Which place is cheaper, Cochabamba or Puerto Natales?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Puerto Natales and Cochabamba can help you decide which place is right for you.
Puerto Natales is a beautiful town located in the Chilean Patagonia on the Senoret Channel. The city is often used as a base camp for trips to the surrounding national parks due to their plentiful restaurant options and access to internet. Puerto Natales is also known for being the base city to the Torres del Paine National Park, which was named the 5th most beautiful place in the world by National Geographic.
With a population of about 630,000, Cochabamba is the fourth largest city in Bolivia. It's located about 240 kilometers from the capital city of La Paz and is surrounded by mountains, but sits within a valley.
The city is known for its gardens and has many sights to offer the visitor. Cochabamba offers a calming retreat that is a refreshing break from the hustle and bustle of many South American cities. It's a great location to learn Spanish and there are plenty of activities and cultural events that you can enjoy in and around town.
Cochabamba's climate is semi-arid. There is an extended dry season between May and October and the wet season is from November to March. The days are warm and the nights are cool.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Chile, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Chile, The Best 10-Day Tours in Bolivia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Bolivia.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Natales is $84, while the average daily cost in Cochabamba is $63. 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 Natales and Cochabamba in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Natales or Cochabamba? 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Natales:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cochabamba:
Prices for flights to both Cochabamba and Puerto Natales 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.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Puerto Natales:
Here are a few actual costs in Puerto Natales for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cochabamba are as follows:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Puerto Natales:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Natales and Cochabamba, we can see that Puerto Natales is more expensive. And not only is Cochabamba much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cochabamba would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cochabamba 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 Puerto Natales would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Natales than you might in Cochabamba.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Puerto Natales Expensive? and Is Cochabamba Expensive?.
Cochabamba has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Puerto Natales. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Natales and Cochabamba, 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.