Which place is cheaper, La Paz or Puerto Natales?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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 is the capital of Baja California Sur, Mexico. It has a population of about 215,000 people and is a significant commercial center for the region. The city has a good economy and a high standard of living when compared to much of Mexico. Much of the economy is focused on eco-tourism and there are many protected marine environments in the area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Chile, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Chile, The Best Budget Tours to Mexico, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Mexico.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Natales $84La Paz $118
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Natales is $84, while the average daily cost in La Paz is $118. 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
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Natales $38La Paz $52
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Natales $76La Paz $104
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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Natales $19La Paz $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Natales
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Natales:
- Puerto Natales Airport Private Transfer: $18
- From Torres del Paine Tour with Transfer: $80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Paz
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Paz:
- La Paz Airport to Costa Baja Private Roundtrip Transfer: $89
- La Paz Airport: Private Roundtrip Transfer to La Ventan: $259
- La Paz Int. Airport (LAP): Private Transfer to La Paz hotels: $174
- Roundtrip Transfer to La Paz International Airport: $73
- Private Transfer from La Paz to Cabo San Lucas: $240
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
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Food Meals for one dayPuerto Natales $28La Paz $38
Typical Food Prices in Puerto Natales
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Puerto Natales:
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Cake$1.05
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Dinner$18
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Coke$1.05
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Paz
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Paz.
- 4 Hours of Guided La Paz Street Food Tour: $81
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Natales $29La Paz $13
Tours and Activities in Puerto Natales
Here are a few actual costs in Puerto Natales for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Bus ticket to El Calafate, Argentina: $44
- City Bike Tour in Puerto Natales: $58
- Puerto Natales Sightseeing Bike Tour: $62
- From Torres del Paine National Park Day Tour: $80
- Torres del Paine Full Day Tour: $87
- Full day tour Torres del Paine + Milodon cave: $88
- Full-Day Torres del Paine Tour: $90
- Full Day Tour to Torres del Paine National Park: $92
- Full day tour Torres del Paine: $93
- Torres del Paine Park Full-Day Tour from Puerto Natales: $95
- Full Day Torres del Paine Tour: $99
- Full Day Patagonia Tour from Puerto Natales: $100
Tours and Activities in La Paz
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Paz are as follows:
- Transparent Boat Tour with Mushroom Rock: $64
- Pearls of Pearl Farm Experience: $64
- Half Day Sandboarding and Paddleboarding Experience in La Paz: $81
- Unique Mexican Spirits Tasting & Pairing Experience: $85
- Sunset Sandboarding at La Paz Dunes Tour: $89
- City Tour & Beaches from La Paz: $91
- Supercombo 2-Day City Tour: $105
- Half Day Private Tour of the Beaches of La Paz: $113
- From Los Cabos: City Tour La Paz, Balandra and Todos Santos: $115
- holy spirit island tour: $116
- Los Cabos Tour from La Paz: $119
- Snorkel Tour with Whale Shark in La Paz: $119
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Natales $17La Paz $12
Typical Alcohol Prices in Puerto Natales
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Puerto Natales:
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Alcohol$13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Natales and La Paz, we can see that La Paz is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Natales much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Puerto Natales is in South America and La Paz is in North 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 Natales would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Natales 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 La Paz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Paz than you might in Puerto Natales.
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 9 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.