A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Puerto Iguazu vs. Valdivia for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Puerto Iguazu or Valdivia?

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

Should I visit Puerto Iguazu or Valdivia? 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 Valdivia?

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.

Valdivia

Valdivia is a vibrant university city situated in southern Chile. It sits at the meeting point of three rivers in the aptly named Region de Los Rios (The Rivers Region) and is approximately 200 kilometers from both Temuco and Puerto Montt. Due to a large student population, Valdivia boasts a youthful and energetic vibe that is visible in its many bars, cafes and restaurants. The city is also known for having one of Chile's best craft beer cultures, which had its early beginnings when German settlers arrived in the 1840s. The rivers, nearby Pacific coastline and wetlands offer plenty for lovers of the outdoors, too.

Which place is cheaper, Valdivia or Puerto Iguazu?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Iguazu is $20, while the average daily cost in Valdivia is $75. 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 Valdivia in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Puerto Iguazu $7.99
    Valdivia $44
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Puerto Iguazu $16
    Valdivia $88
Compare Hotels in Puerto Iguazu and Valdivia

Looking for a hotel in Puerto Iguazu or Valdivia? 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 Puerto Iguazu


Hotels in Valdivia


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 and Valdivia Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Puerto Iguazu $6.18
    Valdivia $8.84

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Iguazu

Also for Puerto Iguazu, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer In + Transfer Out IGR Airport Puerto Iguazú Hotels Selva de Iryapu: $145
  • Private Transfers Full Day Iguazú Falls: $135
  • IGR Airport Transfers with PasseioTur: $90
  • Iguazú Falls Brazil & Argentina 3-Day In-Out Transfers: $31
  • Iguazu Airport Private Transfer: $20
  • Transfer from Iguazú Airport to hotels on the Argentine side: $15
  • Puerto Iguazú Round-Trip Airport Transfer: $9.00
  • One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $8.00
  • Iguazu Falls Argentina Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Hotels: $8.00
  • One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $7.00
  • Puerto Iguazu Airport Shuttle Transfer: $5.00

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Valdivia

Also for Valdivia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Valdivia Airport Private Transfer: $52

Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Iguazu or Valdivia?

Prices for flights to both Valdivia 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Puerto Iguazu $7.40
    Valdivia $23

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:

  • El Quincho Del Tio Querido - Dinner And Show from Foz do Iguaçu: $40
  • Puerto Iguazú: Madero Tango Show with Optional Dinner: $58
  • Madero Tango Show with Optional Dinner in Iguazu: $76
  • Experience Guamini Mision Dinner and Tango Show Selva Iriapu Hotels Exclusive: $95
  • Rafain Steakhouse Show - Dinner and Show Included: $104
  • Churrascaria Rafain - Show and Dinner : $107
  • Rafain Steakhouse Dinner & Show: $107
  • Dinner Show Rafain Steakhouse from Puerto Iguazú Hotels Private Tour: $120
  • Dinner Show Rafain Steakhouse Gran Meliá Hotel Exclusive - Private Tour: $120
  • Experience Guamini Mision Dinner and Tango Show Gran Meliá Iguazú Exclusive: $145
  • Experience Guamini Mision Dinner and Tango Show Belmond Hotel: $145

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Puerto Iguazu $6.59
    Valdivia $14

Tours and Activities in Puerto Iguazu

For Puerto Iguazu, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 2-Night Iguazu Rainforest Experience at Yacutinga Lodge: $608
  • 3-Day Guided Tour of Iguazu Falls: $417
  • 3-Day Iguazu Falls Adventure: Brazil and Argentina: $399
  • 3-Day Iguazu Falls Exploring Tour: $350
  • 3-Day Private Guided Tour of Iguazu Falls: $501
  • 3-Day Tour: Exploring Iguazu Falls in Private Service: $839
  • 3-Days Iguazu Falls Tour of the Argentinian and Brazilian Side: $481
  • 3-Days Private Experience at Iguazu: $843
  • 3hr Experience Learning to Make an Argentine Asado: $150
  • 4-Day Guided Tour of Iguazu Falls: $415
  • 4-Day Shared Guided Tour of Iguazu Falls: $453
  • 4-Day Tour to Iguazu Falls by Air from Buenos Aires: $1,355

Tours and Activities in Valdivia

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Valdivia.

  • Sightseeing Tour in Valdivia : $76

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Puerto Iguazu $3.17
    Valdivia $5.24


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Iguazu and Valdivia, we can see that Valdivia 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 Valdivia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Valdivia than you might in Puerto Iguazu.

Which is Bigger, Puerto Iguazu or Valdivia?

Valdivia is bigger, and its population is about 4.2 times larger than the population of Puerto Iguazu. When comparing the population of Puerto Iguazu vs. Valdivia, 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 and the activities 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.
Share This Page
Pin This Page
Puerto Iguazu vs. Valdivia Travel Comparison

Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.