Which place is cheaper, Portland or La Paz?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit La Paz or Portland?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between La Paz and Portland 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: La Paz or Portland?
La Paz
La Paz, the administrative capital of Bolivia, has a breathtaking setting. The city is the highest national capital in the world, with an altitude ranging from about 4,058 m (13,313 ft) above sea level in El Alto, where the airport is located, to 3,100 m (10,170 ft) in the lower residential area. The dynamic and chaotic city was built in a canyon created by the Choqueyapu River. La Paz is now a fusion of architectural styles, cultures and beliefs, welcoming everyday new boutique hotels, modern shops, delicious restaurants and reinventing standing establishments. However, generally speaking, Bolivia remains more a backpacker hit than a mainstream tourist destination.
Portland
Referred to as "The City of Roses", Portland is the largest city in Oregon. It sits on the banks of the Columbia River and offers breathtaking views of Mount Hood when the weather allows. Portland is famous for its alternative vibe, live music scene, and popular microbreweries. It's also a mecca for environmentally conscious urban planning. The downtown area is quite compact and walkable. While the city itself may be smaller than you expect, it is still the largest metropolitan area between San Francisco and Seattle.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Bolivia, The Best Budget Tours to Bolivia, The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLa Paz $44Portland $180
The average daily cost (per person) in La Paz is $44, while the average daily cost in Portland is $180. 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 Paz and Portland in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLa Paz $16Portland $97
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLa Paz $32Portland $194
Compare Hotels in La Paz and Portland
Looking for a hotel in La Paz or Portland? 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: La Paz Hotel Prices and Portland Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.La Paz $9.47Portland $28
Typical Local Transportation Prices in La Paz
Some typical examples of transportation costs in La Paz are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$0.58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Paz
Also for La Paz, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from La Paz City - La Paz Airport (LPB): $21
- Transfer in Private Minivan from La Paz Airport (LPB) - La Paz City: $27
- Roundtrip Transfer Private Vehicle La Paz Airport (LPB) - La Paz City: $43
- Roundtrip Transfer Private Minivan La Paz Airport (LPB) - La Paz City: $55
- Private transfer 24/7 El Alto Airport - Hotels La Paz: $28
- Private Transfer from La Paz to Uyuni.: $295
- Private Transfer from Airport to your Hotel in La Paz City : $77
- Private Transfer from Airport to your Hotel in La Paz City : $54
- Private Transfer La Paz Airport LPB to La Paz City by MiniVan/Bus: $28
- Private Transfer From your Hotel to Bus Station in La Paz City : $68
- Private Transfer From Hotel to Bus Station in La Paz City : $52
- Private Transfer From Hotel to Airport in La Paz City : $68
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Portland
Also for Portland, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Waterfall Express -PDX: Waterfall Trolley Tickets + Transfer: $60
- Tigard hotel or address to Portland Airport (PDX) - Departure Private Transfer: $75
- Private Transfer from Portland Airport (PDX) to Astoria Port: $88
- Portland downtown to Portland Airport (PDX) - Departure Private Transfer: $61
- Portland International Airport - Private transfer from/to Oregon City: $127
- Portland Airport (PDX) to Tigard hotel or address - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $151
- Portland Airport (PDX) to Lake Oswego - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $142
- Portland Airport (PDX) to Beaverton hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer: $75
- Lake Oswego to Portland Airport (PDX) - Departure Private Transfer: $71
Is it cheaper to fly into La Paz or Portland?
Prices for flights to both Portland and La Paz 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 dayLa Paz $17Portland $43
Typical Food Prices in La Paz
For La Paz, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Fruit$0.72
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Paz
For La Paz, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- La Paz Food Tour + Cable Car Cultural City tour: $45
Typical Food Prices in Portland
For Portland, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Afternoon Drinks (for 2)$9.50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Portland
For Portland, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Walking Pizza Tour: $75
- Secret Food Tour with Local Guide: $94
- Brunch on Mississippi Food Tour: $95
- Downtown Portland Food Tour : $99
- Downtown Food Tour: $102
- Mississippi Avenue Walking Food Tour: $105
- The Vibrant Kerns Hood Food Tour: $105
- The Bustling Buckman Hood Food Tour: $105
- Portland Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $109
- Mississippi Avenue Walking Food Tour: $110
- All-Inclusive Downtown Portland Food Tour: $119
- 2.5-hour Dinner Cruise on Willamette River: $127
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.La Paz $16Portland $24
Tours and Activities in La Paz
For La Paz, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- From Private Tour to Tiwanaku Ruins and Puma Punku.: $173
- 2-Day Private Lake Titicaca and Sun Island Tour from La Paz: $520
- 2-day Private Guided Tour in Uyuni and La Paz: $240
- 3 Day Death Road + Uyuni Salt Flats Tour From La Paz City: $280
- Bike Tour to the Death Road: $85
- Chacaltaya 5,435m & Valle De Luna. 2 For 1 Special Tour.: $30
- Cholet Tour - Andean Architecture and Culture - El Alto: $26
- City Tour plus Cable Car La Paz: $10
- City Tour with Drone!: $204
- City Walking Tour in La Paz: $8.00
- Copacabana-Lake Titicaca&Isla del Sol Full Day PRIVATE GUIDE TOUR: $110
- Cusco Bus Ticket from La Paz City 7:30 a.m. : $60
Tours and Activities in Portland
For Portland, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2-hour Champagne Brunch Cruise on Willamette River: $102
- 2-hour Lunch Cruise on Willamette River: $86
- 7 Wonders of the Gorge 3.5-hour Jetboat Cruise: $90
- 90 Minute Sailing Tour of Portland: $99
- Aerial adventure above Portland, Oregon: $189
- Afternoon Half-Day Multnomah Falls and Columbia River Gorge Waterfalls Tour from Portland: $75
- Afternoon Multnomah Falls and Gorge Waterfalls Tour: $85
- Air Tour of Mount Hood and Columbia River Gorge: $289
- Air Tour of Multnomah Falls & Columbia Gorge from Portland: $159
- Airplane Flight Tour over Portland, Oregon: $99
- All Day Northern Oregon Wineries and Forest Bike Tour: $245
- Beautiful Air Tour of the Columbia River Gorge : $99
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLa Paz $11Portland $17
Sample the Local Flavors in La Paz
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in La Paz:
- Cultural Pub Crawl La Paz Nightlife Tour : $50
Sample the Local Flavors in Portland
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Portland:
- Haunted Underground Shanghai Tunnel Tour with Brewery Tastings: $40
- Portland Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $40
- Weird Bar Crawl with Fanatical Local: $59
- Guided Bike Tour with Brewery Visits: $65
- Portland, Maine: Old Port Brewery & Pub Walking Tour: $89
- Portland, Maine: Local Brewery & Spirits Bus Tour: $99
- Afternoon Tour in Columbia Gorge Waterfall with Free Wine Tasting: $111
- Waterfalls, Mt Hood, and Wine Tour (Tasting Fees Included): $135
- Silver Falls Hike and Wine Tour: $179
- Willamette Valley Wine Tasting from Portland: $189
- Bed and Breakfast Wine Tour - Small Group, Joinable/Sharable: $198
- From Willamette Valley Full-Day Wine Tour: $210
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between La Paz and Portland, we can see that Portland is more expensive. And not only is La Paz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since La Paz is in South America and Portland is in North 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 Paz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Paz 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 Portland would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Portland than you might in La Paz.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is La Paz Expensive? and Is Portland Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, La Paz or Portland?
La Paz has a larger population, and is about 50% larger than the population of Portland. When comparing the sizes of La Paz and Portland, 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.