Which place is cheaper, San Pedro de Atacama 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 San Pedro de Atacama?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or San Pedro de Atacama? 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 San Pedro de Atacama?
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.
San Pedro de Atacama
San Pedro de Atacama is a gateway to northern Chile. It is a good jumping off point for exploring the area's impressive landscape, most of which is included in the Los Flamencos National Reserve. It is popular with both Chilean and international tourists, and because of its popularity, it is a relatively expensive destination, with many prices comparable to what you might pay in Santiago.
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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Playa del Carmen Prices
Mexico PricesSan Pedro de Atacama Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPlaya del Carmen $94San Pedro de Atacama $71
The average daily cost (per person) in Playa del Carmen is $94, while the average daily cost in San Pedro de Atacama 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 San Pedro de Atacama in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPlaya del Carmen $38San Pedro de Atacama $33
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPlaya del Carmen $76San Pedro de Atacama $66
Compare Hotels in Playa del Carmen and San Pedro de Atacama
Looking for a hotel in Playa del Carmen or San Pedro de Atacama? 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 San Pedro de Atacama Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Playa del Carmen $23San Pedro de Atacama $9.40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Playa del Carmen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Playa del Carmen:
- Transfer from carmen beach to chiquila-ferry to holbox island: $147
- Safe Private Transfers from Playa del Carmen to Cancun Airport: $80
- Round trip Private Transfer Cancun- Costa Mujeres/Playa Mujeres: $71
- Round Trip Private Transfer (Costa Mujeres): $210
- Private Transfers to Cancun Airport, from Playa del Carmen: $98
- Private Transfers To Cancun Int'l Airport, from Playa Del Carmen: $97
- Private Transfer to Xplor/Xplor fire/Xenses, roundtrip from PDC: $160
- Private Transfer to Cenotes at Riviera Maya: $189
- Private Transfer to Cenote at Tulum: $213
- Private Transfer roundtrip to Xoximilco. from PLAYA and CANCUN: $260
- Private Transfer from Playa del Carmen to Chiquila Ferry Dock: $299
- Private Transfer from Playa del Carmen to Cancun Airport – Safe: $117
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro de Atacama
Also for San Pedro de Atacama, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 3 Perfect Days in Atacama + Airport Transfer: $280
- Astronomy tour in San Pedro de Atacama includes transfer, photo, and cocktail: $59
- Atacama Airport Private Transfer: $99
- Calama Airport Transfer to Atacama / Airport Lodging: $67
- Calama Airport: Transfer to/from San Pedro de Atacama: $30
- Private Transfer to Calama Airport (CJC): $101
- Private Transfer to San Pedro de Atacama. without waiting: $89
- San Pedro de Atacama : Transfer to Termas de Puritama: $39
- Etno-Stargazing Tour with Transfer: $45
- Puritama Hot Springs Transfer Tour: $39
- Tatio Geysers W/Breakfast & Transfer: $90
- Shared Transfer to Calama Airport (CJC): $41
Is it cheaper to fly into Playa del Carmen or San Pedro de Atacama?
Prices for flights to both San Pedro de Atacama 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 $39San Pedro de Atacama $25
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
- 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
- Food Tour Through Markets with 7 Tastings: $82
- local walking food tour Inlakech Playa del Carmen: $82
- Cooking Class in 9 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $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 1 or 3 Courses Tequila and Mezcal Tasting: $105
- Mexican Cooking Class: $113
- Mayan Cooking Class: Chicken Pibil in Secret Cenote: $114
Typical Food Prices in San Pedro de Atacama
For San Pedro de Atacama, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Empanadas$1.29
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Lunch$11
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Dinner$11
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Drink$0.97
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Empanada$5.39
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Pedro de Atacama
For San Pedro de Atacama, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Private Dinner Under the Stars: $300
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Playa del Carmen $16San Pedro de Atacama $21
Tours and Activities in Playa del Carmen
Here are a few actual costs in Playa del Carmen for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 3 Cenotes & Kaan Luum Lagoon Adventure from Playa del Carmen: $142
- 3 Hour Tour ATV Single with Underground River from Tulum: $135
- 3-in-1 Tour to Tulum, Cenote and Maya Village Riviera Maya: $99
- 3D Museum of Wonders Admission Ticket: $41
- 4 Casa Tortugas Cenotes Tour from Playa del Carmen: $142
- 5X1: Tulum and Coba Ruins, Cenote & Mayan Village Full Day Tour: $82
- AQUA WONDER (Half-Day Aquatic Tour in Tulum with Snorkeling and Meals): $129
- ATV (Shared) & Cenote Jungle Adventure from Riviera Maya: $130
- ATV Adventure with Ziplines & Cenote from Playa del Carmen: $57
- ATV Extreme and Snorkel Adventure from the Riviera Maya: $149
- ATV Shared & Ziplines Adventure in Tulum Jungle from Riviera Maya: $140
- ATV Tour in Playa del Carmen with Zip Lines: $71
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Pedro de Atacama
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for San Pedro de Atacama's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Sand Boarding$57
Tours and Activities in San Pedro de Atacama
For San Pedro de Atacama, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Astronomical Tour: $29
- Stargazing experience: $30
- Llama Stargazing Tour: $30
- Stargazing Experience: $30
- Half-Day Tour to Laguna Cejar: $35
- Shared Valle de la Luna Sightseeing Tour: $35
- Stargazing Tour with Photos & Drinks: $37
- Tour to the Valley of the Moon San Pedro de Atacama: $37
- San Pedro de Atacama Archaeological Sightseeing Tour: $37
- Cejar Lagoon Tour: San Pedro de Atacama: $38
- Traditional Ethnoastronomy Experience: $39
- A Night with the Stars Astronomical Tour: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPlaya del Carmen $20San Pedro de Atacama $5.07
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 del Carmen Local Brewery and Tacos Experience: $58
Typical Alcohol Prices in San Pedro de Atacama
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in San Pedro de Atacama:
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Alcohol$25
Sample the Local Flavors in San Pedro de Atacama
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in San Pedro de Atacama:
- “Drunken Llama Sightseeing Tour” Wine Tasting and Visit with Llama: $355
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Playa del Carmen and San Pedro de Atacama, we can see that Playa del Carmen is more expensive. And not only is San Pedro de Atacama much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Playa del Carmen is in North America and San Pedro de Atacama 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 San Pedro de Atacama would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Pedro de Atacama 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 San Pedro de Atacama.
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 San Pedro de Atacama Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Playa del Carmen or San Pedro de Atacama?
Playa del Carmen has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of San Pedro de Atacama. When comparing the sizes of Playa del Carmen and San Pedro de Atacama, 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.