A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Montevideo vs. Lake Titicaca (Puno) for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Montevideo or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Montevideo and Lake Titicaca (Puno) can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Montevideo or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?

Montevideo

As the morning sun tinges the calm waters of the Rio de la Plata with a golden hue, the Rambla and its city awakens to life with new adventures for those near and far. From tanning on the luxurious beaches to peering into Uruguayan history at local museums, one can be far from bored while staying in Montevideo. Combining the quaintness of the countryside with the excitement of urban life, this city holds a unique trait that cannot easily be replicated.

Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Lake Titicaca, which directly translates to "puma stone" in Quechua, is located high in the Andes Mountains straddling Peru and Bolivia, with about 60% of the lake in Peru and 40% in Bolivia. Among the lake are three main islands, the most popular of which are the Uros Islands, also known as the floating islands, where the Uros people live on totora reeds that grow in the lake.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Photography Tours in Peru, and The Best Jungle Trekking Tours in Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Lake Titicaca (Puno) or Montevideo?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Montevideo is $65, while the average daily cost in Lake Titicaca (Puno) is $55. 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 Montevideo and Lake Titicaca (Puno) in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Montevideo $41
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $26
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Montevideo $82
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $52
Compare Hotels in Montevideo and Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Looking for a hotel in Montevideo or Lake Titicaca (Puno)? 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 Montevideo


Hotels in Lake Titicaca (Puno)


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: Montevideo Hotel Prices and Lake Titicaca (Puno) Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Montevideo $7.52
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $11

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montevideo

Also for Montevideo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer from Montevideo to Carrasco Airport: $20
  • Transfer in private vehicle from Montevideo Airport (MVD) -Montevideo City: $21
  • Transfer in private vehicle from Montevideo City - Montevideo Airport (MVD): $21
  • Private Transfer from Carrasco Airport (MVD) to Montevideo Port: $26
  • Private Transfer from Montevideo Port to Carrasco Airport (MVD): $30
  • Private Transfer from Montevideo Cruise Port to Montevideo city: $30
  • Shared 1-Way or Round Trip MVD Airport Transfer: $35
  • Airport-Hotel or Hotel-Airport Transfers: $36
  • Transfer from Montevideo to Carrasco Airport: $45
  • Private 1-Way or Round Trip MVD Airport Transfer: $45
  • Transfer from Carrasco International Aiport to Montevideo: $45
  • Departure Private Transfer Montevideo to Montevideo Airport MVD in Sedan Car: $46

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno):


  • Taxi
    $0.82

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno):

  • Private Transfer From Puno to Cusco With 2 Stops: $251
  • Private Transfer From Puno to Oruro with English Speaking Driver: $243
  • Direct Private Transfer From Puno to Cusco, English Local Speaking Driver: $207
  • Private Transfer from Puno to Frontera Kasani: $204
  • Private Transfer from Puno to Desaguadero: $195
  • Private transfer airport-puno-viceverse: $60
  • Private Transfer from Hotel Puno to Puerto de Puno: $21
  • Puno Airport Shared Transfer: $20

Is it cheaper to fly into Montevideo or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?

Prices for flights to both Lake Titicaca (Puno) and Montevideo 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
    Montevideo $14
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $15

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montevideo

For Montevideo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • The best Montevideo Dinner Show. Tango and Candombe. El Milongon.: $85
  • El Milongon Dinner & Show: Candombe, Tango & Folklore in Montevideo: $98
  • Montevideo private city tour with dinner included and tango show: $200

Typical Food Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Some typical examples of dining costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:


  • Tamales
    $1.50

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Montevideo $21
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $30

Tours and Activities in Montevideo

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Montevideo.

  • Montevideo's Culture and History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.20
  • Skip the Line: Museo Andes 1972 Crash Memorial Admission Ticket: $8.00
  • Palacio Salvo Official Ticket with Guided Tour: $10
  • Half-day Regular City Tour at Montevideo : $25
  • Half-Day Sightseeing Tour: $25
  • Old City Walking Tour with Private Photographer: $30
  • Walking Tour of the City of Montevideo (Spanish and/or Portuguese): $30
  • Shared Montevideo Tour for Cruisers: $30
  • City Sightseeing Tour: $32
  • Walking Tour with Photographer and Audioguide: $33
  • Montevideo City Tour for Cruisers: $35
  • The Best Montevideo City Tour: $36

Tours and Activities in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:

  • Live Experience Titicaca Lake PUNO: $70
  • 2-Day Tour Uros Islands with Stay in a Local Family House from Puno: $109
  • 2-Day Tour to Uros, Amantani and Taquile From Puno: $85
  • 2-Hour Crop Circles Private Tour on Lake Titicaca from Puno: $130
  • 2-day Tour: Puno To Chivay And Canyon Of Colca: $195
  • 3 Days Tour to Ruta del Sol in Puno: $120
  • 3-day Classic Puno Tour Package: $226
  • 3h Boat Tour to Uros Island from Puno: $38
  • Bus Ticket from Puno to Cusco with Stop.: $108
  • Chucuito Bike Tour: $194
  • Full Day Guided Tour of the Aymara Route from Puno: $40
  • Full Day Lake Titicaca Tour to Uros and Taquile Islands: $51

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Montevideo -
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $13

Sample the Local Flavors in Montevideo

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Montevideo:

  • Half Day Tour at Pizzorno Winery with Lunch and Wine Tasting: $120
  • Juanico Wine Tour Lunch: $132
  • The best wine tour: $140
  • Wine tour - Lunch & Tasting with Wine Explorers: $198
  • Wine Tasting & Countryside Lunch Experience: $210


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montevideo and Lake Titicaca (Puno), we can see that Montevideo is more expensive. And not only is Lake Titicaca (Puno) much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lake Titicaca (Puno) would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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 Montevideo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Montevideo than you might in Lake Titicaca (Puno).

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Montevideo Expensive? and Is Lake Titicaca (Puno) Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Montevideo or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?

Montevideo has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Lake Titicaca (Puno). When comparing the sizes of Montevideo and Lake Titicaca (Puno), 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.