Which place is cheaper, Punta Arenas or Montanita?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Montanita or Punta Arenas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Montanita or Punta Arenas, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Montanita or Punta Arenas?
Montanita
Montanita is a small village located on Manglaralto parish along the southern coast of Ecuador. The Pacific Coast of Ecuador is lined with beach towns, either small villages with local fisherman or larger towns more set up for foreign travellers like Montanita. With one of the best beaches in Ecuador, one of the best surf breaks in the region, and a great laid-back atmosphere Montanita is a great little getaway, especially for the hippies of the world. It has also become a popular weekend destination for English teachers and Spanish students coming from Guayaquil and Quito. The beachfront village of Montanita has a laid-back atmosphere and steady stream of cosmopolitan backpackers, with as many South Americans as gringos.
Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas is in the far south of Chile and has a long history of maritime commerce, oil extraction, and sheep farming. It's the most populated city on the Strait of Magellan and has all the facilities you might need as a traveler, including banks, markets, drugstores and equipment shops. With a population of about 130,000, the city is a comfortable place to spend time. It serves as a base for Antarctic expeditions, although many expeditions also start in Ushuaia, Argentina, and Christchurch New Zealand.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontanita $96Punta Arenas $63
The average daily cost (per person) in Montanita is $96, while the average daily cost in Punta Arenas is $63. 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 Montanita and Punta Arenas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontanita $41Punta Arenas $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontanita $82Punta Arenas $64
Compare Hotels in Montanita and Punta Arenas
Looking for a hotel in Montanita or Punta Arenas? 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: Punta Arenas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montanita $39Punta Arenas $1.80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Arenas
Also for Punta Arenas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Punta Arenas (city or airport) to Puerto Natales: $267
- Private Transfer from Punta Arenas Port to Punta Arenas hotels: $64
- Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ) to Punta Arenas - Arrival Transfer: $49
- Private Transfer Punta Arenas Airport to/from Punta Arenas: $33
Is it cheaper to fly into Montanita or Punta Arenas?
Prices for flights to both Punta Arenas and Montanita 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 dayMontanita $28Punta Arenas $21
Typical Food Prices in Punta Arenas
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Punta Arenas:
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Donut$1.05
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Dinner$25
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montanita $31Punta Arenas $6.44
Tours and Activities in Punta Arenas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta Arenas.
- Bike Tour in Punta Arenas, 100% local tour.: $70
- Fort Bulnes cruises: $70
- Full day Torres del Paine from Punta Arenas ,Regular tours: $180
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $145
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $138
- Magallanes Forest and Club Andino Tour from Punta Arenas: $290
- Magallanes Reserva and City Tour. Private Shore Excursion.: $158
- Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas: $153
- Mountain Bike Adventure in Punta Arenas: $192
- Pali Aike Full-Day Adventure from Punta Arenas: $300
- Private City Cruise Tour: $225
- Private Half Day Punta Arenas City Tour From the Hotel only: $250
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontanita $7.86Punta Arenas $4.86
Typical Alcohol Prices in Punta Arenas
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Punta Arenas:
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Alcohol$7.34
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montanita and Punta Arenas, we can see that Montanita is more expensive. And not only is Punta Arenas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Punta Arenas would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Punta Arenas 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 Montanita would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Montanita than you might in Punta Arenas.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Montanita Expensive? and Is Punta Arenas Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Montanita or Punta Arenas?
Punta Arenas has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Montanita experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Montanita or Punta Arenas in the Summer?
Both Punta Arenas and Montanita are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montanita throughout the year.
Montanita is much warmer than Punta Arenas in the summer. The daily temperature in Montanita averages around 25°C (78°F) in July, and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 11°C (52°F)in January.
It's quite sunny in Punta Arenas. Montanita usually receives less sunshine than Punta Arenas during summer. Montanita gets 107 hours of sunny skies, while Punta Arenas receives 208 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Montanita usually receives less rain than Punta Arenasin January. Montanita gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryMontanita 25°C (78°F)Punta Arenas 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Montanita or Punta Arenas in the Autumn?
Both Punta Arenas and Montanita during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Montanita because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the autumn, Montanita is much warmer than Punta Arenas. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Montanita in October average around 26°C (78°F), and Punta Arenas averages at about 7°C (44°F)in April.
In the autumn, Montanita often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Punta Arenasin April. Montanita gets 117 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Punta Arenas receives 119 hours of full sun.
Montanita usually gets less rain in October than Punta Arenasin April. Montanita gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilMontanita 26°C (78°F)Punta Arenas 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Montanita or Punta Arenas in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Montanita and Punta Arenas. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montanita year-round.
It's quite cold in Punta Arenas in the winter. In January, Montanita is generally much warmer than Punta Arenasin July. Daily temperatures in Montanita average around 27°C (80°F), and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 1°C (35°F).
Montanita usually receives more sunshine than Punta Arenas during winter. Montanita gets 88 hours of sunny skies, while Punta Arenas receives 70 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Montanita usually receives more rain than Punta Arenasin July. Montanita gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyMontanita 27°C (80°F)Punta Arenas 1°C (35°F)
Should I visit Montanita or Punta Arenas in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Montanita as well as Punta Arenas. Montanita attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Montanita is much warmer than Punta Arenas in the spring. The daily temperature in Montanita averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 7°C (44°F)in October.
In the spring, Montanita often gets less sunshine than Punta Arenasin October. Montanita gets 133 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Punta Arenas receives 183 hours of full sun.
Montanita usually gets more rain in April than Punta Arenasin October. Montanita gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberMontanita 27°C (81°F)Punta Arenas 7°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Punta Arenas and Montanita
| Montanita | Punta Arenas | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jun | 26°C (79°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (78°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 1°C (35°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (78°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 26°C (78°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (78°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 29 mm (1.1 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.