A Travel Price Comparison for Chile Puerto Varas vs. Puerto Natales for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Puerto Varas or Puerto Natales?

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 Puerto Natales 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 Puerto Natales?

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.

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.

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 Family-Friendly Tours to Chile, and The Best Wildlife Tours to Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Puerto Natales or Puerto Varas?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Varas is $106, while the average daily cost in Puerto Natales is $82. 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 Puerto Natales in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Puerto Varas $66
    Puerto Natales $37
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Puerto Varas $132
    Puerto Natales $74
Compare Hotels in Puerto Varas and Puerto Natales

Looking for a hotel in Puerto Varas or Puerto Natales? 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.

Hotels in Puerto Varas


Hotels in Puerto Natales


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 Puerto Natales Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Puerto Varas $21
    Puerto Natales $19

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Varas

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Varas:

  • Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $21
  • Transfer to Puerto Montt Airport: $22
  • Transfer from Hotel in Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport: $24
  • Transfer from Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport: $50

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Natales

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Natales:

  • From Torres del Paine Tour with Transfer: $65
  • Puerto Natales Airport Private Transfer: $18

Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Varas or Puerto Natales?

Prices for flights to both Puerto Natales 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Puerto Varas $24
    Puerto Natales $27

Typical Food Prices in Puerto Natales

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Puerto Natales:


  • Cake
    $1.02
  • Dinner
    $18
  • Coke
    $1.02

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Puerto Varas $19
    Puerto Natales $28

Tours and Activities in Puerto Varas

Here are a few actual costs in Puerto Varas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Osorno Volcano Tour: $31
  • Tour Frutillar: $31
  • Half day Frutillar and Llanquihue Town tour: $34
  • Half-Day Tour to Frutillar and Llanquihue: $35
  • Half day Osorno Volcano tour: $35
  • From Osorno Volcano & Petrohue Falls Day Tour: $49
  • Half-Day Small-Group Rafting Experience in Petrohué River: $50
  • Todos los Santos Lake and Villa Peulla Tour: $51
  • Todos los Santos Lake and Villa Peulla Tour: $51
  • Chiloé Island Tour: $60
  • FullDay Chiloe Island Tour Castro and dalcahue: $62
  • Full-Day Tour Chiloe Island: Castro and Dalcahue : $62

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
  • Cerro Dorotea 8x8 Tour with Panoramic Views: $70
  • Patagonia: Torres del Paine Full-Day Guided Tour: $75
  • 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
  • Torres del Paine Park Full-Day Tour from Puerto Natales: $89
  • Full-Day Torres del Paine Tour: $90
  • Full Day Tour to Torres del Paine National Park: $92
  • Full day tour Torres del Paine: $93

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Puerto Varas $6.36
    Puerto Natales $17

Typical Alcohol Prices in Puerto Natales

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Puerto Natales:


  • Alcohol
    $12


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Varas and Puerto Natales, we can see that Puerto Varas is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Natales much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 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 Puerto Natales.

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 Puerto Natales Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Puerto Varas or Puerto Natales?

Puerto Varas has a larger population, and is about 25% larger than the population of Puerto Natales. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Varas and Puerto Natales, 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.