Should you visit Montevideo or Paracas?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Montevideo and Paracas can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
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.
Paracas
Paracas, also known as El Chaco, is a resort town on the Southern coast of the country, about 150 miles south of Lima. The town in located in one of the oldest regions of Peru, with a history dating back to 900 BC and offers many pre-Inca cultural sites throughout the area. Paracas is possibly best known for being home to the Paracas National Reserve, a nature reserve boasting one of the most abundant and diverse ecosystems in the world.
Which city is cheaper, Paracas or Montevideo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Montevideo is $48, while the average daily cost in Paracas is $50. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Montevideo and Paracas in more detail.
Accommodation
Travelers usually pay around $60 for a double occupancy room in Montevideo If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Paracas's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $36. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $18.
Local Transportation
Montevideo's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $5.57 per person, per day on transportation in Montevideo.
The average price of local transportation around Paracas is $15 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montevideo
Also for Montevideo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Airport-Hotel or Hotel-Airport Transfers:
$28
-
Best Private Arrival or Departure Airport Transfer in Montevideo:
$50
-
Departure Private Transfer Montevideo to Montevideo Airport MVD in Business Car:
$69
-
Departure Private Transfer Montevideo to Montevideo Airport MVD in Sedan Car:
$46
-
Departure Private Transfer Montevideo to Montevideo Airport MVD in a Minibus:
$217
-
Jose Ignacio: Private Transfer to Montevideo:
$175
-
Montevideo Airport Transfers:
$25
-
Private 1-Way or Round Trip MVD Airport Transfer:
$45
-
Shared 1-Way or Round Trip MVD Airport Transfer:
$23
-
Transfer to Punta del Este or Jose Ignacio:
$150
-
PACK 1: Transfer in - Tour Montevideo - Transfer out:
$60
-
PACK 2: Transfer in - Tour Montevideo - Punta del Este - Transfer out:
$110
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paracas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Paracas:
-
Private transfer from Paracas to Lima Airport (price per vehicle):
$490
-
Private transfer from Paracas to Lima (price per vehicle):
$480
-
Transfer Paracas -Lima:
$250
-
Private Transfer from Paracas to Ica:
$110
-
Private Bus Station transfer in Paracas:
$9.10
Is it cheaper to fly into Montevideo or Paracas?
Prices for flights to both Paracas 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 in Montevideo costs travelers about $10 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
Paracas food costs typically run travelers around $18 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Montevideo $10
Paracas $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montevideo
For Montevideo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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The best Montevideo Dinner Show. Tango and Candombe.:
$75
-
El Milongon Dinner & Show: Candombe, Tango & Folklore in Montevideo:
$105
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paracas
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Paracas.
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Dinner on Paracas Desert:
$393
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Montevideo can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $16 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Paracas's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $20 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Tours and Activities in Montevideo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Montevideo.
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Ramble through Montevideo's culture and history with this audio walking tour:
$5.20
-
Palacio Salvo Official Ticket with Guided Tour:
$7.50
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Skip the Line: Museo Andes 1972 Crash Memorial Admission Ticket:
$8.00
-
Half-Day Shared City Tour of Montevideo AM:
$19
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Tour Montevideo Panoramico:
$23
-
Walking Tour Parque Rodo: Idiosyncrasy and art of Uruguay:
$25
-
City Tour Montevideo:
$25
-
City Tour Montevideo:
$28
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Montevideo Tourist Bus:
$31
-
Full-Day City Tour of Punta del Este from Montevideo:
$33
-
The Best Montevideo City Tour:
$33
-
3-Hour Bike Tour:
$37
Tours and Activities in Paracas
Here are a few actual costs in Paracas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
ATV Tour in Paracas:
$45
-
Ballestas Islands Group Tour from Paracas:
$26
-
Ballestas Islands Private Group Tour:
$440
-
Ballestas Islands Sightseeing Boat Ride from Paracas:
$24
-
Ballestas Islands Sigthseeing Tour:
$36
-
Ballestas Islands and Chandelier tour from Paracas:
$36
-
Ballestas Islands and Huacachina Oasis Half-Day Tour:
$118
-
Ballestas Islands and Paracas National Park from the Cruise pier San Martin:
$124
-
Ballestas Islands for cruise ship passenger - Paracas Harbour:
$32
-
Buggy & Sandboard Adventure in Paracas:
$98
-
Desert Adventure: Luxury Picnic, Off-Road & Sandboarding:
$629
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From Lima: Ballestas Islands, Huacachina Oasis & Winery Tour:
$190
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Paracas may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $8.85 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Montevideo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Montevideo:
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Wine Tasting Tour - from Montevideo:
$75
-
Private Winery Tour + Wine Tasting (Minimum 4 people):
$80
-
Montevideo and Wine Tasting Tour - for cruise passengers:
$89
-
Wine tasting - Uruguayan Tannat in Montevideo:
$103
-
Private Visit to Uruguayan Winery + Lunch + Wine tasting (minimum 5 people):
$105
-
Juanico Wine Tour Lunch:
$120
-
Pack 5: Tour Montevideo, Punta del Este & Wine Tasting Tour:
$145
-
Guided Private Wine Tour with Tasting and Lunch:
$182
-
Wine Tasting & Countryside Lunch Experience:
$200
-
Full-Day Wine Tasting and Vineyard Tour:
$200
-
Private Wine Tours by Wine Explorers Uruguay:
$205
-
Private Montevideo Wine Tour & Flight Tour:
$259
When comparing the travel costs between Montevideo and Paracas, we can see that Paracas is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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