Which place is cheaper, Punta del Este or Fortaleza?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Fortaleza or Punta del Este?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Fortaleza and Punta del Este 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: Fortaleza or Punta del Este?
Fortaleza
A major city on Brazil's northeastern coast and the capital city of Ceara state, Fortaleza is best characterized by its city landscape lined with beaches and palm trees. It also features some great seafood as well as long-standing folk traditions in culture and dance.
Punta del Este
Punta del Este with its many beaches, elegant seaside homes, yacht harbor, high-rise apartment buildings, pricey hotels, ardent night scene and glitzy restaurants is a chic beach resort town in Uruguay. Many tourists come from Brazil and Argentina, on the other side of the Rio de la Plata, to get some nice sun and lay on the beach for a weekend getaway. Punta del Este is more expensive than other areas in Uruguay and has been called the Monaco of South America. Tourist season varies wildly from totally deserted in the winter to very crowded in the summer.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, and The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFortaleza $69Punta del Este $98
The average daily cost (per person) in Fortaleza is $69, while the average daily cost in Punta del Este is $98. 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 Fortaleza and Punta del Este in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFortaleza $30Punta del Este $55
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFortaleza $60Punta del Este $110
Compare Hotels in Fortaleza and Punta del Este
Looking for a hotel in Fortaleza or Punta del Este? 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: Fortaleza Hotel Prices and Punta del Este Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Fortaleza $21Punta del Este $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fortaleza
Also for Fortaleza, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer Fortaleza to Jericoacoara: $300
- Jericoacoara Private Transfer From Fortaleza: $273
- Private Transfer From FOR to Any Point in Fortaleza City: $270
- 4x4 Transfer Private Service Fortaleza - Jericoacoara: $255
- Departure Private Transfer: Jericoacoara to Fortaleza Airport FOR by Sedan Car: $253
- Transfer 4 X 4 Fortaleza to Jericoacoara or Jericoacoara to Fortaleza: $240
- 4x4 Private Transfer Service : $177
- Private Transfer from Fortaleza to Canoa Quebrada: $173
- Transfer Fortaleza - Jericoacoara: $150
- Departure Private Transfer: Fortaleza City to Fortaleza Airport FOR by Minivan: $117
- Arrival Private Transfer from Fortaleza Airport FOR to Fortaleza by Minivan: $117
- Private Transfer from Fortaleza (FOR) Airport to Flexeiras: $109
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta del Este
Also for Punta del Este, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Montevideo to Punta Del Este Cruise Port: $85
- Private Transfer from Punta Del Este Cruise Port to Montevideo: $85
- Private Transfer - Punta Del Este Port to Carrasco Airport (MVD): $85
- Private Transfer from Montevideo hotels to Punta Del Este Port: $72
- Private Transfer from Punta Del Este Port to Montevideo hotels: $72
- Private Transfer to Punta del Este Airport: $60
- Punta del Este Airport Private Transfer: $60
- Private Transfer from Montevideo City to Montevideo Cruise Port: $54
- Montevideo hotels to Carrasco International Airport (MVD) - Departure Transfer: $49
- Montevideo Hotels to Carrasco Airport MVD Departure Transfer: $49
- Private Transfer from Montevideo city to Montevideo Cruise Port: $29
Is it cheaper to fly into Fortaleza or Punta del Este?
Prices for flights to both Punta del Este and Fortaleza 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 dayFortaleza $24Punta del Este $31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Fortaleza
For Fortaleza, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Thematic Show with Rotation of Pizzas in Aquiraz: $27
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Fortaleza $15Punta del Este $11
Tours and Activities in Fortaleza
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Fortaleza.
- Águas Belas Tour: $15
- 3 Beaches in 1 Day Tour Leaving Fortaleza: $13
- Beach Park Full-Day Trip Including Brief Tour of Fortaleza: $35
- Canoa Quebrada Beach Tour with Nettour: $20
- Canoe Quebrada Full Day Tour - Departure from Fortaleza by Vitorino Turismo: $19
- City Tour Fortaleza - Full Day Cumbuco Beach Tour by Nettour: $25
- City-Tour and Fortaleza (central market, cathedral, Fort, Theaters, encetur, P.ferreira: $55
- Cumbuco Beach Tour: $11
- Cumbuco Beach with City Tour from Fortaleza: $16
- Fortaleza City Tour : $26
- Fortaleza Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $31
- Half-Day City Tour: $25
Tours and Activities in Punta del Este
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta del Este.
- Bike Tour Peninsula - Punta del Este: $65
- City Tour Punta del Este: $95
- Colonia Wine Experience for Food & Wine Lovers: $180
- Discovering Half-Day City Tour: $47
- East Coast of Uruguay – Private Multi Day Tour: $2,600
- From Cabo Polonio - Full Day Private Tour: $1,000
- Full Day Private Shore Tour Montevideo from Punta Del Este Port: $289
- Full Experience Tasting Menu Viña Edén: $157
- Gourmet Food & Wine Experience from Punta del Este: $205
- Guided Tour of Vineyards: $33
- Guided Tour of the Winery Viña Edén: $18
- Half Day Tour in Punta del Este and Jose Ignacio: $170
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFortaleza $9.97Punta del Este $7.70
Sample the Local Flavors in Punta del Este
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Punta del Este:
- Wine Tasting: $42
- Half Day Private Canelones Wine Tour from Montevideo : $157
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Fortaleza and Punta del Este, we can see that Punta del Este is more expensive. And not only is Fortaleza much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Fortaleza would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Fortaleza 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 Punta del Este would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Punta del Este than you might in Fortaleza.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Fortaleza Expensive? and Is Punta del Este Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Fortaleza or Punta del Este?
Fortaleza has a larger population, and is about 330 times larger than the population of Punta del Este. When comparing the sizes of Fortaleza and Punta del Este, 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 Fortaleza or Punta del Este?
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 Fortaleza or Punta del Este in the Summer?
Both Punta del Este and Fortaleza are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities.
In the summer, Fortaleza is a little warmer than Punta del Este. Typically, the summer temperatures in Fortaleza in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Punta del Este averages at about 23°C (73°F).
It's quite sunny in Punta del Este. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Fortaleza. Fortaleza usually receives less sunshine than Punta del Este during summer. Fortaleza gets 221 hours of sunny skies, while Punta del Este receives 296 hours of full sun in the summer.
It's quite rainy in Fortaleza. In January, Fortaleza usually receives more rain than Punta del Este. Fortaleza gets 119 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Punta del Este receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryFortaleza 28°C (82°F)Punta del Este 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Fortaleza or Punta del Este in the Autumn?
Both Punta del Este and Fortaleza during the autumn are popular places to visit.
In April, Fortaleza is generally much warmer than Punta del Este. Daily temperatures in Fortaleza average around 27°C (80°F), and Punta del Este fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
In the autumn, Fortaleza often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Punta del Este. Fortaleza gets 159 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Punta del Este receives 171 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Fortaleza. Fortaleza usually gets more rain in April than Punta del Este. Fortaleza gets 356 mm (14 in) of rain, while Punta del Este receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilFortaleza 27°C (80°F)Punta del Este 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Fortaleza or Punta del Este in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Fortaleza and Punta del Este.
Fortaleza is much warmer than Punta del Este in the winter. The daily temperature in Fortaleza averages around 26°C (79°F) in July, and Punta del Este fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
In Fortaleza, it's very sunny this time of the year. Fortaleza usually receives more sunshine than Punta del Este during winter. Fortaleza gets 256 hours of sunny skies, while Punta del Este receives 135 hours of full sun in the winter.
In July, Fortaleza usually receives around the same amount of rain as Punta del Este. Fortaleza gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Punta del Este receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulyFortaleza 26°C (79°F)Punta del Este 10°C (50°F)
Should I visit Fortaleza or Punta del Este in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Fortaleza as well as Punta del Este.
In the spring, Fortaleza is much warmer than Punta del Este. Typically, the spring temperatures in Fortaleza in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Punta del Este averages at about 16°C (61°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Punta del Este. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Fortaleza this time of the year. In the spring, Fortaleza often gets more sunshine than Punta del Este. Fortaleza gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Punta del Este receives 248 hours of full sun.
Fortaleza usually gets less rain in October than Punta del Este. Fortaleza gets 13 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Punta del Este receives 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberFortaleza 28°C (82°F)Punta del Este 16°C (61°F)
Typical Weather for Punta del Este and Fortaleza
| Fortaleza | Punta del Este | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 119 mm (4.7 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 205 mm (8.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (80°F) | 323 mm (12.7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (80°F) | 356 mm (14 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 256 mm (10.1 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jun | 26°C (80°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (79°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (80°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 67 mm (2.6 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.