Which place is cheaper, Puerto Montt or Punta Arenas?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Punta Arenas or Puerto Montt?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Punta Arenas or Puerto Montt? 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 Puerto Montt?
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.
Puerto Montt
The Lake District is a region of snow capped volcanoes, pale green lakes and endless miles of virgin and ancient forests. Found 1,016 km away from Santiago de Chile, Puerto Montt is famous for its beautiful lakes and its germanic architecture, old wooden houses and its legendary Iglesia Catedral, found on the town's main square, la Plaza de Armas. The monument, entirely built with alerce (cypress) wood, is the oldest building of the city. The capital of the Lake Region is a good starting point for many memorable excursions in the area.
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 Wildlife Tours to Chile, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPunta Arenas $63Puerto Montt $89
The average daily cost (per person) in Punta Arenas is $63, while the average daily cost in Puerto Montt is $89. 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 Puerto Montt in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPunta Arenas $32Puerto Montt $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPunta Arenas $64Puerto Montt $122
Compare Hotels in Punta Arenas and Puerto Montt
Looking for a hotel in Punta Arenas or Puerto Montt? 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 Puerto Montt Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Punta Arenas $1.80Puerto Montt $6.43
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 Airport (PUQ) to Punta Arenas - Arrival Transfer: $49
- Private Transfer from Punta Arenas Port to Punta Arenas hotels: $64
- Transfer from Punta Arenas (city or airport) to Puerto Natales: $267
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Montt
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Montt:
- Transfer from Puerto Montt Airport to Castro: $300
- Transfer Puerto Montt Airport to Castro: $277
- 4 Days Tour Los Lagos Region with Transfer Chiloe and Peulla: $177
- Puerto Montt El Tepual Airport (PMC) to Pucon - Arrival Transfer: $114
- Transfer from Puerto Montt Airport to Frutillar: $80
- Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Puerto Varas - Round-Trip Transfer: $65
- Transfer from Puerto Montt Airport to Puerto Varas: $50
- Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Frutillar: Roundtrip Transfer: $46
- Puerto Montt Airport to Puerto Varas - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $41
- Puerto Airport (PMC) to Frutillar - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $41
- Puerto Montt Shuttle Transfer: $34
- Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Puerto Varas City- Arrival Transfer: $33
Is it cheaper to fly into Punta Arenas or Puerto Montt?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Montt 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 $21Puerto Montt $21
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 $6.44Puerto Montt $14
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: $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
- Mountain Bike Adventure in Punta Arenas: $192
Tours and Activities in Puerto Montt
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Montt are as follows:
- 6 Hours Shared Tour in Calbuco and Millennial Forest : $130
- Alerce Andino National Park/Alerce Millenario/Cruises: $77
- Austral / Hornopiren Road Tour: $102
- Excursion City tour Puerto Varas / Llanquihue and Frutillar: $77
- Frutillar & Llanquihue Private Tour from Puerto Montt: $128
- Frutillar & Llanquihue Tour from Puerto Montt: $56
- Frutillar Tour: $31
- Osorno Volcano Tour+Petrohue Falls / Cruises / Spanish: $68
- Private Day tour Petrohue Falls, Osorno Volcano & Puerto Varas: $250
- Private Shore Excursion Tour to Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas and Frutillar: $143
- Private Tour: Puerto Montt Sightseeing: $47
- Private Tour: Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas and Vicente Peres Rosales National Park: $164
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPunta Arenas $4.86Puerto Montt $4.49
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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Punta Arenas and Puerto Montt, we can see that Puerto Montt is more expensive. And not only is Punta Arenas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Puerto Montt would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Montt 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 Puerto Montt Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Punta Arenas or Puerto Montt?
Puerto Montt has a larger population, and is about 36% larger than the population of Punta Arenas. When comparing the sizes of Punta Arenas and Puerto Montt, 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.
When is the best time to visit Punta Arenas or Puerto Montt?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit Punta Arenas or Puerto Montt in the Summer?
Both Puerto Montt and Punta Arenas during the summer are popular places to visit.
In January, Punta Arenas is generally cooler than Puerto Montt. Daily temperatures in Punta Arenas average around 11°C (52°F), and Puerto Montt fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
In Puerto Montt, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Punta Arenas. In the summer, Punta Arenas often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Puerto Montt. Punta Arenas gets 208 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Montt receives 204 hours of full sun.
Punta Arenas usually gets less rain in January than Puerto Montt. Punta Arenas gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryPunta Arenas 11°C (52°F)Puerto Montt 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Punta Arenas or Puerto Montt in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Punta Arenas and Puerto Montt.
Punta Arenas is much colder than Puerto Montt in the autumn. The daily temperature in Punta Arenas averages around 7°C (44°F) in April, and Puerto Montt fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Punta Arenas usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Montt during autumn. Punta Arenas gets 119 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Montt receives 104 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Puerto Montt receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Punta Arenas usually receives less rain than Puerto Montt. Punta Arenas gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilPunta Arenas 7°C (44°F)Puerto Montt 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Punta Arenas or Puerto Montt in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Punta Arenas as well as Puerto Montt.
The weather in Punta Arenas can be very cold. In the winter, Punta Arenas is much colder than Puerto Montt. Typically, the winter temperatures in Punta Arenas in July average around 1°C (35°F), and Puerto Montt averages at about 7°C (45°F).
In the winter, Punta Arenas often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Puerto Montt. Punta Arenas gets 70 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Montt receives 67 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Puerto Montt. Punta Arenas usually gets less rain in July than Puerto Montt. Punta Arenas gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 229 mm (9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulyPunta Arenas 1°C (35°F)Puerto Montt 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Punta Arenas or Puerto Montt in the Spring?
Both Puerto Montt and Punta Arenas are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In October, Punta Arenas is generally much colder than Puerto Montt. Daily temperatures in Punta Arenas average around 7°C (44°F), and Puerto Montt fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Punta Arenas usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Montt during spring. Punta Arenas gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Montt receives 151 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Montt. In October, Punta Arenas usually receives less rain than Puerto Montt. Punta Arenas gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 121 mm (4.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberPunta Arenas 7°C (44°F)Puerto Montt 11°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Puerto Montt and Punta Arenas
| Punta Arenas | Puerto Montt | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 11°C (52°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Feb | 11°C (52°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (48°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Apr | 7°C (44°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| May | 4°C (39°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) |
| Jun | 2°C (35°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) |
| Jul | 1°C (35°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 229 mm (9 in) |
| Aug | 3°C (37°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 209 mm (8.2 in) |
| Sep | 5°C (40°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Oct | 7°C (44°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Nov | 9°C (48°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Dec | 11°C (51°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
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.