Which place is cheaper, Iquique or Puerto Varas?
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 Varas or Iquique?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Puerto Varas and Iquique 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 Varas or Iquique?
Puerto Varas
Puerto Varas is a city in Southern Chile, in the Los Lagos (Lakes) Region, Llanquihue Province. It is a charming town, only 23 km away from Puerto Montt and surrounded by the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes as well as the impressive Llanquihue lake. In terms of landscape, accommodation and activities, Puerto Varas is well served! Kayak, paddle, canyoning, rock climbing, trekking, ski, fishing, you name it! If you decide to stop in that area, we recommend that you stay in Puerto Varas, as it provides the perfect starting point for many memorable excursions in the area.
Iquique
Located in a golden crescent of coastline, the beautiful beach city with an ocean that's several shades of blue and a historic centre that offers the perfect balance of culture and relaxation is counted among Chile's premier beach resorts. The city is home to the duty free zone called "Zofri" and a growing number of high rise resort hotels along its beaches. Slightly more expensive and polluted than neighboring population centers, such as Arica, Iquique and its chaotic duty-free shopping zone (zona franca) have become the perfect summer holiday destination for Chilean families.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Chile, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Chile, The Best 10-Day Tours in Chile, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile.
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Puerto Varas Prices
Chile PricesIquique Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Varas $127Iquique $121
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Varas is $127, while the average daily cost in Iquique 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 Varas and Iquique in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Varas $67Iquique $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Varas $134Iquique $86
Compare Hotels in Puerto Varas and Iquique
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Varas or Iquique? 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 Varas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Varas $21Iquique $23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Varas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Varas:
- Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) - Departure Transfer: $63
- Transfer from Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport: $50
- Frutillar to Puerto Montt Airport PMC- Departure Private Transfer: $47
- Puerto Varas Airport Shuttle Transfer: $38
- Puerto Varas Bus Terminal Private Transfer: $25
- Cruce Andino Office Shuttle Transfer from Puerto Varas: $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Iquique
Also for Iquique, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Sandboard activity in Iquique with transfer: $75
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Varas or Iquique?
Prices for flights to both Iquique and Puerto Varas 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 Varas $43Iquique $59
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Varas $19Iquique $27
Tours and Activities in Puerto Varas
Here are a few actual costs in Puerto Varas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Chiloe Island - Puñihuil Tour: $90
- Full-Day Osorno Vulcano and Petrohue Falls Small-Group Tour: $80
- Half-Day Small-Group Rafting Experience in Petrohué River: $52
- Lake Llanquihue Bike Tour in Puerto Varas: $162
- Premium Full Day Shared Tour Osorno Volcano and Petrohue Falls: $230
- Premium Half Day Shared Tour Sunset at Osorno Volcano: $130
- Private Rock Climbing Experience in Northern Patagonia: $120
- Full-Day Tour Chiloe Island: Castro and Dalcahue : $62
- Half day Frutillar and Llanquihue Town tour: $36
- Half day Osorno Volcano tour: $41
- Scenic Catamaran Tour on Llanquihue lake: $8.50
- Todos los Santos Lake and Villa Peulla Tour: $51
Tours and Activities in Iquique
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Iquique.
- City tour of Iquique with navigation to the Esmeralda buoy: $55
- City Tour in Iquique: $89
- Pintados Geoglyphs, Humberstone and Salar Crespo tour: $145
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Varas $6.51Iquique $20
When comparing the travel costs between Puerto Varas and Iquique, we can see that Puerto Varas 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 Varas Expensive? and Is Iquique Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Puerto Varas or Iquique?
Iquique has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Puerto Varas. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Varas and Iquique, 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.