Which place is cheaper, Ensenada or Punta Arenas?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Punta Arenas or Ensenada?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Punta Arenas or Ensenada? 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 Ensenada?
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.
Ensenada
Ensenada is on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, south of Tijuana. It's the only deep water port in the state of Baja California and as such, it is an important commerical fishing port as well as a cruise ship destination. The city has a population of almost 500,000 and is located just 78 miles south of San Diego. The city sits between the ocean and a small mountain range. The surrounding area is known for its wine production, which produces some of the best wine in Mexico.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Chile, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Mexico, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Mexico.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPunta Arenas $63Ensenada $99
The average daily cost (per person) in Punta Arenas is $63, while the average daily cost in Ensenada is $99. 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 Ensenada in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPunta Arenas $32Ensenada $47
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPunta Arenas $64Ensenada $94
Compare Hotels in Punta Arenas and Ensenada
Looking for a hotel in Punta Arenas or Ensenada? 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 Ensenada Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Punta Arenas $1.80Ensenada $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Arenas
Also for Punta Arenas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Punta Arenas Airport to/from Punta Arenas: $33
- Private Transfer from Punta Arenas Port to Punta Arenas hotels: $64
- Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ) to Punta Arenas - Arrival Transfer: $49
- Transfer from Punta Arenas (city or airport) to Puerto Natales: $267
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ensenada
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ensenada:
- Transfer: From Tijuana to Valle de Guadalupe & Ensenada: $408
- Border and Tijuana Airport Transfers to Ensenada or Valle de Guadalupe: $120
Is it cheaper to fly into Punta Arenas or Ensenada?
Prices for flights to both Ensenada 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 $21Ensenada $39
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Punta Arenas $6.44Ensenada $11
Tours and Activities in Punta Arenas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta Arenas.
- City Sightseeing and Monuments Guided Tour: $52
- Regular city cruise tour: $65
- Fort Bulnes cruises: $70
- Bike Tour in Punta Arenas, 100% local tour.: $70
- Punta Arenas Sightseeing Tour: $72
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $145
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $145
- Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas: $153
- Punta Arenas Private City Tour Shore Excursion: $155
- Magallanes Reserva and City Tour. Private Shore Excursion.: $158
- Full day Torres del Paine from Punta Arenas ,Regular tours: $180
- Mountain Bike Adventure in Punta Arenas: $192
Tours and Activities in Ensenada
Here are a few actual costs in Ensenada for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 8 Hour Private Tour : $131
- ATV Off-Road Adventure through Valle de Guadalupe + Winery Visit: $77
- Adventure in Ensenada with Zipline, Marine Geyser and Shops: $99
- Bike and wine amazing Adventure in Valle de Guadalupe": $130
- City tour on electric horse wagon.: $58
- Couple Tour: $125
- Electric Motorcycle Tour and rental.: $140
- Ensenada : The unique bufadora private tour: $39
- Ensenada Shore Excursion: Blowhole and La Bufadora Tour with Horseback Riding: $81
- Ensenada Taco Tour by local guide: $94
- A thrilled family adventure of ziplines: $70
- Mezcal, Tequila, Ceviches and shoping Tasting Tour: $70
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPunta Arenas $4.86Ensenada $11
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$7.34
Sample the Local Flavors in Ensenada
Also in Ensenada, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Private Wine Tasting Experience in Maglén: $29
- Xecue Wine Tasting in the Guadalupe Valley: $39
- Wine tour valley of guadalupe: $60
- Valle de Guadalupe Wine Tasting Tour: $78
- From Wine Tasting at Guadalupe Valley Ensenada: $87
- From Ojos Negros Valley Cheese & Wine Tasting Tour: $97
- Wine Tasting Tour in Valle de Guadalupe: $115
- Private Wine Tour at Valle de Guadalupe (A wine tasting included).: $119
- wine tours and driver service through valle de guadalupe, Ensenada B.C. Mexico: $135
- Wine tasting tour for Cruise Ship Visitors. All Inclusive!: $199
- Private and custom group Wine tour Valle de Guadalupe : $220
- Valle Experience by Ansell Wine Tours: $269
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Punta Arenas and Ensenada, we can see that Ensenada 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 Ensenada 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 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 Ensenada would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ensenada 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 Ensenada Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Punta Arenas or Ensenada?
Ensenada has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Punta Arenas. When comparing the sizes of Punta Arenas and Ensenada, 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.