Which place is cheaper, Tamarindo or Puerto Montt?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Puerto Montt or Tamarindo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Puerto Montt and Tamarindo can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Puerto Montt or Tamarindo?
Puerto Montt
The Lake District is a region of snow capped volcanoes, pale green lakes and endless miles of virgin and ancient forests. Found 1,016 km away from Santiago de Chile, Puerto Montt is famous for its beautiful lakes and its germanic architecture, old wooden houses and its legendary Iglesia Catedral, found on the town's main square, la Plaza de Armas. The monument, entirely built with alerce (cypress) wood, is the oldest building of the city. The capital of the Lake Region is a good starting point for many memorable excursions in the area.
Tamarindo
Tamarindo is a small beach town in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica on the Pacific Coast. This town is usually sought out by surfers, fishers, couples, and families. There are delicious restaurants, beautiful beaches, and friendly Tico's and Tica's (local Costa Rican nicknames) everywhere.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Chile, The Best Luxury Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Montt $89Tamarindo $121
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Montt is $89, while the average daily cost in Tamarindo is $121. 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 Montt and Tamarindo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Montt $61Tamarindo $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Montt $122Tamarindo $100
Compare Hotels in Puerto Montt and Tamarindo
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Montt or Tamarindo? 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 Montt Hotel Prices and Tamarindo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Montt $6.43Tamarindo $69
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Montt
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Montt:
- Puerto Montt Airport(PMC) to Frutillar - Arrival Private Transfer: $21
- Puerto Tepual Airport (PMC) to Puerto Varas - Arrival Transfer: $21
- Puerto Montt Airport(PMC) to Frutillar - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
- Puerto Montt Airport Arrival Transfer to Hotel in Puerto Varas: $24
- Private Transfer from Puerto Montt Port to Puerto Airport (PMC): $27
- Private Transfer from Puerto Airport (PMC) to Puerto Montt Port: $31
- Private Transfer from Puerto Montt Port to Puerto Airport (PMC): $31
- Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Puerto Varas City- Arrival Transfer: $33
- Puerto Montt Shuttle Transfer: $34
- Puerto Montt Airport to Puerto Varas - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $42
- Puerto Airport (PMC) to Frutillar - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $42
- Cruce Andino Office Private Transfer from Puerto Montt: $44
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tamarindo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tamarindo:
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport to Hotel Riu Guanacaste: $15
- Private Transfer from Liberia/Tamarindo Guanacaste Airport: $20
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Luna Llena Hotel Tamarindo: $20
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Tamarindo Beach: $20
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport to Selina Tamarindo: $21
- Private or VIP Transfer: Liberia Airport to Westin/Tamarindo: $22
- Playa Grande to Liberia Airport (LIR) Departure Private Transfer: $31
- Flamingo/Tamarindo to Liberia Airport(LIR)- Departure Transfer: $38
- Liberia Airport To Tamarindo Private Transfer: $55
- From Hotel Transfer to Liberia Guanacaste Airport: $62
- Monteverde: Transfer to Tamarindo: $65
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to RIU Guanacaste Hotel: $70
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Montt or Tamarindo?
Prices for flights to both Tamarindo and Puerto Montt 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 Montt $21Tamarindo $32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tamarindo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tamarindo.
- Online Class on Zoom: Cooking Costa Rica Homemade Food: $35
- Traditional Cooking Class In Tamarindo: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Montt $14Tamarindo $17
Tours and Activities in Puerto Montt
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Montt are as follows:
- Frutillar Tour: $31
- Half day Llanquihue and Frutillar City tour : $44
- Private Tour: Puerto Montt Sightseeing: $47
- Frutillar & Llanquihue Tour from Puerto Montt: $56
- Osorno Volcano and Petrohué Falls Guided Tour: $62
- Osorno Volcano Tour+Petrohue Falls / Cruises / Spanish: $68
- Alerce Andino National Park/Alerce Millenario/Cruises: $77
- Private. City Tour Puerto Montt and Puerto Varas: $92
- Austral / Hornopiren Road Tour: $102
- Frutillar & Llanquihue Private Tour from Puerto Montt: $128
- 6 Hours Shared Tour in Calbuco and Millennial Forest : $130
- Tagua Tagua Lake and Wild Patagonia Tour: $133
Tours and Activities in Tamarindo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tamarindo are as follows:
- Costa Rica: tour in electric car (only best view locations): $2.00
- Sea turtle watching tour near playa grande: $44
- Tamarindo Estuary Tour: $44
- Night Turtle Nesting Tour from Tamarindo: $46
- Tamarindo Birdwatching Crocodiles and Monkey Tour: $50
- ATV Beach and Mountain Tour!: $62
- Tamarindo Estuary: Howler Monkey Mangrove Kayaking Tour: $65
- Hiking Tour of La Leona Waterfall with Lunch: $65
- ATV and UTV Beach Tour from Tamarindo, Flamingo and Conchal Beach: $67
- ATV Tour through the Flamingo Potrero and Brasilito Area: $70
- Zipline Canopy Tour from Guanacaste: $70
- Tamarindo Kayaking Tour with Snorkeling at Captain Island: $75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Montt $4.49Tamarindo $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Montt and Tamarindo, we can see that Tamarindo is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Montt much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Puerto Montt is in South America and Tamarindo is in Central 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 Montt would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Montt 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 Tamarindo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tamarindo than you might in Puerto Montt.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Puerto Montt Expensive? and Is Tamarindo Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Puerto Montt or Tamarindo?
Puerto Montt has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Tamarindo experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Puerto Montt or Tamarindo in the Summer?
Both Tamarindo and Puerto Montt are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Tamarindo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Puerto Montt is much colder than Tamarindo in the summer. The daily temperature in Puerto Montt averages around 16°C (60°F) in January, and Tamarindo fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in July.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Puerto Montt. Puerto Montt usually receives more sunshine than Tamarindo during summer. Puerto Montt gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while Tamarindo receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Tamarindo. In January, Puerto Montt usually receives less rain than Tamarindoin July. Puerto Montt gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyPuerto Montt 16°C (60°F)Tamarindo 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Puerto Montt or Tamarindo in the Autumn?
Both Tamarindo and Puerto Montt during the autumn are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tamarindo year-round.
In the autumn, Puerto Montt is much colder than Tamarindo. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Puerto Montt in April average around 11°C (51°F), and Tamarindo averages at about 27°C (81°F)in October.
In the autumn, Puerto Montt often gets less sunshine than Tamarindoin October. Puerto Montt gets 104 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tamarindo receives 169 hours of full sun.
Tamarindo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Montt. Puerto Montt usually gets less rain in April than Tamarindoin October. Puerto Montt gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberPuerto Montt 11°C (51°F)Tamarindo 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Puerto Montt or Tamarindo in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Puerto Montt and Tamarindo. Tamarindo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Puerto Montt is generally much colder than Tamarindoin January. Daily temperatures in Puerto Montt average around 7°C (45°F), and Tamarindo fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tamarindo this time of the year. Puerto Montt usually receives less sunshine than Tamarindo during winter. Puerto Montt gets 67 hours of sunny skies, while Tamarindo receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
Puerto Montt gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Puerto Montt usually receives more rain than Tamarindoin January. Puerto Montt gets 229 mm (9 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryPuerto Montt 7°C (45°F)Tamarindo 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Puerto Montt or Tamarindo in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Puerto Montt as well as Tamarindo. The warm climate attracts visitors to Tamarindo throughout the year.
Puerto Montt is much colder than Tamarindo in the spring. The daily temperature in Puerto Montt averages around 11°C (51°F) in October, and Tamarindo fluctuates around 29°C (85°F)in April.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tamarindo. In the spring, Puerto Montt often gets less sunshine than Tamarindoin April. Puerto Montt gets 151 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tamarindo receives 255 hours of full sun.
Puerto Montt receives a lot of rain in the spring. Puerto Montt usually gets more rain in October than Tamarindoin April. Puerto Montt gets 121 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilPuerto Montt 11°C (51°F)Tamarindo 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Tamarindo and Puerto Montt
| Puerto Montt | Tamarindo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 16°C (60°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 15°C (59°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 13°C (55°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 11°C (51°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 9°C (49°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 8°C (46°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 7°C (45°F) | 229 mm (9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 8°C (46°F) | 209 mm (8.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 9°C (47°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 14°C (58°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
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.