Which place is cheaper, Puerto Natales or Montevideo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Montevideo or Puerto Natales?
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 Puerto Natales 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 Puerto Natales?
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.
Puerto Natales
Puerto Natales is a beautiful town located in the Chilean Patagonia on the Senoret Channel. The city is often used as a base camp for trips to the surrounding national parks due to their plentiful restaurant options and access to internet. Puerto Natales is also known for being the base city to the Torres del Paine National Park, which was named the 5th most beautiful place in the world by National Geographic.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Luxury Tours to Chile, and The Best Budget Tours to Chile.
-
Montevideo Prices
Uruguay PricesPuerto Natales Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontevideo $67Puerto Natales $105
The average daily cost (per person) in Montevideo is $67, while the average daily cost in Puerto Natales is $105. 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 Puerto Natales in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontevideo $36Puerto Natales $38
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontevideo $72Puerto Natales $76
Compare Hotels in Montevideo and Puerto Natales
Looking for a hotel in Montevideo or Puerto Natales? 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: Montevideo Hotel Prices and Puerto Natales Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montevideo $6.70Puerto Natales $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montevideo
Also for Montevideo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport-Hotel or Hotel-Airport Transfers: $36
- Carrasco Airport (MVD) to Montevideo - Arrival Private Transfer: $52
- Carrasco Airport MVD to Montevideo Hotels Round Trip Transfer: $105
- Carrasco Airport(MVD) to Montevideo - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $72
- MVD Airport Private Transfer to Montevideo City Center: $48
- Montevideo Airport Transfers: $33
- Montevideo Private Airport Transfer (MVD) to City: $20
- Montevideo Private Airport Transfer (MVD) to Punta Del Este: $104
- Montevideo Private Transfer from City to Airport (MVD): $20
- Montevideo to Carrasco Airport (MVD) - Departure Private Transfer: $36
- Private 1-Way or Round Trip MVD Airport Transfer: $45
- Shared 1-Way or Round Trip MVD Airport Transfer: $85
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Natales
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Natales:
- Private Transfer: From Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales: $422
- Private Transfer Airport x Hotels inside the TORRES DEL PAINE Park: $100
- From Torres del Paine Tour with Transfer: $80
- Private transfer Airport x Lodging (Puerto Natales): $25
- Puerto Natales Airport Private Transfer: $18
Is it cheaper to fly into Montevideo or Puerto Natales?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Natales 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 dayMontevideo $21Puerto Natales $48
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
- Show + Dinner - El Milongon (No Transport): $95
- Montevideo Private Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $103
- El Milongon Dinner & Show: Candombe, Tango and Folklore: $110
Typical Food Prices in Puerto Natales
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Puerto Natales:
-
Cake$1.05
-
Dinner$18
-
Coke$1.05
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montevideo $19Puerto Natales $29
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: $5.00
- Palacio Salvo Official Ticket with Guided Tour: $13
- Half-Day Sightseeing Tour: $25
- Half-day Regular City Tour at Montevideo : $25
- Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $25
- Tourist Bus Discover Montevideo: $25
- Audio Guided Tour in Montevideo City for Cruisers: $26
- Montevideo City Tour for Cruisers - AudioGuided: $26
- City tour Montevideo: $27
- Guided Walking Tour in Montevideo: $28
- Afternoon Tea Experience at Sofitel Montevideo Carrasco & Spa: $29
- Shared Montevideo Tour for Cruisers: $30
Tours and Activities in Puerto Natales
Here are a few actual costs in Puerto Natales for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 Imperdible Tours Torres del Paine and Perito Moreno: $280
- Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers Boat Tour and traditional lunch.: $230
- Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers Sightseeing Cruise from Puerto Natales: $248
- City Bike Tour in Puerto Natales: $64
- From Grey Glacier Tour: $251
- From Torres del Paine Hiking Tour with Lunch: $250
- From Torres del Paine National Park Day Tour: $100
- Full Day Patagonia Tour from Puerto Natales: $105
- Full Day Torres del Paine Tour: $99
- Full Day Tour to Torres del Paine National Park: $92
- Full day Torres del Paine Shared Tour From Puerto Natales only: $199
- Full day Torres del Paine Tour from Puerto Natales: $200
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontevideo -Puerto Natales $17
Sample the Local Flavors in Montevideo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Montevideo:
- Pizzorno Winery with Lunch and Wine Tasting: $116
- Wine tour - Lunch & Tasting with Wine Explorers: $198
- Private Wine Tours by Wine Explorers Uruguay: $205
- Wine Tasting & Countryside Lunch Experience: $215
- Wine Tasting Tour for Cruise Passengers: $450
Typical Alcohol Prices in Puerto Natales
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Puerto Natales:
-
Alcohol$13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montevideo and Puerto Natales, we can see that Puerto Natales is more expensive. And not only is Montevideo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Montevideo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Montevideo 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 Natales would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Natales than you might in Montevideo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Montevideo Expensive? and Is Puerto Natales Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montevideo or Puerto Natales?
Montevideo has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Puerto Natales. When comparing the sizes of Montevideo and Puerto Natales, 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.
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.