Which place is cheaper, Puerto Varas or Guatemala City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Guatemala City or Puerto Varas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Guatemala City or Puerto Varas? 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: Guatemala City or Puerto Varas?
Guatemala City
Referred to by the locals as "Guate," Guatemala City is the largest and most modern city in Guatemala, as well as its capital. While the atmosphere of the place is big, dirty, and dangerous with city fumes and skyscrapers, it is the hub of the country. It is the place where travelers first step foot into Guatemala and, though it is a place of modern chaos, it does have some of the best galleries and museums as well as a selection of bars, cafes, and restaurants.
Puerto Varas
Puerto Varas is a city in Southern Chile, in the Los Lagos (Lakes) Region, Llanquihue Province. It is a charming town, only 23 km away from Puerto Montt and surrounded by the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes as well as the impressive Llanquihue lake. In terms of landscape, accommodation and activities, Puerto Varas is well served! Kayak, paddle, canyoning, rock climbing, trekking, ski, fishing, you name it! If you decide to stop in that area, we recommend that you stay in Puerto Varas, as it provides the perfect starting point for many memorable excursions in the area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Guatemala, The Best Adventure Tours to Guatemala, The Best Wildlife Tours to Chile, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Chile.
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Guatemala City Prices
Guatemala PricesPuerto Varas Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuatemala City $56Puerto Varas $127
The average daily cost (per person) in Guatemala City is $56, while the average daily cost in Puerto Varas is $127. 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 Guatemala City and Puerto Varas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuatemala City $24Puerto Varas $67
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuatemala City $48Puerto Varas $134
Compare Hotels in Guatemala City and Puerto Varas
Looking for a hotel in Guatemala City or Puerto Varas? 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: Guatemala City Hotel Prices and Puerto Varas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guatemala City $6.25Puerto Varas $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:
- Airport Transfer to Antigua Guatemala: $33
- Guatemala Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Antigua Guatemala: $56
- Guatemala City Airport (GUA) to Quetzaltenango-Arrival Transfer: $167
- Private Airport Transfer La Aurora airport to Guatemala: $26
- Private Airport Transfer from Guatemala to La Aurora airport: $26
- Private Airport Transfer to Antigua Guatemala: $25
- Private Arrival Transfer: La Aurora International Airport to Antigua Hotel: $35
- Private Ground Transfer Airport - Antigua Guatemala: $25
- Private Ground Transfer Guatemala City To Panajachel, LakeAtitlan: $80
- Private Transfer - Guatemala Airport (GUA) to Puerto Quetzal Port: $209
- Private Transfer From La Aurora AirPort to Panajachel Atitlan : $67
- Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Antigua: $74
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Varas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Varas:
- Cruce Andino Office Shuttle Transfer from Puerto Varas: $19
- Transfer to Puerto Montt Airport: $22
- Puerto Varas Bus Terminal Private Transfer: $25
- Puerto Varas Airport Shuttle Transfer: $38
- Frutillar to Puerto Montt Airport PMC- Departure Private Transfer: $47
- Transfer from Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport: $50
- Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) - Departure Transfer: $63
Is it cheaper to fly into Guatemala City or Puerto Varas?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Varas and Guatemala City 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 dayGuatemala City $27Puerto Varas $43
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guatemala City
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guatemala City.
- PRIVATE MAYAN COOKING CLASS WITH CHEF EN Guatemala City: $65
- Small-Group Cooking Class in Antigua from Guatemala City: $120
- Pacaya Volcano Vistas + Enjoy Pizza Surrounded by The Volcano: $175
- Antigua Market, Cooking Class and Choco Museum from Guatemala City: $188
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Guatemala City $1.22Puerto Varas $19
Tours and Activities in Guatemala City
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Guatemala City are as follows:
- Half Day Guatemala City Tour: $27
- 2-Hour Culture and Historical Tour From Guatemala: $29
- Half Day Antigua Guatemala Tour: $30
- Guatemala city Walking Tour and public bus: $30
- Walking Tour of Guatemala City's Historical Center: $35
- Graffiti Walking Tour in 4 Grados Norte Guatemala City : $35
- Private Tour: Antigua Guatemala Walking Tour from Antigua Guatemala: $35
- Guatemala city walking tour on afternoon 14.00, 2 persons and up: $39
- Private Tour in the Historic Center of Guatemala City: $45
- City walking tour Guatemala City and Relieff Map: $47
- Private Night City Photo Tour in Guatemala: $50
- Historical and natural bike tour in Guatemala City: $50
Tours and Activities in Puerto Varas
Here are a few actual costs in Puerto Varas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Scenic Catamaran Tour on Llanquihue lake: $8.50
- Tour Frutillar: $31
- Half-Day Tour to Frutillar and Llanquihue: $35
- Half day Frutillar and Llanquihue Town tour: $36
- Half day Osorno Volcano tour: $41
- From Osorno Volcano & Petrohue Falls Day Tour: $49
- Todos los Santos Lake and Villa Peulla Tour: $51
- Todos los Santos Lake and Villa Peulla Tour: $51
- Half-Day Small-Group Rafting Experience in Petrohué River: $52
- FullDay Chiloe Island Tour Castro and dalcahue: $59
- Full-Day Tour Chiloe Island: Castro and Dalcahue : $62
- From Chiloe Island Full-day Tour: $65
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuatemala City $6.93Puerto Varas $6.51
Sample the Local Flavors in Guatemala City
Also in Guatemala City, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Guatemala City Legends Tour + Craft Beers at El Cadejo Brewery: $105
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guatemala City and Puerto Varas, we can see that Puerto Varas is more expensive. And not only is Guatemala City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Guatemala City is in Central America and Puerto Varas 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 Guatemala City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guatemala City 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 Puerto Varas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Varas than you might in Guatemala City.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Guatemala City Expensive? and Is Puerto Varas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Guatemala City or Puerto Varas?
Guatemala City has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Puerto Varas. When comparing the sizes of Guatemala City and Puerto Varas, 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.
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.