Which place is cheaper, Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Saint John's or Punta Arenas? 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 Punta Arenas?
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.
Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas is in the far south of Chile and has a long history of maritime commerce, oil extraction, and sheep farming. It's the most populated city on the Strait of Magellan and has all the facilities you might need as a traveler, including banks, markets, drugstores and equipment shops. With a population of about 130,000, the city is a comfortable place to spend time. It serves as a base for Antarctic expeditions, although many expeditions also start in Ushuaia, Argentina, and Christchurch New Zealand.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint John's $222Punta Arenas $63
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint John's is $222, while the average daily cost in Punta Arenas is $63. 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 Punta Arenas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint John's $120Punta Arenas $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint John's $240Punta Arenas $64
Compare Hotels in Saint John's and Punta Arenas
Looking for a hotel in Saint John's or Punta Arenas? 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: Punta Arenas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint John's $17Punta Arenas $1.80
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:
- Antigua&BarbudaV.C.Bird Airport(ANU)to island hotels-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $254
- Private Roundtrip Airport Transfers & Tour in Antigua & Barbuda: $200
- Airport Transfers to Antigua Hotels/Resorts: $170
- JTAT Private Transfers & Tours, Saint John's, Antigua and Barbuda: $160
- 3-Hours Stingray City - Transfer, Spanish-Italian Guide Included: $155
- Antigua V.C. Bird Airport (ANU) to Island - Round-Trip Transfer : $155
- Private Airport Transfers 1- 2 Pax Zone D: Hotels: $130
- 3-Hours Snorkeling Activity in Stingray City - Transfer Included: $128
- Private Airport Transfers 1- 2 Pax. Zone C: Hotels: $120
- Private Transfer from Antigua & Barbuda V.C. Bird Airport (ANU) to island: $112
- Antigua - VIP Fast Track On Arrival ONLY And Round Trip Transfer : $99
- Private Round Trip Transfer From Antigua Airport To NonSuch Bay: $99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Arenas
Also for Punta Arenas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Punta Arenas Airport to/from Punta Arenas: $33
- Private Transfer from Punta Arenas Port to Punta Arenas hotels: $64
- Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ) to Punta Arenas - Arrival Transfer: $49
- Transfer from Punta Arenas (city or airport) to Puerto Natales: $267
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint John's or Punta Arenas?
Prices for flights to both Punta Arenas 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 $68Punta Arenas $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
Typical Food Prices in Punta Arenas
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Punta Arenas:
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Donut$1.05
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Dinner$25
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint John's $103Punta Arenas $6.44
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:
- 2-Hours Stingray City Experience in Antigua: $73
- 6-Hours Guided Stingray Tour in the East Coast of Antigua: $161
- Adventure Antigua - Eli's Original Eco Tour: $125
- Adventure Antigua - The Xtreme Circumnavigation: $190
- Animal Lovers Dream Tour: $180
- Antigua Historical Sites Island Tour: $75
- Antigua Reef Riders Self-Drive Boat and Snorkeling Tour: $180
- Antigua Round Island Tour: $85
- Antigua Seafood Lunch Cruise From St. John's: $135
- Antigua Shore Excursion: City of St John's Sightseeing Tour: $59
- Antigua Shore Excursion: Round Island Tour: $110
- Antigua Sunset Catamaran Cruise From St. John's: $116
Tours and Activities in Punta Arenas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta Arenas.
- City Sightseeing and Monuments Guided Tour: $52
- Regular city cruise tour: $65
- Fort Bulnes cruises: $70
- Bike Tour in Punta Arenas, 100% local tour.: $70
- Punta Arenas Sightseeing Tour: $72
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $145
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $145
- Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas: $153
- Punta Arenas Private City Tour Shore Excursion: $155
- Magallanes Reserva and City Tour. Private Shore Excursion.: $158
- Full day Torres del Paine from Punta Arenas ,Regular tours: $180
- Mountain Bike Adventure in Punta Arenas: $192
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint John's $18Punta Arenas $4.86
Typical Alcohol Prices in Punta Arenas
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Punta Arenas:
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Alcohol$7.34
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint John's and Punta Arenas, we can see that Saint John's is more expensive. And not only is Punta Arenas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint John's is in Caribbean Islands and Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas.
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 Punta Arenas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Saint John's or Punta Arenas?
Punta Arenas has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Saint John's. When comparing the sizes of Saint John's and Punta Arenas, 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 Punta Arenas?
Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas in the Summer?
Both Punta Arenas and Saint John's during the summer 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 summer, Saint John's is much warmer than Punta Arenas. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint John's in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Punta Arenas averages at about 11°C (52°F)in January.
In Punta Arenas, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Saint John's. In the summer, Saint John's often gets more sunshine than Punta Arenasin January. Saint John's gets 245 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Punta Arenas receives 208 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. Saint John's usually gets more rain in July than Punta Arenasin January. Saint John's gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuarySaint John's 27°C (81°F)Punta Arenas 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or Punta Arenas in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John's and Punta Arenas. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John's year-round.
In October, Saint John's is generally much warmer than Punta Arenasin April. Daily temperatures in Saint John's average around 27°C (80°F), and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).
In Saint John's, it's very sunny this time of the year. Saint John's usually receives more sunshine than Punta Arenas during autumn. Saint John's gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while Punta Arenas receives 119 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Saint John's gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Saint John's usually receives more rain than Punta Arenasin April. Saint John's gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilSaint John's 27°C (80°F)Punta Arenas 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or Punta Arenas in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Saint John's as well as Punta Arenas. Saint John's attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Punta Arenas can get quite cold in the winter. Saint John's is much warmer than Punta Arenas in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint John's averages around 24°C (76°F) in January, and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 1°C (35°F)in July.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint John's this time of the year. In the winter, Saint John's often gets more sunshine than Punta Arenasin July. Saint John's gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Punta Arenas receives 70 hours of full sun.
Saint John's usually gets more rain in January than Punta Arenasin July. Saint John's gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulySaint John's 24°C (76°F)Punta Arenas 1°C (35°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or Punta Arenas in the Spring?
Both Punta Arenas and Saint John's are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John's throughout the year.
In the spring, Saint John's is much warmer than Punta Arenas. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint John's in April average around 26°C (78°F), and Punta Arenas averages at about 7°C (44°F)in October.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. Saint John's usually receives more sunshine than Punta Arenas during spring. Saint John's gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Punta Arenas receives 183 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Saint John's. In April, Saint John's usually receives more rain than Punta Arenasin October. Saint John's gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberSaint John's 26°C (78°F)Punta Arenas 7°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Punta Arenas and Saint John's
| Saint John's | Punta Arenas | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 1°C (35°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 29 mm (1.1 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.