A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Montanita vs. San Pedro de Atacama for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Montanita or San Pedro de Atacama?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Montanita or San Pedro de Atacama, 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 San Pedro de Atacama?

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.

San Pedro de Atacama

San Pedro de Atacama is a gateway to northern Chile. It is a good jumping off point for exploring the area's impressive landscape, most of which is included in the Los Flamencos National Reserve. It is popular with both Chilean and international tourists, and because of its popularity, it is a relatively expensive destination, with many prices comparable to what you might pay in Santiago.

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.


Which place is cheaper, San Pedro de Atacama or Montanita?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Montanita is $96, while the average daily cost in San Pedro de Atacama is $58. 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 San Pedro de Atacama in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Montanita $41
    San Pedro de Atacama $31
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Montanita $82
    San Pedro de Atacama $62
Compare Hotels in Montanita and San Pedro de Atacama

Looking for a hotel in Montanita or San Pedro de Atacama? 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 Montanita


Hotels in San Pedro de Atacama


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: San Pedro de Atacama Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Montanita $39
    San Pedro de Atacama $8.94

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro de Atacama

Also for San Pedro de Atacama, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Atacama Airport Private Transfer: $129
  • Direct Transfer Atacama to Uyuni: $128
  • Transfer to the Puritama Hot Springs: $60
  • Calama Airport Transfer to Atacama / Airport Lodging: $55
  • Stargazing Experience with Transfer: $40
  • Atacama Airport Shuttle Transfer: $38
  • Shared Departure Transfer: San Pedro de Atacama Hotels to El Loa Airport: $31
  • Transfers to San Pedro de Acatama (shared service): $30
  • Calama Airport: Shared Transfer to/from San Pedro de Atacama: $30
  • Shared Transfer from San Pedro de Atacama to Calama Airport: $29

Is it cheaper to fly into Montanita or San Pedro de Atacama?

Prices for flights to both San Pedro de Atacama 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Montanita $28
    San Pedro de Atacama $14

Typical Food Prices in San Pedro de Atacama

For San Pedro de Atacama, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Empanadas
    $1.23
  • Lunch
    $10
  • Dinner
    $11
  • Drink
    $0.92
  • Empanada
    $5.12

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Pedro de Atacama

For San Pedro de Atacama, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Private Dinner Under the Stars: $300

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Montanita $31
    San Pedro de Atacama $20

Typical Entertainment Prices in San Pedro de Atacama

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for San Pedro de Atacama's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Sand Boarding
    $54

Tours and Activities in San Pedro de Atacama

For San Pedro de Atacama, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 2 Tours Valley of the Moon and Hidden Lagoons: $120
  • 23km downhill bike tour + trekking among giant cacti: $70
  • 3 Main Tours in San Pedo de Atacama: $190
  • 3-Day Tour in San Pedro de Atacama: $210
  • 4 Tour in 2 Days, in San Pedro de Atacama: $240
  • 4 Tours in the Atacama Desert: $230
  • 4 Tours to Discover Atacama (3 days): $219
  • Archaeological Experience in Atacama Tulor and Quitor: $146
  • Astronomic Tour Experience from San Pedro de Atacama: $59
  • Astronomical Tour "Under the Atacama Night": $45
  • Astronomical Tour in San Pedro de Atacama: $59
  • Astronomical Tour with Guide and Pick Up San Pedro de Atacama: $39

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Montanita $7.86
    San Pedro de Atacama $4.82

Typical Alcohol Prices in San Pedro de Atacama

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in San Pedro de Atacama:


  • Alcohol
    $24


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Montanita Expensive? and Is San Pedro de Atacama Expensive?.