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

Should you visit Mandeville or La Serena?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Mandeville or La Serena? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Mandeville or La Serena?

Mandeville

Mandeville is a small, quiet town in the mountains of Jamaica with a population of about 50,000. The town is situated on a plateau west of Kingston. It is the largest town in the parish of Manchester and the fifth largest urban center in the country.

La Serena

La Serena is a charming town in Northern Chile. It is Chile's second-oldest city and the thriving capital of Region IV. With its beautiful architecture, its long golden shoreline, dignified stone churches, tree-shaded avenues and pretty plazas, La Serena has everything you could ask for!

Chileans on holidays flood in the city in January and February, though it is fairly peaceful outside the summer rush. Some of the city's architecture is from the colonial era, but most is actually neocolonial thanks to president Gabriel Gonzalez Videla, born in La Serena, and her 'Plan Serena' of the late 1940s.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Chile, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile.


Which place is cheaper, La Serena or Mandeville?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Mandeville is $81, while the average daily cost in La Serena is $87. 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 Mandeville and La Serena in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mandeville $38
    La Serena $42
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mandeville $76
    La Serena $84
Compare Hotels in Mandeville and La Serena

Looking for a hotel in Mandeville or La Serena? 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.

Hotels in Mandeville


Hotels in La Serena


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 Serena Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mandeville $31
    La Serena $20

Is it cheaper to fly into Mandeville or La Serena?

Prices for flights to both La Serena and Mandeville 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Mandeville $24
    La Serena $27

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mandeville $8.31
    La Serena $24

Tours and Activities in La Serena

For La Serena, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Tour to the internationally renowned Pangue Observatory: $139
  • Dama Island or Chañaral Navigation Tour Humboldt Penguin Reserve: $140
  • Elqui Valley Full Day Tour: magical towns, pisco and mountains: $85
  • Elqui Valley Grand-Tour: $189
  • Elqui Valley Tour from La Serena: $120
  • Elqui Valley and Vicuña Private Tour Including Lunch: $183
  • Elqui Valley: Pisco Tour, Wine, Beer: $174
  • Full Day History and Flavors Tour in the Elqui Valley: $50
  • La Serena & Coquimbo City Tour - Short excursion for cruise ships: $128
  • La Serena and Coquimbo City Tour (SIB): $66
  • La Serena and Coquimbo Guided City Tour: $76
  • La Serena and Coquimbo Private City Tour Including Lunch, Shore Excursion: $194

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mandeville $6.51
    La Serena $22


When comparing the travel costs between Mandeville and La Serena, we can see that La Serena is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Mandeville is in Caribbean Islands and La Serena is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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


Which is Bigger, Mandeville or La Serena?

La Serena has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Mandeville. When comparing the sizes of Mandeville and La Serena, 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 Mandeville or La Serena?

La Serena has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Mandeville experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Mandeville or La Serena in the Summer?

Both La Serena and Mandeville are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Mandeville throughout the year.

In July, Mandeville is generally much warmer than La Serenain January. Daily temperatures in Mandeville average around 29°C (83°F), and La Serena fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

It's quite sunny in La Serena. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mandeville. Mandeville usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as La Serena during summer. Mandeville gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 247 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Mandeville usually receives more rain than La Serenain January. Mandeville gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July and January
    Mandeville 29°C (83°F) 
    La Serena 18°C (64°F)

Should I visit Mandeville or La Serena in the Autumn?

Both La Serena and Mandeville during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Mandeville because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Mandeville is much warmer than La Serena in the autumn. The daily temperature in Mandeville averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and La Serena fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in April.

It's quite sunny in Mandeville. In the autumn, Mandeville often gets more sunshine than La Serenain April. Mandeville gets 233 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 159 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Mandeville. Mandeville usually gets more rain in October than La Serenain April. Mandeville gets 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October and April
    Mandeville 28°C (82°F) 
    La Serena 15°C (59°F)

Should I visit Mandeville or La Serena in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Mandeville and La Serena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mandeville year-round.

In the winter, Mandeville is much warmer than La Serena. Typically, the winter temperatures in Mandeville in January average around 26°C (79°F), and La Serena averages at about 12°C (54°F)in July.

In Mandeville, it's very sunny this time of the year. Mandeville usually receives more sunshine than La Serena during winter. Mandeville gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 160 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Mandeville usually receives more rain than La Serenain July. Mandeville gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January and July
    Mandeville 26°C (79°F) 
    La Serena 12°C (54°F)

Should I visit Mandeville or La Serena in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Mandeville as well as La Serena. Mandeville attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In April, Mandeville is generally much warmer than La Serenain October. Daily temperatures in Mandeville average around 26°C (80°F), and La Serena fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mandeville this time of the year. In the spring, Mandeville often gets more sunshine than La Serenain October. Mandeville gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 190 hours of full sun.

Mandeville usually gets more rain in April than La Serenain October. Mandeville gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April and October
    Mandeville 26°C (80°F) 
    La Serena 14°C (57°F)

Typical Weather for La Serena and Mandeville

Mandeville La Serena
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 26°C (79°F) 86 mm (3.4 in) 18°C (64°F) 4 mm (0.2 in)
Feb 26°C (79°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 18°C (64°F) 3 mm (0.1 in)
Mar 26°C (80°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 17°C (63°F) 3 mm (0.1 in)
Apr 26°C (80°F) 54 mm (2.1 in) 15°C (59°F) 3 mm (0.1 in)
May 28°C (82°F) 101 mm (4 in) 13°C (55°F) 3 mm (0.1 in)
Jun 27°C (81°F) 122 mm (4.8 in) 12°C (54°F) 4 mm (0.2 in)
Jul 29°C (83°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 12°C (54°F) 3 mm (0.1 in)
Aug 29°C (83°F) 96 mm (3.8 in) 12°C (54°F) 5 mm (0.2 in)
Sep 29°C (83°F) 129 mm (5.1 in) 13°C (55°F) 5 mm (0.2 in)
Oct 28°C (82°F) 160 mm (6.3 in) 14°C (57°F) 5 mm (0.2 in)
Nov 28°C (82°F) 115 mm (4.5 in) 15°C (59°F) 4 mm (0.2 in)
Dec 27°C (80°F) 104 mm (4.1 in) 17°C (63°F) 3 mm (0.1 in)