Which place is cheaper, La Paz or Puerto Madryn?
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 Madryn or La Paz?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Puerto Madryn or La Paz? 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 Madryn or La Paz?
Puerto Madryn
Puerto Madryn is mostly known as the gateway to Peninsula Valdes, welcoming tourists who come for whale watching. The Peninsula Valdes is a nature reserve designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site; 97 km long and 63 km wide, it is connected to the continent by an isthmus of 35 km from which we can see both gulfs, San Jose at north and the Nuevo at south.
La Paz
La Paz, the administrative capital of Bolivia, has a breathtaking setting. The city is the highest national capital in the world, with an altitude ranging from about 4,058 m (13,313 ft) above sea level in El Alto, where the airport is located, to 3,100 m (10,170 ft) in the lower residential area. The dynamic and chaotic city was built in a canyon created by the Choqueyapu River. La Paz is now a fusion of architectural styles, cultures and beliefs, welcoming everyday new boutique hotels, modern shops, delicious restaurants and reinventing standing establishments. However, generally speaking, Bolivia remains more a backpacker hit than a mainstream tourist destination.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in Argentina, The Best Luxury Tours to Argentina, The Best Luxury Tours to Bolivia, and The Best Budget Tours to Bolivia.
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Puerto Madryn Prices
Argentina PricesLa Paz Prices
Bolivia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Madryn $60La Paz $56
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Madryn is $60, while the average daily cost in La Paz is $56. 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 Madryn and La Paz in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Madryn $40La Paz $16
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Madryn $80La Paz $32
Compare Hotels in Puerto Madryn and La Paz
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Madryn or La Paz? 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: La Paz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Madryn $2.51La Paz $9.44
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Madryn
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Madryn:
- Transfer Trelew Airport Puerto Madryn: $40
- Transfer El Tehuelche Airport Puerto Madryn: $15
- Puerto Madryn Airport PMY Private Transfer to Puerto Madryn City: $33
- Private Transfer to or from Puerto Madryn or Trelew Airport: $100
Typical Local Transportation Prices in La Paz
Some typical examples of transportation costs in La Paz are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$0.58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Paz
Also for La Paz, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- La Paz:Private transfer from La Paz Hotels to El Alto Aiport: $22
- Private Transfer Airport to Hotels Service 24/7: $22
- Cholitas Wrestling Tickets and Transfer: $25
- Airport Transfer Out_day: $25
- Bus Station Transfer Out_day: $25
- Bus Station Transfer Out_night: $25
- Bus Station Transfer In_day: $25
- One-Way Private Transfer from La Paz Hotels to Airport: $27
- Private transfer 24/7 El Alto Airport - Hotels La Paz: $28
- Private Transfer from El Alto Airport to La Paz, Bolivia Hotels: $28
- Cholitas Wrestling Ticket – La Paz Show + Transfer: $30
- Private Transfer From Airport to Hotel in La Paz City: $30
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Madryn or La Paz?
Prices for flights to both La Paz and Puerto Madryn 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 Madryn $7.55La Paz $29
Typical Food Prices in La Paz
For La Paz, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Fruit$0.72
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Paz
For La Paz, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Morning Food Tour with Cable Car & Local Markets: $27
- Bolivian Cooking Class: $28
- Bolivian Cooking Class: $30
- Learn Bolivian Cuisine/Cooking Class: $40
- Real Street Food Tour La Paz: $100
- Real Street Food Tour with Guide: $100
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Madryn $44La Paz $16
Tours and Activities in Puerto Madryn
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Madryn are as follows:
- 3 hour 4x4 tour around Puerto Madryn: $100
- All Included Península Valdés Experience Shore Tour: $169
- Bike Tour Whales in Playa Doradillo: $64
- Bike Tour to El Doradillo: Whales from the Coast: $75
- Cruise Passengers: Peninsula Valdés With Ticket Included: $170
- Cruise Passengers: Puerto Madryn City Tour & Punta Loma: $115
- Cruise Shore Exc. Ea San Lorenzo (Penguins) Box Lunch Incl.: $179
- Cruise Shore Excursion Ea San Lorenzo Peninsula Valdes - Patagonia - Argentina: $179
- Cruise Shore Excursion Peninsula Valdes - Box Lunch Included: $105
- Cruise Shore Excursion Peninsula Valdes - Pto Madryn - Patagonia - Argentina: $119
- Cruise Shore Excursion Pta Tombo (Penguins): $115
- Cruise Shore Excursion Puerto Madryn City Tour: $25
Tours and Activities in La Paz
For La Paz, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Walking tour of the city of La Paz: $2.50
- Walking city tour La Paz: $2.50
- La Paz Half-Day Walking Tour: $3.00
- La Paz City Walking Tour Including Historical Streets: $5.00
- Be a Local - La Paz Walking Tour: $8.00
- City Walking Tour in La Paz: $8.00
- Be a Local Walking Tour: $8.00
- Private Viewpoint Tour with Snacks and Photos: $9.00
- Chualluma Street Art and Cholita Fashion Tour: $10
- La Paz Walking City tour plus Cable cars: $10
- City Tour plus Cable Car La Paz: $10
- Walking and Cable Car City Tour; Urban Experience: $14
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Madryn $12La Paz $11
Sample the Local Flavors in La Paz
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in La Paz:
- Pub Crawl with VIP Entry and Welcome Shot: $24
When comparing the travel costs between Puerto Madryn and La Paz, we can see that Puerto Madryn 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.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Puerto Madryn Expensive? and Is La Paz Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Puerto Madryn or La Paz?
La Paz has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Puerto Madryn. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Madryn and La Paz, 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.