Should you visit Puerto Iguazu or Montevideo?
Should I visit Puerto Iguazu or Montevideo? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Puerto Iguazu
Puerto Iguazu is located in the northeastern part of Argentina at the border with Paraguay and Brazil. It is a tourist city and travel destination because of its close proximity to Iguazu Falls, which is only 18 kilometers away. Much of the city's infrastructure has grown to maintain the tourist crowds that come to see the falls. The town itself has a population of slightly over 80,000.
Montevideo
As the morning sun tinges the calm waters of the Rio de la Plata with a golden hue, the Rambla and its city awakens to life with new adventures for those near and far. From tanning on the luxurious beaches to peering into Uruguayan history at local museums, one can be far from bored while staying in Montevideo. Combining the quaintness of the countryside with the excitement of urban life, this city holds a unique trait that cannot easily be replicated.
Which city is cheaper, Montevideo or Puerto Iguazu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Iguazu is $58, while the average daily cost in Montevideo is $46. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Puerto Iguazu and Montevideo in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $46 in Puerto Iguazu For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Travelers usually pay around $56 for a double occupancy room in Montevideo If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
The average traveler spends about $21 per day in Puerto Iguazu for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
Food in Montevideo costs travelers about $9.73 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
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Food
Meals for one day
Puerto Iguazu $21
Montevideo $9.73
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Puerto Iguazu
For Puerto Iguazu, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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El Quincho Del Tio Querido - Dinner And Show:
$27
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Foz do Iguaçu Folkloric Show with Dinner from Puerto Iguazú:
$30
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Foz do Iguacu: 2-Hour Rafain Churrascaria Show with Dinner:
$55
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Skip the Line: Dinner Tango Show in Iguazu Falls Ticket:
$59
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Folkloric Show with Dinner at Rafain Churrascaria:
$63
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Rafain Steakhouse Show - Dinner and Show Included:
$69
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Tio Querido Ranch Dinner and Show:
$69
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Dinner Tango Show in Iguazú Falls:
$85
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Creative Cooking Class and Dinner with Wine in Iguazu:
$87
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Tio Querido Dinner and Folk Show in Puerto Iguazú:
$90
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Skip the Line: Dinner Samba Show Ticket in Rafain (brazilian side):
$99
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Full day Iguazu Falls Argentinian side + Tango Show (no dinner):
$110
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montevideo
For Montevideo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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The best Montevideo Dinner Show. Tango and Candombe.:
$75
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El Milongon Dinner & Show: Candombe, Tango & Folklore in Montevideo:
$105
Local Transportation
To get around in Puerto Iguazu, the average visitor spends $18 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Montevideo's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $5.29 per person, per day on transportation in Montevideo.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Iguazu
Also for Puerto Iguazu, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Iguazu Falls: Day Tour including transfers and guided tour:
$245
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Iguazu Falls Pass: Transfers in/out + Visit to Iguazu Falls Argentininan Side:
$110
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Private One-Way Airport Transfer:
$98
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Iguazu: Transfer from Argentina Side:
$95
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Iguazú Falls Brazil & Argentina 3-Day In-Out Transfers:
$65
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Iguazu Airport Private Transfer:
$63
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Private 1-Way Airport Transfer: Downtown Foz do Iguaçu:
$39
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Puerto Iguazu Airport Shuttle Transfer:
$30
-
Iguassu Falls Argentina Airport R/T Transfer to Hotels:
$21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montevideo
Also for Montevideo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Transfer MV Uruguay:
$37
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Transfer Airport to Hotel Regular:
$20
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TRANSFER IN/OUT (Airport, Port (MVD) - Hotel in MVD - Airport, Port (MVD)):
$20
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TRANSFER IN - OUT (Airport or Port / Hotel) - private transfer:
$25
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Private transfer: Montevideo Airport (MVD) to Montevideo:
$622
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Private Transfer Montevideo Airport:
$20
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Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Montevideo Airport:
$70
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Private Arrival Transfer: Montevideo Airport to Hotel:
$70
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Private Airport Transfer: Montevideo to Carrasco International Airport (MVD):
$40
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Private Airport Transfer: Carrasco International Airport (MVD) to Montevideo:
$40
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PACK 3: Transfer in - Tour Montevideo - Punta del Este - Colonia - Transfer out:
$190
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PACK 2: Transfer in - Tour Montevideo - Punta del Este - Transfer out:
$110
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Iguazu or Montevideo?
Prices for flights to both Montevideo and Puerto Iguazu 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.
Entertainment
In Puerto Iguazu, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $19 per person, per day.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Montevideo can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $15 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Puerto Iguazu
For Puerto Iguazu, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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2-Night Iguassu Falls Sightseeing Tour:
$150
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2-Night Iguazu Rainforest Experience at Yacutinga Lodge:
$608
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2-day Iguazu Falls Argentinian Side + City Tour with 3 frontiers landmark:
$115
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3-Day Iguazu Falls Adventure: Brazil and Argentina:
$363
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3-Day Iguazu Falls Exploring Tour:
$172
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3-Day Iguazu Falls Self Guided Exploring Tour:
$213
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3-Day Tour: Exploring Iguazu Falls in Private Service:
$544
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3-Days Iguazu Falls Tour of the Argentinian and Brazilian Side:
$491
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3-Days Private Experience at Iguazu:
$790
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4-Day Tour to Iguazu Falls by Air from Buenos Aires:
$1,058
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5-Day Adventure Trip in Iguazu:
$538
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6-Day Iguazu Falls & Ibera Marshlands Luxury Tour:
$1,800
Tours and Activities in Montevideo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Montevideo.
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2-day Uruguay Pass: City Tour Montevideo + Excursion to Punta del Este:
$142
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2-day Uruguay Pass: Montevideo City Tour + Excursion to Colonia de Sacramento:
$185
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BEST Cruise Passanger - Shared Tours:
$45
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Best Private & Personalized City Tour for cruise passengers (full day):
$170
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Best Private Montevideo Shore Excursion: City Tour. Optional WineTasting Tour.:
$145
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Best-Tours:
$1,090
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Bouza Winery Tour from Montevideo with Tastings and Tapas (Esp, Eng, Port):
$75
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City Tour Montevideo:
$25
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City Tour Montevideo:
$28
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Colonia del Sacramento - Full day tour from Montevideo:
$75
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Colonia del Sacramento - Full day tour from Montevideo:
$70
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Discover Montevideo Private Tour with a Local:
$75
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Puerto Iguazu spend on average $9.09 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Montevideo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Montevideo:
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Wine Tasting Tour - from Montevideo:
$75
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Private Winery Tour + Wine Tasting (Minimum 4 people):
$80
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Montevideo and Wine Tasting Tour - for cruise passengers:
$89
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Wine tasting - Uruguayan Tannat in Montevideo:
$103
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Private Visit to Uruguayan Winery + Lunch + Wine tasting (minimum 5 people):
$105
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Juanico Wine Tour Lunch:
$120
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Pack 5: Tour Montevideo, Punta del Este & Wine Tasting Tour:
$145
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Guided Private Wine Tour with Tasting and Lunch:
$182
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Private Wine Tours by Wine Explorers Uruguay:
$205
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Private Montevideo Wine Tour & Flight Tour:
$259
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Iguazu and Montevideo, we can see that Puerto Iguazu is more expensive. And not only is Montevideo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Montevideo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Montevideo 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 Puerto Iguazu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Iguazu than you might in Montevideo.
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