Which place is cheaper, Puerto Madryn 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 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 Camping Tours in Argentina, and The Best Luxury Tours to Argentina.
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Playa del Carmen Prices
Mexico PricesPuerto Madryn Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPlaya del Carmen $90Puerto Madryn $59
The average daily cost (per person) in Playa del Carmen is $90, while the average daily cost in Puerto Madryn 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 Playa del Carmen and Puerto Madryn in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPlaya del Carmen $36Puerto Madryn $39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPlaya del Carmen $72Puerto Madryn $78
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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Playa del Carmen $22Puerto Madryn $2.45
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Madryn
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Madryn:
- Private Transfer to or from Puerto Madryn or Trelew Airport: $100
- Puerto Madryn Airport PMY Private Transfer to Puerto Madryn City: $33
- Puerto Madryn Airport Private Transfer: $251
- Transfer El Tehuelche Airport Puerto Madryn: $15
- Transfer Trelew Airport Puerto Madryn: $40
- Trelew Airport Shuttle Transfer To Puerto Madryn: $55
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 $37Puerto Madryn $7.37
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Playa del Carmen $16Puerto Madryn $43
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 Puerto Madryn
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Madryn are as follows:
- Cruise Shore Excursion Puerto Madryn City Tour: $25
- Punta Cuevas Puerto Madryn Bike Tour: $55
- Punta Loma Shore Excursion with City tour: $60
- El Doradillo Whale Watching Half-Day Tour from Puerto Madryn: $65
- Shore Tour Punta Loma & city tour cruise passengers Puerto Madryn: $65
- Cruise Shore Sea Lions Experience Punta Loma and city overview: $65
- Punta Loma & City Tour for Cruise Passengers: $68
- Excursion to Punta Loma and Puerto Madryn for Cruisers: $68
- Shore Tour Punta Loma with craft beer tasting: $70
- El Doradillo Whale Watching Half-Day Tour: $70
- Private Diving Experience with Sea Lions in Punta Loma: $70
- Puerto Madryn Punta Loma Shore Tour with Craft Beer Tasting: $70
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPlaya del Carmen $19Puerto Madryn $12
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 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.