Should you visit Asuncion or Punta del Este?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Asuncion or Punta del Este, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
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.
Punta del Este
Punta del Este with its many beaches, elegant seaside homes, yacht harbor, high-rise apartment buildings, pricey hotels, ardent night scene and glitzy restaurants is a chic beach resort town in Uruguay. Many tourists come from Brazil and Argentina, on the other side of the Rio de la Plata, to get some nice sun and lay on the beach for a weekend getaway. Punta del Este is more expensive than other areas in Uruguay and has been called the Monaco of South America. Tourist season varies wildly from totally deserted in the winter to very crowded in the summer.
Which city is cheaper, Punta del Este or Asuncion?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Asuncion is $59, while the average daily cost in Punta del Este is $69. 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 Asuncion and Punta del Este in more detail.
Accommodation
The prices for places to stay in Asuncion can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $19, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $38.
The prices for places to stay in Punta del Este can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $38, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $76.
Food
In Asuncion travelers spend around $15 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.
The price of a meal in Punta del Este can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $21 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $8.40 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
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Food
Meals for one day
Asuncion $15
Punta del Este $21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Asuncion
For Asuncion, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Asunción Dinner and Show Experience:
$93
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Private Tour: Asuncion at Night with Dinner Show:
$103
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Dinner Show in Asuncion:
$149
Local Transportation
To get around in Asuncion, the average visitor spends $7.62 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Punta del Este's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $15 per person, per day on transportation in Punta del Este.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Asuncion
Also for Asuncion, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Asunción Airport:
$47
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Private Arrival Transfer: Asunción Airport to Hotel:
$47
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Round Trip Transfer Silvio Pettirossi Airport (ASU) to Asuncion City Center:
$46
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Transfer in private minivan from Asuncion City to Silvio Pettirosi Airport:
$37
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Transfer in private car from Asuncion City to Asuncion Silvio Pettirosi Airport:
$30
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Private Airport Transfer: from Asuncion to Silvio Pettirossi Int. Airport (ASU):
$26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta del Este
Also for Punta del Este, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Punta del Este Wine Tour, Bodega Garzon, Private Transfer:
$338
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Punta del Este Airport Private Transfer:
$45
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Private Transfer to Garzon Restaurant by Francis Mallmann:
$269
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Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Punta del Este Airport:
$40
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Private Arrival Transfer: Punta del Este Airport to Hotel:
$40
Entertainment
In Asuncion, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $14 per person, per day.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Punta del Este can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $7.40 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Asuncion
For Asuncion, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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2 Hours Catamaran Tour from the Asunción Bay with Audio Guide:
$55
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Asuncion Birding Tour:
$70
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Asunción City Market Tour:
$72
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Asunción Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$31
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Asunción Small-Group Art and Cultural Walking Tour:
$78
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Birding and Nature Chaco Tour:
$140
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City Tour Asunción:
$48
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Crystal Fall - day tour in a reduced group:
$110
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Cultural City 3 Hour Tour in Asuncion by Bus:
$99
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Day Tour “Cerrito”:
$231
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Day tour to “National Park Ybycuí”:
$265
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Day tour “Circuito San Bernardino”:
$214
Tours and Activities in Punta del Este
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta del Este.
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Art Studio Tour in Punta del Este:
$75
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La Vista 360 Admission Ticket:
$10
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Punta del Este City Sightseeing Tour:
$33
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Punta del Este City Tour:
$93
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Punta del Este City Tour Clasico con Puesta del Sol en Casapueblo:
$25
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Punta del Este Shore Excursion: Private Sightseeing Tour of Punta del Este:
$188
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Punta del Este Special Art Tour:
$185
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Wine Lovers - Punta Wine Experience:
$150
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Asuncion spend on average $8.95 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Punta del Este, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $5.42.
Typical Alcohol prices in Asuncion
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Asuncion are as follows:
Sample the Local Flavors in Punta del Este
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Punta del Este:
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Wine Tasting from Punta del Este:
$128
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Asuncion and Punta del Este, we can see that Punta del Este 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 Punta del Este would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Punta del Este than you might in Asuncion.
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