Which place is cheaper, Saint Thomas or Valdivia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Valdivia or Saint Thomas? 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.
Valdivia is a vibrant university city situated in southern Chile. It sits at the meeting point of three rivers in the aptly named Region de Los Rios (The Rivers Region) and is approximately 200 kilometers from both Temuco and Puerto Montt. Due to a large student population, Valdivia boasts a youthful and energetic vibe that is visible in its many bars, cafes and restaurants. The city is also known for having one of Chile's best craft beer cultures, which had its early beginnings when German settlers arrived in the 1840s. The rivers, nearby Pacific coastline and wetlands offer plenty for lovers of the outdoors, too.
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 10-Day Tours in Chile, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Valdivia is $69, 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 Valdivia and Saint Thomas in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Valdivia 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.
Also for Valdivia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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 Valdivia 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.
For Saint Thomas, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Valdivia.
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Saint Thomas.
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Saint Thomas:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Valdivia and Saint Thomas, we can see that Saint Thomas is more expensive. And not only is Valdivia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Valdivia 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 Valdivia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Valdivia 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 Valdivia.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Valdivia Expensive? and Is Saint Thomas Expensive?.
Valdivia has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Saint Thomas. When comparing the sizes of Valdivia 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.
Valdivia has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Saint Thomas experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Both Saint Thomas and Valdivia are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Saint Thomas because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Valdivia is much colder than Saint Thomas in the summer. The daily temperature in Valdivia averages around 16°C (61°F) in January, and Saint Thomas fluctuates around 29°C (83°F)in July.
It's quite sunny in Saint Thomas. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Valdivia. Valdivia usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Saint Thomas during summer. Valdivia gets 296 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Thomas receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
In January, Valdivia usually receives less rain than Saint Thomasin July. Valdivia gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Saint Thomas receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Both Saint Thomas and Valdivia during the autumn are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint Thomas year-round.
In the autumn, Valdivia is much colder than Saint Thomas. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Valdivia in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Saint Thomas averages at about 28°C (82°F)in October.
In Saint Thomas, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Valdivia often gets less sunshine than Saint Thomasin October. Valdivia gets 132 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint Thomas receives 235 hours of full sun.
Saint Thomas gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Valdivia. Valdivia usually gets less rain in April than Saint Thomasin October. Valdivia gets 133 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Saint Thomas receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Valdivia and Saint Thomas. Saint Thomas attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Valdivia is generally much colder than Saint Thomasin January. Daily temperatures in Valdivia average around 7°C (45°F), and Saint Thomas fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint Thomas this time of the year. Valdivia usually receives less sunshine than Saint Thomas during winter. Valdivia gets 66 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Thomas receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
Valdivia gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Valdivia usually receives more rain than Saint Thomasin January. Valdivia gets 312 mm (12.3 in) of rain, while Saint Thomas receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
The spring brings many poeple to Valdivia as well as Saint Thomas. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint Thomas throughout the year.
Valdivia is much colder than Saint Thomas in the spring. The daily temperature in Valdivia averages around 11°C (52°F) in October, and Saint Thomas fluctuates around 27°C (80°F)in April.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint Thomas. In the spring, Valdivia often gets less sunshine than Saint Thomasin April. Valdivia gets 198 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint Thomas receives 272 hours of full sun.
Valdivia receives a lot of rain in the spring. Valdivia usually gets more rain in October than Saint Thomasin April. Valdivia gets 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Saint Thomas receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
Valdivia | Saint Thomas | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 16°C (61°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
Feb | 17°C (62°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
Mar | 14°C (57°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
Apr | 11°C (52°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
May | 9°C (48°F) | 295 mm (11.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
Jun | 8°C (46°F) | 297 mm (11.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
Jul | 7°C (45°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
Aug | 8°C (46°F) | 247 mm (9.7 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
Sep | 9°C (48°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
Oct | 11°C (52°F) | 109 mm (4.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
Dec | 16°C (60°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |