private Antigua Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Hammock Cove: $90

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Natales

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Natales:

  • Private Transfer Airport x Hotels inside the TORRES DEL PAINE Park: $100
  • Private Transfer: From Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales: $422
  • Private transfer Airport x Lodging (Puerto Natales): $25
  • Puerto Natales Airport Private Transfer: $30

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

Prices for flights to both Puerto Natales 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 $117
    Puerto Natales $48

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
  • Nicole's Table - Cooking with Rum: $165

Typical Food Prices in Puerto Natales

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Puerto Natales:


  • Cake
    $1.05
  • Dinner
    $18
  • Coke
    $1.05

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Saint John's $103
    Puerto Natales $29
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:

  • City of St John's Sightseeing Tour: $59
  • Shore Excursion: City of St John's Sightseeing Tour: $59
  • Cultural and Historical Home Tour in The Antiguan Experience : $66
  • Half Day Historical Tour in Antigua with Beach: $70
  • Glenmon taxi and tours: $70
  • Nightlife Tour of Antigua and Barbuda: $80
  • SoCoHo Eco Kayak and Snorkel Tour: $85
  • Antigua Round Island Tour: $85
  • Biggvee Bus Adventure: $90
  • Clear Kayak Tour in Mangrove Antigua: $90
  • Trek Tours Hiking Experience in Antigua: $90
  • Circumnavigate Tour: $95

Tours and Activities in Puerto Natales

Here are a few actual costs in Puerto Natales for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • City Bike Tour through Puerto Natales: $65
  • Historical Tour: $65
  • Full-Day Torres del Paine Tour: $77
  • Full Day Guided Tour in Torres del Paine and Milodon Cave: $80
  • Torres del Paine Full Day Tour: $80
  • Cerro Dorotea 8x8 Tour with Panoramic Views: $80
  • Torres del Paine Park Full-Day Tour from Puerto Natales: $83
  • Torres del Paine : Full day Panoramic Tour: $83
  • Torres del Paine Full Day Tour: $85
  • Full day tour Torres del Paine: $86
  • Full Day Tour to Torres del Paine National Park: $92
  • Torres del Paine & Milodon cave day tour from Puerto Natales : $92

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Saint John's $18
    Puerto Natales $17

Typical Alcohol Prices in Puerto Natales

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Puerto Natales:


  • Alcohol
    $13


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

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 Natales Expensive?.


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

Saint John's has a larger population, and is about 21% larger than the population of Puerto Natales. When comparing the sizes of Saint John's and Puerto Natales, 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.