Which place is cheaper, Pucon 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 Pucon?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Puerto Iguazu or Pucon? 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 Pucon?
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.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.
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Puerto Iguazu Prices
Argentina PricesPucon Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Iguazu $59Pucon $137
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Iguazu is $59, while the average daily cost in Pucon is $137. 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 Pucon in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Iguazu $42Pucon $46
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Iguazu $84Pucon $92
Compare Hotels in Puerto Iguazu and Pucon
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Iguazu or Pucon? 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: Puerto Iguazu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Iguazu $3.22Pucon $21
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: $112
- Estancia Las Mercedes Day Trip with Lunch & Transfers: $399
- Full-day private transfer to Iguazu Falls: $185
- Iguazú Falls Argentine and Brazilian Sides with Airport Transfers: $86
- Iguazú Falls Combo: Argentina & Brazil, with Transfers: $86
- Iguazu Falls (Argentina & Brazil) + Biocenter with Transfers: $113
- Iguazu Falls Argentina Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Hotels: $22
- Iguazu Falls Saver Package! Both sides excursions & transfers: $79
- Private Transfer from Iguazú (IGR) Airport to Puerto Iguazú: $45
- Private Transfer from Puerto Iguazu Airport to Foz do Iguaçu: $83
- Puerto Iguazú Combo: Iguazu Falls 2 Day Tours + transfers: $85
- Puerto Iguazú Round-Trip Airport Transfer: $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pucon
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pucon:
- Pucon to Puerto Montt El Tepual Airport (PMC) -Departure Transfer: $264
- Pucon Temuco Airport Private Transfer: $127
- Private Transfer Pucon Thermal Resorts to Temuco Airport (ZCO): $83
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Iguazu or Pucon?
Prices for flights to both Pucon 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 $6.59Pucon $70
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: $36
- ASADOR: Argentine Asado Cooking Class: $70
- 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
- Puerto Iguazú: Romantic Dinner at Pristine Iguazú Camp: $306
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Iguazu $35Pucon $40
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
- Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Tour from Puerto Iguazu: $49
- Iguazu Falls Argentine Side Tour & Ecological Train Ride: $55
- Iguazú Falls National Park Entry Ticket or Flexipass 3 days: $60
- Private Shopping Tour in Puerto Iguazú: $69
- Iguazu Falls, Argentina + Boat Option (Private Tour): $71
- Iguazu Falls Guided Tour Argentina side: $73
Tours and Activities in Pucon
Here are a few actual costs in Pucon for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Geometric Thermal Tour with Pickup and Tickets: $120
- Half Day Tour to The Eyes Of Caburgua from Pucon: $166
- Sightseeing Tour in Pucon and Villarica: $166
- Tour in Self-drive Electric Hot Tub Boat Nestled in nature!: $100
- Villarrica Volcano Hiking Experience with Craft Beer in Pucon: $280
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Iguazu $8.22Pucon $29
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Iguazu and Pucon, we can see that Pucon is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Iguazu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 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 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 Pucon Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Puerto Iguazu or Pucon?
Puerto Iguazu has a larger population, and is about 19% larger than the population of Pucon. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Iguazu and Pucon, 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.