A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Pucon vs. Cochabamba for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Pucon or Cochabamba?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Pucon and Cochabamba can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Pucon or Cochabamba?

Pucon

A popular hub for adventure tourism, Pucon is a town in the Lake District of the South American nation of Chile. Located on Lake Villarirca with the snowcapped Villarrica volcano looming above and plenty of forested valleys below, the town has become a home base year-round for a full range of outdoor activities.

Check out our ultimate guide to Traveling in Patagonia.

Cochabamba

With a population of about 630,000, Cochabamba is the fourth largest city in Bolivia. It's located about 240 kilometers from the capital city of La Paz and is surrounded by mountains, but sits within a valley.

The city is known for its gardens and has many sights to offer the visitor. Cochabamba offers a calming retreat that is a refreshing break from the hustle and bustle of many South American cities. It's a great location to learn Spanish and there are plenty of activities and cultural events that you can enjoy in and around town.

Cochabamba's climate is semi-arid. There is an extended dry season between May and October and the wet season is from November to March. The days are warm and the nights are cool.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, The Best Luxury Tours to Chile, The Best 10-Day Tours in Bolivia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Bolivia.


Which place is cheaper, Cochabamba or Pucon?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Pucon is $98, while the average daily cost in Cochabamba 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 Pucon and Cochabamba in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Pucon $42
    Cochabamba $25
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Pucon $84
    Cochabamba $50
Compare Hotels in Pucon and Cochabamba

Looking for a hotel in Pucon or Cochabamba? 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.

Hotels in Pucon


Hotels in Cochabamba


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: Cochabamba Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Pucon $19
    Cochabamba $16

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pucon

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pucon:

  • Private Transfer Pucon Thermal Resorts to Temuco Airport: $50
  • Pucon to Puerto Montt El Tepual Airport (PMC) -Departure Transfer: $116
  • Pucon Temuco Airport Private Transfer: $130

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cochabamba

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cochabamba:

  • Airport - Hotels transfer Service 24/7: $28

Is it cheaper to fly into Pucon or Cochabamba?

Prices for flights to both Cochabamba and Pucon 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Pucon $37
    Cochabamba $22

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Pucon $36
    Cochabamba $25

Tours and Activities in Pucon

Here are a few actual costs in Pucon for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 3-Hour Rafting Experience in Pucon: $60
  • Private 3-Hour Canyoning Experience on the Correntoso River: $68
  • Sightseeing Tour in Pucon and Villarica: $93
  • Half Day Tour to The Eyes Of Caburgua from Pucon: $93
  • Private Half Day Andean Lakes Experience with pickup: $110
  • Full Day Private Tour Ascending Sollipulli Volcano: $140
  • Local Chile-Bavarian Culinary Pretzel Baking Experience n Sausage: $149
  • Full Day Excursion Tour to Quetrupillán Volcano: $177

Tours and Activities in Cochabamba

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cochabamba are as follows:

  • Tour to Valle Alto (Tarata): $38
  • Tigre & Delta River Cruise - half day tour from Buenos Aires: $50
  • Parque Nacional Torotoro Tour 2 Días y 1 Noche : $228

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Pucon $26
    Cochabamba $15


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pucon and Cochabamba, we can see that Pucon is more expensive. And not only is Cochabamba much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cochabamba would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cochabamba 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 Pucon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pucon than you might in Cochabamba.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pucon Expensive? and Is Cochabamba Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Pucon or Cochabamba?

Cochabamba has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Pucon. When comparing the sizes of Pucon and Cochabamba, 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.