Which place is cheaper, Puerto Varas 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 Puerto Varas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Saint John's or Puerto Varas? 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 Varas?
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 Varas
Puerto Varas is a city in Southern Chile, in the Los Lagos (Lakes) Region, Llanquihue Province. It is a charming town, only 23 km away from Puerto Montt and surrounded by the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes as well as the impressive Llanquihue lake. In terms of landscape, accommodation and activities, Puerto Varas is well served! Kayak, paddle, canyoning, rock climbing, trekking, ski, fishing, you name it! If you decide to stop in that area, we recommend that you stay in Puerto Varas, as it provides the perfect starting point for many memorable excursions in the area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Chile, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint John's $222Puerto Varas $109
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint John's is $222, while the average daily cost in Puerto Varas is $109. 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 Varas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint John's $120Puerto Varas $67
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint John's $240Puerto Varas $134
Compare Hotels in Saint John's and Puerto Varas
Looking for a hotel in Saint John's or Puerto Varas? 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: Puerto Varas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint John's $17Puerto Varas $21
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:
- 3-Hours Snorkeling Activity in Stingray City - Transfer Included: $128
- 3-Hours Stingray City - Transfer, Spanish-Italian Guide Included: $155
- Airport Transfer from/to all resorts in Antigua - Water Inc.: $59
- Airport Transfers to Antigua Hotels/Resorts: $170
- Antigua - VIP Fast Track On Arrival ONLY And Round Trip Transfer : $99
- Antigua V.C. Bird Airport (ANU) to Island - Round-Trip Transfer : $155
- Antigua VC Bird Airport to Island Hotels Private Arrival Transfer: $82
- Antigua&Barbuda V.C.Bird Airport(ANU) to island Private Transfer: $77
- Antigua&BarbudaV.C.Bird Airport(ANU)to island hotels-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $254
- Biggvee Airport Roundtrip Transfer: $70
- Island to Antigua&Barbuda V.C.Bird Airport(ANU)- Private Transfer: $77
- JTAT Private Transfers & Tours, Saint John's, Antigua and Barbuda: $160
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Varas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Varas:
- Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $21
- Transfer to Puerto Montt Airport: $22
- Transfer from Hotel in Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport: $24
- Transfer from Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport: $50
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint John's or Puerto Varas?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Varas 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 $68Puerto Varas $25
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 $103Puerto Varas $19
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 Puerto Varas
Here are a few actual costs in Puerto Varas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Tour Frutillar: $31
- Half day Frutillar and Llanquihue Town tour: $34
- Half-Day Tour to Frutillar and Llanquihue: $35
- Half day Osorno Volcano tour: $35
- Todos los Santos Lake and Villa Peulla Tour: $48
- Todos los Santos Lake and Villa Peulla Tour: $48
- From Osorno Volcano & Petrohue Falls Day Tour: $49
- Half-Day Small-Group Rafting Experience in Petrohué River: $52
- From Puerto Varas or Puerto Montt: Chiloé Island Tour: $60
- FullDay Chiloe Island Tour Castro and dalcahue: $62
- Full-Day Tour Chiloe Island: Castro and Dalcahue : $62
- Peulla Full Day Tour from Puerto Varas: $68
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint John's $18Puerto Varas $6.51
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint John's and Puerto Varas, we can see that Saint John's is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Varas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint John's is in Caribbean Islands and Puerto Varas 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 Varas would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Varas 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 Varas.
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 Varas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Saint John's or Puerto Varas?
Puerto Varas has a larger population, and is about 3% larger than the population of Saint John's. When comparing the sizes of Saint John's and Puerto Varas, 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 Varas?
Puerto Varas 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 Varas in the Summer?
Both Puerto Varas and Saint John's are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John's throughout the year.
Saint John's is much warmer than Puerto Varas in the summer. The daily temperature in Saint John's averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Puerto Varas fluctuates around 16°C (60°F)in January.
It's quite sunny in Puerto Varas. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. Saint John's usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Varas during summer. Saint John's gets 245 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Varas receives 204 hours of full sun in the summer.
It's quite rainy in Saint John's. In July, Saint John's usually receives more rain than Puerto Varasin January. Saint John's gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Puerto Varas receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuarySaint John's 27°C (81°F)Puerto Varas 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or Puerto Varas in the Autumn?
Both Puerto Varas and Saint John's during the autumn 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 the autumn, Saint John's is much warmer than Puerto Varas. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Saint John's in October average around 27°C (80°F), and Puerto Varas averages at about 11°C (51°F)in April.
It's quite sunny in Saint John's. In the autumn, Saint John's often gets more sunshine than Puerto Varasin April. Saint John's gets 217 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Varas receives 104 hours of full sun.
Puerto Varas 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 more rain in October than Puerto Varasin April. Saint John's gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Puerto Varas receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilSaint John's 27°C (80°F)Puerto Varas 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or Puerto Varas in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John's and Puerto Varas. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John's year-round.
In January, Saint John's is generally much warmer than Puerto Varasin July. Daily temperatures in Saint John's average around 24°C (76°F), and Puerto Varas fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).
In Saint John's, it's very sunny this time of the year. Saint John's usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Varas during winter. Saint John's gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Varas receives 67 hours of full sun in the winter.
Puerto Varas receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Saint John's usually receives less rain than Puerto Varasin July. Saint John's gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Varas receives 229 mm (9 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulySaint John's 24°C (76°F)Puerto Varas 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or Puerto Varas in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Saint John's as well as Puerto Varas. Saint John's attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Saint John's is much warmer than Puerto Varas in the spring. The daily temperature in Saint John's averages around 26°C (78°F) in April, and Puerto Varas fluctuates around 11°C (51°F)in October.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint John's this time of the year. In the spring, Saint John's often gets more sunshine than Puerto Varasin October. Saint John's gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Varas receives 151 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Puerto Varas. Saint John's receives a lot of rain in the spring. Saint John's usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Puerto Varasin October. Saint John's gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Puerto Varas receives 121 mm (4.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberSaint John's 26°C (78°F)Puerto Varas 11°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Puerto Varas and Saint John's
| Saint John's | Puerto Varas | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
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.