Which place is cheaper, La Serena 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 La Serena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or La Serena? 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 La Serena?
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.
La Serena
La Serena is a charming town in Northern Chile. It is Chile's second-oldest city and the thriving capital of Region IV. With its beautiful architecture, its long golden shoreline, dignified stone churches, tree-shaded avenues and pretty plazas, La Serena has everything you could ask for!
Chileans on holidays flood in the city in January and February, though it is fairly peaceful outside the summer rush. Some of the city's architecture is from the colonial era, but most is actually neocolonial thanks to president Gabriel Gonzalez Videla, born in La Serena, and her 'Plan Serena' of the late 1940s.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Chile.
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Playa del Carmen Prices
Mexico PricesLa Serena Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPlaya del Carmen $89La Serena $106
The average daily cost (per person) in Playa del Carmen is $89, while the average daily cost in La Serena is $106. 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 La Serena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPlaya del Carmen $36La Serena $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPlaya del Carmen $72La Serena $84
Compare Hotels in Playa del Carmen and La Serena
Looking for a hotel in Playa del Carmen or La Serena? 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 and La Serena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Playa del Carmen $22La Serena $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Playa del Carmen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Playa del Carmen:
- Tulum Ruins Experience with Private Roundtrip Transfer: $115
- Transfer from Cancun airport to Riviera Maya hotel: $139
- Puerto Aventuras to Cancún Airport (CUN) - Private Departure Transfer: $87
- Private transfer from Playa del Carmen to Chiquila: $131
- Private Transfers to Cancun Airport, from Playa del Carmen: $89
- Private Transfer: Akumal to Cancun Airport CUN in SUV: $119
- Private Transfer to Chiquila one-wey, from Cancún and Playa: $260
- Private Transfer to Cenotes at Riviera Maya: $171
- Private Transfer roundtrip to Xoximilco. from PLAYA and CANCUN: $260
- Private Transfer from Puerto Aventuras to Cancun Airport CUN by Minivan -Minibus: $83
- Private Transfer from Playa del Carmen to Chiquila Ferry Dock: $299
- Private Transfer from Playa del Carmen to Cancun Airport: $90
Is it cheaper to fly into Playa del Carmen or La Serena?
Prices for flights to both La Serena 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 $37La Serena $46
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.
- Cenotes by Bike and Mayan Cooking Class Half-Day Guided Tour: $56
- Flavors of Playa del Carmen, Mexican Food Tour: $63
- Playa Del Carmen Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $75
- Playa del Carmen Walking Food Tour: $79
- Yucatecan Cooking Class & Unlimited Margaritas – Playa del Carmen: $85
- Playa del Camen Vegan Mexican Food Tour: $85
- Temazcal Mayan Ceremony and Dinner in Mayan Village: $89
- Mayan Cooking Class: Chicken Pibil in Secret Cenote: $95
- PDC Traditional Mexican Cooking Experience: $109
- Riviera Maya Luxury Sunset Sailing plus Light Dinner and Open Bar: $109
- Mexican Cooking Class: $120
- Isa’s Authentic Mexican Cooking Class: $120
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Playa del Carmen $15La Serena $24
Tours and Activities in Playa del Carmen
Here are a few actual costs in Playa del Carmen for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- ATV Mayan Jungle Adventure: $180
- Buggy Ride through Playa del Carmen Tour: $139
- Catamaran Cruise in Riviera Maya With Snorkeling & Beach Club: $85
- Cozumel Buggy Tour: $155
- Park Xenses Tour Play with your Senses from Playa del Carmen: $126
- Romantic tour in Akumal: $115
- The Best Ruins Tour : Coba Sunset Cultural / Extreme : $140
- "Tulum Adventures: Between Jungle, Cenotes and Mayan Mysteries": $110
- 3 in 1 Private Tour Tulum Cenote and Snorkeling in the reef: $210
- 4 ADVENTURES 1 DAY Tulum Coba Cenote and Playa del Carmen : $16
- 4 amazing places for 1 price and 1 full day tour Tulum, Coba, Cenote and PDC: $40
- 4 to 7 Day Beach Cruiser Rental (Up to 7 Days, includes Ulock): $45
Tours and Activities in La Serena
For La Serena, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Elqui Valley Tour: Full Day History and Flavors : $42
- Astronomy and Astrophotography Tour: $55
- Astronomical Tour Collowara Observatory: $64
- La Serena and Coquimbo City Tour (SIB): $66
- La Serena and Coquimbo Guided City Tour: $76
- Elqui Valley Tour from La Serena: $85
- Full day Tour to Elqui Valley : $110
- Grand Tour Valley of Elqui Mystic Mountains and Cultural Treasures: $115
- Spas and Beaches Tour: La Herradura -Totoralillo - Guanaqueros -Tongoy: $118
- Dama Island or Chañaral Navigation Tour Humboldt Penguin Reserve: $165
- Private La Serena and Coquimbo City Tour: $170
- Elqui Valley: Pisco Tour, Wine, Beer: $174
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPlaya del Carmen $19La Serena $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:
- Madness tour bar crawl Playa del carmen open bar: $99
- Tour to the Brewery with Tasting and Fifth Avenue: $100
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Playa del Carmen and La Serena, we can see that La Serena 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 La Serena 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 La Serena would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Serena 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 La Serena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Playa del Carmen or La Serena?
La Serena has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Playa del Carmen. When comparing the sizes of Playa del Carmen and La Serena, 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 Playa del Carmen or La Serena?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. La Serena is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Playa del Carmen has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or La Serena in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Playa del Carmen as well as La Serena. The beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Playa del Carmen this time of year.
In the summer, Playa del Carmen is much warmer than La Serena. Typically, the summer temperatures in Playa del Carmen in July average around 28°C (82°F), and La Serena averages at about 18°C (64°F)in January.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in La Serena. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa del Carmen this time of the year. In the summer, Playa del Carmen often gets less sunshine than La Serenain January. Playa del Carmen gets 223 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 247 hours of full sun.
Playa del Carmen receives a lot of rain in the summer. Playa del Carmen usually gets more rain in July than La Serenain January. Playa del Carmen gets 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryPlaya del Carmen 28°C (82°F)La Serena 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or La Serena in the Autumn?
Both La Serena and Playa del Carmen are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Playa del Carmen for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Playa del Carmen is generally much warmer than La Serenain April. Daily temperatures in Playa del Carmen average around 26°C (79°F), and La Serena fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa del Carmen. Playa del Carmen usually receives more sunshine than La Serena during autumn. Playa del Carmen gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 159 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Playa del Carmen. In October, Playa del Carmen usually receives more rain than La Serenain April. Playa del Carmen gets 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn. June to October is the hurricane season in Playa del Carmen.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilPlaya del Carmen 26°C (79°F)La Serena 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or La Serena in the Winter?
Both La Serena and Playa del Carmen during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Playa del Carmen in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Playa del Carmen is much warmer than La Serena in the winter. The daily temperature in Playa del Carmen averages around 23°C (73°F) in January, and La Serena fluctuates around 12°C (54°F)in July.
It's quite sunny in Playa del Carmen. In the winter, Playa del Carmen often gets more sunshine than La Serenain July. Playa del Carmen gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 160 hours of full sun.
Playa del Carmen usually gets more rain in January than La Serenain July. Playa del Carmen gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyPlaya del Carmen 23°C (73°F)La Serena 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or La Serena in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Playa del Carmen and La Serena. Most visitors come to Playa del Carmen for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.
In the spring, Playa del Carmen is much warmer than La Serena. Typically, the spring temperatures in Playa del Carmen in April average around 27°C (81°F), and La Serena averages at about 14°C (57°F)in October.
In Playa del Carmen, it's very sunny this time of the year. Playa del Carmen usually receives more sunshine than La Serena during spring. Playa del Carmen gets 259 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 190 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Playa del Carmen usually receives more rain than La Serenain October. Playa del Carmen gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the spring. June to October in Playa del Carmen is the hurricane season.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberPlaya del Carmen 27°C (81°F)La Serena 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for La Serena and Playa del Carmen
| Playa del Carmen | La Serena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (73°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (75°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 3 mm (0.1 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.