Which place is cheaper, Curitiba or Punta del Este?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Punta del Este or Curitiba?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Punta del Este or Curitiba, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Punta del Este or Curitiba?
Punta del Este
Punta del Este with its many beaches, elegant seaside homes, yacht harbor, high-rise apartment buildings, pricey hotels, ardent night scene and glitzy restaurants is a chic beach resort town in Uruguay. Many tourists come from Brazil and Argentina, on the other side of the Rio de la Plata, to get some nice sun and lay on the beach for a weekend getaway. Punta del Este is more expensive than other areas in Uruguay and has been called the Monaco of South America. Tourist season varies wildly from totally deserted in the winter to very crowded in the summer.
Curitiba
Curitiba is a relatively large city that is convenient to visit if you're traveling to Iguazu Falls from either Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo. It is worth a day or two stop over because it has a great old city that has been restored. It's also the capital of Parana, Brazil. Curitiba is one of the more wealthy cities in the southern region of Brazil. It has a diverse population with many immigrants and some interesting cultural events.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Luxury Tours to Brazil, and The Best Budget Tours to Brazil.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPunta del Este $98Curitiba $73
The average daily cost (per person) in Punta del Este is $98, while the average daily cost in Curitiba is $73. 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 del Este and Curitiba in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPunta del Este $55Curitiba $30
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPunta del Este $110Curitiba $60
Compare Hotels in Punta del Este and Curitiba
Looking for a hotel in Punta del Este or Curitiba? 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 del Este Hotel Prices and Curitiba Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Punta del Este $22Curitiba $16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta del Este
Also for Punta del Este, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Montevideo to Punta Del Este Cruise Port: $85
- Private Transfer from Punta Del Este Cruise Port to Montevideo: $85
- Private Transfer - Punta Del Este Port to Carrasco Airport (MVD): $85
- Private Transfer from Montevideo hotels to Punta Del Este Port: $72
- Private Transfer from Punta Del Este Port to Montevideo hotels: $72
- Private Transfer to Punta del Este Airport: $60
- Punta del Este Airport Private Transfer: $60
- Private Transfer from Montevideo City to Montevideo Cruise Port: $54
- Montevideo hotels to Carrasco International Airport (MVD) - Departure Transfer: $49
- Montevideo Hotels to Carrasco Airport MVD Departure Transfer: $49
- Private Transfer from Montevideo city to Montevideo Cruise Port: $29
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Curitiba
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Curitiba:
-
Taxi Ride$1.95
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Curitiba
Also for Curitiba, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Curitiba Airport PrivateTransfers Round Trip or One Way: $109
- Private Transfer from Curitiba Airport: $106
- Afonso Pena Airport (CWB) to Beach Resorts - Round-Trip Transfer: $87
- Private Transfer from Curitiba Airport (CWB) to Porto Belo Port : $75
- Private Transfer from Curitiba City Hotels to Porto Belo Port: $75
- Shared transfer between Curitiba Airport and Hotels: $73
- Afonso Pena Airport CWB to Beach Resorts : Arrival Transfer: $43
- Shared Transfer: Curitiba International Airport: $39
- Private Transfer from Curitiba City to Curitiba Airport (CWB): $35
- Curitiba Airport (CWB) to Downtown - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $33
- Curitiba to Afonso Pena Airport (CWB)- Departure Private Transfer: $17
- Curitiba to Curitiba Airport (CWB) - Departure Private Transfer: $16
Is it cheaper to fly into Punta del Este or Curitiba?
Prices for flights to both Curitiba and Punta del Este 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 dayPunta del Este $31Curitiba $28
Typical Food Prices in Curitiba
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Curitiba:
-
Chips$0.88
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Curitiba
For Curitiba, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Bar-hopping and Food Tour in Curitiba: $30
- Curitiba's History Food Tour: $70
- Curitiba's History Food Tour: $76
- Curitiba Tour by Night with Dinner: $94
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Punta del Este $11Curitiba $19
Tours and Activities in Punta del Este
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta del Este.
- Bike Tour Peninsula - Punta del Este: $65
- City Tour Punta del Este: $95
- Colonia Wine Experience for Food & Wine Lovers: $180
- Discovering Half-Day City Tour: $47
- East Coast of Uruguay – Private Multi Day Tour: $2,600
- From Cabo Polonio - Full Day Private Tour: $1,000
- Full Day Private Shore Tour Montevideo from Punta Del Este Port: $289
- Full Experience Tasting Menu Viña Edén: $157
- Gourmet Food & Wine Experience from Punta del Este: $205
- Guided Tour of Vineyards: $33
- Guided Tour of the Winery Viña Edén: $18
- Half Day Tour in Punta del Este and Jose Ignacio: $170
Tours and Activities in Curitiba
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Curitiba.
- Full Day Tour to Vila Velha and Buraco do Padre: $154
- 2-Day Rafting and Rappelling Adventure in Tibagi: $186
- 4-Hour Private Tour of Curitiba City: $69
- Arte Bike Tour - Bike Tour with Kuritbike: $24
- CRAFT BREWERS TOUR By Jens Tours: $71
- Complete Tour to Ilha do Mel: $145
- Curitiba City Tour: $58
- A complete city tour: $104
- A private city tour: $70
- Tour in Barigui Park: $120
- Walking tour from past to present: $12
- Full-day tour in Curitiba: $77
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayPunta del Este $7.70Curitiba $14
Sample the Local Flavors in Punta del Este
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Punta del Este:
- Wine Tasting: $42
- Half Day Private Canelones Wine Tour from Montevideo : $157
Typical Alcohol Prices in Curitiba
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Curitiba:
-
Beer$0.44
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Punta del Este and Curitiba, we can see that Punta del Este is more expensive. And not only is Curitiba much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Curitiba would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Curitiba 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 Punta del Este would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Punta del Este than you might in Curitiba.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Punta del Este Expensive? and Is Curitiba Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Punta del Este or Curitiba?
Curitiba has a larger population, and is about 240 times larger than the population of Punta del Este. When comparing the sizes of Punta del Este and Curitiba, 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.