Which place is cheaper, Puerto Madryn or Mar del Plata?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mar del 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 Mar del Plata and Puerto Madryn can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Mar del Plata or Puerto Madryn?
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.
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 Luxury Tours to Argentina, The Best Budget Tours to Argentina, The Best Tours for Seniors to Argentina, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMar del Plata $8.78Puerto Madryn $14
The average daily cost (per person) in Mar del Plata is $8.78, 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 Mar del Plata and Puerto Madryn in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMar del Plata $3.15Puerto Madryn $5.25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMar del Plata $6.30Puerto Madryn $11
Compare Hotels in Mar del Plata and Puerto Madryn
Looking for a hotel in Mar del 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: Mar del Plata Hotel Prices and Puerto Madryn Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mar del Plata $2.50Puerto 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 Mar del Plata or Puerto Madryn?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Madryn and Mar del 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 dayMar del Plata $3.81Puerto Madryn $5.69
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mar del Plata $2.27Puerto Madryn $5.77
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
- City Tour and Sea Lions at Punta Loma from Puerto Madryn: $132
- 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
- Cruise excursion to Punta Tombo from Puerto Madryn: $130
- 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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMar del Plata $1.78Puerto Madryn $3.13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mar del Plata and Puerto Madryn, we can see that Puerto Madryn 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 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 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 Puerto Madryn Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mar del Plata or Puerto Madryn?
Mar del Plata has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Puerto Madryn. When comparing the sizes of Mar del 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 Mar del 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 Mar del Plata or Puerto Madryn in the Summer?
Both Puerto Madryn and Mar del Plata during the summer are popular places to visit.
In January, Mar del Plata is generally around the same temperature as Puerto Madryn. Daily temperatures in Mar del Plata average around 20°C (69°F), and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).
Mar del Plata usually gets more rain in January than Puerto Madryn. Mar del Plata gets 96 mm (3.8 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 JanuaryMar del Plata 20°C (69°F)Puerto Madryn 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Mar del Plata or Puerto Madryn in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Mar del Plata and Puerto Madryn.
Mar del Plata is around the same temperature as Puerto Madryn in the autumn. The daily temperature in Mar del Plata averages around 15°C (59°F) in April, and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).
In April, Mar del Plata usually receives more rain than Puerto Madryn. Mar del Plata gets 67 mm (2.6 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 AprilMar del Plata 15°C (59°F)Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Mar del Plata or Puerto Madryn in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Mar del Plata as well as Puerto Madryn.
In the winter, Mar del Plata is a little warmer than Puerto Madryn. Typically, the winter temperatures in Mar del Plata in July average around 9°C (47°F), and Puerto Madryn averages at about 7°C (45°F).
Mar del Plata usually gets more rain in July than Puerto Madryn. Mar del Plata gets 63 mm (2.5 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 JulyMar del Plata 9°C (47°F)Puerto Madryn 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Mar del Plata or Puerto Madryn in the Spring?
Both Puerto Madryn and Mar del Plata are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In October, Mar del Plata is generally around the same temperature as Puerto Madryn. Daily temperatures in Mar del Plata average around 13°C (56°F), and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).
In October, Mar del Plata usually receives more rain than Puerto Madryn. Mar del Plata gets 78 mm (3.1 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 OctoberMar del Plata 13°C (56°F)Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Puerto Madryn and Mar del Plata
| Mar del Plata | Puerto Madryn | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 20°C (69°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Mar | 18°C (65°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| May | 12°C (53°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Jun | 9°C (48°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Jul | 9°C (47°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 9°C (49°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Sep | 11°C (51°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 11°C (53°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (56°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (61°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Dec | 19°C (66°F) | 88 mm (3.5 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.