Which place is cheaper, Iquique or Playa del Carmen?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Playa del Carmen or Iquique?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Iquique? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Playa del Carmen or Iquique?
Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is in Quintana Roo on the Yucatan Peninsula. It's a popular resort town and is about seventy kilometers south of Cancun. It has a European atmosphere with many small hotels and a nice relaxed feel. It was originally a small fishing town but tourism began with the introduction of a passenger ferry to Cozumel. The area developed rapidly and there are many luxury hotels, condos, and resorts. There are also American chains and a variety of shopping opportunities nearby.
Iquique
Located in a golden crescent of coastline, the beautiful beach city with an ocean that's several shades of blue and a historic centre that offers the perfect balance of culture and relaxation is counted among Chile's premier beach resorts. The city is home to the duty free zone called "Zofri" and a growing number of high rise resort hotels along its beaches. Slightly more expensive and polluted than neighboring population centers, such as Arica, Iquique and its chaotic duty-free shopping zone (zona franca) have become the perfect summer holiday destination for Chilean families.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Chile, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile.
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Playa del Carmen Prices
Mexico PricesIquique Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPlaya del Carmen $95Iquique $130
The average daily cost (per person) in Playa del Carmen is $95, while the average daily cost in Iquique is $130. 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 Playa del Carmen and Iquique in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPlaya del Carmen $38Iquique $46
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPlaya del Carmen $76Iquique $92
Compare Hotels in Playa del Carmen and Iquique
Looking for a hotel in Playa del Carmen or Iquique? 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: Playa del Carmen Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Playa del Carmen $23Iquique $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Playa del Carmen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Playa del Carmen:
- Private Van Transfer to Merida: $389
- Private Van Transfer to Valladolid: $348
- Private Van Transfer to Chiquilá (Holbox): $348
- Private Transfer from Playa del Carmen to Chiquila Ferry Dock: $299
- Private Transfer Open 4 - 12 hours Costa Mujeres to Cancun: $283
- Airport Transfers to Akumal - Private van (ROUND TRIP) FLAT RATE: $266
- Private Transfer to Chiquila one-wey, from Cancún and Playa: $260
- Private Transfer to Xel-Há Park roundtrip, from Playa del Carmen: $260
- Private Transfer Playa del Carmen to Mérida with Flexible Stops: $240
- Private Transfer From Chetumal to Mahahual With a 2 Hour Stop: $236
- Private Transfer to Cenote at Tulum: $213
- Private Transfers to Cancun Airport, from Tulum or Akumal: $198
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Iquique
Also for Iquique, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Sandboard activity in Iquique with transfer: $95
Is it cheaper to fly into Playa del Carmen or Iquique?
Prices for flights to both Iquique and Playa del Carmen 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 dayPlaya del Carmen $39Iquique $63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Playa del Carmen
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Playa del Carmen.
- Dinner and Show at the Mayan Planetarium of Chichen: $39
- Christmas Eve Dinner in a magical jungle setting: $45
- Flavors of Playa del Carmen, Mexican Food Tour: $67
- Cooking Class in 9 Recipes & Drinks: $77
- Playa del Carmen Food Tour with 8+ Authentic Yucatan Dishes: $81
- Food Tour Through Markets with 7 Tastings: $82
- local walking food tour Inlakech Playa del Carmen: $83
- Cooking Class in 9 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $85
- VIP Private Mystery Dinner Murder in the Jungle: $85
- Riviera Maya Luxury Sunset Sailing plus Light Dinner and Open Bar: $89
- Mayan Ceremony in Tulum. Temazcal, Dinner and pick up included.: $92
- Mexican Cooking Class 1 or 3 Courses Tequila and Mezcal Tasting: $105
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Playa del Carmen $16Iquique $29
Tours and Activities in Playa del Carmen
Here are a few actual costs in Playa del Carmen for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 3D Museum of Wonders Admission Ticket: $41
- 4 ADVENTURES 1 DAY Tulum Coba Cenote and Playa del Carmen: $16
- 4 Casa Tortugas Cenotes Tour from Playa del Carmen: $142
- AQUA WONDER (Half-Day Aquatic Tour in Tulum with Snorkeling and Meals): $129
- ATV Adventure with Zipline and Cenote Experience: $92
- ATV Adventure with Ziplines & Cenote From Playa del Carmen: $78
- ATV Mayan Jungle Adventure: $180
- ATV Tour in Playa del Carmen with Zip Lines: $71
- ATV Tour, Ziplines, Mayan Cenote, Tacos, Tequila and Transport: $35
- ATV tour, zipline and cenote From Playa del Carmen: $84
- ATV´s adventure, swim in Cenotes & visit to Tulum Site: $114
- ATV´s, Snorkel & Ziplines Adventure from Riviera Maya & Tulum: $178
Tours and Activities in Iquique
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Iquique.
- City tour of Iquique with navigation to the Esmeralda buoy: $55
- City Tour in Iquique: $89
- Pintados Geoglyphs, Humberstone and Salar Crespo tour: $145
- Red Lagoon Tour: $639
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPlaya del Carmen $20Iquique $22
Sample the Local Flavors in Playa del Carmen
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Playa del Carmen:
- Tour to the Brewery with Tasting and Fifth Avenue: $106
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Playa del Carmen and Iquique, we can see that Iquique is more expensive. And not only is Playa del Carmen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Playa del Carmen is in North America and Iquique 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 Playa del Carmen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Playa del Carmen 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 Iquique would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Iquique than you might in Playa del Carmen.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Playa del Carmen Expensive? and Is Iquique Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Playa del Carmen or Iquique?
Iquique has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Playa del Carmen. When comparing the sizes of Playa del Carmen and Iquique, 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.