A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers La Ceiba vs. Punta Arenas for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit La Ceiba or Punta Arenas?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between La Ceiba and Punta Arenas can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: La Ceiba or Punta Arenas?

La Ceiba

La Ceiba is the third largest city in Honduras, situated on the north Caribbean coast. The city has a population of about a quarter million people. Many people who visit this city do so before heading into Pico Bonito National Park. It hasn't had the best infrastructure for tourists in the past but is developing fast. It is about 200 kilometers from San Pedro Sula, another large city in Honduras.

Punta Arenas

Punta Arenas is in the far south of Chile and has a long history of maritime commerce, oil extraction, and sheep farming. It's the most populated city on the Strait of Magellan and has all the facilities you might need as a traveler, including banks, markets, drugstores and equipment shops. With a population of about 130,000, the city is a comfortable place to spend time. It serves as a base for Antarctic expeditions, although many expeditions also start in Ushuaia, Argentina, and Christchurch New Zealand.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Punta Arenas or La Ceiba?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • La Ceiba Prices
    Honduras Prices
    Punta Arenas Prices
    Chile Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    La Ceiba $74
    Punta Arenas $79

The average daily cost (per person) in La Ceiba is $74, while the average daily cost in Punta Arenas is $79. 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 La Ceiba and Punta Arenas in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    La Ceiba $22
    Punta Arenas $32
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    La Ceiba $44
    Punta Arenas $64
Compare Hotels in La Ceiba and Punta Arenas

Looking for a hotel in La Ceiba or Punta Arenas? 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 La Ceiba


Hotels in Punta Arenas


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: La Ceiba Hotel Prices and Punta Arenas Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    La Ceiba $30
    Punta Arenas $1.80

Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Ceiba

Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Ceiba:

  • Private Transfer from Goloson Airport (LCE) to Banana Coast Port: $180
  • Private Transfer from La Ceiba hotels to Banana Coast Cruise Port: $180
  • From Roatan: One Way Shared transfer to La Ceiba: $49
  • Ferry Transfer between La Ceiba and Roatán Island: $43
  • From Copan: One Way Shared Transfer to La Ceiba: $29

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Arenas

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

  • Transfer Airport Punta Arenas : $30
  • Oneway Private Transfer from Punta Arenas Airport to Punta Arenas: $37
  • Transfer from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales: $267

Is it cheaper to fly into La Ceiba or Punta Arenas?

Prices for flights to both Punta Arenas and La Ceiba 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
    La Ceiba $30
    Punta Arenas $36

Typical Food Prices in Punta Arenas

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Punta Arenas:


  • Donut
    $1.05
  • Dinner
    $25

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    La Ceiba $21
    Punta Arenas $6.44

Tours and Activities in Punta Arenas

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

  • Fort Bulnes Historical Tour: $39
  • City Tour: $60
  • City Tour Shore Excursion for Cruisers: $60
  • Punta Arenas City Tour Shore Excursion: $60
  • Cruises Shore Excursions : City tour Cruises Regular: $70
  • Fuerte Bulnes Shore Tour for Cruisers: $70
  • Bike Tour in Punta Arenas, 100% local tour.: $70
  • Fuerte Bulnes Shore Tour for Cruisers in Punta Arenas: $80
  • Full-Day Torres del Paine Tour: $88
  • Monte Tarn Trekking Tour with Guide: $129
  • Torres Del Paine and Milodon Cave Full Day Tour: $135
  • King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $154

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    La Ceiba $4.85
    Punta Arenas $4.86

Typical Alcohol Prices in Punta Arenas

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Punta Arenas:


  • Alcohol
    $7.33


When comparing the travel costs between La Ceiba and Punta Arenas, we can see that Punta Arenas 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. Even though La Ceiba is in Central America and Punta Arenas is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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


Which is Bigger, La Ceiba or Punta Arenas?

La Ceiba has a larger population, and is about 11% larger than the population of Punta Arenas. When comparing the sizes of La Ceiba and Punta Arenas, 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.