Which place is cheaper, La Serena or Colonia del Sacramento?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Colonia del Sacramento and La Serena can help you decide which place is right for you.
Colonia del Sacramento is in the Rio de la Plata region of Uruguay. It is filled with old colonial buildings and cobbled streets, and is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Colonia del Sacramento was founded in 1680 by the Portuguese, sandwiched in between the Portuguese colony of Brazil and the Spanish Viceroyalty of the River Plate, later Argentina, Uruguay and Southern Brazil. Its strategic position and use as a smuggling port meant that its sovereignty was constantly contested and the city changed hands several times between Spain and Portugal. The irresistibly picturesque town's charm and its proximity to Buenos Aires draw thousands of Argentine and other visitors on weekends and in summer. Prices rise in these periods and it can be difficult to find a room so make sure to book your trip well in advance.
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 Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Chile, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Colonia del Sacramento 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 Colonia del Sacramento and La Serena in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Colonia del Sacramento 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.
Also for Colonia del Sacramento, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both La Serena and Colonia del Sacramento 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 Colonia del Sacramento, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Colonia del Sacramento, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
For La Serena, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Colonia del Sacramento and La Serena, we can see that La Serena is more expensive. And not only is Colonia del Sacramento much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Colonia del Sacramento would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Colonia del Sacramento 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 Colonia del Sacramento.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Colonia del Sacramento Expensive? and Is La Serena Expensive?.
La Serena has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Colonia del Sacramento. When comparing the sizes of Colonia del Sacramento 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.
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.
Both La Serena and Colonia del Sacramento are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities.
Colonia del Sacramento is a little warmer than La Serena in the summer. The daily temperature in Colonia del Sacramento averages around 25°C (77°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 Colonia del Sacramento. Colonia del Sacramento usually receives more sunshine than La Serena during summer. Colonia del Sacramento gets 285 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 247 hours of full sun in the summer.
In January, Colonia del Sacramento usually receives more rain than La Serena. Colonia del Sacramento gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Both La Serena and Colonia del Sacramento during the autumn are popular places to visit.
In the autumn, Colonia del Sacramento is a little warmer than La Serena. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Colonia del Sacramento in April average around 18°C (65°F), and La Serena averages at about 15°C (59°F).
In the autumn, Colonia del Sacramento often gets more sunshine than La Serena. Colonia del Sacramento gets 183 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 Colonia del Sacramento. Colonia del Sacramento usually gets more rain in April than La Serena. Colonia del Sacramento gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Colonia del Sacramento and La Serena.
In July, Colonia del Sacramento is generally around the same temperature as La Serena. Daily temperatures in Colonia del Sacramento average around 12°C (53°F), and La Serena fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
Colonia del Sacramento usually receives less sunshine than La Serena during winter. Colonia del Sacramento gets 143 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 160 hours of full sun in the winter.
In July, Colonia del Sacramento usually receives more rain than La Serena. Colonia del Sacramento gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
The spring brings many poeple to Colonia del Sacramento as well as La Serena.
Colonia del Sacramento is a little warmer than La Serena in the spring. The daily temperature in Colonia del Sacramento averages around 18°C (64°F) in October, and La Serena fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Colonia del Sacramento this time of the year. In the spring, Colonia del Sacramento often gets more sunshine than La Serena. Colonia del Sacramento gets 233 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 190 hours of full sun.
Colonia del Sacramento receives a lot of rain in the spring. Colonia del Sacramento usually gets more rain in October than La Serena. Colonia del Sacramento gets 118 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
Colonia del Sacramento | La Serena | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 98 mm (3.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
Mar | 22°C (71°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
Apr | 18°C (65°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
May | 15°C (59°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
Jun | 12°C (53°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
Jul | 12°C (53°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
Aug | 13°C (55°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
Sep | 15°C (59°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
Nov | 21°C (69°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
Dec | 23°C (74°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |