A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Guayaquil vs. Puerto Montt for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Guayaquil or Puerto Montt?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Guayaquil or Puerto Montt, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Guayaquil or Puerto Montt?

Guayaquil

Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city and seaport. From a tourist perspective, the city acts primarily as a transportation gateway to the country and the Galapagos Islands. While the city can be skipped altogether, should you have a free day to spend here, there are a few noteworthy things to do, as well as some terrific dining and nightlife options. Guayaquil’s main tourist attraction is Las Penas, a hill with old, colorfully painted buildings at the north end of the Malecon, where you can walk the 400 steps to the lighthouse at the top for good views of the city. The neighborhood is filled with cafes, bars, restaurants, and art galleries and is relatively safe. Other important sights include the Malecon 2000, a massive urban development project that has brought new life to the riverside in the city center and the Parque Seminario, filled with fountains, trees and iguanas, located at 10 de Agosto Ave and Chile Ave.

Puerto Montt

The Lake District is a region of snow capped volcanoes, pale green lakes and endless miles of virgin and ancient forests. Found 1,016 km away from Santiago de Chile, Puerto Montt is famous for its beautiful lakes and its germanic architecture, old wooden houses and its legendary Iglesia Catedral, found on the town's main square, la Plaza de Armas. The monument, entirely built with alerce (cypress) wood, is the oldest building of the city. The capital of the Lake Region is a good starting point for many memorable excursions in the area.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Puerto Montt or Guayaquil?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Guayaquil is $95, while the average daily cost in Puerto Montt is $89. 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 Guayaquil and Puerto Montt in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Guayaquil $32
    Puerto Montt $61
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Guayaquil $64
    Puerto Montt $122
Compare Hotels in Guayaquil and Puerto Montt

Looking for a hotel in Guayaquil or Puerto Montt? 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 Guayaquil


Hotels in Puerto Montt


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: Guayaquil Hotel Prices and Puerto Montt Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Guayaquil $15
    Puerto Montt $6.43

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guayaquil

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

  • Transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel or vice versa: $12
  • Guayaquil PRIVATE Departure Transfer from Hotels to the Airport.: $17
  • Guayaquil PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from the Airport to Hotels: $17
  • Guayaquil PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from the Airport to Hotels: $18
  • Private Transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotels: $20
  • Private Airport Transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel: $20
  • Private Transfer In From Guayaquil Airport to Hotel: $25
  • Private Transfers to and from the Airport in Guayaquil: $25
  • Transfer from Guayaquil airport to the hotel and vice versa: $30
  • Shared transfer from Hotel to Airport in Guayaquil: $47
  • Shared transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel: $47
  • Guayaquil Airport (GYE) to Guayaquil hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $52

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Montt

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Montt:

  • Transfer from Puerto Montt Airport to Puerto Varas: $50
  • Transfer from Puerto Montt Airport to Frutillar: $80
  • Transfer from Puerto Montt Airport to Castro: $300
  • Transfer Puerto Montt Airport to Castro: $277
  • Puerto Tepual Airport (PMC) to Puerto Varas - Arrival Transfer: $21
  • Puerto Montt Shuttle Transfer: $34
  • Puerto Montt El Tepual Airport (PMC) to Pucon - Arrival Transfer: $115
  • Puerto Montt Departure Transfer from Hotel: $23
  • Puerto Montt Airport(PMC) to Frutillar - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
  • Puerto Montt Airport(PMC) to Frutillar - Arrival Private Transfer: $21
  • Puerto Montt Airport to Puerto Varas - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $41
  • Puerto Montt Airport Arrival Transfer to Hotel in Puerto Varas: $24

Is it cheaper to fly into Guayaquil or Puerto Montt?

Prices for flights to both Puerto Montt and Guayaquil 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
    Guayaquil $29
    Puerto Montt $21

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guayaquil

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

  • Half Day Guayaquil Culinary Adventure, Cacao Cooking Class: $185

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Guayaquil $21
    Puerto Montt $14

Tours and Activities in Guayaquil

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

  • Private Guayaquil City Tour: $18
  • Shared Walking Tour in Guayaquil City: $35
  • City Tour Guayaquil: $40
  • Guayaquil City Tour: $40
  • Self-guided walking tour of Guayaquil's landmarks.: $45
  • From Montañita: Paragliding Experience: $55
  • City Tour with Hotel Pickup and Drop-off: $63
  • Guayaquil to Cuenca one-way tour with Cajas Park and a Cacao Farm visit: $74
  • City Tour around Guayaquil: $75
  • Guayaquil City Tour Including the Light House of Cerro Santa Ana: $80
  • Private Guayaquil City Tour and Parque Historico: $80
  • Guayaquil Layover Sightseeing Tour with Round-Trip Airport Transport: $82

Tours and Activities in Puerto Montt

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Montt are as follows:

  • 6 Hours Shared Tour in Calbuco and Millennial Forest : $130
  • Alerce Andino National Park/Alerce Millenario/Cruises: $77
  • Austral / Hornopiren Road Tour: $102
  • Frutillar & Llanquihue Private Tour from Puerto Montt: $128
  • Frutillar & Llanquihue Tour from Puerto Montt: $56
  • Frutillar Tour: $31
  • Osorno Volcano Tour+Petrohue Falls / Cruises / Spanish: $68
  • Private Day tour Petrohue Falls, Osorno Volcano & Puerto Varas: $250
  • Private Shore Excursion Tour to Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas and Frutillar: $143
  • Private Tour: Puerto Montt Sightseeing: $47
  • Private Tour: Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas and Vicente Peres Rosales National Park: $164
  • Private. City Tour Puerto Montt and Puerto Varas: $92

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Guayaquil $17
    Puerto Montt $4.49

Sample the Local Flavors in Guayaquil

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

  • Wine Tasting Experience with Tasting Menu: $55


When comparing the travel costs between Guayaquil and Puerto Montt, we can see that Guayaquil 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 Guayaquil Expensive? and Is Puerto Montt Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Guayaquil or Puerto Montt?

Guayaquil has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Puerto Montt. When comparing the sizes of Guayaquil and Puerto Montt, 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 Guayaquil or Puerto Montt?

Puerto Montt has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Guayaquil experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Guayaquil or Puerto Montt in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Guayaquil as well as Puerto Montt. Guayaquil attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In July, Guayaquil is generally a little warmer than Puerto Monttin January. Daily temperatures in Guayaquil average around 23°C (73°F), and Puerto Montt fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

Guayaquil receives a lot of rain in the summer. Guayaquil usually gets more rain in July than Puerto Monttin January. Guayaquil gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July and January
    Guayaquil 23°C (73°F) 
    Puerto Montt 16°C (60°F)

Should I visit Guayaquil or Puerto Montt in the Autumn?

Both Puerto Montt and Guayaquil are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Guayaquil throughout the year.

Guayaquil is much warmer than Puerto Montt in the autumn. The daily temperature in Guayaquil averages around 23°C (73°F) in October, and Puerto Montt fluctuates around 11°C (51°F)in April.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Montt. In October, Guayaquil usually receives less rain than Puerto Monttin April. Guayaquil gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October and April
    Guayaquil 23°C (73°F) 
    Puerto Montt 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Guayaquil or Puerto Montt in the Winter?

Both Puerto Montt and Guayaquil during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Guayaquil because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the winter, Guayaquil is much warmer than Puerto Montt. Typically, the winter temperatures in Guayaquil in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Puerto Montt averages at about 7°C (45°F)in July.

Puerto Montt gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Guayaquil. Guayaquil usually gets less rain in January than Puerto Monttin July. Guayaquil gets 190 mm (7.5 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 229 mm (9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January and July
    Guayaquil 28°C (82°F) 
    Puerto Montt 7°C (45°F)

Should I visit Guayaquil or Puerto Montt in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Guayaquil and Puerto Montt. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Guayaquil year-round.

In April, Guayaquil is generally much warmer than Puerto Monttin October. Daily temperatures in Guayaquil average around 28°C (82°F), and Puerto Montt fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

Puerto Montt receives a lot of rain in the spring. Guayaquil gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Guayaquil usually receives around the same amount of rain as Puerto Monttin October. Guayaquil gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 121 mm (4.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April and October
    Guayaquil 28°C (82°F) 
    Puerto Montt 11°C (51°F)

Typical Weather for Puerto Montt and Guayaquil

Guayaquil Puerto Montt
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 28°C (82°F) 190 mm (7.5 in) 16°C (60°F) 90 mm (3.5 in)
Feb 27°C (81°F) 230 mm (9.1 in) 15°C (59°F) 93 mm (3.7 in)
Mar 28°C (82°F) 220 mm (8.7 in) 13°C (55°F) 99 mm (3.9 in)
Apr 28°C (82°F) 120 mm (4.7 in) 11°C (51°F) 143 mm (5.6 in)
May 27°C (81°F) 60 mm (2.4 in) 9°C (49°F) 234 mm (9.2 in)
Jun 25°C (77°F) 70 mm (2.8 in) 8°C (46°F) 224 mm (8.8 in)
Jul 23°C (73°F) 110 mm (4.3 in) 7°C (45°F) 229 mm (9 in)
Aug 23°C (73°F) 110 mm (4.3 in) 8°C (46°F) 209 mm (8.2 in)
Sep 25°C (77°F) 100 mm (3.9 in) 9°C (47°F) 146 mm (5.7 in)
Oct 23°C (73°F) 90 mm (3.5 in) 11°C (51°F) 121 mm (4.8 in)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 100 mm (3.9 in) 12°C (54°F) 110 mm (4.3 in)
Dec 27°C (81°F) 130 mm (5.1 in) 14°C (58°F) 103 mm (4.1 in)