Which place is cheaper, Puerto Madryn or La Plata?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit La Plata or Puerto Madryn?
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 Puerto Madryn can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: La Plata or Puerto Madryn?
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.
Puerto Madryn
Puerto Madryn is mostly known as the gateway to Peninsula Valdes, welcoming tourists who come for whale watching. The Peninsula Valdes is a nature reserve designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site; 97 km long and 63 km wide, it is connected to the continent by an isthmus of 35 km from which we can see both gulfs, San Jose at north and the Nuevo at south.
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, and The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLa Plata $8.62Puerto Madryn $14
The average daily cost (per person) in La Plata is $8.62, while the average daily cost in Puerto Madryn is $14. 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 Plata and Puerto Madryn in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLa Plata $3.47Puerto Madryn $5.25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLa Plata $6.94Puerto Madryn $11
Compare Hotels in La Plata and Puerto Madryn
Looking for a hotel in La Plata or Puerto Madryn? 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 Plata Hotel Prices and Puerto Madryn Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.La Plata $2.47Puerto Madryn $3.28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Madryn
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Madryn:
- From Punta Tombo Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $131
- Trelew Airport Shuttle Transfer To Puerto Madryn : $47
Is it cheaper to fly into La Plata or Puerto Madryn?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Madryn and La Plata 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 Plata $3.37Puerto Madryn $5.69
Typical Food Prices in La Plata
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to La Plata:
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Ice Cream$0.01
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.La Plata $2.16Puerto Madryn $5.77
Typical Entertainment Prices in La Plata
For La Plata, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Sciencias Naturales Museum Entrance Fee$0.01
Typical Entertainment Prices in Puerto Madryn
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Puerto Madryn are as follows:
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Whale Watching for Two$0.35
Tours and Activities in Puerto Madryn
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Madryn are as follows:
- 4 x 4 experience around Puerto Madryn: $100
- Cruise Shore Excursion Ea San Lorenzo Peninsula Valdes - Patagonia - Argentina: $229
- Cruise Shore Excursion Peninsula Valdes - Pto Madryn - Patagonia - Argentina: $119
- Cruise Shore Excursion Punta Tombo - Tickets included - Puerto Madryn Patagonia: $129
- Excursion to Punta Loma and Puerto Madryn for Cruisers: $60
- From City and Punta Loma Tour: $70
- From Florentino Ameghino Dam Day Tour: $194
- From Penguin Tour & Península Valdés Day Trip: $152
- From Valdes Peninsula Full-Day Tour: $130
- Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience: $90
- Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience - optional Whale Watching : $87
- Full Day Punta Tombo - Walking Among Penguins Experience - Madryn: $105
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLa Plata $1.20Puerto Madryn $3.13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between La Plata and Puerto Madryn, we can see that Puerto Madryn 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 Puerto Madryn would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Madryn 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 Puerto Madryn Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, La Plata or Puerto Madryn?
La Plata has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Puerto Madryn. When comparing the sizes of La Plata and Puerto Madryn, 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 Puerto Madryn?
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 Puerto Madryn in the Summer?
Both Puerto Madryn and La Plata during the summer are popular places to visit.
In the summer, La Plata is a little warmer than Puerto Madryn. Typically, the summer temperatures in La Plata in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Puerto Madryn averages at about 22°C (71°F).
La Plata usually gets more rain in January than Puerto Madryn. La Plata gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryLa Plata 25°C (77°F)Puerto Madryn 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit La Plata or Puerto Madryn in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both La Plata and Puerto Madryn.
In April, La Plata is generally a little warmer than Puerto Madryn. Daily temperatures in La Plata average around 18°C (65°F), and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).
In April, La Plata usually receives more rain than Puerto Madryn. La Plata gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilLa Plata 18°C (65°F)Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit La Plata or Puerto Madryn in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to La Plata as well as Puerto Madryn.
La Plata is much warmer than Puerto Madryn in the winter. The daily temperature in La Plata averages around 12°C (53°F) in July, and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Puerto Madryn. In the winter, La Plata often gets less sunshine than Puerto Madryn. La Plata gets 102 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Madryn receives 209 hours of full sun.
La Plata usually gets more rain in July than Puerto Madryn. La Plata gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulyLa Plata 12°C (53°F)Puerto Madryn 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit La Plata or Puerto Madryn in the Spring?
Both Puerto Madryn and La Plata are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In the spring, La Plata is a little warmer than Puerto Madryn. Typically, the spring temperatures in La Plata in October average around 18°C (64°F), and Puerto Madryn averages at about 14°C (58°F).
It's quite rainy in La Plata. In October, La Plata usually receives more rain than Puerto Madryn. La Plata gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberLa Plata 18°C (64°F)Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Puerto Madryn and La Plata
| La Plata | Puerto Madryn | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Mar | 22°C (71°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 18°C (65°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Jun | 12°C (53°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Jul | 12°C (53°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 13°C (55°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Sep | 15°C (59°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 11°C (53°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (69°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (74°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 12 mm (0.5 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.