Which place is cheaper, Iquique or Punta del Este?
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 del Este or Iquique?
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 Iquique, 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 Iquique?
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.
Iquique
Located in a golden crescent of coastline, the beautiful beach city with an ocean that's several shades of blue and a historic centre that offers the perfect balance of culture and relaxation is counted among Chile's premier beach resorts. The city is home to the duty free zone called "Zofri" and a growing number of high rise resort hotels along its beaches. Slightly more expensive and polluted than neighboring population centers, such as Arica, Iquique and its chaotic duty-free shopping zone (zona franca) have become the perfect summer holiday destination for Chilean families.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Chile, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile.
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Punta del Este Prices
Uruguay PricesIquique Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPunta del Este $116Iquique $117
The average daily cost (per person) in Punta del Este is $116, while the average daily cost in Iquique is $117. 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 Iquique in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPunta del Este $52Iquique $41
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPunta del Este $104Iquique $82
Compare Hotels in Punta del Este and Iquique
Looking for a hotel in Punta del Este or Iquique? 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 Iquique Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Punta del Este $21Iquique $22
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 Punta Del Este Port to Carrasco Airport MVD: $263
- Bodega Garzon Wine Experience with Private Transfer: $220
- Private Transfer to Punta del Este Special Art Icons Tour: $185
- Private Transfer from Montevideo to Punta Del Este Cruise Port: $160
- Private Transfer from Punta Del Este Cruise Port to Montevideo: $160
- Private Transfer - Punta Del Este Port to Carrasco Airport (MVD): $111
- Private Transfer - Carrasco Airport (MVD) to Punta Del Este Port: $111
- Private Transfer to Punta del Este Airport: $60
- Punta del Este Airport Private Transfer: $60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Iquique
Also for Iquique, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Sandboard activity in Iquique with transfer: $95
Is it cheaper to fly into Punta del Este or Iquique?
Prices for flights to both Iquique 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
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Food Meals for one dayPunta del Este $51Iquique $56
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Punta del Este $10Iquique $26
Tours and Activities in Punta del Este
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta del Este.
- Best private Have It Your Way Tour in Punta Del Este.: $290
- Discover Private City Tour with a Local Guide: $160
- Discovering Half-Day City Tour: $49
- From Montevideo: Punta del Este Full-Day City Tour: $62
- Full Experience Tasting Menu Viña Edén: $165
- Full Private Tour of Montevideo: $150
- Guided Tour of the Winery Viña Edén: $19
- Half Day Tour in Punta del Este and Jose Ignacio: $144
- Jewish History Punta del Este Old Town Private Walking Tour: $150
- Montevideo: City Tour, Punta del Este, & Colonia Trip: $129
- Montevideo: Punta del Este Full-Day Tour with Hotel Pick-Up: $88
- Museo del Mar Private Guided Tour in Punta del Este: $141
Tours and Activities in Iquique
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Iquique.
- City Tour in Iquique: $89
- City tour of Iquique with navigation to the Esmeralda buoy: $55
- Experience sandboarding in the Iquique dunes: $52
- Guided tour of heroic Iquique: $23
- Guided City Tour with Boat Trip to Esmeralda Buoy: $85
- Red Lagoon Tour: $639
- Isluga National Park Tour: $180
- Pintados Geoglyphs, Humberstone and Salar Crespo tour: $145
- Red Lagoon Tour: $225
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPunta del Este $7.39Iquique $19
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
- Wine Lovers - Fun Wine Tasting outside Punta del Este!: $199
When comparing the travel costs between Punta del Este and Iquique, we can see that Iquique 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 del Este Expensive? and Is Iquique Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Punta del Este or Iquique?
Iquique has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Punta del Este. When comparing the sizes of Punta del Este and Iquique, 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.