Which place is cheaper, La Paz or Puerto Natales?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Puerto Natales or La Paz?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
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 La Paz can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Puerto Natales or La Paz?
Puerto Natales
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.
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 Adventure Tours to Chile, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Chile, The Best Luxury Tours to Bolivia, and The Best Budget Tours to Bolivia.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Natales $84La Paz $44
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Natales is $84, while the average daily cost in La Paz is $44. 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 La Paz in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Natales $38La Paz $16
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Natales $76La Paz $32
Compare Hotels in Puerto Natales and La Paz
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Natales 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: Puerto Natales Hotel Prices and La Paz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Natales $19La Paz $9.45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Natales
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Natales:
- Puerto Natales Airport Private Transfer: $18
- Private Transfer from Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas: $267
- From Torres del Paine Tour with Transfer: $80
Typical Local Transportation Prices in La Paz
Some typical examples of transportation costs in La Paz are as follows:
-
Taxi Ride$0.58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Paz
Also for La Paz, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer In_night: $47
- Airport to City Center Hotel Private Transfer: $29
- Private Transfer Airport to Hotels Service 24/7: $21
- Private Departure Transfer: La Paz Hotels to El Alto International Airport: $37
- Private Transfer From Bus Station to Hotel in La Paz City : $68
- Private Transfer From Bus Station to your Hotel in La Paz City : $54
- Private Transfer From Hotel to Airport in La Paz City : $68
- Private Transfer From Hotel to Bus Station in La Paz City : $52
- Private Transfer From your Hotel to Bus Station in La Paz City : $68
- Private Transfer La Paz Airport LPB to La Paz City by MiniVan/Bus: $28
- Private Transfer from Airport to your Hotel in La Paz City : $54
- Private Transfer from Airport to your Hotel in La Paz City : $77
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Natales or La Paz?
Prices for flights to both La Paz 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.
Food
-
Food Meals for one dayPuerto Natales $28La Paz $17
Typical Food Prices in Puerto Natales
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Puerto Natales:
-
Cake$1.05
-
Dinner$18
-
Coke$1.05
Typical Food Prices in La Paz
For La Paz, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
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:
- La Paz Food Tour + Cable Car Cultural City tour: $45
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Natales $29La Paz $16
Tours and Activities in Puerto Natales
Here are a few actual costs in Puerto Natales for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 Imperdible Tours Torres del Paine and Perito Moreno: $300
- Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers Boat Tour and traditional lunch.: $199
- Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers Sightseeing Cruise from Puerto Natales: $224
- City Bike Tour in Puerto Natales: $58
- From Torres del Paine National Park Day Tour: $80
- Full Day Patagonia Tour from Puerto Natales: $100
- Full Day Private Tour of Torres del Paine National Park: $281
- Full Day Torres del Paine Tour: $99
- Full Day Tour to Torres del Paine National Park: $92
- Full day Torres del Paine Shared Tour From Puerto Natales only: $199
- Full day tour Torres del Paine + Milodon cave: $88
- Full-Day Hiking Tour to the Base of Paine Towers at Torres del Paine National Park: $189
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 city tour La Paz: $2.66
- La Paz Half-Day Walking Tour: $3.00
- City Walking Tour in La Paz: $8.00
- Be a Local - La Paz Walking Tour: $8.00
- City Highlights Walking Tour with Cable Car Ride: $10
- La Paz Walking City tour plus Cable cars: $10
- City Tour plus Cable Car La Paz: $10
- Cable Car, Cementery, Shaman and El Alto Adventure in La Paz: $20
- Cable Car, Cemetery, Shaman, and El Alto Tour: $20
- City Tour Essential: $22
- Tiwanaku Ruins Guided Shared Tour: $27
- Tour moon valley and rich areas La Paz city: $27
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Natales $17La Paz $11
Typical Alcohol Prices in Puerto Natales
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Puerto Natales:
-
Alcohol$13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Natales and La Paz, we can see that Puerto Natales is more expensive. And not only is La Paz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to La Paz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Paz 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 La Paz.
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 La Paz Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Puerto Natales or La Paz?
La Paz has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Puerto Natales. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Natales 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.