Which place is cheaper, Punta Arenas or Piriapolis?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Piriapolis or Punta Arenas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Piriapolis 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: Piriapolis or Punta Arenas?
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.
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 Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, 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 dayPiriapolis $67Punta Arenas $63
The average daily cost (per person) in Piriapolis is $67, 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 Piriapolis and Punta Arenas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPiriapolis $27Punta Arenas $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPiriapolis $54Punta Arenas $64
Compare Hotels in Piriapolis and Punta Arenas
Looking for a hotel in Piriapolis 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: Piriapolis Hotel Prices and Punta Arenas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Piriapolis $31Punta Arenas $1.80
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: $33
- Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ) to Punta Arenas - Arrival Transfer: $49
- Punta Arenas to Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ) - Departure Transfer: $49
- Transfer from Punta Arenas (city or airport) to Puerto Natales: $267
Is it cheaper to fly into Piriapolis or Punta Arenas?
Prices for flights to both Punta Arenas 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayPiriapolis $23Punta Arenas $21
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.Piriapolis $5.89Punta Arenas $6.44
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: $52
- Regular city cruise tour: $65
- Fort Bulnes cruises: $70
- Bike Tour in Punta Arenas, 100% local tour.: $70
- Punta Arenas Sightseeing Tour: $72
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $138
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $145
- Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas: $153
- Punta Arenas Private City Tour Shore Excursion: $155
- Magallanes Reserva and City Tour. Private Shore Excursion.: $158
- Full day Torres del Paine from Punta Arenas ,Regular tours: $180
- Mountain Bike Adventure in Punta Arenas: $192
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPiriapolis $8.11Punta 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 comparing the travel costs between Piriapolis and Punta Arenas, 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.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Piriapolis Expensive? and Is Punta Arenas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Piriapolis or Punta Arenas?
Punta Arenas has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Piriapolis. When comparing the sizes of Piriapolis 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 Piriapolis or Punta Arenas?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit Piriapolis or Punta Arenas in the Summer?
Both Punta Arenas and Piriapolis during the summer are popular places to visit.
Piriapolis is much warmer than Punta Arenas in the summer. The daily temperature in Piriapolis averages around 23°C (73°F) in January, and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
In Punta Arenas, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Piriapolis. In the summer, Piriapolis often gets more sunshine than Punta Arenas. Piriapolis gets 296 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Punta Arenas receives 208 hours of full sun.
Piriapolis usually gets more rain in January than Punta Arenas. Piriapolis gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryPiriapolis 23°C (73°F)Punta Arenas 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Piriapolis or Punta Arenas in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Piriapolis and Punta Arenas.
In the autumn, Piriapolis is much warmer than Punta Arenas. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Piriapolis in April average around 17°C (63°F), and Punta Arenas averages at about 7°C (44°F).
Piriapolis usually receives more sunshine than Punta Arenas during autumn. Piriapolis gets 171 hours of sunny skies, while Punta Arenas receives 119 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In April, Piriapolis usually receives more rain than Punta Arenas. Piriapolis gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilPiriapolis 17°C (63°F)Punta Arenas 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Piriapolis or Punta Arenas in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Piriapolis as well as Punta Arenas.
It's quite cold in Punta Arenas in the winter. In July, Piriapolis is generally much warmer than Punta Arenas. Daily temperatures in Piriapolis average around 10°C (50°F), and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 1°C (35°F).
In the winter, Piriapolis often gets more sunshine than Punta Arenas. Piriapolis gets 135 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Punta Arenas receives 70 hours of full sun.
Piriapolis usually gets more rain in July than Punta Arenas. Piriapolis gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulyPiriapolis 10°C (50°F)Punta Arenas 1°C (35°F)
Should I visit Piriapolis or Punta Arenas in the Spring?
Both Punta Arenas and Piriapolis are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
Piriapolis is much warmer than Punta Arenas in the spring. The daily temperature in Piriapolis averages around 16°C (61°F) in October, and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Piriapolis. Piriapolis usually receives more sunshine than Punta Arenas during spring. Piriapolis gets 248 hours of sunny skies, while Punta Arenas receives 183 hours of full sun in the spring.
In October, Piriapolis usually receives more rain than Punta Arenas. Piriapolis gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberPiriapolis 16°C (61°F)Punta Arenas 7°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Punta Arenas and Piriapolis
| Piriapolis | Punta Arenas | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (73°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 22°C (72°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 14°C (57°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jun | 11°C (52°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jul | 10°C (50°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 1°C (35°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 11°C (52°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 13°C (55°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 67 mm (2.6 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.