Which place is cheaper, Punta Arenas or Florianopolis?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Florianopolis or Punta Arenas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Florianopolis 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: Florianopolis or Punta Arenas?
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.
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 Wildlife Tours to Brazil, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Brazil, 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 dayFlorianopolis $62Punta Arenas $63
The average daily cost (per person) in Florianopolis is $62, 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 Florianopolis and Punta Arenas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFlorianopolis $26Punta Arenas $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFlorianopolis $52Punta Arenas $64
Compare Hotels in Florianopolis and Punta Arenas
Looking for a hotel in Florianopolis 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: Florianopolis Hotel Prices and Punta Arenas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Florianopolis $13Punta Arenas $1.80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Florianopolis
Also for Florianopolis, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Roundtrip transfer from Florianópolis Airport to Bombinhas: $168
- Private Transfer from Florianópolis Airport to Bombinhas: $97
- Private Transfer Florianopolis Airport to Bal. Camboriu: $96
- Private Transfer from FLN Airport to the City Balneario Camboriú : $83
- Transfer Florianópolis Airport / Costão do Santinho: $76
- One Way Transfer : Florianopolis Airport to or from Florianopolis: $64
- Florianópolis Airport Transfer anywhere on the island by Floripa Nativa: $39
- Shared transfer from Florianópolis airport to Balneário Camboriú: $35
- Private Transfer Florianópolis Airport to City Center: $31
- Hercilio Luz Airport - North Island Transfer: $14
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 Florianopolis or Punta Arenas?
Prices for flights to both Punta Arenas 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
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Food Meals for one dayFlorianopolis $22Punta Arenas $21
Typical Food Prices in Florianopolis
For Florianopolis, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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A Quick Snack$0.44
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.Florianopolis $26Punta Arenas $6.44
Typical Entertainment Prices in Florianopolis
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Florianopolis's activities, tours, and tickets:
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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 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: $138
- 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 dayFlorianopolis $8.68Punta Arenas $4.86
Typical Alcohol Prices in Florianopolis
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Florianopolis from other travelers:
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Beer$0.59
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 comparing the travel costs between Florianopolis and Punta Arenas, we can see that Punta Arenas is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Florianopolis Expensive? and Is Punta Arenas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Florianopolis or Punta Arenas?
Florianopolis has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Punta Arenas. When comparing the sizes of Florianopolis 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 Florianopolis or Punta Arenas?
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.
Should I visit Florianopolis or Punta Arenas in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Florianopolis and Punta Arenas.
In the summer, Florianopolis is much warmer than Punta Arenas. Typically, the summer temperatures in Florianopolis in January average around 25°C (76°F), and Punta Arenas averages at about 11°C (52°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Punta Arenas this time of the year. Florianopolis usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Punta Arenas during summer. Florianopolis gets 198 hours of sunny skies, while Punta Arenas receives 208 hours of full sun in the summer.
Florianopolis gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Florianopolis usually receives more rain than Punta Arenas. Florianopolis gets 163 mm (6.4 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 JanuaryFlorianopolis 25°C (76°F)Punta Arenas 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Florianopolis or Punta Arenas in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Florianopolis as well as Punta Arenas.
In April, Florianopolis is generally much warmer than Punta Arenas. Daily temperatures in Florianopolis average around 22°C (71°F), and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).
In the autumn, Florianopolis often gets more sunshine than Punta Arenas. Florianopolis gets 179 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Punta Arenas receives 119 hours of full sun.
Florianopolis usually gets more rain in April than Punta Arenas. Florianopolis gets 93 mm (3.7 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 AprilFlorianopolis 22°C (71°F)Punta Arenas 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Florianopolis or Punta Arenas in the Winter?
Both Punta Arenas and Florianopolis are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.
Punta Arenas can get quite cold in the winter. Florianopolis is much warmer than Punta Arenas in the winter. The daily temperature in Florianopolis averages around 17°C (62°F) in July, and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 1°C (35°F).
Florianopolis usually receives more sunshine than Punta Arenas during winter. Florianopolis gets 170 hours of sunny skies, while Punta Arenas receives 70 hours of full sun in the winter.
In July, Florianopolis usually receives more rain than Punta Arenas. Florianopolis gets 100 mm (3.9 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 JulyFlorianopolis 17°C (62°F)Punta Arenas 1°C (35°F)
Should I visit Florianopolis or Punta Arenas in the Spring?
Both Punta Arenas and Florianopolis during the spring are popular places to visit.
In the spring, Florianopolis is much warmer than Punta Arenas. Typically, the spring temperatures in Florianopolis in October average around 20°C (68°F), and Punta Arenas averages at about 7°C (44°F).
In the spring, Florianopolis often gets less sunshine than Punta Arenas. Florianopolis gets 159 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Punta Arenas receives 183 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Florianopolis. Florianopolis usually gets more rain in October than Punta Arenas. Florianopolis gets 110 mm (4.3 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 OctoberFlorianopolis 20°C (68°F)Punta Arenas 7°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Punta Arenas and Florianopolis
| Florianopolis | Punta Arenas | |||
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| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (76°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 22°C (71°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 19°C (67°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (63°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 1°C (35°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (63°F) | 95 mm (3.8 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (65°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Oct | 20°C (68°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Nov | 22°C (71°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (74°F) | 137 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.