Which place is cheaper, La Paz or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Lake Titicaca (Puno) or La Paz?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Lake Titicaca (Puno) and La Paz. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Lake Titicaca (Puno) or La Paz?
Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Lake Titicaca, which directly translates to "puma stone" in Quechua, is located high in the Andes Mountains straddling Peru and Bolivia, with about 60% of the lake in Peru and 40% in Bolivia. Among the lake are three main islands, the most popular of which are the Uros Islands, also known as the floating islands, where the Uros people live on totora reeds that grow in the lake.
La Paz
La Paz is the capital of Baja California Sur, Mexico. It has a population of about 215,000 people and is a significant commercial center for the region. The city has a good economy and a high standard of living when compared to much of Mexico. Much of the economy is focused on eco-tourism and there are many protected marine environments in the area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Photography Tours in Peru, The Best Jungle Trekking Tours in Peru, The Best Budget Tours to Mexico, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Mexico.
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Lake Titicaca (Puno) Prices
Peru PricesLa Paz Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLake Titicaca (Puno) $70La Paz $132
The average daily cost (per person) in Lake Titicaca (Puno) is $70, while the average daily cost in La Paz is $132. 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) and La Paz in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLake Titicaca (Puno) $28La Paz $47
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLake Titicaca (Puno) $56La Paz $94
Compare Hotels in Lake Titicaca (Puno) and La Paz
Looking for a hotel in Lake Titicaca (Puno) or La Paz? 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: Lake Titicaca (Puno) Hotel Prices and La Paz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lake Titicaca (Puno) $11La Paz $20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno):
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Taxi$0.86
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno):
- Puno Arrival Transfer from bus or railway Station: $14
- Juliaca Airport Shared Transfer to/from Puno: $20
- Private Transfer from Puerto de Puno to Hotel Puno: $23
- Private Transfer from Juliaca Airport to Puno Plaza de Armas: $40
- Private transfer from Juliaca Airport to Puno or Viceversa: $47
- Private Transfer from Juliaca Airport to Puno or Viceversa: $50
- Private transfer airport-puno-viceverse: $60
- Private Transfer from Inca Manco Capac (JUL) Airport to Puno: $97
- Private Transfer from Puno to Inca Manco Capac (JUL) Airport: $97
- Private Transfer from Puno to Desaguadero: $212
- Private Transfer from Puno to Frontera Kasani: $222
- Private Transfer From Puno to Chivay, English Speaking Driver: $229
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Paz
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Paz:
- La Paz hotels to La Paz International Airport (LAP) - Departure Private Transfer: $80
- La Paz International Airport (LAP) to La Paz hotels -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $159
Is it cheaper to fly into Lake Titicaca (Puno) or La Paz?
Prices for flights to both La Paz and Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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 dayLake Titicaca (Puno) $28La Paz $60
Typical Food Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:
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Tamales$1.58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Paz
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Paz.
- 3 Hours of Guided La Paz Street Food Tour: $77
- 3 hrs SEAFOOD Tour in La Paz: $103
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lake Titicaca (Puno) $31La Paz $11
Tours and Activities in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:
- Uros Floating Island Tour: $10
- 3-Hour Uros Floating Islands Tour from Puno: $13
- Half-Day Tour to the Floating Islands of Uros: $14
- Half Day Tour Floating Islands of Uros Puno: $15
- Half Day Tour to Sillustani from Puno : $22
- Lake Titicaca Uros Floating Islands Half-Day Tour: $25
- Chullpas de Sillustani Inca Cemetery Tour by Tourist Bus: $26
- Uros and Taquile Islands From Puno Full Day Tour with Lunch: $30
- Tour Uros and Taquile Islands in Speedboat (full day): $31
- Puno City Tour: $31
- Half Day Tour to Chullpas de Sillustani From Puno: $35
- Tour to Uros and Taquile Islands in a Fast Boat: $37
Tours and Activities in La Paz
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Paz are as follows:
- Mural and Sculpture Art Tour at the Peace Center: $40
- Coral Farm Snorkel Tour: $55
- Pearl Farm Experience and shop: $65
- Half Day Sandboarding and Paddleboarding Experience in La Paz: $83
- City Tour & Beaches from La Paz: $95
- RZR Tour of Mogote Dunes and Sandboarding: $103
- Unique Mexican Spirits Tasting & Pairing Experience: $105
- holy spirit island tour: $108
- La Paz Beaches Half Day Tour: $111
- Holy Spirit Island Tour Sea Lions Snorkeling and Beach: $111
- Most Popular Tour in La Paz Isla Espíritu Santo and Sea Lions: $122
- Espiritu Santo Island Tour: $122
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLake Titicaca (Puno) $14La Paz $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lake Titicaca (Puno) and La Paz, we can see that La Paz is more expensive. And not only is Lake Titicaca (Puno) much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Lake Titicaca (Puno) is in South America and La Paz 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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 La Paz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Paz than you might in Lake Titicaca (Puno).
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lake Titicaca (Puno) Expensive? and Is La Paz Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lake Titicaca (Puno) or La Paz?
La Paz has a larger population, and is about 47% larger than the population of Lake Titicaca (Puno). When comparing the sizes of Lake Titicaca (Puno) and La Paz, 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.