A Travel Price Comparison for Uruguay Punta del Este vs. Montevideo for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Punta del Este or Montevideo?

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 Montevideo, 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.

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.

Montevideo

As the morning sun tinges the calm waters of the Rio de la Plata with a golden hue, the Rambla and its city awakens to life with new adventures for those near and far. From tanning on the luxurious beaches to peering into Uruguayan history at local museums, one can be far from bored while staying in Montevideo. Combining the quaintness of the countryside with the excitement of urban life, this city holds a unique trait that cannot easily be replicated.

Which city is cheaper, Montevideo or Punta del Este?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Punta del Este is $77, while the average daily cost in Montevideo is $49. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Punta del Este and Montevideo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Punta del Este $43
    Montevideo $31
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Punta del Este $86
    Montevideo $62

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Punta del Este $17
    Montevideo $5.72

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta del Este

Also for Punta del Este, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Punta del Este Wine Tour, Bodega Garzon, Private Transfer: $338
  • Private Transfer to Garzon Restaurant by Francis Mallmann: $269
  • Punta del Este Airport Private Transfer: $45
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Punta del Este Airport to Hotel: $40
  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Punta del Este Airport: $40

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montevideo

Also for Montevideo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private transfer: Montevideo Airport (MVD) to Montevideo: $622
  • Departure Private Transfer Montevideo to Montevideo Airport MVD in a Minibus: $217
  • PACK 3: Transfer in - Tour Montevideo - Punta del Este - Colonia - Transfer out: $190
  • Jose Ignacio: Private Transfer to Montevideo: $175
  • Transfer to Punta del Este or Jose Ignacio: $150
  • PACK 2: Transfer in - Tour Montevideo - Punta del Este - Transfer out: $110
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Montevideo Airport to Hotel: $70
  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Montevideo Airport: $70
  • Departure Private Transfer Montevideo to Montevideo Airport MVD in Business Car: $69
  • PACK 1: Transfer in - Tour Montevideo - Transfer out: $60
  • Best Private Arrival or Departure Airport Transfer in Montevideo: $50
  • Departure Private Transfer Montevideo to Montevideo Airport MVD in Sedan Car: $46

Is it cheaper to fly into Punta del Este or Montevideo?

Prices for flights to both Montevideo 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 day
    Punta del Este $24
    Montevideo $11

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montevideo

For Montevideo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • The best Montevideo Dinner Show. Tango and Candombe.: $75
  • El Milongon Dinner & Show: Candombe, Tango & Folklore in Montevideo: $105

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Punta del Este $8.22
    Montevideo $16

Tours and Activities in Punta del Este

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta del Este.

  • Art Studio Tour in Punta del Este: $75
  • La Vista 360 Admission Ticket: $10
  • Punta del Este City Sightseeing Tour: $33
  • Punta del Este City Tour: $93
  • Punta del Este City Tour Clasico con Puesta del Sol en Casapueblo: $25
  • Punta del Este Shore Excursion: Private Sightseeing Tour of Punta del Este: $188
  • Punta del Este Special Art Tour: $185
  • Wine Lovers - Punta Wine Experience: $150

Tours and Activities in Montevideo

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Montevideo.

  • 2-day Uruguay Pass: City Tour Montevideo + Excursion to Punta del Este: $142
  • 2-day Uruguay Pass: Montevideo City Tour + Excursion to Colonia de Sacramento: $185
  • BEST Cruise Passanger - Shared Tours: $45
  • Best Private & Personalized City Tour for cruise passengers (full day): $170
  • Best Private Montevideo Shore Excursion: City Tour. Optional WineTasting Tour.: $145
  • Best-Tours: $1,090
  • Bouza Winery Tour from Montevideo with Tastings and Tapas (Esp, Eng, Port): $75
  • City Tour Montevideo: $25
  • City Tour Montevideo: $28
  • Colonia del Sacramento - Full day tour from Montevideo: $70
  • Colonia del Sacramento - Full day tour from Montevideo: $75
  • Discover Montevideo Private Tour with a Local: $75

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Punta del Este $6.02
    Montevideo -

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 from Punta del Este: $128

Sample the Local Flavors in Montevideo

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Montevideo:

  • Wine Tasting Tour - from Montevideo: $75
  • Private Winery Tour + Wine Tasting (Minimum 4 people): $80
  • Montevideo and Wine Tasting Tour - for cruise passengers: $89
  • Wine tasting - Uruguayan Tannat in Montevideo: $103
  • Private Visit to Uruguayan Winery + Lunch + Wine tasting (minimum 5 people): $105
  • Juanico Wine Tour Lunch: $120
  • Pack 5: Tour Montevideo, Punta del Este & Wine Tasting Tour: $145
  • Guided Private Wine Tour with Tasting and Lunch: $182
  • Wine Tasting & Countryside Lunch Experience: $200
  • Full-Day Wine Tasting and Vineyard Tour: $200
  • Private Wine Tours by Wine Explorers Uruguay: $205
  • Private Montevideo Wine Tour & Flight Tour: $259

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Punta del Este and Montevideo, we can see that Punta del Este is more expensive. And not only is Montevideo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Montevideo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Montevideo 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 Montevideo.

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Punta del Este vs. Montevideo Travel Comparison

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