Which place is cheaper, Puerto Montt or Liberia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Liberia or Puerto Montt?
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 Liberia and Puerto Montt. 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: Liberia or Puerto Montt?
Liberia
Liberia is a town in northwestern Costa Rica. It is the capital of the Guanacaste province, which is about 140 miles away from Costa Rica's capital, San Jose. The town has a population of about 56,000 and is one of the tourism centers of the country.
Puerto Montt
The Lake District is a region of snow capped volcanoes, pale green lakes and endless miles of virgin and ancient forests. Found 1,016 km away from Santiago de Chile, Puerto Montt is famous for its beautiful lakes and its germanic architecture, old wooden houses and its legendary Iglesia Catedral, found on the town's main square, la Plaza de Armas. The monument, entirely built with alerce (cypress) wood, is the oldest building of the city. The capital of the Lake Region is a good starting point for many memorable excursions in the area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLiberia $112Puerto Montt $89
The average daily cost (per person) in Liberia is $112, while the average daily cost in Puerto Montt is $89. 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 Liberia and Puerto Montt in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLiberia $60Puerto Montt $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLiberia $120Puerto Montt $122
Compare Hotels in Liberia and Puerto Montt
Looking for a hotel in Liberia or Puerto Montt? 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: Liberia Hotel Prices and Puerto Montt Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Liberia $43Puerto Montt $6.43
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Liberia
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Liberia are as follows:
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Bike Rental$25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Liberia
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Liberia:
- Costa Rica Private Airport Transfer : $6.00
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Papagayo Peninsula: $12
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport to Riu Hotel and Vice Versa: $15
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Riu Guanacaste: $17
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport to Riu Guanacaste: $18
- Private Transfer from Libera/Four Seasons Guanacaste Airport: $19
- Private or VIP Transfer: Liberia Airport to RIU Hotels & More: $19
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport to Tamarindo Beach: $20
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Peñas Blancas Nicaragua: $26
- Liberia Airport (LIR) to Playa Grande - Arrival Private Transfer: $31
- Direct Transfer Liberia Airport to Guanacaste Hotels: $35
- Liberia Airport (LIR) to Peñas Blancas - Arrival Private Transfer: $38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Montt
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Montt:
- Puerto Montt Airport(PMC) to Frutillar - Arrival Private Transfer: $21
- Puerto Tepual Airport (PMC) to Puerto Varas - Arrival Transfer: $21
- Puerto Montt Airport(PMC) to Frutillar - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
- Puerto Montt Airport Arrival Transfer to Hotel in Puerto Varas: $24
- Private Transfer from Puerto Montt Port to Puerto Airport (PMC): $27
- Private Transfer from Puerto Airport (PMC) to Puerto Montt Port: $31
- Private Transfer from Puerto Montt Port to Puerto Airport (PMC): $31
- Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Puerto Varas City- Arrival Transfer: $33
- Puerto Montt Shuttle Transfer: $34
- Puerto Montt Airport to Puerto Varas - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $42
- Puerto Airport (PMC) to Frutillar - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $42
- Cruce Andino Office Private Transfer from Puerto Montt: $44
Is it cheaper to fly into Liberia or Puerto Montt?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Montt and Liberia 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 dayLiberia $21Puerto Montt $21
Typical Food Prices in Liberia
Some typical examples of dining costs in Liberia are as follows:
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Snacks$1.97
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Lunch at The Shack (for 1)$4.95
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Lunch$11
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Coffee & Tres Leches (for 2)$14
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Ginger Ale$1.28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Liberia
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Liberia.
- 2-Hour Cooking Class in Nosara : $65
- Private Local Cooking Class in Nosara: $85
- Private Sunset Dinner at the Beach with Chef : $190
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Liberia $25Puerto Montt $14
Tours and Activities in Liberia
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Liberia are as follows:
- (Private) La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike: $41
- La Leona Waterfall: Private tour in Rincon de la Vieja!: $43
- Night Tour in Nuevo Arenal: $43
- Bird-Watching and Wildlife Tour: $43
- La Leona waterfall adventure hike half day : $45
- La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike (Private Tour): $45
- Skip the Line: Diamante Eco Adventure Park: Animal Sanctuary Discovery Ticket: $49
- Zip-line Adventure: $53
- Horseback Riding Tour: $59
- Rincón de la Vieja Bird-Watching Tour: $62
- Zipline at Skyline Canopy Tour Guanacaste Costa Rica: $65
- From Tubing Adventure at Rio Negro: $65
Tours and Activities in Puerto Montt
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Montt are as follows:
- Frutillar Tour: $31
- Half day Llanquihue and Frutillar City tour : $44
- Private Tour: Puerto Montt Sightseeing: $47
- Frutillar & Llanquihue Tour from Puerto Montt: $56
- Osorno Volcano and Petrohué Falls Guided Tour: $62
- Osorno Volcano Tour+Petrohue Falls / Cruises / Spanish: $68
- Alerce Andino National Park/Alerce Millenario/Cruises: $77
- Private. City Tour Puerto Montt and Puerto Varas: $92
- Austral / Hornopiren Road Tour: $102
- Frutillar & Llanquihue Private Tour from Puerto Montt: $128
- 6 Hours Shared Tour in Calbuco and Millennial Forest : $130
- Tagua Tagua Lake and Wild Patagonia Tour: $133
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLiberia $13Puerto Montt $4.49
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Liberia and Puerto Montt, we can see that Liberia is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Montt much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Liberia is in Central America and Puerto Montt is in South 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 Puerto Montt would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Montt 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 Liberia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Liberia than you might in Puerto Montt.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Liberia Expensive? and Is Puerto Montt Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Liberia or Puerto Montt?
Puerto Montt has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Liberia. When comparing the sizes of Liberia and Puerto Montt, 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 Liberia or Puerto Montt?
Puerto Montt has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Liberia experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Liberia or Puerto Montt in the Summer?
Both Puerto Montt and Liberia are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Liberia throughout the year.
In the summer, Liberia is much warmer than Puerto Montt. Typically, the summer temperatures in Liberia in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Puerto Montt averages at about 16°C (60°F)in January.
It's quite sunny in Puerto Montt. Liberia usually receives less sunshine than Puerto Montt during summer. Liberia gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Montt receives 204 hours of full sun in the summer.
It's quite rainy in Liberia. In July, Liberia usually receives more rain than Puerto Monttin January. Liberia gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryLiberia 28°C (82°F)Puerto Montt 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Liberia or Puerto Montt in the Autumn?
Both Puerto Montt and Liberia during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Liberia because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In October, Liberia is generally much warmer than Puerto Monttin April. Daily temperatures in Liberia average around 27°C (81°F), and Puerto Montt fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
In the autumn, Liberia often gets more sunshine than Puerto Monttin April. Liberia gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Montt receives 104 hours of full sun.
Puerto Montt gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Liberia. Liberia usually gets more rain in October than Puerto Monttin April. Liberia gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year. December to April is the dry season in Liberia. April to December is the rainy season in Liberia.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilLiberia 27°C (81°F)Puerto Montt 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Liberia or Puerto Montt in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Liberia and Puerto Montt. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Liberia year-round.
Liberia is much warmer than Puerto Montt in the winter. The daily temperature in Liberia averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Puerto Montt fluctuates around 7°C (45°F)in July.
In Liberia, it's very sunny this time of the year. Liberia usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Montt during winter. Liberia gets 264 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Montt receives 67 hours of full sun in the winter.
Puerto Montt receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Liberia usually receives less rain than Puerto Monttin July. Liberia gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 229 mm (9 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyLiberia 27°C (81°F)Puerto Montt 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Liberia or Puerto Montt in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Liberia as well as Puerto Montt. Liberia attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the spring, Liberia is much warmer than Puerto Montt. Typically, the spring temperatures in Liberia in April average around 29°C (85°F), and Puerto Montt averages at about 11°C (51°F)in October.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Liberia this time of the year. In the spring, Liberia often gets more sunshine than Puerto Monttin October. Liberia gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Montt receives 151 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Puerto Montt. Liberia usually gets less rain in April than Puerto Monttin October. Liberia gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 121 mm (4.8 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, December to April in Liberia is the dry season. April to December in Liberia is the rainy season.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberLiberia 29°C (85°F)Puerto Montt 11°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Puerto Montt and Liberia
| Liberia | Puerto Montt | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 229 mm (9 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 209 mm (8.2 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 103 mm (4.1 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.