A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Saint Thomas vs. Torres del Paine National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Saint Thomas or Torres del Paine National Park?

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

Should I visit Saint Thomas or Torres del Paine National Park? 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 Thomas or Torres del Paine National Park?

Saint Thomas

Saint Thomas is a beautiful island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Together with St. John, St. Croix, and Water Island, it forms the unincorporated territory of the United States. The island is also home to the territorial capital and port of Charlotte Amalie. The island's population is just over 50,000, which is slightly less than half of the territory's total population.

Torres del Paine National Park

The Torres del Paine National Park is located in the extreme south of Patagonian Chile. Situated in the southern part of the Andes, the National Park is full of stunning mountains, lakes, rock formations, and glaciers, making it a hiker's paradise. The best time to visit is between November and April, which is their spring and summer. Be prepared though, as weather can change dramatically when traveling through the park, no matter the season!

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Torres del Paine National Park or Saint Thomas?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Saint Thomas Prices
    USVI Prices
    Torres del Paine National Park Prices
    Chile Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Saint Thomas $258
    Torres del Paine National Park $96

The average daily cost (per person) in Saint Thomas is $258, while the average daily cost in Torres del Paine National Park is $96. 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 Thomas and Torres del Paine National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Saint Thomas $131
    Torres del Paine National Park $31
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Saint Thomas $262
    Torres del Paine National Park $62
Compare Hotels in Saint Thomas and Torres del Paine National Park

Looking for a hotel in Saint Thomas or Torres del Paine National Park? 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 Thomas


Hotels in Torres del Paine National Park


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.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Saint Thomas $37
    Torres del Paine National Park $32
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint Thomas

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Saint Thomas are as follows:


  • Scooter Rental
    $65
  • Taxi Ride
    $5.00

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Thomas

Also for Saint Thomas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Vi Top Taxi & Tours -Airport Transfer to Bolongo Bay/ Limetree: $110
  • VI Top Taxi and Tours - St. Thomas - Airport Transfer to Red Hook Ferry: $90
  • Transfer from Cyril E. King Airport(STT) to Charlotte Amalie Port: $83
  • St.Thomas to St.Thomas Airport (STT) - Departure Private Transfer: $115
  • St.Thomas island to Cyril E. King Airport(STT)-Departure Transfer: $135
  • St. Thomas USVI Airport Transfer to the Redhook Ferry: $144
  • St. Thomas USVI Airport Transfer to The Ritz Carlton Resort: $144
  • ST.Thomas Private Airport One-Way Transfers: $180
  • Private Hotel and Resorts Transfers: $173
  • Private Ground Transfers: $120
  • Private Arrival Transfer from Cyril E King Airport to Redhook Bay: $175
  • Private Airport Transfer in Luxury Vehicle- St. Thomas, USVI: $179

Is it cheaper to fly into Saint Thomas or Torres del Paine National Park?

Prices for flights to both Torres del Paine National Park and Saint Thomas 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 Thomas $94
    Torres del Paine National Park $42

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint Thomas

For Saint Thomas, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Flavors: Cultural Cooking Class, St Thomas, USVI, USA : $81
  • St. John Sail with Bar and Hors d'Oeuvres to Lovango Dinner: $119
  • Sunset & Harbor Lights Dinner Sail from the Marriott's Frenchman's Cove: $119
  • Afternoon Snorkel, Pizza & Sunset Tour departing from St. Thomas & St. John: $120
  • Local Experience, St. John U.S. Virgin Islands Food Tour: $125
  • Pizza Pi Shuttle (Official) - Jet Ski Trip St Thomas: $148
  • St. John PiZZA Pi Snorkel Sail with Beach Stop, Lunch & Open Bar - Westin: $149
  • Christmas Cove and Pizza Pi Happy Hour Sail Tour: $185
  • Turtles, Pizza Pi & Sunset trip: $295

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Saint Thomas $60
    Torres del Paine National Park $31

Tours and Activities in Saint Thomas

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Saint Thomas.

  • Island Icons & Treasures Tour - St. Thomas USVI : $199
  • Magens Bay Trail Hiking Tour: $60
  • Two-Hour Sightseeing Excursion : $58
  • Vi Top Taxi &Tours USVI-Coki Beach Snorkeling Tour : $68
  • 1 Hour Jet Ski Tour in the Virgin Islands from Westin St. John: $169
  • 1-Hour Guided Jet Ski Tour in St. Thomas from Frenchman's Reef: $159
  • 1.5 Hour Private Mini Jeep Tour on St. Thomas: $220
  • 3 Hour Kayak and Snorkel Tour: $139
  • Admission Ticket to Coral World & Coki Point Beach with Snorkeling: $40
  • Best of Mangrove Lagoon Kayak, Hike and Snorkel Adventure with Picnic Lunch: $159
  • Book Your Private Two and a Half Hour Island Tour today!: $150
  • Children's Treasure Hunt Walking Tour: $25

Tours and Activities in Torres del Paine National Park

For Torres del Paine National Park, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Torres del Paine: 3-Hour Scenic Boat Tour to Grey Glacier: $120

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Saint Thomas $27
    Torres del Paine National Park $5.38


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint Thomas and Torres del Paine National Park, we can see that Saint Thomas is more expensive. And not only is Torres del Paine National Park much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint Thomas is in Caribbean Islands and Torres del Paine National Park 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 Torres del Paine National Park would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Torres del Paine National Park 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 Thomas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Thomas than you might in Torres del Paine National Park.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Saint Thomas Expensive? and Is Torres del Paine National Park Expensive?.


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