Should you visit Piriapolis or Montevideo?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Piriapolis or Montevideo, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Piriapolis
Piriapolis is a small beach town between Montevideo and Punta del Este in Uruguay. It is a more laid back version of Punta del Este with fewer fancy restaurants and clubs but it has perhaps more charm, with its grand old hotel and beachfront promenade backed by small mountains. The rather old-school coastal resort is vaguely reminiscent of a Mediterranean beach town.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Montevideo or Piriapolis?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Piriapolis is $48, while the average daily cost in Montevideo is $46. 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 Piriapolis and Montevideo in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Piriapolis is about $38 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Travelers usually pay around $56 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.
Food
While meal prices in Piriapolis can vary, the average travelers spends about $17 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Piriapolis should cost around $6.80 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Piriapolis is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
Food in Montevideo costs travelers about $9.73 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.
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Food
Meals for one day
Piriapolis $17
Montevideo $9.73
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
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El Milongon Dinner & Show: Candombe, Tango & Folklore in Montevideo:
$105
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $23 per day to get around in Piriapolis.
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 $5.29 per person, per day on transportation in Montevideo.
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
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Best Private Arrival or Departure Airport Transfer in Montevideo:
$50
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Departure Private Transfer Montevideo to Montevideo Airport MVD in Business Car:
$69
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Departure Private Transfer Montevideo to Montevideo Airport MVD in Sedan Car:
$46
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Departure Private Transfer Montevideo to Montevideo Airport MVD in a Minibus:
$217
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Montevideo Airport Transfers:
$25
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PACK 1: Transfer in - Tour Montevideo - Transfer out:
$60
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PACK 2: Transfer in - Tour Montevideo - Punta del Este - Transfer out:
$110
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PACK 3: Transfer in - Tour Montevideo - Punta del Este - Colonia - Transfer out:
$190
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Private Airport Transfer: Carrasco International Airport (MVD) to Montevideo:
$40
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Private Airport Transfer: Montevideo to Carrasco International Airport (MVD):
$40
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Private Arrival Transfer: Montevideo Airport to Hotel:
$70
Is it cheaper to fly into Piriapolis or Montevideo?
Prices for flights to both Montevideo and Piriapolis 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.
Entertainment
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $4.25 per person, per day in Piriapolis. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Montevideo can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $15 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
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
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Skip the Line: Museo Andes 1972 Crash Memorial Admission Ticket:
$8.00
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Half-Day Shared City Tour of Montevideo AM:
$19
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Tour Montevideo Panoramico:
$23
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Walking Tour Parque Rodo: Idiosyncrasy and art of Uruguay:
$25
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City Tour Montevideo:
$25
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City Tour Montevideo:
$28
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Montevideo Tourist Bus:
$31
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The Best Montevideo City Tour:
$33
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Full-Day City Tour of Punta del Este from Montevideo:
$33
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From Punta del Este Full-Day Tour:
$39
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Montevide Bike Tour:
$40
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Piriapolis may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $5.86 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
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Private Winery Tour + Wine Tasting (Minimum 4 people):
$80
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Montevideo and Wine Tasting Tour - for cruise passengers:
$89
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Wine tasting - Uruguayan Tannat in Montevideo:
$103
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Private Visit to Uruguayan Winery + Lunch + Wine tasting (minimum 5 people):
$105
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Juanico Wine Tour Lunch:
$120
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Pack 5: Tour Montevideo, Punta del Este & Wine Tasting Tour:
$145
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Guided Private Wine Tour with Tasting and Lunch:
$182
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Private Wine Tours by Wine Explorers Uruguay:
$205
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Private Montevideo Wine Tour & Flight Tour:
$259
When comparing the travel costs between Piriapolis and Montevideo, we can see that Piriapolis 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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