Which place is cheaper, Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Punta Arenas? 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 Punta Arenas?
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.
Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas is in the far south of Chile and has a long history of maritime commerce, oil extraction, and sheep farming. It's the most populated city on the Strait of Magellan and has all the facilities you might need as a traveler, including banks, markets, drugstores and equipment shops. With a population of about 130,000, the city is a comfortable place to spend time. It serves as a base for Antarctic expeditions, although many expeditions also start in Ushuaia, Argentina, and Christchurch New Zealand.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPlaya del Carmen $81Punta Arenas $63
The average daily cost (per person) in Playa del Carmen is $81, while the average daily cost in Punta Arenas is $63. 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 Punta Arenas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPlaya del Carmen $40Punta Arenas $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPlaya del Carmen $80Punta Arenas $64
Compare Hotels in Playa del Carmen and Punta Arenas
Looking for a hotel in Playa del Carmen or Punta Arenas? 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 Punta Arenas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Playa del Carmen $24Punta Arenas $1.80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Playa del Carmen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Playa del Carmen:
- One Way Private Transfer from Playa del Carmen to Coba: $276
- Airport Transfers to Playa del Carmen - Private van (ROUND TRIP) FLAT RATE: $227
- Private Transfer to Cenote at Tulum: $213
- Transfers in Lincoln StretchLimo from Puerto Aventuras-Cun Airport.: $194
- Cancun Airport Round Trip transfer to Puerto Aventuras: $190
- 2x1 Tour: Isla Contoy, Isla Mujeres, Open Bar, Lunch and Transfers: $190
- Wedding Transfers Services in Round Trip Playa del Carmen: $180
- Roundtrip Private Transfer Playa del Carmen from CUN: $173
- Private Transfer From Cancún Airport - Puerto Aventuras: $163
- Contoy and Mujeres Islands Tour with Transfer Options: $159
- Tour Bacalar Ponton with Transfer from Cancun & Playa del Carmen : $147
- Access to Xel-Há Park with Transfer: $145
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Arenas
Also for Punta Arenas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Punta Arenas Airport to/from Punta Arenas: $33
- Private Transfer from Punta Arenas Port to Punta Arenas hotels: $64
- Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ) to Punta Arenas - Arrival Transfer: $49
- Transfer from Punta Arenas (city or airport) to Puerto Natales: $267
Is it cheaper to fly into Playa del Carmen or Punta Arenas?
Prices for flights to both Punta Arenas 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 $24Punta Arenas $21
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
Typical Food Prices in Punta Arenas
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Punta Arenas:
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Donut$1.05
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Dinner$25
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Playa del Carmen $17Punta Arenas $6.44
Tours and Activities in Playa del Carmen
Here are a few actual costs in Playa del Carmen for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Romantic tour in Akumal: $115
- Tulum Ruins, Turtle Sightseeing & Underground Cenote from Tulum: $140
- VIP Cenote Scuba Tour, Certified Divers Only: $230
- 3 in 1 Private Tour Tulum Cenote and Snorkeling in the reef: $210
- 3D Museum of Wonders Admission Ticket: $42
- 5X1: Tulum and Coba Ruins, Cenote & Mayan Village Full Day Tour : $114
- ATV Adventure with Ziplines Cenote from Playa del Carmen: $75
- ATV Extreme and Snorkel Adventure from the Riviera Maya: $139
- ATV Ride and Secret Caves Tour from Playa del Carmen: $80
- ATV Shared & Ziplines Adventure in Tulum Jungle from Riviera Maya: $133
- ATV Shared, Cavern & Ziplines -Jungle Adventure from Riviera Maya: $158
- ATV Xtreme & Snorkel Experience: $138
Tours and Activities in Punta Arenas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta Arenas.
- City Sightseeing and Monuments Guided Tour: $52
- Regular city cruise tour: $65
- Fort Bulnes cruises: $70
- Bike Tour in Punta Arenas, 100% local tour.: $70
- Punta Arenas Sightseeing Tour: $72
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $145
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $145
- Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas: $153
- Punta Arenas Private City Tour Shore Excursion: $155
- Magallanes Reserva and City Tour. Private Shore Excursion.: $158
- Full day Torres del Paine from Punta Arenas ,Regular tours: $180
- Mountain Bike Adventure in Punta Arenas: $192
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPlaya del Carmen $21Punta Arenas $4.86
Typical Alcohol Prices in Punta Arenas
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Punta Arenas:
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Alcohol$7.34
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Playa del Carmen and Punta Arenas, we can see that Playa del Carmen is more expensive. And not only is Punta Arenas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Playa del Carmen is in North America and Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas.
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 Punta Arenas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Playa del Carmen or Punta Arenas?
Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas, 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 Punta Arenas?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas in the Summer?
Both Punta Arenas and Playa del Carmen during the summer are popular places to visit. 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 much warmer than Punta Arenas in the summer. The daily temperature in Playa del Carmen averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 11°C (52°F)in January.
In Punta Arenas, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Playa del Carmen. In the summer, Playa del Carmen often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Punta Arenasin January. Playa del Carmen gets 223 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Punta Arenas receives 208 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Playa del Carmen. Playa del Carmen usually gets more rain in July than Punta Arenasin January. Playa del Carmen gets 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryPlaya del Carmen 28°C (82°F)Punta Arenas 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Punta Arenas in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Playa del Carmen and Punta Arenas. 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 Punta Arenas. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Playa del Carmen in October average around 26°C (79°F), and Punta Arenas averages at about 7°C (44°F)in April.
In Playa del Carmen, it's very sunny this time of the year. Playa del Carmen usually receives more sunshine than Punta Arenas during autumn. Playa del Carmen gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Punta Arenas receives 119 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Playa del Carmen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Playa del Carmen usually receives more rain than Punta Arenasin April. Playa del Carmen gets 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn. June to October in Playa del Carmen is the hurricane season.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilPlaya del Carmen 26°C (79°F)Punta Arenas 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Punta Arenas in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Playa del Carmen as well as Punta Arenas. Many travelers come to Playa del Carmen for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Punta Arenas can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Playa del Carmen is generally much warmer than Punta Arenasin July. Daily temperatures in Playa del Carmen average around 23°C (73°F), and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 1°C (35°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa del Carmen this time of the year. In the winter, Playa del Carmen often gets more sunshine than Punta Arenasin July. Playa del Carmen gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Punta Arenas receives 70 hours of full sun.
Playa del Carmen usually gets less rain in January than Punta Arenasin July. Playa del Carmen gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyPlaya del Carmen 23°C (73°F)Punta Arenas 1°C (35°F)
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Punta Arenas in the Spring?
Both Punta Arenas and Playa del Carmen are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Playa del Carmen in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.
Playa del Carmen is much warmer than Punta Arenas in the spring. The daily temperature in Playa del Carmen averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 7°C (44°F)in October.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa del Carmen. Playa del Carmen usually receives more sunshine than Punta Arenas during spring. Playa del Carmen gets 259 hours of sunny skies, while Punta Arenas receives 183 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Playa del Carmen usually receives less rain than Punta Arenasin October. Playa del Carmen gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring. The hurricane season in Playa del Carmen is June to October.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberPlaya del Carmen 27°C (81°F)Punta Arenas 7°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Punta Arenas and Playa del Carmen
| Playa del Carmen | Punta Arenas | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (73°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) | 1°C (35°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (75°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 29 mm (1.1 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.