Which place is cheaper, Punta Arenas or Nairobi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Nairobi or Punta Arenas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Nairobi and Punta Arenas 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: Nairobi or Punta Arenas?
Nairobi
Nairobi is Kenya's capital as well as the country's largest city. With a population of about 3 million, it is also one of the largest cities in Africa. It is a prominent city both politically and financially within the region. There are many international companies that are located in Nairobi and the Nairobi Securities and Exchange is one of the largest in Africa.
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 Safaris in Kenya, The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Chile.
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Nairobi Prices
Kenya PricesPunta Arenas Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNairobi $67Punta Arenas $76
The average daily cost (per person) in Nairobi is $67, while the average daily cost in Punta Arenas is $76. 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 Nairobi and Punta Arenas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNairobi $12Punta Arenas $31
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNairobi $24Punta Arenas $62
Compare Hotels in Nairobi and Punta Arenas
Looking for a hotel in Nairobi 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: Nairobi Hotel Prices and Punta Arenas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nairobi $11Punta Arenas $1.74
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nairobi
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Nairobi:
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Taxi from Airport$9.24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nairobi
Also for Nairobi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Nairobi to Maasai Mara Reserve: $215
- Private Road Transfer from Nairobi to Amboseli national park: $197
- Private Transfer from Nairobi Airport or City to Mara by road: $160
- Private Transfer from Nairobi Airport or city To Maasai Mara By Road: $135
- Private Arrival Transfer in Nairobi: $115
- Private Jomo Kenyatta International Airport JKIA Transfers to Nairobi Hotels: $95
- Nairobi National Park Tour with Game Drive and Transfer: $95
- Airport Transfer (one Way): $80
- Private Transfer from Nairobi to Naivasha: $70
- Nairobi Airport Transfers: $69
- Airport transfers in Nairobi: $60
- Private Airport transfer in Nairobi to Hotels: $54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Arenas
Also for Punta Arenas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales: $267
- Transfer Private Airport - Punta Arenas Pier: $40
- Punta Arenas Airport Transfer: $29
- Private Transfer from Punta Arenas Hotels to Punta Arenas Port: $55
- Private Transfer - Punta Arenas Airport(PUQ) to Punta Arenas Port: $55
- Oneway Private Transfer from Punta Arenas Airport to Punta Arenas: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Nairobi or Punta Arenas?
Prices for flights to both Punta Arenas and Nairobi 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 dayNairobi $13Punta Arenas $35
Typical Food Prices in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner for Two$5.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Carnivore Restaurant: Lunch or Dinner Experience in Nairobi: $21
- Kenyan Cooking Class & Authentic Dining Experience with a Local: $40
- Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class & Local Market Tour: $55
- Popular Kenyan Food Cooking Class and Local Market Experience: $60
- Carnivore restaurant Dinner or lunch from Nairobi: $65
- Private Interactive Cooking Class and Market Tour in Kinoo: $65
- Carnivore Resturant Dinner Experience: $68
- Dinner Experience with Cat Show at Safari Park Hotel: $90
- Safari Park Dinner with Safari Cats Dance Show: $97
- Private Market Tour and Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class in Nairobi with a Local: $98
- Safari Cat Dancers Show And Dinner: $100
- Traditional Kikuyu Cooking Class In My Village: $100
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$1.01
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Dinner$24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Punta Arenas
For Punta Arenas, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Chilean Cooking Classes + Wine at a Local’s Home: $113
- Punta Arenas : Typical Chilean Cooking Class + Chilean Wine: $120
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nairobi $46Punta Arenas $6.20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Nairobi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Nairobi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Village Visit$15
Tours and Activities in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Day Bike Tour to Hell’s Gate And Lake Naivasha: $139
- 1 Day Hiking Adventure At Mt Longonot From Nairobi(minimum 2 Pax): $225
- 1 Day Lake Naivasha & Hell's Gate National Park Tour: $150
- 1 Day Tour to Amboseli National Park: $200
- 1 Day tour of Lake Nakuru National Park: $250
- 2-Hour Private Kibera Slum Guided Tour: $90
- 3 Day Maasai Mara Group Safari Big Five Adventure from Nairobi: $300
- 3 Days 2 Nights Maasai Mara Group Tour with 4x4 Jeep: $195
- 3 Days 2 Nights Masai Mara Safari Witness the Jungle Experience: $270
- 3 Days 8th Wonder Of The World with Maasai Mara Great Tour: $242
- 3 Days Amboseli Private Safari Tour: $52
- 3 Days Maasai Mara Camping Safari on 4x4 Land Cruiser Jeep: $285
Tours and Activities in Punta Arenas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta Arenas.
- 5-Day Patagonia Fjords Cruise: Punta Arenas to Ushuaia: $1,980
- Adventure to the End of the World: King Penguins and Tierra del Fuego in 1 Day: $210
- Authentic Local Tour, Culture and Patagonian Viewpoints: $88
- Bike Tour in Punta Arenas, 100% local tour.: $70
- For Cruises: Magdalena Island (Penguins) for Private Groups: $4,200
- Fuerte Bulnes Shore Tour for Cruisers in Punta Arenas: $68
- Full day Torres del Paine from Punta Arenas ,Regular tours: $160
- Full-Day King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour from Punta Arenas: $140
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $163
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $154
- Magallanes National Reserve and Punta Arenas City Tour: $165
- Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas: $168
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNairobi $16Punta Arenas $4.68
Sample the Local Flavors in Nairobi
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Nairobi:
- Food and Wine Tasting Experience at Five Senses Restaurant: $155
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$7.06
When comparing the travel costs between Nairobi and Punta Arenas, we can see that Punta Arenas 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. Even though Nairobi is in Africa and Punta Arenas is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nairobi Expensive? and Is Punta Arenas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nairobi or Punta Arenas?
Nairobi has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Punta Arenas. When comparing the sizes of Nairobi and Punta Arenas, 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.