A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers La Plata vs. Piriapolis for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit La Plata or Piriapolis?

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 Plata and Piriapolis can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: La Plata or Piriapolis?

La Plata

Just over an hour from Buenos Aires, the bustling university city of La Plata is notable for being South America's first planned city. Indeed, also known as the City of Diagonal, La Plata's intricate grid system includes diagonal streets that run through it, contributing to easy navigation but confusing intersections.La Plata is the Capital of the Province of Buenos Aires, the main Argentine state, so you will find lots of elaborate government buildings alongside leafy green plazas in this laid back as well as active city. La Plata is a happening university town with a population of over 700,000. You can walk the width of it in under an hour, stopping at trendy craft beer bars, local music joints, and great restaurants along the way. Also, football is a religion in Argentina and if you're looking for some local atmosphere, La Plata is the place to go! Two of Argentina's biggest football teams, Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata and Estudiantes de La Plata challenge each other each year. If you are around during that special day for the city, you will witness thousands of fans wearing the relevant colours heading off to watch the match and parade by calle 7.

Piriapolis

Piriapolis is a small beach town between Montevideo and Punta del Este in Uruguay. It is a more laid back version of Punta del Este with fewer fancy restaurants and clubs but it has perhaps more charm, with its grand old hotel and beachfront promenade backed by small mountains. The rather old-school coastal resort is vaguely reminiscent of a Mediterranean beach town.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Buenos Aires, The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, and The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between La Plata and Piriapolis, we can see that Piriapolis is more expensive. And not only is La Plata much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to La Plata would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Plata 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 Piriapolis would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Piriapolis than you might in La Plata.

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

Which is Bigger, La Plata or Piriapolis?

La Plata has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Piriapolis. When comparing the sizes of La Plata and Piriapolis, 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 La Plata or Piriapolis?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.

Should I visit La Plata or Piriapolis in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to La Plata as well as Piriapolis.

In the summer, La Plata is around the same temperature as Piriapolis. Typically, the summer temperatures in La Plata in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Piriapolis averages at about 23°C (73°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Piriapolis. In the summer, La Plata often gets less sunshine than Piriapolis. La Plata gets 191 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Piriapolis receives 296 hours of full sun.

La Plata usually gets more rain in January than Piriapolis. La Plata gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Piriapolis receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit La Plata or Piriapolis in the Autumn?

Both Piriapolis and La Plata are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.

In April, La Plata is generally around the same temperature as Piriapolis. Daily temperatures in La Plata average around 18°C (65°F), and Piriapolis fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

La Plata usually receives less sunshine than Piriapolis during autumn. La Plata gets 156 hours of sunny skies, while Piriapolis receives 171 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In April, La Plata usually receives around the same amount of rain as Piriapolis. La Plata gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Piriapolis receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit La Plata or Piriapolis in the Winter?

Both Piriapolis and La Plata during the winter are popular places to visit.

La Plata is a little warmer than Piriapolis in the winter. The daily temperature in La Plata averages around 12°C (53°F) in July, and Piriapolis fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

In the winter, La Plata often gets less sunshine than Piriapolis. La Plata gets 102 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Piriapolis receives 135 hours of full sun.

La Plata usually gets less rain in July than Piriapolis. La Plata gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Piriapolis receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit La Plata or Piriapolis in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both La Plata and Piriapolis.

In the spring, La Plata is around the same temperature as Piriapolis. Typically, the spring temperatures in La Plata in October average around 18°C (64°F), and Piriapolis averages at about 16°C (61°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Piriapolis this time of the year. La Plata usually receives less sunshine than Piriapolis during spring. La Plata gets 167 hours of sunny skies, while Piriapolis receives 248 hours of full sun in the spring.

La Plata gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, La Plata usually receives more rain than Piriapolis. La Plata gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Piriapolis receives 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Piriapolis and La Plata