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

Should you visit Mar del 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 Mar del Plata and Piriapolis can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Mar del Plata or Piriapolis?

Mar del Plata

Mar del Plata is found only 404 km southeast of the city of Buenos Aires, on the Atlantic coast. Today Mar Del Plata is Argentina‘s most well known beach resort. It has successfully married the two worlds of beach and city into a fun, cosmopolitan urban center with the presence of highly developed tourist infrastructure. Founded in 1874, Mar del Plata was at first mainly an industrial and commercial center before becoming a vacation destination for Argentinians. For a peaceful trip and intimate oceanfront promenades, avoid visiting Mar del Plata during summer time, as the gorgeous arced coastline will be crawling with visitors. But the city is more than just beaches. It also offers some culture, lively nightlife, and great food.

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 Luxury Tours to Argentina, The Best Budget Tours to Argentina, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, and The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mar del Plata and Piriapolis, we can see that Piriapolis is more expensive. And not only is Mar del Plata much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mar del Plata would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mar del 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 Mar del Plata.

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

Which is Bigger, Mar del Plata or Piriapolis?

Mar del Plata has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Piriapolis. When comparing the sizes of Mar del 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 Mar del 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 Mar del Plata or Piriapolis in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Mar del Plata as well as Piriapolis.

In January, Mar del Plata is generally cooler than Piriapolis. Daily temperatures in Mar del Plata average around 20°C (69°F), and Piriapolis fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Piriapolis. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mar del Plata this time of the year. In the summer, Mar del Plata often gets less sunshine than Piriapolis. Mar del Plata gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Piriapolis receives 296 hours of full sun.

Mar del Plata usually gets more rain in January than Piriapolis. Mar del Plata gets 96 mm (3.8 in) of rain, while Piriapolis receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mar del Plata or Piriapolis in the Autumn?

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

Mar del Plata is cooler than Piriapolis in the autumn. The daily temperature in Mar del Plata averages around 15°C (59°F) in April, and Piriapolis fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

In April, Mar del Plata usually receives less rain than Piriapolis. Mar del Plata gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Piriapolis receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Mar del Plata or Piriapolis in the Winter?

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

In the winter, Mar del Plata is cooler than Piriapolis. Typically, the winter temperatures in Mar del Plata in July average around 9°C (47°F), and Piriapolis averages at about 10°C (50°F).

Mar del Plata usually gets less rain in July than Piriapolis. Mar del Plata gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Piriapolis receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mar del Plata or Piriapolis in the Spring?

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

In October, Mar del Plata is generally cooler than Piriapolis. Daily temperatures in Mar del Plata average around 13°C (56°F), and Piriapolis fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Piriapolis this time of the year. Mar del Plata usually receives less sunshine than Piriapolis during spring. Mar del Plata gets 175 hours of sunny skies, while Piriapolis receives 248 hours of full sun in the spring.

In October, Mar del Plata usually receives less rain than Piriapolis. Mar del Plata gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Piriapolis receives 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Piriapolis and Mar del Plata