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

Should you visit Freeport or La Serena?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Freeport and La Serena 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: Freeport or La Serena?

Freeport

When you picture the Bahamas you likely picture the beaches, resorts and playgrounds of Nassau. Just to the northwest of this tourist paradise is a tropical city founded on industry. Freeport began as mostly swampland and is now the second most populous city in the Bahamas.

This city is less of a tourist attraction - a place where you'll find the true Bahaman culture mixed in with some relaxing spots to help you unwind and get into your island vacation.

La Serena

La Serena is a charming town in Northern Chile. It is Chile's second-oldest city and the thriving capital of Region IV. With its beautiful architecture, its long golden shoreline, dignified stone churches, tree-shaded avenues and pretty plazas, La Serena has everything you could ask for!

Chileans on holidays flood in the city in January and February, though it is fairly peaceful outside the summer rush. Some of the city's architecture is from the colonial era, but most is actually neocolonial thanks to president Gabriel Gonzalez Videla, born in La Serena, and her 'Plan Serena' of the late 1940s.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Chile, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile.


Which place is cheaper, La Serena or Freeport?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Freeport is $244, while the average daily cost in La Serena is $87. 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 Freeport and La Serena in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Freeport $141
    La Serena $42
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Freeport $282
    La Serena $84
Compare Hotels in Freeport and La Serena

Looking for a hotel in Freeport or La Serena? 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 Freeport


Hotels in La Serena


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: Freeport Hotel Prices and La Serena Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Freeport $59
    La Serena $20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Freeport

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

  • Shared Round Trip Limousine Transfer to the Port Lucaya Market: $150
  • Roundtrip Airport Transfers Grand Lucayan Resort Freeport: $30
  • Round-trip Airport Transfers to Castaway Resorts, Freeport: $30
  • Round-Trip Airport Transfer Viva Club Fortuna Freeport: $30
  • Round-Trip Airport Transfer Between Freeport Airport and Pelican Bay Resort : $30
  • Private Transfer from Grand Bahama Airport (FPO) to Freeport Port: $29
  • Private Transfer from Freeport Port to Grand Bahama Airport (FPO): $29
  • Private Transfer from FPO to Old Bahama Bay resort : $233
  • Private Transfer from FPO to Freeport hotels or resorts: $167
  • Private Round Trip Transfer from Freeport Airport to Hotel: $133
  • Old Bahama Bay to Grand Bahama Airport (FPO) - Private Transfer: $194
  • Grand Bahama Airport: One-Way Transfer to Freeport Hotels: $139

Is it cheaper to fly into Freeport or La Serena?

Prices for flights to both La Serena and Freeport 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
    Freeport $64
    La Serena $27

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Freeport

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

  • Around Town/Bahamian Cooking Experience: $175

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Freeport $40
    La Serena $24
Typical Entertainment Prices in Freeport

For Freeport, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • 10 Dive Package
    $300
  • 4 Hr. Kayak Tour
    $70
  • 1/2 Day Snorkel Trip
    $75

Tours and Activities in Freeport

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

  • 4 Hour Private Sandy Cay Experience with Snorkeling - Adults Only: $275
  • Bahamas Sea Scooter Snorkeling Adventure: $120
  • Clear Kayak Tour: $120
  • CocoNutz Cruisers Electric Bicycle Tour: $123
  • East End Private Day Trip Experience Tour : $200
  • Freeport Shore Excursion: Garden of the Groves and City Tour: $82
  • Mamma Gal East End Native Experience : $85
  • Mamma Gal Native Experience : $70
  • Rumbo Tour : $90
  • Snorkel/Swim with the Turtles Experience: $250
  • Tour of Coral Vita and breach brak at Banana bay beach club: $51

Tours and Activities in La Serena

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

  • Tour to the internationally renowned Pangue Observatory: $139
  • Dama Island or Chañaral Navigation Tour Humboldt Penguin Reserve: $140
  • Elqui Valley Full Day Tour: magical towns, pisco and mountains: $85
  • Elqui Valley Grand-Tour: $189
  • Elqui Valley Tour from La Serena: $120
  • Elqui Valley and Vicuña Private Tour Including Lunch: $183
  • Elqui Valley: Pisco Tour, Wine, Beer: $174
  • Full Day History and Flavors Tour in the Elqui Valley: $50
  • La Serena & Coquimbo City Tour - Short excursion for cruise ships: $128
  • La Serena and Coquimbo City Tour (SIB): $66
  • La Serena and Coquimbo Guided City Tour: $76
  • La Serena and Coquimbo Private City Tour Including Lunch, Shore Excursion: $194

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Freeport $30
    La Serena $22

Sample the Local Flavors in Freeport

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Freeport:

  • Brewery & Taste with Beach & Shop at Largest Market on Freeport 4-hrs : $75


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

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


Which is Bigger, Freeport or La Serena?

La Serena has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Freeport. When comparing the sizes of Freeport and La Serena, 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.

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