Should you visit Puerto Iguazu or Piriapolis?
Should I visit Puerto Iguazu or Piriapolis? 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.
Piriapolis
Piriapolis is a small beach town between Montevideo and Punta del Este in Uruguay. It is a more laid back version of Punta del Este with fewer fancy restaurants and clubs but it has perhaps more charm, with its grand old hotel and beachfront promenade backed by small mountains. The rather old-school coastal resort is vaguely reminiscent of a Mediterranean beach town.
Which city is cheaper, Piriapolis or Puerto Iguazu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Iguazu is $49, while the average daily cost in Piriapolis is $50. 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 Piriapolis in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $40 in Puerto Iguazu For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
A hotel room in Piriapolis is about $40 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Local Transportation
To get around in Puerto Iguazu, the average visitor spends $15 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.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $23 per day to get around in Piriapolis.
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 Airport Private Transfer:
$63
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Iguazu Falls Pass: Transfers in/out + Visit to Iguazu Falls Argentininan Side:
$110
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Iguazu Falls: Day Tour including transfers and guided tour:
$245
-
Iguazu: Transfer from Argentina Side:
$95
-
Puerto Iguazu Airport Shuttle Transfer:
$30
-
One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer:
$4.98
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Iguazu or Piriapolis?
Prices for flights to both Piriapolis 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.
Food
The average traveler spends about $18 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.
While meal prices in Piriapolis can vary, the average travelers spends about $17 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Piriapolis should cost around $6.80 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Piriapolis is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Puerto Iguazu $18
Piriapolis $17
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
-
Foz do Iguaçu Folkloric Show with Dinner from Puerto Iguazú:
$30
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Skip the Line: Dinner Tango Show in Iguazu Falls Ticket:
$59
-
Folkloric Show with Dinner at Rafain Churrascaria:
$63
-
Rafain Steakhouse Show - Dinner and Show Included:
$69
-
Dinner Tango Show in Iguazú Falls:
$85
-
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
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Full day Iguazu Falls Argentinian Side + Dinner Tango Show:
$125
-
Visit to Iguazu Falls Brazilian Side + Dinner Samba Show in Rafain:
$134
Entertainment
In Puerto Iguazu, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $16 per person, per day.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $4.38 per person, per day in Piriapolis. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
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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Iguazú Biocenter Tour:
$10
-
Guira Oga Wild Animals Shelter Admission Ticket:
$10
-
Ciudad del Este Shopping Tour:
$17
-
Brazilian Side of Iguassu Falls Half-Day Sightseeing Tour from Puerto Iguazú:
$20
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From Foz do Iguaçu: Ciudad del Este Shopping Tour:
$20
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Visit to San Ignacio Ruins and Wanda Mines Full day Tour:
$21
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Sightseeing Tour of the Argentinian and Brazilian Sides of Iguassu Falls:
$23
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Iguazu Falls Argentinian Side Full Day Tour with optional Boat Ride:
$24
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Iguazu Falls Brazilian Side Half Day Trip with Itaipu Dam Tour Option:
$24
-
Parque Das Aves from Puerto Iguazu with optional Iguazú Falls Tour:
$26
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Brazilian Side of Iguassu Falls and Itaipu Dam Full-Day Sightseeing Tour from Puerto Iguazú:
$29
-
Iguazu Falls Full Day Tour Argentine Side:
$32
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Puerto Iguazu spend on average $7.73 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Piriapolis may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $6.04 per day on alcoholic beverages.
When comparing the travel costs between Puerto Iguazu and Piriapolis, we can see that Piriapolis is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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