Which place is cheaper, Saint Thomas or Santiago?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Santiago and Saint Thomas. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Santiago is the capital city of Chile. It is centrally located in the long and narrow country, making it a good jumping off point to explore everywhere else. It's convenient location means that you can go skiing in the Andes one day, and hang out at the beach the next.
Santiago has a cool semi-arid climate that is similar to Mediterranean climates. The summers, which are between November and March, are warm and dry. The temperatures climb to around 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The winters, between June and August, are humid with cold mornings. The daily highs are around 55 degrees Fahrenheit and the lows stay a few degrees above freezing. Rain is more common in the winter months and the dry season is between December and March.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Chile.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Santiago is $141, while the average daily cost in Saint Thomas is $218. 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 Santiago and Saint Thomas in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Santiago or Saint Thomas? 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.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santiago:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago:
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Saint Thomas are as follows:
Also for Saint Thomas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Saint Thomas and Santiago 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.
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santiago.
For Saint Thomas, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Saint Thomas.
Also in Santiago, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Saint Thomas:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santiago and Saint Thomas, we can see that Saint Thomas is more expensive. And not only is Santiago much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Santiago is in South America and Saint Thomas is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Santiago would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santiago 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 Santiago.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santiago Expensive? and Is Saint Thomas Expensive?.
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 240 times larger than the population of Saint Thomas. When comparing the sizes of Santiago and Saint Thomas, 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.
Santiago has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Saint Thomas experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
The summer brings many poeple to Santiago as well as Saint Thomas. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint Thomas throughout the year.
In January, Santiago is generally cooler than Saint Thomasin July. Daily temperatures in Santiago average around 21°C (70°F), and Saint Thomas fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
Santiago usually gets less rain in January than Saint Thomasin July. Santiago gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Saint Thomas receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Saint Thomas and Santiago are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Saint Thomas because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Santiago is much colder than Saint Thomas in the autumn. The daily temperature in Santiago averages around 15°C (59°F) in April, and Saint Thomas fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in October.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint Thomas. In April, Santiago usually receives less rain than Saint Thomasin October. Santiago gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Saint Thomas receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Both Saint Thomas and Santiago during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint Thomas year-round.
In the winter, Santiago is much colder than Saint Thomas. Typically, the winter temperatures in Santiago in July average around 9°C (48°F), and Saint Thomas averages at about 26°C (78°F)in January.
Santiago usually gets more rain in July than Saint Thomasin January. Santiago gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Saint Thomas receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Santiago and Saint Thomas. Saint Thomas attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Santiago is generally much colder than Saint Thomasin April. Daily temperatures in Santiago average around 15°C (59°F), and Saint Thomas fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
In October, Santiago usually receives less rain than Saint Thomasin April. Santiago gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Saint Thomas receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Santiago | Saint Thomas | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
Mar | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
May | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
Jun | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
Jul | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
Aug | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
Oct | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
Nov | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
Dec | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |