Which place is cheaper, San Pedro de Atacama or Piriapolis?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Piriapolis or San Pedro de Atacama?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Piriapolis or San Pedro de Atacama, 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 San Pedro de Atacama?
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.
San Pedro de Atacama
San Pedro de Atacama is a gateway to northern Chile. It is a good jumping off point for exploring the area's impressive landscape, most of which is included in the Los Flamencos National Reserve. It is popular with both Chilean and international tourists, and because of its popularity, it is a relatively expensive destination, with many prices comparable to what you might pay in Santiago.
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.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPiriapolis $67San Pedro de Atacama $59
The average daily cost (per person) in Piriapolis is $67, while the average daily cost in San Pedro de Atacama is $59. 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 San Pedro de Atacama in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPiriapolis $27San Pedro de Atacama $32
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPiriapolis $54San Pedro de Atacama $64
Compare Hotels in Piriapolis and San Pedro de Atacama
Looking for a hotel in Piriapolis or San Pedro de Atacama? 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 San Pedro de Atacama Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Piriapolis $31San Pedro de Atacama $9.15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro de Atacama
Also for San Pedro de Atacama, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 3 Perfect Days in Atacama + Transfer: $250
- Atacama Airport Shuttle Transfer: $38
- Calama Airport Transfer to Atacama / Airport Lodging: $60
- Calama Airport: Shared Transfer to/from San Pedro de Atacama: $30
- Direct Transfer Atacama to Uyuni: $128
- Private transfer from San Pedro de Atacama to Calama City: $190
- Puritama Thermal Transfer: $46
- Stargazing Experience with Transfer: $39
- Shared Transfer from San Pedro de Atacama to Calama Airport: $29
- Transfer to the Puritama Hot Springs: $60
- Transfers to San Pedro de Acatama (shared service): $30
Is it cheaper to fly into Piriapolis or San Pedro de Atacama?
Prices for flights to both San Pedro de Atacama 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
-
Food Meals for one dayPiriapolis $23San Pedro de Atacama $14
Typical Food Prices in San Pedro de Atacama
For San Pedro de Atacama, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Empanadas$1.26
-
Lunch$10
-
Dinner$11
-
Drink$0.94
-
Empanada$5.24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Pedro de Atacama
For San Pedro de Atacama, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Private Dinner Under the Stars: $300
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Piriapolis $5.89San Pedro de Atacama $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Pedro de Atacama
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for San Pedro de Atacama's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
Sand Boarding$56
Tours and Activities in San Pedro de Atacama
For San Pedro de Atacama, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Astronomical Tour with Guide and Pick Up San Pedro de Atacama: $39
- Valle de la Luna: The unmissable tour: $40
- Stargazing Tour with Astronomer in San Pedro de Atacama: $40
- Tour to Vallecito and Magic Bus: $42
- Tour to the Valley of the Moon San Pedro de Atacama: $42
- Etno-Astronomical Experience: $43
- 6-hour tour to Valle del Arcoíris: $44
- Traditional Ethnoastronomy Tour in San Pedro de Atacama: $44
- Traditional Ethnoastronomy Experience: $44
- Valle de la Luna Guided Tour: $44
- Guided Atacama Desert Stargazing Tour: $44
- Cejar Lagoon Tour: San Pedro de Atacama: $44
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayPiriapolis $8.11San Pedro de Atacama $4.94
Typical Alcohol Prices in San Pedro de Atacama
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in San Pedro de Atacama:
-
Alcohol$25
When comparing the travel costs between Piriapolis and San Pedro de Atacama, 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 San Pedro de Atacama Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Piriapolis or San Pedro de Atacama?
Piriapolis has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of San Pedro de Atacama. When comparing the sizes of Piriapolis and San Pedro de Atacama, 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.