Which place is cheaper, La Paz or Puerto Varas?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Puerto Varas or La Paz?
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 La Paz 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 La Paz?
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.
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 G Adventures Tours to Chile, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago, The Best Luxury Tours to Bolivia, and The Best Budget Tours to Bolivia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Varas $109La Paz $44
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Varas is $109, 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 Varas and La Paz in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Varas $67La Paz $16
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Varas $134La Paz $32
Compare Hotels in Puerto Varas and La Paz
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Varas 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 Varas Hotel Prices and La Paz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Varas $21La Paz $9.45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Varas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Varas:
- Transfer from Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport: $50
- Transfer from Hotel in Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport: $24
- Transfer to Puerto Montt Airport: $22
- Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $21
Typical Local Transportation Prices in La Paz
Some typical examples of transportation costs in La Paz are as follows:
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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_ Day: $25
- Airport Transfer In_night: $47
- Airport Transfer Out_day: $25
- Bus Station Transfer In_day: $25
- Airport to City Center Hotel Private Transfer: $29
- Private Transfer Airport to Hotels Service 24/7: $21
- One-Way Private Transfer from La Paz Hotels to Airport : $27
- Private Departure Transfer: La Paz Hotels to El Alto International Airport: $37
- Private Transfer From Airport to Hotel in La Paz City: $60
- 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
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Varas or La Paz?
Prices for flights to both La Paz 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 $25La Paz $17
Typical Food Prices in La Paz
For La Paz, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Varas $19La Paz $16
Tours and Activities in Puerto Varas
Here are a few actual costs in Puerto Varas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- From Puerto Varas or Puerto Montt: Chiloé Island Tour: $60
- From Osorno Volcano & Petrohue Falls Day Tour: $49
- Full-Day Osorno Vulcano and Petrohue Falls Small-Group Tour: $80
- Half-Day Small-Group Rafting Experience in Petrohué River: $50
- Lake Llanquihue Bike Tour in Puerto Varas: $129
- Petrohue Falls and Osorno Volcano Bike Tour: $124
- Peulla Full Day Tour from Puerto Varas: $68
- Premium Full Day Shared Tour Osorno Volcano and Petrohue Falls: $185
- Premium Half Day Shared Tour Sunset at Osorno Volcano: $130
- Premium Small-Group Half day Tour to Frutillar in Puerto Varas: $144
- Private Rock Climbing Experience in Northern Patagonia: $100
- Private Sightseeing Tour in Puerto Varas & Puerto Montt: $99
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
- Be a Local - La Paz Walking Tour: $8.00
- City Walking Tour in La Paz: $8.00
- City Tour plus Cable Car La Paz: $10
- La Paz Walking City tour plus Cable cars: $10
- Live Virtual City Tour - La Paz : $10
- Private Sunset Tour in La Paz: $10
- City Highlights Walking Tour with Cable Car Ride: $10
- Gastronomic Tour Vivencial Tour de las Caseras: $13
- Private Cable Car City Tour: $18
- Cable Car, Cemetery, Shaman, and El Alto Tour: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Varas $6.51La Paz $11
Sample the Local Flavors in La Paz
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in La Paz:
- Cultural Pub Crawl La Paz Nightlife Tour : $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Varas and La Paz, we can see that Puerto Varas 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 Varas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Varas 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 Varas Expensive? and Is La Paz Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Puerto Varas or La Paz?
La Paz has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Puerto Varas. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Varas 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.