A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Pereira vs. Punta Arenas for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Pereira or Punta Arenas?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Pereira and Punta Arenas. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Pereira or Punta Arenas?

Pereira

Situated in a small valley in the western Andes, Pereira is the capital city of Risaralda, Colombia. The city is surrounded by coffee producing agriculture and sits in the middle of a triangle of cities including Bogota, Medillin and Cali, each of which is about a three to five hour drive away.

The city itself is very much student oriented, as there are many universities around town and at least one quarter of the population is made up of students. There is also a very European vibe to the city and you will find the area beautiful with many parks and museums.

Pereira's economy is based on government, agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, trade, commerce, and tourism. Agricultural products include sugarcane, cacao, rubber, cereals, coffee, and livestock. Apparel is the main manufacturing product, along with aluminium goods, motorcycles and telecommunications technology.

Pereira is found in a warm moorland area with an average temperature of around 72 degrees. The temperatures remain relatively consistent throughout the year with highs in the high 70s Fahrenheit to low 80s Fahrenheit. Low temperatures are usually in the low 60s Fahrenheit. Rain is heaviest during the months of April and May as well as October and November.

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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Colombia, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Punta Arenas or Pereira?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Pereira is $64, while the average daily cost in Punta Arenas is $62. 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 Pereira and Punta Arenas in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Pereira $26
    Punta Arenas $31
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Pereira $52
    Punta Arenas $62
Compare Hotels in Pereira and Punta Arenas

Looking for a hotel in Pereira 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.

Hotels in Pereira


Hotels in Punta Arenas


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: Pereira Hotel Prices and Punta Arenas Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Pereira $20
    Punta Arenas $1.76
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pereira

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Pereira are as follows:


  • Short Taxi Ride
    $1.18

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pereira

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pereira:

  • Pereira Airport (PEI) to Santa Rosa Cabal - Round-Trip Transfer: $128
  • Santa Rosa Cabal to Pereira Airport PEI - Departure Transfer: $64
  • Pereira Airport(PEI)to Santa Rosa Cabal- Arrival Private Transfer: $64
  • Private Transfer Pereira to Salento (or vice versa): $59
  • Manizales Arrival or Departure Transfer: Matecaña Airport: $45
  • One way transfer from Pereira to Salento AND/OR Salento to Pereira: $43
  • Manizales Arrival or Departure Transfer: Matecaña Intl Airport: $41
  • Manizales Arrival or Departure Transfer La Nubia Airport: $20
  • One-Way Private Transfer from Matecaña Airport: $12

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Arenas

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

  • Private Transfer Punta Arenas Airport to/from Punta Arenas: $34
  • Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ) to Punta Arenas - Arrival Transfer: $50
  • Punta Arenas to Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ) - Departure Transfer: $50
  • Transfer from Punta Arenas (city or airport) to Puerto Natales: $267

Is it cheaper to fly into Pereira or Punta Arenas?

Prices for flights to both Punta Arenas and Pereira 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
    Pereira $23
    Punta Arenas $20
Typical Food Prices in Pereira

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Pereira:


  • Hamburger
    $1.67

Typical Food Prices in Punta Arenas

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Punta Arenas:


  • Donut
    $1.02
  • Dinner
    $25

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Pereira $18
    Punta Arenas $6.29

Tours and Activities in Pereira

Here are a few actual costs in Pereira for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Chocolate Tour - Wonders of the Cacao: $188
  • City Tour Historic Center of Manizales in Caldas: $46
  • Cocora Valley and Salento Hike Tour: $79
  • Cocora Valley and Salento Horseback Riding Day Tour: $137
  • Cocora Valley and Salento Tour with Horseback Ride: $147
  • Cocora Valley, Salento and Coffee Farm Day Tour : $124
  • Cocora Valley, Salento and Filandia Full-Day Private Tour: $246
  • Cocora, Salento and Coffee Experience: $262
  • Coffee Farm and Salento Walking Tour with Lunch: $87
  • Coffee Farm and Santa Rosa Hot Springs Tour from Pereira or Armenia: $151
  • Coffee Tour at the Finca del Café: $40
  • Coffee Tour, Sighting Pereira: $125

Tours and Activities in Punta Arenas

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

  • City Sightseeing and Monuments Guided Tour: $42
  • Punta Arenas Sightseeing Tour: $64
  • Regular city cruise tour: $65
  • Fort Bulnes cruises: $70
  • Bike Tour in Punta Arenas, 100% local tour.: $70
  • King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $138
  • Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas: $153
  • Punta Arenas Private City Tour Shore Excursion: $155
  • King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $157
  • Magallanes Reserva and City Tour. Private Shore Excursion.: $158
  • Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas: $172
  • Full day Torres del Paine from Punta Arenas ,Regular tours: $180

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Pereira $14
    Punta Arenas $4.75

Typical Alcohol Prices in Punta Arenas

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Punta Arenas:


  • Alcohol
    $7.17


When comparing the travel costs between Pereira and Punta Arenas, we can see that Pereira 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.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pereira Expensive? and Is Punta Arenas Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Pereira or Punta Arenas?

Pereira has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Punta Arenas. When comparing the sizes of Pereira 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.