A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cozumel vs. Pucon for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Cozumel or Pucon?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

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 Cozumel and Pucon can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Cozumel or Pucon?

Cozumel

Cozumel is a Caribbean island just off the Yucatan Peninsula. It'as a popular tourist destination because of its beautiful beaches and excellent snorkeling and scuba diving. With crystal clear waters and vibrant colored coral, Cozumel is one of the most popular dive destinations in the area. The island's economy is centered around tourism, and as such, you'll find plenty of amenities for visitors. The prices are comparable to other coastal towns in the area and there is no shortage of activities or attractions nearby.

Pucon

A popular hub for adventure tourism, Pucon is a town in the Lake District of the South American nation of Chile. Located on Lake Villarirca with the snowcapped Villarrica volcano looming above and plenty of forested valleys below, the town has become a home base year-round for a full range of outdoor activities.

Check out our ultimate guide to Traveling in Patagonia.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best Adventure Tours to Mexico, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Pucon or Cozumel?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Cozumel is $118, while the average daily cost in Pucon is $100. 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 Cozumel and Pucon in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cozumel $70
    Pucon $43
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cozumel $140
    Pucon $86
Compare Hotels in Cozumel and Pucon

Looking for a hotel in Cozumel or Pucon? 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.

Hotels in Cozumel


Hotels in Pucon


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: Cozumel Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cozumel $23
    Pucon $19

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cozumel

Also for Cozumel, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • ATV Adventure to Jade Cavern with transfer: $93
  • Cozumel Airport (CZM) to Cozumel Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $87
  • Cozumel Cruise Port to Cozumel Island Hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $87
  • Cozumel Cruise Port to Cozumel hotels Arrival Private Transfer: $44
  • Cozumel Cruise Port to Mexico Cozumel Airport (CZM) - Departure Private Transfer: $44
  • Cozumel Island Transfers: $70
  • Cozumel Island hotels to Cozumel Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $44
  • Cozumel Port to Cozumel Airport CZM Departure Private Transfer: $44
  • Cozumel Private Airport Transfer: $150
  • Cozumel to Mexico Cozumel Airport (CZM)Departure Private Transfer: $44
  • Shared Transfer from Airport to Hotel: $30
  • Cuban Cigar Master Class & Beach Break® with transfer: $153

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pucon

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pucon:

  • Pucon Temuco Airport Private Transfer: $130
  • Pucon to Puerto Montt El Tepual Airport (PMC) -Departure Transfer: $114
  • Private Transfer Pucon Thermal Resorts to Temuco Airport: $49

Is it cheaper to fly into Cozumel or Pucon?

Prices for flights to both Pucon and Cozumel 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Cozumel $24
    Pucon $38

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cozumel

For Cozumel, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Authentic Mayan Cooking Class in Cozumel: $61
  • Cozumel Food Tour: $90
  • Cozumel Food Tour: $110

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cozumel $44
    Pucon $37

Tours and Activities in Cozumel

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cozumel.

  • 1 Hour and Half Private Tropical Fitness Experience in Cozumel: $6.03
  • Cozumel!! Guacamole And Margarita Fiesta!!! ( Virtual Experience): $12
  • Skip the Line: Admission Ticket to El Cedral Town and Mayan Temple: $16
  • 2 Hour Discover Mermaid Experience : $20
  • Cozumel El Cielo 3x1 Reefs Tour: $29
  • Clear Boat & Snorkel Cozumel Tour with Drinks: $37
  • Amazing Cozumel Buggy Adventure with Snorkeling Tequila and More: $39
  • Cozumel Buggy Adventure: Snorkeling and Tequila Tasting: $40
  • Off Road Adventure with ATVs and El Cedral Ruins: $40
  • Cozumel Beach Horseback Riding Tour: $40
  • VIP Glass Bottom Boat & Snorkeling 3 Reefs Tour: $40
  • Guided Day Tour in Cozumel on a Clear Boat and Electric Scooter: $41

Tours and Activities in Pucon

Here are a few actual costs in Pucon for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 3-Hour Rafting Experience in Pucon: $60
  • Full Day Excursion Tour to Quetrupillán Volcano: $177
  • Full Day Private Tour Ascending Sollipulli Volcano: $140
  • Half Day Tour to The Eyes Of Caburgua from Pucon: $93
  • Local Chile-Bavarian Culinary Pretzel Baking Experience n Sausage: $149
  • Private 3-Hour Canyoning Experience on the Correntoso River: $68
  • Private Half Day Andean Lakes Experience with pickup: $110
  • Sightseeing Tour in Pucon and Villarica: $93

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cozumel $11
    Pucon $27


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cozumel and Pucon, we can see that Cozumel is more expensive. And not only is Pucon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cozumel is in North America and Pucon 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 Pucon would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pucon 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 Cozumel would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cozumel than you might in Pucon.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cozumel Expensive? and Is Pucon Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Cozumel or Pucon?

Cozumel has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Pucon. When comparing the sizes of Cozumel and Pucon, 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.