A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Florianopolis vs. La Paz for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Florianopolis or La Paz?

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

Should I visit Florianopolis or La Paz? 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: Florianopolis or La Paz?

Florianopolis

With a population of almost 500,000, Florianopolis is the capital city of the state of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil. The city is split between mainland Brazil and Santa Catarina Island.

Florianopolis has grown in popularity with tourists recently because of its wonderful scenery, beautiful beaches, and fascinating culture. Many Brazilians have also moved here, leaving behind the big cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

Florianopolis has a warm humid subtropical climate. There are summer, winter, spring and fall seasons. Frosts are rare but do occur occasionally. Highs during the warmest months are usually in the high 70s Fahrenheit. Rain is evenly distributed throughout the year and there is no distinct dry season.

La Paz

La Paz, the administrative capital of Bolivia, has a breathtaking setting. The city is the highest national capital in the world, with an altitude ranging from about 4,058 m (13,313 ft) above sea level in El Alto, where the airport is located, to 3,100 m (10,170 ft) in the lower residential area. The dynamic and chaotic city was built in a canyon created by the Choqueyapu River. La Paz is now a fusion of architectural styles, cultures and beliefs, welcoming everyday new boutique hotels, modern shops, delicious restaurants and reinventing standing establishments. However, generally speaking, Bolivia remains more a backpacker hit than a mainstream tourist destination.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Brazil, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Brazil, The Best Luxury Tours to Bolivia, and The Best Budget Tours to Bolivia.


Which place is cheaper, La Paz or Florianopolis?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Florianopolis is $62, while the average daily cost in La Paz is $44. 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 Florianopolis and La Paz in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Florianopolis $26
    La Paz $16
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Florianopolis $52
    La Paz $32
Compare Hotels in Florianopolis and La Paz

Looking for a hotel in Florianopolis or La Paz? 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 Florianopolis


Hotels in La Paz


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: Florianopolis Hotel Prices and La Paz Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Florianopolis $13
    La Paz $9.45

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Florianopolis

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

  • Transfer Florianópolis Airport / Costão do Santinho: $76
  • Shared transfer from Florianópolis airport to Balneário Camboriú: $35
  • Roundtrip transfer from Florianópolis Airport to Bombinhas: $168
  • Private Transfer from Florianópolis Airport to Bombinhas: $97
  • Private Transfer from FLN Airport to the City Balneario Camboriú : $83
  • Private Transfer Florianopolis Airport to Bal. Camboriu: $96
  • Private Transfer Florianópolis Airport to City Center: $31
  • One Way Transfer : Florianopolis Airport to or from Florianopolis: $64
  • Hercilio Luz Airport - North Island Transfer: $14
  • Florianópolis Airport Transfer anywhere on the island by Floripa Nativa: $39

Typical Local Transportation Prices in La Paz

Some typical examples of transportation costs in La Paz are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $0.58

Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Paz

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

  • Transfer in Private Vehicle from La Paz City - La Paz Airport (LPB): $21
  • Transfer in Private Minivan from La Paz Airport (LPB) - La Paz City: $27
  • Roundtrip Transfer Private Vehicle La Paz Airport (LPB) - La Paz City: $43
  • Roundtrip Transfer Private Minivan La Paz Airport (LPB) - La Paz City: $55
  • Private transfer 24/7 El Alto Airport - Hotels La Paz: $28
  • Private Transfer from your Hotel to Airport in La Paz City : $54
  • Private Transfer from La Paz to Uyuni.: $295
  • Private Transfer from Airport to your Hotel in La Paz City : $77
  • Private Transfer from Airport to your Hotel in La Paz City : $54
  • Private Transfer La Paz Airport LPB to La Paz City by MiniVan/Bus: $28
  • Private Transfer From your Hotel to Bus Station in La Paz City : $68
  • Private Transfer From Hotel to Bus Station in La Paz City : $52

Is it cheaper to fly into Florianopolis or La Paz?

Prices for flights to both La Paz and Florianopolis 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
    Florianopolis $22
    La Paz $17
Typical Food Prices in Florianopolis

For Florianopolis, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • A Quick Snack
    $0.44

Typical Food Prices in La Paz

For La Paz, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Fruit
    $0.72

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Paz

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

  • La Paz Food Tour + Cable Car Cultural City tour: $45

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Florianopolis $26
    La Paz $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Florianopolis

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Florianopolis's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Internet
    $0.59

Tours and Activities in Florianopolis

For Florianopolis, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Balneário Camboriú City Tour from Florianópolis: $35
  • Bike Tour in Florianopolis - Sunset, Photography and History: $69
  • Blumenau City Tour - departing from Florianópolis: $37
  • Blumenau City Tour from Florianópolis: $38
  • Bombinhas Beach and 4 Islands Tour: $22
  • Florianópolis Full Day City Tour: $25
  • Floripa City Tour by Bus - Whole Island - The Most Complete City Tour: $31
  • Historic Center Walking Tour in Florianopolis with Local Bar Hop: $14
  • Lagoinha do Leste Hiking and Photography Adventure : $41
  • Mountain biking experiences in Florianópolis: $57
  • Private Day Tour: Florianópolis Island with Professional Pictures: $154
  • Private South Island Beaches and Lagoons Tour: $43

Tours and Activities in La Paz

For La Paz, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • From Private Tour to Tiwanaku Ruins and Puma Punku.: $173
  • La Paz, City Tour and Valley of the Moon - Half day: $268
  • 2-Day Private Lake Titicaca and Sun Island Tour from La Paz: $520
  • 2-day Private Guided Tour in Uyuni and La Paz: $240
  • 3 Day Death Road + Uyuni Salt Flats Tour From La Paz City: $280
  • Be a Local - La Paz Walking Tour: $8.00
  • Bicycle Tour on Death Road: $77
  • Bike Tour to the Death Road: $85
  • Cable Car, Cementery, Shaman and El Alto Adventure in La Paz: $20
  • Chacaltaya 5,435m & Valle De Luna. 2 For 1 Special Tour.: $30
  • City Tour plus Cable Car La Paz: $10
  • City Tour with Drone!: $204

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Florianopolis $8.68
    La Paz $11
Typical Alcohol Prices in Florianopolis

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Florianopolis from other travelers:


  • Beer
    $0.59

Sample the Local Flavors in La Paz

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in La Paz:

  • Cultural Pub Crawl La Paz Nightlife Tour : $50


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

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


Which is Bigger, Florianopolis or La Paz?

La Paz has a larger population, and is about 97% larger than the population of Florianopolis. When comparing the sizes of Florianopolis and La Paz, 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.