Which place is cheaper, Puerto Madryn or Playa del Carmen?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Playa del Carmen or Puerto Madryn?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Puerto Madryn? 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 Puerto Madryn?
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.
Puerto Madryn
Puerto Madryn is mostly known as the gateway to Peninsula Valdes, welcoming tourists who come for whale watching. The Peninsula Valdes is a nature reserve designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site; 97 km long and 63 km wide, it is connected to the continent by an isthmus of 35 km from which we can see both gulfs, San Jose at north and the Nuevo at south.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best 2-Week Tours in Argentina, and The Best 3-Week Tours in Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPlaya del Carmen $81Puerto Madryn $14
The average daily cost (per person) in Playa del Carmen is $81, while the average daily cost in Puerto Madryn is $14. 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 Puerto Madryn in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPlaya del Carmen $40Puerto Madryn $5.25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPlaya del Carmen $80Puerto Madryn $11
Compare Hotels in Playa del Carmen and Puerto Madryn
Looking for a hotel in Playa del Carmen or Puerto Madryn? 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 Puerto Madryn Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Playa del Carmen $24Puerto Madryn $3.28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Playa del Carmen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Playa del Carmen:
- Chetumal Airport (CTM) to Chetumal - Arrival Private Transfer: $24
- Private Transfer to Xplor / Xenses / Xplor Fire from Playa del Carmen: $25
- Shared transfer from Playa del Carmen tu Cancun airport: $25
- Shared Transfer Cancun Airport - Playa del Carmen: $31
- Akumal to Cancún Airport (CUN) - Departure Private Transfer: $40
- Maroma Beach: Entry Ticket to Maroma Beach Club & Transfer: $47
- Shared Transfer Cancun Airport - Puerto Aventuras: $48
- Private Transfer to Xel-Há Park from Playa del Carmen: $53
- Private Transfer Airport-Costa Mujeres/Playa Mujeres 1-8 pax: $59
- Shared roundtrip transfer from Cancun airport to Playa del Carmen: $71
- Transfer in Private vehicle from Akumal City - Cancun Airport (CUN) : $74
- Akumal to Cancun - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $77
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Madryn
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Madryn:
- From Punta Tombo Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $131
- Trelew Airport Shuttle Transfer To Puerto Madryn : $47
Is it cheaper to fly into Playa del Carmen or Puerto Madryn?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Madryn 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 $24Puerto Madryn $5.69
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: $60
- Walking Food Tour: $65
- Playa Del Carmen Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $75
- Playa del Carmen Walking Food Tour: $77
- Mexican Cooking Class: $100
- Seafood Tour in Playa del Carmen: $101
- PDC Traditional Mexican Cooking Experience: $104
- Authentic Mexican Cooking Class in Playa del Carmen: $120
- Isa’s Authentic Mexican Cooking Class: $120
- Cultural Coba Sunset Adventure with Dinner and show from Cancun: $130
- Sunset Adventure in Coba and Dinner with Show from Riviera Maya: $155
- Riviera Maya: Sunset Cruise with Beach Dinner and Open Bar: $157
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Playa del Carmen $17Puerto Madryn $5.77
Tours and Activities in Playa del Carmen
Here are a few actual costs in Playa del Carmen for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Shopping Tour & Tulum Mayan Ruins: $11
- Cancun Airport: Bus Ticket to/from Playa del Carmen: $14
- Tulum Ruins: Self-Guided Tour with Audio Narration & Map: $15
- Ek Balam: Self-Guided Tour with Audio Narration & Map: $15
- Riviera Maya: Frida Kahlo Museum Guided Tour 2024: $20
- YAL-KÚ Park in Riviera Maya Admission Ticket: $23
- Chichen Itza and Cenote Full Day Tour from Playa del Carmen: $28
- Ultramar Ferry, Regular round ticket, Playa del Carmen-Cozumel: $32
- Tulum and 2 Cenotes Half Day Tour from Riviera: $34
- Round-Trip Ferry Ticket to/from Cozumel: $35
- Mayan tour 4x1: Tulum, Cobá, Cenote & Playa del carmen: $35
- Tulum Ruins and Amusement Park Shared Tour: $37
Typical Entertainment Prices in Puerto Madryn
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Puerto Madryn are as follows:
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Whale Watching for Two$0.35
Tours and Activities in Puerto Madryn
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Madryn are as follows:
- Kayaking adventure in Puerto Madryn: $60
- Excursion to Punta Loma and Puerto Madryn for Cruisers: $60
- From City and Punta Loma Tour: $70
- Shore Excursion: Punta Loma+City Tour, for cruise passengers: $70
- Punta Loma Shore Excursion with City tour: $75
- Punta Loma Excursion for Cruise Passengers: $75
- Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience - optional Whale Watching : $87
- Peninsula Valdes Full Day Tour: $88
- Punta Tombo Tour, the Penguin Experience: $88
- Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience: $90
- Shore Excursion Punta Loma Sea Lions Reserve Including Puerto Madryn City Tour : $95
- Wonderful Punta Tombo Penguin Rookery Tour : $100
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPlaya del Carmen $21Puerto Madryn $3.13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Playa del Carmen and Puerto Madryn, we can see that Playa del Carmen is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Madryn much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Playa del Carmen is in North America and Puerto Madryn 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 Puerto Madryn would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Madryn 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 Puerto Madryn.
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 Puerto Madryn Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Playa del Carmen or Puerto Madryn?
Puerto Madryn has a larger population, and is about 19% larger than the population of Playa del Carmen. When comparing the sizes of Playa del Carmen and Puerto Madryn, 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 Puerto Madryn?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Puerto Madryn 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 Puerto Madryn in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Playa del Carmen and Puerto Madryn. The summer months attract visitors to Playa del Carmen because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
Playa del Carmen is a little warmer than Puerto Madryn in the summer. The daily temperature in Playa del Carmen averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 22°C (71°F)in January.
Playa del Carmen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Playa del Carmen usually receives more rain than Puerto Madrynin January. Playa del Carmen gets 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryPlaya del Carmen 28°C (82°F)Puerto Madryn 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Puerto Madryn in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Playa del Carmen as well as Puerto Madryn. The hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Playa del Carmen this time of year.
In the autumn, Playa del Carmen is much warmer than Puerto Madryn. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Playa del Carmen in October average around 26°C (79°F), and Puerto Madryn averages at about 14°C (58°F)in April.
Playa del Carmen receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Playa del Carmen usually gets more rain in October than Puerto Madrynin April. Playa del Carmen gets 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, the hurricane season in Playa del Carmen is June to October.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilPlaya del Carmen 26°C (79°F)Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Puerto Madryn in the Winter?
Both Puerto Madryn and Playa del Carmen are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Playa del Carmen for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Playa del Carmen is generally much warmer than Puerto Madrynin July. Daily temperatures in Playa del Carmen average around 23°C (73°F), and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).
It's quite sunny in Puerto Madryn. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa del Carmen. Playa del Carmen usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Puerto Madryn during winter. Playa del Carmen gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Madryn receives 209 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Playa del Carmen usually receives around the same amount of rain as Puerto Madrynin July. Playa del Carmen gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyPlaya del Carmen 23°C (73°F)Puerto Madryn 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Puerto Madryn in the Spring?
Both Puerto Madryn and Playa del Carmen during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Playa del Carmen in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.
Playa del Carmen is much warmer than Puerto Madryn in the spring. The daily temperature in Playa del Carmen averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 14°C (58°F)in October.
Playa del Carmen usually gets less rain in April than Puerto Madrynin October. Playa del Carmen gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year. Keep in mind that June to October is the hurricane season in Playa del Carmen.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberPlaya del Carmen 27°C (81°F)Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Puerto Madryn and Playa del Carmen
| Playa del Carmen | Puerto Madryn | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (73°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 11°C (53°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (75°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 12 mm (0.5 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.