Which place is cheaper, Punta Arenas or Belize City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Belize City or Punta Arenas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Belize City or Punta Arenas? 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.
Where Should I go: Belize City or Punta Arenas?
Belize City
Belize City is the largest city in Belize. It was once the capital of the country, but due to massive hurricane damage in 1961, the country decided to relocate it capital. With a population of 57,000 people, Belize City is located right at the mouth of the Haulover Creek.
This gorgeous tropical city experiences a monsoon climate – meaning there are warm and humid conditions throughout the course of the year. There is a wet season from May to January, so plan for a little bit of rain in that time.
Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas is in the far south of Chile and has a long history of maritime commerce, oil extraction, and sheep farming. It's the most populated city on the Strait of Magellan and has all the facilities you might need as a traveler, including banks, markets, drugstores and equipment shops. With a population of about 130,000, the city is a comfortable place to spend time. It serves as a base for Antarctic expeditions, although many expeditions also start in Ushuaia, Argentina, and Christchurch New Zealand.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Belize, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBelize City $88Punta Arenas $63
The average daily cost (per person) in Belize City is $88, while the average daily cost in Punta Arenas is $63. 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 Belize City and Punta Arenas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBelize City $49Punta Arenas $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBelize City $98Punta Arenas $64
Compare Hotels in Belize City and Punta Arenas
Looking for a hotel in Belize City or Punta Arenas? 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: Belize City Hotel Prices and Punta Arenas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Belize City $5.82Punta Arenas $1.80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Belize City
Also for Belize City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Belize City and Airport to Placencia: $150
- Belize City to/from Placencia/Hopkins Shuttle Transfer: $113
- Belize: Belize City to/from San Ignacio Shuttle Transfer: $68
- Private Transfer from Belize City Port to Belize Airport (BZE): $60
- Transfer Belize city to bacalar: $50
- We do transfers from airport to any where in Belize.: $49
- Belize city water taxi terminal to Airport transfer: $30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Arenas
Also for Punta Arenas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Punta Arenas (city or airport) to Puerto Natales: $267
- Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ) to Punta Arenas - Arrival Transfer: $49
- Private Transfer from Punta Arenas Port to Punta Arenas hotels: $64
- Private Transfer Punta Arenas Airport to/from Punta Arenas: $33
Is it cheaper to fly into Belize City or Punta Arenas?
Prices for flights to both Punta Arenas and Belize City 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 dayBelize City $27Punta Arenas $21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Belize City
For Belize City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Altun Ha Mayan Site & Food Tour: $80
Typical Food Prices in Punta Arenas
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Punta Arenas:
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Donut$1.05
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Dinner$25
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Belize City $29Punta Arenas $6.44
Tours and Activities in Belize City
For Belize City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Cave Tubing and Zipline Adventure from Belize City: $167
- Altun Ha Cave Tubing and Zip line Tours from Belize City: $208
- Altun Ha Mayan Ruins & Zipline Tour from Belize City All Inclusive: $170
- Altun Ha Mayan Ruins and Belize City tour: $100
- Altun Ha Mayan Ruins and River Wallace and Manatee Watch Tour: $85
- Altun Ha Mayan Site tour from Belize City: $85
- Altun Ha, Monkey Sanctuary and Rum Factory Tour from Belize City: $170
- Belize City Tour: $40
- Belize City Tour Shore Excursion: $100
- Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Full Day Tour: $190
- Cave Tubing & Zipline Adventure Tour: $110
- Guided Cave Kayaking Tour with Pickup: $77
Tours and Activities in Punta Arenas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta Arenas.
- Bike Tour in Punta Arenas, 100% local tour.: $70
- Fort Bulnes cruises: $70
- Full day Torres del Paine from Punta Arenas ,Regular tours: $180
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $145
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $145
- Magallanes Forest and Club Andino Tour from Punta Arenas: $290
- Magallanes Reserva and City Tour. Private Shore Excursion.: $158
- Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas: $153
- Mountain Bike Adventure in Punta Arenas: $192
- Pali Aike Full-Day Adventure from Punta Arenas: $300
- Private City Cruise Tour: $225
- Private Half Day Punta Arenas City Tour From the Hotel only: $250
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBelize City $12Punta Arenas $4.86
Sample the Local Flavors in Belize City
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Belize City:
- Belize: City Highlights Tour with Rum Distillery Visit: $49
Typical Alcohol Prices in Punta Arenas
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Punta Arenas:
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Alcohol$7.34
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Belize City and Punta Arenas, we can see that Belize City is more expensive. And not only is Punta Arenas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Belize City is in Central America and Punta Arenas is in South America, 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 Punta Arenas would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Punta Arenas 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 Belize City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Belize City than you might in Punta Arenas.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Belize City Expensive? and Is Punta Arenas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Belize City or Punta Arenas?
Punta Arenas has a larger population, and is about 91% larger than the population of Belize City. When comparing the sizes of Belize City and Punta Arenas, 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 Belize City or Punta Arenas?
Punta Arenas has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Belize City experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Belize City or Punta Arenas in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Belize City and Punta Arenas. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Belize City year-round.
Belize City is much warmer than Punta Arenas in the summer. The daily temperature in Belize City averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 11°C (52°F)in January.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Punta Arenas this time of the year. In Belize City, it's very sunny this time of the year. Belize City usually receives more sunshine than Punta Arenas during summer. Belize City gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Punta Arenas receives 208 hours of full sun in the summer.
Belize City gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Belize City usually receives more rain than Punta Arenasin January. Belize City gets 243 mm (9.6 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryBelize City 28°C (82°F)Punta Arenas 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Belize City or Punta Arenas in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Belize City as well as Punta Arenas. Belize City attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, Belize City is much warmer than Punta Arenas. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Belize City in October average around 26°C (80°F), and Punta Arenas averages at about 7°C (44°F)in April.
In the autumn, Belize City often gets more sunshine than Punta Arenasin April. Belize City gets 196 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Punta Arenas receives 119 hours of full sun.
Belize City receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Belize City usually gets more rain in October than Punta Arenasin April. Belize City gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilBelize City 26°C (80°F)Punta Arenas 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Belize City or Punta Arenas in the Winter?
Both Punta Arenas and Belize City are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Belize City throughout the year.
Punta Arenas can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Belize City is generally much warmer than Punta Arenasin July. Daily temperatures in Belize City average around 24°C (74°F), and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 1°C (35°F).
Belize City usually receives more sunshine than Punta Arenas during winter. Belize City gets 199 hours of sunny skies, while Punta Arenas receives 70 hours of full sun in the winter.
It's quite rainy in Belize City. In January, Belize City usually receives more rain than Punta Arenasin July. Belize City gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyBelize City 24°C (74°F)Punta Arenas 1°C (35°F)
Should I visit Belize City or Punta Arenas in the Spring?
Both Punta Arenas and Belize City during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Belize City because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Belize City is much warmer than Punta Arenas in the spring. The daily temperature in Belize City averages around 27°C (80°F) in April, and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 7°C (44°F)in October.
It's quite sunny in Belize City. In the spring, Belize City often gets more sunshine than Punta Arenasin October. Belize City gets 256 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Punta Arenas receives 183 hours of full sun.
Belize City usually gets more rain in April than Punta Arenasin October. Belize City gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberBelize City 27°C (80°F)Punta Arenas 7°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Punta Arenas and Belize City
| Belize City | Punta Arenas | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (80°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.2 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 243 mm (9.6 in) | 1°C (35°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (80°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (76°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 29 mm (1.1 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.