Which place is cheaper, Puerto Montt or Jaco?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Jaco or Puerto Montt?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Jaco 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: Jaco or Puerto Montt?
Jaco
Jaco is a beach destination on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. This resort city is located in the county of Garabito in the Puntarenas province. It has a population of about 10,000 residents and a 2.5 mile long beach that is an excellent surfing destination.
Because Jaco is located on the coast, it's weather is influenced by the water. The climate is humid with a relative humidity of about 80%, but climbing to 90% in the month of June. The temperature is usually between 85 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit at night. There are distinct wet and dry seasons with August through early December being the rainy season and late December through early April being the dry season. Rain is irregular during the rest of the year.
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 Budget Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJaco $104Puerto Montt $89
The average daily cost (per person) in Jaco is $104, 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 Jaco and Puerto Montt in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJaco $67Puerto Montt $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJaco $134Puerto Montt $122
Compare Hotels in Jaco and Puerto Montt
Looking for a hotel in Jaco 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.
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: Jaco Hotel Prices and Puerto Montt Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Jaco -Puerto Montt $6.43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaco
Also for Jaco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer FROM Jaco Beach TO SJO Airport OR RETURN (One Way): $70
- Jaco/Monteverde to Liberia Airport (LIR) - Departure Transfer : $90
- From Tortuga Island Boat Tour with Lunch and Transfer: $135
- Jaco or Playa Hermosa: Transfer to San Jose or Alajuela: $173
- Private Transfer - San Jose Airport & Los Sueños Resort/Marriot : $200
- Private transfer from Jaco Beach to Hotels in San Jose or the Airport: $219
- Transfer Private From Jaco to San José or Airport up to 5 passengers (one way) : $245
- Transfer to Jaco beach from San José or the airport one way: $245
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 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: $42
- Puerto Montt Airport Arrival Transfer to Hotel in Puerto Varas: $24
- Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Puerto Varas City- Arrival Transfer: $33
- Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Puerto Varas - Round-Trip Transfer: $66
Is it cheaper to fly into Jaco or Puerto Montt?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Montt and Jaco 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 dayJaco $21Puerto Montt $21
Typical Food Prices in Jaco
For Jaco, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Hermosa BeachLlunch$3.94
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Tsunami Sushi Dinner$18
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Taco Bar Dinner$9.01
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Pizza & Smoothie Lunch$6.31
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Ice Cream$5.92
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Breakfast Taco Bar$3.34
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Fruit Plate$2.96
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaco
For Jaco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Costa Rican cooking class with cookbook author Melissa Guzman: $85
- Taste of Costa Rica: Traditional Food Tour in Jacó: $87
- Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna Waterfall, Hot Springs Combo Tour with Lunch & Dinner: $195
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Jaco $60Puerto Montt $14
Typical Entertainment Prices in Jaco
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Jaco's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Dance Class$9.82
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Surf Lesson$49
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Bike Rental$9.82
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Tortuga Island Tour$98
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Massage$44
Tours and Activities in Jaco
For Jaco, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Jungle Crocodile Safari and Bird Watching Tour: $35
- Crocodile Man Tour THE ORIGINAL: $40
- Jason Crocodile Tours: $40
- Jaco Beach: 2-Hour Chocolate Experience Tour: $43
- Horseback Riding Pacific Experience in Tarcoles Garabito: $47
- 2 Hours Private Guided Hiking Experience to El Miro in Jaco: $50
- From Canopy Tour in Hacienda Nosavar: $50
- Guided visit to Carara National Park (Ticket included): $50
- "Miro Jaco" & Jaco Beach Horseback Tour: $59
- Jaco Horse Tours: $60
- Chocolate Experience: $62
- Jaco Horseback Riding Adventure Tours: $64
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJaco $32Puerto Montt $4.49
Typical Alcohol Prices in Jaco
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Jaco:
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Wine$15
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Night at the Bar$27
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Jaco and Puerto Montt, we can see that Jaco is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Montt much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Jaco is in Central America and Puerto Montt 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 Puerto Montt would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Montt 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 Jaco would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Jaco than you might in Puerto Montt.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Jaco Expensive? and Is Puerto Montt Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Jaco or Puerto Montt?
Puerto Montt has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Jaco. When comparing the sizes of Jaco 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 Jaco or Puerto Montt?
Puerto Montt has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Jaco experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Jaco or Puerto Montt in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Jaco as well as Puerto Montt. Jaco attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Jaco is generally much warmer than Puerto Monttin January. Daily temperatures in Jaco average around 28°C (82°F), and Puerto Montt fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Puerto Montt. In the summer, Jaco often gets less sunshine than Puerto Monttin January. Jaco gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Montt receives 204 hours of full sun.
Jaco receives a lot of rain in the summer. Jaco usually gets more rain in July than Puerto Monttin January. Jaco gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryJaco 28°C (82°F)Puerto Montt 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Jaco or Puerto Montt in the Autumn?
Both Puerto Montt and Jaco are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Jaco throughout the year.
Jaco is much warmer than Puerto Montt in the autumn. The daily temperature in Jaco averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Puerto Montt fluctuates around 11°C (51°F)in April.
Jaco usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Montt during autumn. Jaco gets 169 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Montt receives 104 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Montt. It's quite rainy in Jaco. In October, Jaco usually receives more rain than Puerto Monttin April. Jaco gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilJaco 27°C (81°F)Puerto Montt 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Jaco or Puerto Montt in the Winter?
Both Puerto Montt and Jaco during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Jaco because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the winter, Jaco is much warmer than Puerto Montt. Typically, the winter temperatures in Jaco in January average around 27°C (81°F), and Puerto Montt averages at about 7°C (45°F)in July.
It's quite sunny in Jaco. In the winter, Jaco often gets more sunshine than Puerto Monttin July. Jaco gets 264 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Montt receives 67 hours of full sun.
Puerto Montt gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Jaco usually gets less rain in January than Puerto Monttin July. Jaco gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 229 mm (9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyJaco 27°C (81°F)Puerto Montt 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Jaco or Puerto Montt in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Jaco and Puerto Montt. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Jaco year-round.
In April, Jaco is generally much warmer than Puerto Monttin October. Daily temperatures in Jaco average around 29°C (85°F), and Puerto Montt fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
In Jaco, it's very sunny this time of the year. Jaco usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Montt during spring. Jaco gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Montt receives 151 hours of full sun in the spring.
Puerto Montt receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Jaco usually receives less rain than Puerto Monttin October. Jaco gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 121 mm (4.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberJaco 29°C (85°F)Puerto Montt 11°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Puerto Montt and Jaco
| Jaco | Puerto Montt | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 229 mm (9 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 209 mm (8.2 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 103 mm (4.1 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.