Which place is cheaper, Bonaire or Punta Arenas?
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 Punta Arenas or Bonaire?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Punta Arenas or Bonaire? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Punta Arenas or Bonaire?
Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas is in the far south of Chile and has a long history of maritime commerce, oil extraction, and sheep farming. It's the most populated city on the Strait of Magellan and has all the facilities you might need as a traveler, including banks, markets, drugstores and equipment shops. With a population of about 130,000, the city is a comfortable place to spend time. It serves as a base for Antarctic expeditions, although many expeditions also start in Ushuaia, Argentina, and Christchurch New Zealand.
Bonaire
An island municipality of the Netherlands, Bonaire resides in the Caribbean, east of Central America and north of Venezuela. It is a part of the ABC Islands together with Aruba and Curaçao, and is best known as a tropical vacation destination with many great dive spots, beaches, lagoons, and wildlife.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.
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Punta Arenas Prices
Chile PricesBonaire Prices
Caribbean Netherlands Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPunta Arenas $79Bonaire $299
The average daily cost (per person) in Punta Arenas is $79, while the average daily cost in Bonaire is $299. 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 Punta Arenas and Bonaire in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPunta Arenas $32Bonaire $155
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPunta Arenas $64Bonaire $310
Compare Hotels in Punta Arenas and Bonaire
Looking for a hotel in Punta Arenas or Bonaire? 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: Punta Arenas Hotel Prices and Bonaire Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Punta Arenas $1.80Bonaire $65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Arenas
Also for Punta Arenas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer Airport Punta Arenas : $30
- Oneway Private Transfer from Punta Arenas Airport to Punta Arenas: $37
- Transfer from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales: $267
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bonaire
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bonaire:
- Airport Transfer Return Included: $80
- Private Transfer from Kralendijk Port to Bonaire Airport (BON): $59
- Private Transfer from Kralendijk Cruise Port to Kralendijk city : $59
- Private Transfers between Bonaire airport and any local address : $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Punta Arenas or Bonaire?
Prices for flights to both Bonaire and Punta Arenas 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 dayPunta Arenas $36Bonaire $101
Typical Food Prices in Punta Arenas
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Punta Arenas:
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Donut$1.05
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Dinner$25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bonaire
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bonaire.
- Dinner at Sea: $95
- Discover the Flavors of Bonaire with the Bonaire Snack Food Tour: $130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Punta Arenas $6.44Bonaire $40
Tours and Activities in Punta Arenas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta Arenas.
- Fort Bulnes Historical Tour: $39
- City Tour: $60
- City Tour Shore Excursion for Cruisers: $60
- Punta Arenas City Tour Shore Excursion: $60
- Cruises Shore Excursions : City tour Cruises Regular: $70
- Fuerte Bulnes Shore Tour for Cruisers: $70
- Bike Tour in Punta Arenas, 100% local tour.: $70
- Fuerte Bulnes Shore Tour for Cruisers in Punta Arenas: $80
- Full-Day Torres del Paine Tour: $88
- Monte Tarn Trekking Tour with Guide: $129
- Torres Del Paine and Milodon Cave Full Day Tour: $135
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $154
Tours and Activities in Bonaire
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bonaire are as follows:
- 2 Hours Private Kitesurfing Adventure: $265
- 4 Hours Open Air Party Bus Tour with Beach Stop in Caribbean: $39
- 4 hour Individual Island Tour for 1 to 12 persons: $180
- Aquaspace Sunset Sail and Snorkel Tour on Bonaire with Diner: $130
- Bonaire Cave Tour: Walk, Climb & Swim: $75
- Bonaire CaveTour Climb, Snorkel & Explore the Hidden Gems : $83
- Bonaire Essentials Island Tour: $49
- Bonaire Landsailing Adventures: $79
- Bonaire Shore Excursion: The Bonaire Highlights Tour: $83
- Bonaire island adventure: $110
- Discover Scuba Diving Experience: $164
- North & South Highlights Guided Group Tour: $100
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPunta Arenas $4.86Bonaire $33
Typical Alcohol Prices in Punta Arenas
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Punta Arenas:
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Alcohol$7.33
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Punta Arenas and Bonaire, we can see that Bonaire is more expensive. And not only is Punta Arenas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Punta Arenas is in South America and Bonaire is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Punta Arenas would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Punta Arenas 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 Bonaire would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bonaire than you might in Punta Arenas.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Punta Arenas Expensive? and Is Bonaire Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Punta Arenas or Bonaire?
Punta Arenas has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Bonaire. When comparing the sizes of Punta Arenas and Bonaire, 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.