Which place is cheaper, Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Lake Titicaca (Puno)? 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
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.
Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Lake Titicaca, which directly translates to "puma stone" in Quechua, is located high in the Andes Mountains straddling Peru and Bolivia, with about 60% of the lake in Peru and 40% in Bolivia. Among the lake are three main islands, the most popular of which are the Uros Islands, also known as the floating islands, where the Uros people live on totora reeds that grow in the lake.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best Photography Tours in Peru, and The Best Jungle Trekking Tours in Peru.
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Playa del Carmen Prices
Mexico PricesLake Titicaca (Puno) Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPlaya del Carmen $90Lake Titicaca (Puno) $71
The average daily cost (per person) in Playa del Carmen is $90, while the average daily cost in Lake Titicaca (Puno) is $71. 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPlaya del Carmen $36Lake Titicaca (Puno) $28
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPlaya del Carmen $72Lake Titicaca (Puno) $56
Compare Hotels in Playa del Carmen and Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Looking for a hotel in Playa del Carmen or Lake Titicaca (Puno)? 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Playa del Carmen $22Lake Titicaca (Puno) $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Playa del Carmen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Playa del Carmen:
- Private Airport Transfer to/from Playa del Carmen & Riviera Maya: $20
- Private One Way or Roundtrip Transfer to Costa Mujeres Hotels: $20
- Cancun Airport Departure transfer from Playa Paraiso, Playa del Carmen, Playacar: $27
- One way shared transfer to Chiquila: $34
- CUN Airport One-Way/Round-Trip Transfers to Playa del Carmen: $60
- Chetumal to Chetumal Airport (CTM) - Departure Private Transfer: $63
- From One way shared transfer to Holbox: $69
- Cancun Airport: Private Transfers: From/to Playa del Carmen: $70
- Transfer from Playa del Carmen to the airport and hotels in Cancun: $71
- Round trip Private Transfer Cancun -Costa Mujeres/ Playa Mujeres: $71
- Transfer from Playa del Carmen to the airport and hotels in Tulum: $74
- Private van transfer for groups of up to 14 passengers: $75
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno):
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Taxi$0.87
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno):
- Inca Manco Capac Airport to Puno or Titicaca Small-Group Transfer: $20
- Private Transfer From Puno to Chivay, English Speaking Driver: $219
- Private Transfer from Inca Manco Capac (JUL) Airport to Puno: $93
- Private Transfer from Juliaca Airport to Puno Plaza de Armas: $40
- Private Transfer from Juliaca Airport to Puno or Viceversa: $52
- Private Transfer from Puno to Desaguadero: $203
- Private transfer from Juliaca Airport to Puno or Viceversa: $52
- Puno Arrival Transfer from bus or railway Station: $14
Is it cheaper to fly into Playa del Carmen or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
Prices for flights to both Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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 $37Lake Titicaca (Puno) $28
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.
- Christmas Eve Dinner in a magical jungle setting: $45
- Playa Plates Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $65
- Flavors of Playa del Carmen, Mexican Food Tour: $67
- Playa Del Carmen Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $75
- Cooking Class in 9 Recipes & Drinks: $77
- Playa del Carmen Food Tour Discover Hidden Mexican Culinary Gems: $80
- Playa del Carmen Food Tour with 8+ Authentic Yucatan Dishes: $81
- Food Tour Through Markets with 7 Tastings: $82
- 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: $113
Typical Food Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:
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Tamales$1.59
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lake Titicaca (Puno).
- Midday Food Tour in Puno: $68
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Playa del Carmen $16Lake Titicaca (Puno) $31
Tours and Activities in Playa del Carmen
Here are a few actual costs in Playa del Carmen for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Bus Ticket connecting Cancun Central and Playa del Carmen: $7.20
- Ek Balam Self-Guided Walking Tour with Audio Guide: $9.99
- 4 ADVENTURES 1 DAY Tulum Coba Cenote and Playa del Carmen: $16
- Tour of Chichén Itzá, 2 cenotes and Valladolid: $17
- Playa del Carmen Coastal Heritage Walking Tour: $17
- 4X1 Enjoy a tour to Tulum, Coba, Cenote and Playa del Carmen: $20
- Riviera Maya: Frida Kahlo Museum Guided Tour 2025: $20
- Full day Chichén Itzá Tour from Cancún and Riviera Maya: $22
- Akumal Beach : VIP Swimming Tour with Turtles and Corals: $25
- Playa Del Carmen Walking Tour: Explore Top Sights & Hidden Gems: $30
- Chichen Itza Cenote and Valladolid All Inclusive Tour: $32
- Behind the Scenes – German-language Cultural Tour.: $35
Tours and Activities in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:
- 3-Hour Small Group Uros Floating Islands Tour: $8.00
- Half Day Tour Floating Islands of Uros Puno: $10
- Uros Floating Island Tour: $10
- Half-Day Tour to the Floating Islands of Uros: $14
- Chullpas Tour of Sillustani Inca Cemetery: $18
- Uros Floating Islands Half-Day Tour from Puno: $22
- Sillustani Tour from Puno with Lake Umayo: $24
- Morning: Uros Floating Islands Tour from Puno: $25
- Sillustani Tours: $26
- Sillustani Tombs Half Day Tour from Puno: $28
- Sillustani Half Day Tour: $29
- 3h Boat Tour to Uros Island from Puno: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPlaya del Carmen $19Lake Titicaca (Puno) $14
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:
- Playa After Dark: 5th Ave Social Pub Crawl, Playa del Carmen: $34
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Playa del Carmen and Lake Titicaca (Puno), we can see that Playa del Carmen is more expensive. And not only is Lake Titicaca (Puno) much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Playa del Carmen is in North America and Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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 Playa del Carmen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Playa del Carmen than you might in Lake Titicaca (Puno).
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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Playa del Carmen or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
Lake Titicaca (Puno) has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Playa del Carmen. When comparing the sizes of Playa del Carmen and Lake Titicaca (Puno), 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.