Which place is cheaper, Valparaiso or Porto?
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 Porto or Valparaiso?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Porto and Valparaiso can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Porto or Valparaiso?
Porto
Porto is the second largest city in Portugal. It is also the capital of the Northern Region and a hub for commercial and industrial activity. The city is not as large as you might expect, with a population of only about 300,000 residents, but the metropolitan area has a population of about 2.5 million. This includes nearby cities such as Gaia, Matosinhos, Maia and Gondomar.
Valparaiso
Valparaiso, often referred to as Valpo, is an attractive city on the Pacific Coast in Chile. The city has a population of about 300,000 and is only 120 kilometers west of Santiago. The city's main industries aside from tourism include shipping and petroleum refining.
Valparaiso is popular with travelers because of its bohemian culture and brightly colored homes. It also offers some wonderful views of the Pacific Ocean. Although the city is short on specific sights, the atmosphere and beautiful setting make it a wonderful place to visit.
Valparaiso has a mild Mediterranean climate that is comparable to San Francisco or Santa Barbara. The summer is dry but fog is common year around. Rain can be heavy during the winter season and snow falls occasionally in the highest parts of the city. Winds can also be strong during the winter months.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Portugal, The Best 10-Day Tours in Portugal, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Chile.
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Porto Prices
Portugal PricesValparaiso Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPorto €160Valparaiso €70
The average daily cost (per person) in Porto is €160, while the average daily cost in Valparaiso is €70. 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 Porto and Valparaiso in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPorto €72Valparaiso €30
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPorto €144Valparaiso €60
Compare Hotels in Porto and Valparaiso
Looking for a hotel in Porto or Valparaiso? 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: Porto Hotel Prices and Valparaiso Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Porto €21Valparaiso €4.11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Porto
Also for Porto, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Funchal to Porto Moniz: Volcanic Pools Day Transfer: $70
- Madeira: Porto da Cruz to Machico Hiking Tour with Transfer: $39
- Madeira: Vereda do Larano Trail One-Way Transfer Service: $23
- Porto Airport Transfer: $24
- Porto Airport: Transfer to/from Valenca Do Minho Station: $12
- Private Transfer to Lisbon from Tarouca: $293
- Private Transfer to Porto from Tarouca: $134
- Private transfer between Porto and Algarve with 1 stop: $558
- Service Transfer Airport to Porto or Vila Nova de Gaia: $64
- Transfer Oporto - Aeroport / Up to 4 passengers: $30
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Valparaiso
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Valparaiso are as follows:
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Taxi Ride€2.67
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Valparaiso
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Valparaiso:
- Private Valparaiso Visit William Cole Winery & Transfer to Hotel: $270
- Private Transfer from Viña del Mar to Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) Airport: $259
- Private Transfer from Valparaiso Cruise Port to Santiago Hotels: $208
- Private Transfer Viña del Mar to Santiago Airport: $170
- Valparaiso to Santiago Private Transfer or Santiago to Valparaiso: $142
- Small group transfer from Valparaiso/S.Antonio+Tour in Santiago: $140
- Private transfer from Valparaiso or Viña del Mar to San Antonio : $133
- Transfers from Valparaiso or Viña del Mar to Santiago: $120
- Private Transfer from Valparaiso Hotel or port To Santiago Airport or Hotel: $110
- Private Transfer from Viña Del Mar or Valparaiso City Hotel To Santiago City: $89
Is it cheaper to fly into Porto or Valparaiso?
Prices for flights to both Valparaiso and Porto 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 dayPorto €63Valparaiso €33
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Porto
For Porto, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Porto Food & Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch or Dinner Option: $94
Typical Food Prices in Valparaiso
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Valparaiso:
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Empanada€1.60
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Valparaiso
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Valparaiso.
- Cooking Classes in Viña del Mar Learn to Make Tapas and Desserts: $65
- Learn to Cook Like a Local: Private Cooking Class in a Viña del Mar Home: $102
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Porto €25Valparaiso €15
Tours and Activities in Porto
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Porto.
- Porto Six Bridges Panoramic Cruise on the Douro River: $21
- Experience Porto's Charm: 3-Hour Guided Walking Tour: $35
- Porto Sunset River Cruise: Douro Magic at Dusk: $35
- Douro River Boat Cruise with Port Wine and Snacks: $48
- Porto Douro River Sightseeing Sailing Cruise at Sunset or Daytime: $48
- 3-Hour Porto Highlights on a Electric Bike Guided Tour: $52
- Sunset or Daytime, Charming Sailboat Cruise on the Douro River: $54
- 6 Bridges cruise , Douro river with sunset option: $54
- Tour on the Douro River in a Classic Boat: $54
- Aveiro and Costa Nova Half Day Tour from Porto with Boat Ride: $55
- Luxury Yacht Tour on the Douro River - Sunset or Daytime: $58
- Fun Private Tuk Tuk Tour: $66
Typical Entertainment Prices in Valparaiso
Here are a few typical costs in Valparaiso for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Boat Tour€3.56
Tours and Activities in Valparaiso
Here are a few actual costs in Valparaiso for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 Hour Walking Tour in Valparaiso: $35
- Explore Valparaíso and Viña del Mar Tour: $58
- Famous Valparaíso! Premium Walking Tour with a Native Guide: $40
- Famous Viña del Mar! Premium Walking Tour with a Native Guide: $40
- Full Day Private Walking Tour with a Native Guide & Public Transport: $120
- Full-Day Tour of Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, Reñaca & Concón: $180
- Gastronomic Tour in Valparaiso: $189
- Guided Panoramic Tour in Valparaíso: $40
- Half-Day Chilean Pacific Coast Tour: Viña del Mar, Reñaca and Concón: $112
- Half-Day Valparaiso City Highlights Tour: $112
- Horse Ride & BBQ in Ritoque Beach&Dunes FROM VALPO. Private Tour: $298
- Jewels of Viña del Mar – Guided Walking Tour: $218
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPorto €19Valparaiso €6.62
Sample the Local Flavors in Porto
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Porto:
- Luxury Yacht Cruise with Wine Tasting & Snacks: $54
- Port Wine Tour | 3 Cellars | 7 Tastings | 12 Participants Maximum: $60
- Port Wine Lodges Tour Including 7 Port Wine Tastings (English): $62
- Authentic Food and Wine Tour in Porto by Food Lover Tour: $81
- Douro Valley Tour: Wine Tasting, Cruise and Lunch from Porto : $96
- Douro Valley Wine Tour: 3 Vineyard Visits, Wine Tastings, Lunch: $113
- Complete Douro Valley Wine Tour with Lunch, Wine Tastings and River Cruise: $118
- Douro Valley Half-Day Wine Tour with Winery and Lunch From Porto: $131
- Authentic Small Group Douro Wine Tour with Lunch & River Cruise: $131
- Small Group Douro Valley Wine Tour with Lunch and Cruise: $149
- Douro Valley Small-Group Tour with Wine Tasting, Lunch and Boat: $150
- Douro Valley Tour - 3 Wine tastings, Lunch & river Cruise: $152
Typical Alcohol Prices in Valparaiso
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Valparaiso are as follows:
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Beer€0.85
Sample the Local Flavors in Valparaiso
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Valparaiso:
- Private Wine Tour in Valparaiso: $250
- Santiago: Valparaíso Walking Tour & Casablanca Wine Tasting: $320
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Porto and Valparaiso, we can see that Porto is more expensive. And not only is Valparaiso much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Porto is in Europe and Valparaiso 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 Valparaiso would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Valparaiso 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 Porto would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Porto than you might in Valparaiso.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Porto Expensive? and Is Valparaiso Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Porto or Valparaiso?
Valparaiso has a larger population, and is about 13% larger than the population of Porto. When comparing the sizes of Porto and Valparaiso, 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.