Which place is cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Puerto Iguazu?
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 Puerto Iguazu or Playa del Carmen?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Puerto Iguazu or Playa del Carmen? 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: Puerto Iguazu or Playa del Carmen?
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.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico.
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Puerto Iguazu Prices
Argentina PricesPlaya del Carmen Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Iguazu $56Playa del Carmen $94
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Iguazu is $56, while the average daily cost in Playa del Carmen is $94. 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 Puerto Iguazu and Playa del Carmen in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Iguazu $40Playa del Carmen $38
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Iguazu $80Playa del Carmen $76
Compare Hotels in Puerto Iguazu and Playa del Carmen
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Iguazu or Playa del Carmen? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Iguazu $3.05Playa del Carmen $23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Iguazu
Also for Puerto Iguazu, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Brazilian Waterfalls Tour and Bird Park with Transfer: $97
- Estancia Las Mercedes Day Trip with Lunch & Transfers: $399
- Full-day private transfer to Iguazu Falls: $185
- Iguazú Falls Combo: Argentina & Brazil, with Transfers: $86
- Iguazu Falls (Argentina & Brazil) + Biocenter with Transfers: $126
- Iguazu Falls Argentina Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Hotels: $22
- Iguazu Falls in 2 Days: Argentina & Brazil with Transfers: $99
- Private Transfer between Airport and Downtown Iguazu: $39
- Private Transfer from Puerto Iguazu Airport to Foz do Iguaçu: $83
- Private Transfer to or from Puerto Iguazu Airport IGR: $40
- Puerto Iguazú Combo: Iguazu Falls 2 Day Tours + transfers: $85
- Puerto Iguazú Round-Trip Airport Transfer: $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Playa del Carmen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Playa del Carmen:
- Transfer from Carmen Beach to Cancun Airport and Hotels: $73
- Transfer Playa del Carmen to Cancun Airport from 1 to 8 Travelers: $100
- Tour 4x1 Coba, Tulum, Cenote Kuxtal & Playa del Carmen + Transfer from Cancún: $92
- Round Trip Private Transfer (Costa Mujeres): $210
- Puerto Aventuras to Cancún Airport (CUN) - Private Departure Transfer: $85
- Private transfer from Playa del Carmen to Chiquila: $128
- Private Transfers to Cancun Airport, from Playa del Carmen: $98
- Private Transfers To Cancun Int'l Airport, from Playa Del Carmen: $97
- Private Transfer: Akumal to Cancun Airport CUN in SUV: $122
- Private Transfer to Cenote at Tulum: $213
- Private Transfer to Cancun Int'l Airport, from Costa Mujeres: $88
- Private Transfer roundtrip to Xoximilco. from PLAYA and CANCUN: $260
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Iguazu or Playa del Carmen?
Prices for flights to both Playa del Carmen 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
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Food Meals for one dayPuerto Iguazu $6.26Playa del Carmen $39
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:
- Puerto Iguazú: Madero Tango Show with Optional Dinner: $34
- Madero Tango Show with Optional Dinner in Iguazu: $39
- Argentine Experience: Immersive Dinner & Wine Pairing in Iguazú: $75
- Iguazu Falls: The Argentine Experience Interactive Dinner: $75
- Churrascaria Rafain - Show and Dinner: $125
- Dinner Show Rafain Steakhouse from Puerto Iguazú Hotels Private Tour: $130
- Dinner Tango Show in Iguazú Falls - no transfers -: $152
- Experience Guamini Mision Dinner and Tango Show Gran Meliá Iguazú Exclusive: $155
- Rafain Steakhouse Dinner & Show: $232
- Foz do Iguaçu: Argentinean Cooking Class: $244
- Iguazu Falls: Argentina Side Tour with Dinner & Tango Show: $278
- Puerto Iguazú: Romantic Dinner at Pristine Iguazú Camp: $306
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
- Cooking Class in 9 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $69
- 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
- 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: $113
- PDC Traditional Mexican Cooking Experience: $116
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Iguazu $33Playa del Carmen $16
Tours and Activities in Puerto Iguazu
For Puerto Iguazu, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Iguazu Falls Argentinian Side Full-Day Tour: $18
- Hito Tres Fronters and La Aripuca City Tour: $27
- Foz do Iguaçu: Brazil/Argentina Sides Iguazu Falls Day Tour: $41
- Explore Iguazu Falls in Brazil: An Unforgettable Experience: $44
- From San Ignacio Ruins and Wanda Mines Tour: $46
- Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Half-Day Sightseeing Tour: $48
- Full-Day Tour to Iguazu Falls: $49
- Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Tour from Puerto Iguazu: $49
- Iguazu Falls Argentine Side Tour & Ecological Train Ride: $55
- Visit to San Ignacio Ruins and Wanda Mines Full day Tour: $57
- Iguazu Falls : Complete Argentine Side Experience: $58
- Iguazu Falls : Complete Argentine Side Experience: $59
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
- 4 ADVENTURES 1 DAY Tulum Coba Cenote and Playa del Carmen: $20
- 5 hidden cenotes jungle experience: $159
- AQUA WONDER (Half-Day Aquatic Tour in Tulum with Snorkeling and Meals): $129
- ATV & Speed Boat Combo Tour: $119
- ATV Adventure with Ziplines & Cenote from Playa del Carmen: $57
- ATV Extreme and Snorkel Adventure from the Riviera Maya: $149
- ATV Single tour, zipline and cenote From Playa del Carmen: $95
- ATV Tour in Playa del Carmen with Zip Lines: $70
- ATV´s adventure, swim in Cenotes & visit to Tulum Site: $123
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Iguazu $7.81Playa del Carmen $20
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Iguazu and Playa del Carmen, we can see that Playa del Carmen is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Iguazu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Puerto Iguazu is in South America and Playa del Carmen is in North 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 Puerto Iguazu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Iguazu 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 Puerto Iguazu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Puerto Iguazu Expensive? and Is Playa del Carmen Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Puerto Iguazu or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen has a larger population, and is about 70% larger than the population of Puerto Iguazu. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Iguazu and Playa del Carmen, 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.