Should you visit Saint-Tropez or Arles?
Should I visit Saint-Tropez or Arles? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Saint-Tropez
Saint-Tropez is a town in southern France west of Nice, in the Var department of the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur region. Saint-Tropez is located on the French Riviera. It was a military stronghold and a fishing village until the beginning of the 20th century. It was the first town on this coast to be liberated during World War II (as part of Operation Dragoon). After the war, it became an internationally known seaside resort, renowned principally because of the influx of artists of the French New Wave in cinema and the Ye-ye movement in music. It later became a resort for the European and American holiday and a goal for tourists in search of a little Provencal authenticity and an occasional celebrity sighting.
Arles
Arles is a city (and commune) in the south of France, in the Bouches-du-Rhone department. A large part of the Camargue is located on the territory of the commune, making it the largest commune in Metropolitan France in terms of territory. The city has a long history, and was considerably important in the Roman province of Gallia Narbonensis. The Roman and Romanesque Monuments of Arles were listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1981. The Dutch post-Impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh lived in Arles from 1888 to 1889 and produced over 300 paintings and drawings during his time there. The Arles area is full of culture and rich in history. It has many treasures, points of interest, and colorful sunbaked houses and is a great introduction into the Camarguais culture.
Which city is cheaper, Arles or Saint-Tropez?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint-Tropez is €118, while the average daily cost in Arles is €113. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Saint-Tropez and Arles in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around €69. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Saint-Tropez the cost is €138 on average.
Arles's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is €114. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is €57.
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Saint-Tropez is €27 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around €18 per day to get around in Arles.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint-Tropez
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Saint-Tropez:
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Private Arrival Transfer from La Môle Airport (LTT) to Saint-Tropez City Center:
$57
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Private Departure Transfer from Saint Tropez to Nice Airport:
$177
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Private Departure Transfer from Saint-Tropez City Center to La Môle Airport(LTT):
$57
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Private Nice Airport - Saint Tropez Round-Trip Transfer:
$352
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Private transfer from Saint Tropez to Nice up to 8 persons:
$310
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Round Trip La Môle Airport (LTT) Transfer to Saint-Tropez City Center:
$104
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arles
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Arles:
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Airport transfer from Arles to Marseille Airport:
$415
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Transfer les baux de Provence to Marseille Airport:
$332
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint-Tropez or Arles?
Prices for flights to both Arles and Saint-Tropez 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
On average, meal and food prices in Saint-Tropez cost around €30 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around €12.
In Arles travelers spend around €41 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Saint-Tropez €30
Arles €41
Typical Food prices in Arles
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Arles:
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Cooked Clams
€4.50
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Ice Cream
€1.00
Entertainment
Saint-Tropez's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around €21 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around €24 per person, per day in Arles. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Tours and Activities in Saint-Tropez
Here are a few actual costs in Saint-Tropez for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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From Nice: Saint-Tropez and Port Grimaud Tour:
$136
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St-Tropez Private Walking Tour:
$230
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Saint Tropez Full-Day Tour from Nice:
$995
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Saint Tropez Full Day Tour by van:
$1,182
Typical Entertainment prices in Arles
Here are a few typical costs in Arles for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Castle Entrance Fee
€5.50
Tours and Activities in Arles
Here are a few actual costs in Arles for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Family Tour in the Footsteps of Van Gogh (Self-drive, plan 1 full day):
$35
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Arles 2-Hour Private Walking Tour:
$136
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Classic old town Arles from Romans to Vincent Van Gogh - half day private tour:
$168
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Arles private walking tour: Van Gogh and Roman routes:
$249
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2-Hour Private Walking Tour:
$285
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Marseille Shore Excursion: Private Arles and Les Baux de Provence Tour:
$454
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Private Tour of Avignon, Orange and Chateauneuf du Pape from Arles:
$460
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Private Tour of Aix-en-Provence and Marseille from Arles:
$469
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Half day Private Tour of Nimes:
$498
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Marseille Half day City tour:
$670
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Arles Shore Excursion: Full Day Private Tour of Aix en Provence, Cap Canaille and Cassis:
$750
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Follow the Steps of Van Gogh: Full Day Tour from Marseille:
$794
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Saint-Tropez may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €15 per day on alcoholic beverages.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Arles may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €19 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Arles
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Arles:
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Full private day Avignon Chateuneuf du pape wine tasting:
$829
When comparing the travel costs between Saint-Tropez and Arles, we can see that Saint-Tropez is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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