Which place is cheaper, Lake Titicaca (Puno) or Punta Arenas?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Punta Arenas or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Punta Arenas or Lake Titicaca (Puno)? 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
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.
Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Lake Titicaca, which directly translates to "puma stone" in Quechua, is located high in the Andes Mountains straddling Peru and Bolivia, with about 60% of the lake in Peru and 40% in Bolivia. Among the lake are three main islands, the most popular of which are the Uros Islands, also known as the floating islands, where the Uros people live on totora reeds that grow in the lake.
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 Photography Tours in Peru, and The Best Jungle Trekking Tours in Peru.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPunta Arenas $63Lake Titicaca (Puno) $55
The average daily cost (per person) in Punta Arenas is $63, while the average daily cost in Lake Titicaca (Puno) is $55. 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPunta Arenas $32Lake Titicaca (Puno) $26
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPunta Arenas $64Lake Titicaca (Puno) $52
Compare Hotels in Punta Arenas and Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Looking for a hotel in Punta Arenas or Lake Titicaca (Puno)? 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Punta Arenas $1.80Lake Titicaca (Puno) $11
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
- Punta Arenas to Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ) - Departure Transfer: $49
- Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ) to Punta Arenas - Arrival Transfer: $49
- Transfer from Punta Arenas Port to Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ): $64
- Private Transfer from Punta Arenas hotels to Punta Arenas Port: $64
- Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ) to Punta Arenas - Round-Trip Transfer: $66
- Private Transfer - Punta Arenas Port to Punta Arenas Airport(PUQ): $71
- Private Transfer - Punta Arenas Airport(PUQ) to Punta Arenas Port: $71
- Punta Arenas Airport to Puerto Natales Private Transfer: $80
- Transfer from Punta Arenas (city or airport) to Puerto Natales: $267
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno):
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Taxi$0.81
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno):
- Private Transfer From Puno to Chivay With a 2 Hour Stop: $294
- Private Transfer From Puno to Oruro With a Stop in Lake Titicaca: $283
- Private Transfer From Puno to Oruro with English Speaking Driver: $240
- Direct Private Transfer From Puno to Cusco, English Local Speaking Driver: $204
- Private Transfer from Puno to Frontera Kasani: $201
- Private Transfer from Puno to Desaguadero: $192
- Puno Airport Private Transfer: $44
- Private Transfer from Hotel Puno to Puerto de Puno: $21
- Private Transfer from Puerto de Puno to Hotel Puno: $21
- Puno Airport Shared Transfer: $20
Is it cheaper to fly into Punta Arenas or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
Prices for flights to both Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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 $21Lake Titicaca (Puno) $15
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
Typical Food Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:
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Tamales$1.49
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Punta Arenas $6.44Lake Titicaca (Puno) $29
Tours and Activities in Punta Arenas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta Arenas.
- Half day traditional City Tour: $50
- 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: $138
- 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
Tours and Activities in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:
- Live Experience Titicaca Lake PUNO: $70
- 2-Day Lake Titicaca Tour with Stay in a Local Family Home: $109
- 2-Day Tour Uros Islands with Stay in a Local Family House from Puno: $109
- 2-Day Tour to Uros, Amantani and Taquile From Puno: $85
- 2-Hour Crop Circles Private Tour on Lake Titicaca from Puno: $130
- 2-day Tour: Puno To Chivay And Canyon Of Colca: $195
- 3 Hour Guided Kayaking Tour in Lake Titicaca: $50
- 3-day Classic Puno Tour Package: $226
- 3h Boat Tour to Uros Island from Puno: $38
- Aymara's route 1 day tour in Puno: Inca Uyo, Aramu Muru, Molloco: $90
- Bus Day Tour along the Ruta del Sol from Puno to Cusco: $62
- Bus Ticket from Puno to Cusco with Stop.: $108
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPunta Arenas $4.86Lake Titicaca (Puno) $13
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
When comparing the travel costs between Punta Arenas and Lake Titicaca (Puno), we can see that Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas Expensive? and Is Lake Titicaca (Puno) Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Punta Arenas or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
Punta Arenas has a larger population, and is about 1% larger than the population of Lake Titicaca (Puno). When comparing the sizes of Punta Arenas and Lake Titicaca (Puno), 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.