Which place is cheaper, Punta Arenas or Ocho Rios?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ocho Rios or Punta Arenas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Ocho Rios or Punta Arenas, 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: Ocho Rios or Punta Arenas?
Ocho Rios
Ocho Rios, or "Ochi" is a town located on the northeastern shore of Jamaica and is a popular hub for cruise ships. It is a great destination for tourists as it has many resorts and beautiful beaches.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayOcho Rios $77Punta Arenas $63
The average daily cost (per person) in Ocho Rios is $77, while the average daily cost in Punta Arenas is $63. 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 Ocho Rios and Punta Arenas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOcho Rios $52Punta Arenas $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOcho Rios $104Punta Arenas $64
Compare Hotels in Ocho Rios and Punta Arenas
Looking for a hotel in Ocho Rios 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: Ocho Rios Hotel Prices and Punta Arenas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ocho Rios $7.60Punta Arenas $1.80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ocho Rios
Also for Ocho Rios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Couples Resorts Airport Transfers Montego Bay MBJ (Private Roundtrip): $300
- From Scenic Guided Horseback Ride with Transfer: $195
- Jewels Resorts Airport Transfers Montego Bay MBJ (Private Roundtrip): $170
- Private Transfer from MBJ Airport to Resorts in Ocho Rios : $160
- Kingston Airport Transfer to Ocho Rios: $140
- Private Jamaica Airport Transfers: $130
- Private Airport Transfer from Montego Bay Airport to Ocho Rios: $130
- MBJ Airport Round trip Private transfer for Runaway Bay Hotels: $120
- Montego Bay Airport Transfers to Hotels to Ocho Rios: $115
- Airport Transfer to Ocho Rios Hotels (Round-Trip): $110
- Airport transfers to Hotel, Guest houses or Villas in St.Ann, Ochi Rios Jamaica: $110
- Private Airport Transfer to Bahia Principe Grand Hotel : $100
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Arenas
Also for Punta Arenas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Punta Arenas (city or airport) to Puerto Natales: $267
- Private Transfer from Punta Arenas Port to Punta Arenas hotels: $64
- Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ) to Punta Arenas - Arrival Transfer: $49
- Private Transfer Punta Arenas Airport to/from Punta Arenas: $33
Is it cheaper to fly into Ocho Rios or Punta Arenas?
Prices for flights to both Punta Arenas and Ocho Rios 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 dayOcho Rios $17Punta Arenas $21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ocho Rios
For Ocho Rios, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- From Flavors of Jamaica Guided Food Tour: $89
- Taste of Jamaica Farm & Food Tour: $98
- Ocho Ros: Hillside Cooking Class, Jamaican Style: $130
- Taste of Jamaica Food Tour: $140
- The Jamaica School of Cooking and Ocho Rios Highlights Tour: $141
- Ocho Rios Sunset Catamaran Cruise with Dinner: $218
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$1.05
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Dinner$25
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ocho Rios $15Punta Arenas $6.44
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ocho Rios
For Ocho Rios, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Tour of Brimmer Hall Estate$11
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Admission to Coyaba Gardens$5.47
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Tour of Prospect Plantation$18
Tours and Activities in Ocho Rios
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ocho Rios.
- Authentic Jamaican Bamboo Rafting Tour from Runaway Bay: $194
- Bob Marley Nine Mile Tour from Ocho Rios: $77
- Full-Day Tour to Blue Hole Falls with Horseback Ride from Montego Bay: $220
- Private Sightseeing Tour in Ocho Rios : $30
- Shopping Tour From Runaway Bay Hotels : $65
- ATV AdVENTURE FROM OCHO RIOS : $190
- ATV Adventure and Shopping from Falmouth (Minimum 4 persons): $165
- ATV, Bamboo Rafting and Horseback Riding Experience in Ocho Rios: $275
- ATV, Bamboo Rafting, Horseback Ride Guided Tour from Montego Bay: $135
- All day Tour of Ocho Rios : $200
- Appleton Estate Rum Tour and Tasting from Runaway Bay: $206
- Bamboo Rafting in Ocho Rios Private Experience: $207
Tours and Activities in Punta Arenas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta Arenas.
- Bike Tour in Punta Arenas, 100% local tour.: $70
- Fort Bulnes cruises: $70
- Full day Torres del Paine from Punta Arenas ,Regular tours: $180
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $145
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $145
- Magallanes Forest and Club Andino Tour from Punta Arenas: $290
- Magallanes Reserva and City Tour. Private Shore Excursion.: $158
- Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas: $153
- Mountain Bike Adventure in Punta Arenas: $192
- Pali Aike Full-Day Adventure from Punta Arenas: $300
- Private City Cruise Tour: $225
- Private Half Day Punta Arenas City Tour From the Hotel only: $250
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayOcho Rios $7.71Punta Arenas $4.86
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$7.34
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ocho Rios and Punta Arenas, we can see that Ocho Rios is more expensive. And not only is Punta Arenas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ocho Rios is in Caribbean Islands and Punta Arenas is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Punta Arenas would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Punta Arenas 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 Ocho Rios would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ocho Rios than you might in Punta Arenas.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ocho Rios Expensive? and Is Punta Arenas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ocho Rios or Punta Arenas?
Punta Arenas has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Ocho Rios. When comparing the sizes of Ocho Rios 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.
When is the best time to visit Ocho Rios or Punta Arenas?
Punta Arenas has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Ocho Rios experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Ocho Rios or Punta Arenas in the Summer?
Both Punta Arenas and Ocho Rios are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ocho Rios throughout the year.
Ocho Rios is much warmer than Punta Arenas in the summer. The daily temperature in Ocho Rios averages around 29°C (83°F) in July, and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 11°C (52°F)in January.
It's quite sunny in Punta Arenas. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ocho Rios. Ocho Rios usually receives more sunshine than Punta Arenas during summer. Ocho Rios gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Punta Arenas receives 208 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Ocho Rios usually receives around the same amount of rain as Punta Arenasin January. Ocho Rios gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryOcho Rios 29°C (83°F)Punta Arenas 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Ocho Rios or Punta Arenas in the Autumn?
Both Punta Arenas and Ocho Rios during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Ocho Rios because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the autumn, Ocho Rios is much warmer than Punta Arenas. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Ocho Rios in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Punta Arenas averages at about 7°C (44°F)in April.
It's quite sunny in Ocho Rios. In the autumn, Ocho Rios often gets more sunshine than Punta Arenasin April. Ocho Rios gets 229 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Punta Arenas receives 119 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Ocho Rios. Ocho Rios usually gets more rain in October than Punta Arenasin April. Ocho Rios gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilOcho Rios 28°C (82°F)Punta Arenas 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Ocho Rios or Punta Arenas in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Ocho Rios and Punta Arenas. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ocho Rios year-round.
It's quite cold in Punta Arenas in the winter. In January, Ocho Rios is generally much warmer than Punta Arenasin July. Daily temperatures in Ocho Rios average around 26°C (79°F), and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 1°C (35°F).
In Ocho Rios, it's very sunny this time of the year. Ocho Rios usually receives more sunshine than Punta Arenas during winter. Ocho Rios gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while Punta Arenas receives 70 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Ocho Rios usually receives less rain than Punta Arenasin July. Ocho Rios gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyOcho Rios 26°C (79°F)Punta Arenas 1°C (35°F)
Should I visit Ocho Rios or Punta Arenas in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Ocho Rios as well as Punta Arenas. Ocho Rios attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Ocho Rios is much warmer than Punta Arenas in the spring. The daily temperature in Ocho Rios averages around 26°C (80°F) in April, and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 7°C (44°F)in October.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ocho Rios this time of the year. In the spring, Ocho Rios often gets more sunshine than Punta Arenasin October. Ocho Rios gets 251 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Punta Arenas receives 183 hours of full sun.
Ocho Rios usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Punta Arenasin October. Ocho Rios gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberOcho Rios 26°C (80°F)Punta Arenas 7°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Punta Arenas and Ocho Rios
| Ocho Rios | Punta Arenas | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 1°C (35°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
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.