A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Fort-de-France vs. Punta Arenas for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Fort-de-France or Punta Arenas?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Fort-de-France and Punta Arenas can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Fort-de-France or Punta Arenas?

Fort-de-France

As the largest city and capital of Martinique, Fort-de-France serves as the main entryway for visitors traveling to the island. It is a busy city with a significant population, which creates an atmosphere bustling with traffic amidst its historic and cultural sights.

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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Punta Arenas or Fort-de-France?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Fort-de-France is €152, while the average daily cost in Punta Arenas is €59. 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 Fort-de-France and Punta Arenas in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Fort-de-France 79
    Punta Arenas 30
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Fort-de-France 158
    Punta Arenas 60
Compare Hotels in Fort-de-France and Punta Arenas

Looking for a hotel in Fort-de-France 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.

Hotels in Fort-de-France


Hotels in Punta Arenas


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: Fort-de-France Hotel Prices and Punta Arenas Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Fort-de-France 16
    Punta Arenas 1.69

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fort-de-France

Also for Fort-de-France, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private transfer Fort de France Airport to and from Les Trois Ilets: $103
  • Private Transfer from Fort de France to Fort de France Port: $71
  • Private Transfer from Martinique Airport to Fort de France Port: $71
  • Fort de France to Martinique Airport (FDF) - Departure Transfer: $66

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
  • Private Transfer from Punta Arenas Port to Punta Arenas hotels: $64
  • Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ) to Punta Arenas - Arrival Transfer: $49
  • Private Transfer Punta Arenas Airport to/from Punta Arenas: $33

Is it cheaper to fly into Fort-de-France or Punta Arenas?

Prices for flights to both Punta Arenas and Fort-de-France 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
    Fort-de-France 58
    Punta Arenas 20

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Fort-de-France

For Fort-de-France, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Food tour in the rainforest and St Pierre - Pile et Face: $104
  • Private Food Tour of Martinique in Fort-de-France: $199

Typical Food Prices in Punta Arenas

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Punta Arenas:


  • Donut
    0.98
  • Dinner
    24

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Fort-de-France 31
    Punta Arenas 6.04

Tours and Activities in Fort-de-France

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Fort-de-France.

  • Admission Ticket Balata's Garden: $19
  • Authentic Tour of Southern Martinique: $75
  • Beachcombing in Paradise South Caribbean V.I.P Tour: $295
  • Diving and Snorkeling Catamaran Private Tour in Martinique: $262
  • Fort-de-France Food Tasting and Cultural Walking Tour: $64
  • Fort-de-France Private 2-Hour Walking Tour: $26
  • Full Day Private Historic Tour of Rum Production in Martinique: $119
  • Full Day Tour of Martinique's Diverse Produce Industries: $107
  • Habitation Clement - entrance ticket: $15
  • Half Day Private Custom Tour of Martinique: $180
  • Half Day Private Tour of Southern Martinique: $165
  • Half-Day Nature and Panorama Tour in Martinique: $108

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
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Fort-de-France 10
    Punta Arenas 4.55

Sample the Local Flavors in Fort-de-France

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Fort-de-France:

  • Small-Group Tour: Unmissable Martinique with Rum Distillery, Ruins, and More: $75
  • North Tour: rainforest, rum distillery, black sand beach etc: $120

Typical Alcohol Prices in Punta Arenas

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Punta Arenas:


  • Alcohol
    6.87


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Fort-de-France and Punta Arenas, we can see that Fort-de-France is more expensive. And not only is Punta Arenas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Fort-de-France is in Caribbean Islands 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 Fort-de-France would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Fort-de-France 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 Fort-de-France Expensive? and Is Punta Arenas Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Fort-de-France or Punta Arenas?

Punta Arenas has a larger population, and is about 30% larger than the population of Fort-de-France. When comparing the sizes of Fort-de-France 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.