Which place is cheaper, La Serena or Asuncion?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Asuncion or La Serena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Asuncion or La Serena, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Asuncion or La Serena?
Asuncion
Asuncion is a vastly underrated city. It is the capital but also the administrative economic and cultural center of Paraguay. It is located in the south central part of the country, near the border with Argentina and it is one of the oldest cities in South America, with people living here since almost 500 years. The city has a beautiful and simple center, with a few unique colonial and beaux arts buildings, international cuisine, shady plazas and friendly people. Its handful of historic buildings around the Plaza de los Heroes, Plaza Uruguaya and Manzana de la Ribera, two or three small museums, old bars and cafes, but also smart suburbs, ritzy shopping malls and fashionable nightclubs will keep you entertained for a day or two. It is a very charming city for travellers and apart from the sights, the city boasts a good tourist infrastructure with hotels and restaurants.
La Serena
La Serena is a charming town in Northern Chile. It is Chile's second-oldest city and the thriving capital of Region IV. With its beautiful architecture, its long golden shoreline, dignified stone churches, tree-shaded avenues and pretty plazas, La Serena has everything you could ask for!
Chileans on holidays flood in the city in January and February, though it is fairly peaceful outside the summer rush. Some of the city's architecture is from the colonial era, but most is actually neocolonial thanks to president Gabriel Gonzalez Videla, born in La Serena, and her 'Plan Serena' of the late 1940s.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Chile, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAsuncion $68La Serena $87
The average daily cost (per person) in Asuncion is $68, while the average daily cost in La Serena is $87. 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 Asuncion and La Serena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAsuncion $22La Serena $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAsuncion $44La Serena $84
Compare Hotels in Asuncion and La Serena
Looking for a hotel in Asuncion or La Serena? 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: Asuncion Hotel Prices and La Serena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Asuncion $8.82La Serena $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Asuncion
Also for Asuncion, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer in private minivan from Asuncion Airport (ASU) - Asuncion City: $29
- Transfer in private minivan Asuncion City - Silvio Pettirosi Airport (ASU): $29
- Transfer in private car from Asuncion City - Asuncion Airport (ASU): $20
- Transfer in Private Car from Asuncion Airport (ASU) - Asuncion City: $21
- RoundTrip Transfer in Private Minivan Asuncion Airport (ASU) - Asuncion City: $59
- RoundTrip Private Transfer Asuncion Airport (ASU) - Asuncion City: $52
Is it cheaper to fly into Asuncion or La Serena?
Prices for flights to both La Serena and Asuncion 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 dayAsuncion $17La Serena $27
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Asuncion $16La Serena $24
Tours and Activities in Asuncion
For Asuncion, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Asunción Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $35
- Asuncion Birding Tour: $70
- Birding and Nature Chaco Tour: $140
- Crystal Fall - day tour in a reduced group: $120
- Day Tour “Cerrito”: $231
- Day tour “Circuito San Bernardino”: $214
- Day tour “Circuito Sapucai”: $221
- Day tour “Pai Pukú”: $230
- Day tour to “National Park Ybycuí”: $265
- Full day Paraguay River Nature and Wildlife Boat Tour: $207
- Golden Triangle Tour: $110
- Half-Day Yparacai Lake Tour from Asuncion with Pick Up: $185
Tours and Activities in La Serena
For La Serena, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Tour to the internationally renowned Pangue Observatory: $139
- Dama Island or Chañaral Navigation Tour Humboldt Penguin Reserve: $140
- Elqui Valley Full Day Tour: magical towns, pisco and mountains: $85
- Elqui Valley Grand-Tour: $189
- Elqui Valley Tour from La Serena: $120
- Elqui Valley and Vicuña Private Tour Including Lunch: $183
- Elqui Valley: Pisco Tour, Wine, Beer: $174
- Full Day History and Flavors Tour in the Elqui Valley: $50
- La Serena & Coquimbo City Tour - Short excursion for cruise ships: $128
- La Serena and Coquimbo City Tour (SIB): $66
- La Serena and Coquimbo Guided City Tour: $76
- La Serena and Coquimbo Private City Tour Including Lunch, Shore Excursion: $194
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAsuncion $10La Serena $22
Typical Alcohol Prices in Asuncion
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Asuncion are as follows:
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Beer$1.22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Asuncion and La Serena, we can see that La Serena is more expensive. And not only is Asuncion much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Asuncion would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Asuncion 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 La Serena would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Serena than you might in Asuncion.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Asuncion Expensive? and Is La Serena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Asuncion or La Serena?
Asuncion has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of La Serena. When comparing the sizes of Asuncion and La Serena, 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 Asuncion or La Serena?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit Asuncion or La Serena in the Summer?
Both La Serena and Asuncion are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities.
Asuncion is much warmer than La Serena in the summer. The daily temperature in Asuncion averages around 29°C (84°F) in January, and La Serena fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
It's quite sunny in La Serena. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Asuncion. Asuncion usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as La Serena during summer. Asuncion gets 249 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 247 hours of full sun in the summer.
It's quite rainy in Asuncion. In January, Asuncion usually receives more rain than La Serena. Asuncion gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryAsuncion 29°C (84°F)La Serena 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Asuncion or La Serena in the Autumn?
Both La Serena and Asuncion during the autumn are popular places to visit.
In the autumn, Asuncion is much warmer than La Serena. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Asuncion in April average around 24°C (75°F), and La Serena averages at about 15°C (59°F).
In the autumn, Asuncion often gets more sunshine than La Serena. Asuncion gets 199 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 159 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Asuncion. Asuncion usually gets more rain in April than La Serena. Asuncion gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilAsuncion 24°C (75°F)La Serena 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Asuncion or La Serena in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Asuncion and La Serena.
In July, Asuncion is generally much warmer than La Serena. Daily temperatures in Asuncion average around 19°C (66°F), and La Serena fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
Asuncion usually receives more sunshine than La Serena during winter. Asuncion gets 191 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 160 hours of full sun in the winter.
In July, Asuncion usually receives more rain than La Serena. Asuncion gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulyAsuncion 19°C (66°F)La Serena 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Asuncion or La Serena in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Asuncion as well as La Serena.
Asuncion is much warmer than La Serena in the spring. The daily temperature in Asuncion averages around 25°C (77°F) in October, and La Serena fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Asuncion this time of the year. In the spring, Asuncion often gets more sunshine than La Serena. Asuncion gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 190 hours of full sun.
Asuncion receives a lot of rain in the spring. Asuncion usually gets more rain in October than La Serena. Asuncion gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberAsuncion 25°C (77°F)La Serena 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for La Serena and Asuncion
| Asuncion | La Serena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 29°C (84°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 24°C (75°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| May | 21°C (70°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (66°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Aug | 21°C (70°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 3 mm (0.1 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.