Which place is cheaper, Puerto Montt 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 Montt?
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 Montt can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Mar del Plata or Puerto Montt?
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 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 Luxury Tours to Argentina, The Best Budget Tours to Argentina, 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 dayMar del Plata $8.78Puerto Montt $89
The average daily cost (per person) in Mar del Plata is $8.78, 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 Mar del Plata and Puerto Montt in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMar del Plata $3.15Puerto Montt $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMar del Plata $6.30Puerto Montt $122
Compare Hotels in Mar del Plata and Puerto Montt
Looking for a hotel in Mar del Plata 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: Mar del Plata Hotel Prices and Puerto Montt Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mar del Plata $2.50Puerto Montt $6.43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Montt
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Montt:
- Transfer from Puerto Montt Airport to Castro: $300
- Transfer Puerto Montt Airport to Castro: $277
- 4 Days Tour Los Lagos Region with Transfer Chiloe and Peulla: $177
- Puerto Montt El Tepual Airport (PMC) to Pucon - Arrival Transfer: $114
- Transfer from Puerto Montt Airport to Frutillar: $80
- Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Puerto Varas - Round-Trip Transfer: $65
- Transfer from Puerto Montt Airport to Puerto Varas: $50
- Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Frutillar: Roundtrip Transfer: $46
- Puerto Montt Airport to Puerto Varas - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $41
- Puerto Airport (PMC) to Frutillar - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $41
- Puerto Montt Shuttle Transfer: $34
- Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Puerto Varas City- Arrival Transfer: $33
Is it cheaper to fly into Mar del Plata or Puerto Montt?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Montt 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 Montt $21
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mar del Plata $2.27Puerto Montt $14
Tours and Activities in Puerto Montt
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Montt are as follows:
- 6 Hours Shared Tour in Calbuco and Millennial Forest : $130
- Alerce Andino National Park/Alerce Millenario/Cruises: $77
- Austral / Hornopiren Road Tour: $102
- Excursion City tour Puerto Varas / Llanquihue and Frutillar: $77
- Frutillar & Llanquihue Private Tour from Puerto Montt: $128
- Frutillar & Llanquihue Tour from Puerto Montt: $56
- Frutillar Tour: $31
- Osorno Volcano Tour+Petrohue Falls / Cruises / Spanish: $68
- Private Day tour Petrohue Falls, Osorno Volcano & Puerto Varas: $250
- Private Shore Excursion Tour to Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas and Frutillar: $143
- Private Tour: Puerto Montt Sightseeing: $47
- Private Tour: Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas and Vicente Peres Rosales National Park: $164
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMar del Plata $1.78Puerto Montt $4.49
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mar del Plata and Puerto Montt, we can see that Puerto Montt 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 Montt would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Montt 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 Montt Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mar del Plata or Puerto Montt?
Mar del Plata has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Puerto Montt. When comparing the sizes of Mar del Plata 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 Mar del Plata or Puerto Montt?
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 Montt in the Summer?
Both Puerto Montt and Mar del Plata during the summer are popular places to visit.
In the summer, Mar del Plata is a little warmer than Puerto Montt. Typically, the summer temperatures in Mar del Plata in January average around 20°C (69°F), and Puerto Montt averages at about 16°C (60°F).
In Puerto Montt, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Mar del Plata. In the summer, Mar del Plata often gets more sunshine than Puerto Montt. Mar del Plata gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Montt receives 204 hours of full sun.
Mar del Plata usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Puerto Montt. Mar del Plata gets 96 mm (3.8 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryMar del Plata 20°C (69°F)Puerto Montt 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Mar del Plata or Puerto Montt in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Mar del Plata and Puerto Montt.
In April, Mar del Plata is generally a little warmer than Puerto Montt. Daily temperatures in Mar del Plata average around 15°C (59°F), and Puerto Montt fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Puerto Montt receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Mar del Plata usually receives less rain than Puerto Montt. Mar del Plata gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilMar del Plata 15°C (59°F)Puerto Montt 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Mar del Plata or Puerto Montt in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Mar del Plata as well as Puerto Montt.
Mar del Plata is a little warmer than Puerto Montt in the winter. The daily temperature in Mar del Plata averages around 9°C (47°F) in July, and Puerto Montt fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).
It's quite rainy in Puerto Montt. Mar del Plata usually gets less rain in July than Puerto Montt. Mar del Plata gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 229 mm (9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulyMar del Plata 9°C (47°F)Puerto Montt 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Mar del Plata or Puerto Montt in the Spring?
Both Puerto Montt and Mar del Plata are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In the spring, Mar del Plata is a little warmer than Puerto Montt. Typically, the spring temperatures in Mar del Plata in October average around 13°C (56°F), and Puerto Montt averages at about 11°C (51°F).
Mar del Plata usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Montt during spring. Mar del Plata gets 175 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Montt receives 151 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Montt. In October, Mar del Plata usually receives less rain than Puerto Montt. Mar del Plata gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 121 mm (4.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberMar del Plata 13°C (56°F)Puerto Montt 11°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Puerto Montt and Mar del Plata
| Mar del Plata | Puerto Montt | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 20°C (69°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Mar | 18°C (65°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| May | 12°C (53°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) |
| Jun | 9°C (48°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) |
| Jul | 9°C (47°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 229 mm (9 in) |
| Aug | 9°C (49°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 209 mm (8.2 in) |
| Sep | 11°C (51°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (56°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (61°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Dec | 19°C (66°F) | 88 mm (3.5 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.