Which place is cheaper, Punta Arenas or Quepos?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Quepos or Punta Arenas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Quepos and Punta Arenas can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Quepos or Punta Arenas?
Quepos
Quepos is both a district and the capital of Aguirre canton in the Puntareanas Province of Costa Rica. The town is quite small, and the district has a population of about 22,000 people. Quepos is a popular tourist destination in Costa Rica due to its close proximity to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific Coast. The town's economy is centered around tourism and there is no shortage of bars and restaurants in the area. The town also has a lively nightlife for such a small community.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayQuepos $117Punta Arenas $63
The average daily cost (per person) in Quepos is $117, while the average daily cost in Punta Arenas is $63. 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 Quepos and Punta Arenas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personQuepos $77Punta Arenas $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomQuepos $154Punta Arenas $64
Compare Hotels in Quepos and Punta Arenas
Looking for a hotel in Quepos or Punta Arenas? 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: Quepos Hotel Prices and Punta Arenas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Quepos $9.56Punta Arenas $1.80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quepos
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer - San Jose Airport & Manuel Antonio/Quepos : $300
- One-Way Private Transfer from Quepos - Manuel Antonio to Monteverde: $276
- Manuel Antonio & Quepos one way transfer to SJO hotels - Airport up to 5 people.: $274
- Private transfer from SJ Airport to Manuel Antonio and vice versa: $230
- Transfer from Manuel Antonio to SJO Airport and surroundings : $209
- Private Transfer from Manuel Antonio to Nauyaca Waterfalls (Round Trip): $199
- One-Way Private Transfer from Uvita to Quepos - Manuel Antonio: $140
- Private Transfer From San Jose Airport To Manuel Antonio Beach: $125
- Private Transfer from Quepos Cruise Port to San Jose City Hotels: $91
- Shuttle Transfer from Manuel Antonio to San Jose: $60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Arenas
Also for Punta Arenas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Punta Arenas (city or airport) to Puerto Natales: $267
- Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ) to Punta Arenas - Arrival Transfer: $49
- Private Transfer from Punta Arenas Port to Punta Arenas hotels: $64
- Private Transfer Punta Arenas Airport to/from Punta Arenas: $33
Is it cheaper to fly into Quepos or Punta Arenas?
Prices for flights to both Punta Arenas and Quepos 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 dayQuepos $30Punta Arenas $21
Typical Food Prices in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$15
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Seafood Dinner (for 1)$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Night Jungle Tour with Dinner (Rainmaker Park): $59
- 3 Hour Cooking Class and Medical Plants Garden: $77
- Cooking Class & Medicinal Plants Garden Manuel Antonio: $77
- Night Mangrove Safari Boat Tour with Dinner | Manuel Antonio: $79
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.Quepos $17Punta Arenas $6.44
Tours and Activities in Quepos
For Quepos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 10 in 1 Tour! Zip Lines, Rappels, Tarzan Swing, Waterfalls & More: $130
- 2-Hour Boat Tour in Quepos: $55
- ATV Tour Half Day Trip From Manuel Antonio: $90
- All Inclusive Catamaran Eco Adventure from Manuel Antonio: $83
- All-Inclusive Catamaran Eco Adventure with Lunch: $93
- All-Inclusive Full-Day Nauyaca Waterfall and Beach Town Tour: $142
- Beach Day Experience in Manuel Antonio: $20
- Birding at El Rey. (Marshes,rice fields,canals) Private Birding Tour : $120
- Birdwatching Tour: $130
- Catamaran Adventure From Manuel Antonio: $116
- Chocolate Tour Manuel Antonio: $60
- Chocolate and Coffee Tour Manuel Antonio: $62
Tours and Activities in Punta Arenas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta Arenas.
- Bike Tour in Punta Arenas, 100% local tour.: $70
- Fort Bulnes cruises: $70
- Full day Torres del Paine from Punta Arenas ,Regular tours: $180
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $145
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $145
- Magallanes Forest and Club Andino Tour from Punta Arenas: $290
- Magallanes Reserva and City Tour. Private Shore Excursion.: $158
- Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas: $153
- Mountain Bike Adventure in Punta Arenas: $192
- Pali Aike Full-Day Adventure from Punta Arenas: $300
- Private City Cruise Tour: $225
- Private Half Day Punta Arenas City Tour From the Hotel only: $250
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayQuepos $15Punta Arenas $4.86
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 Quepos and Punta Arenas, we can see that Quepos is more expensive. And not only is Punta Arenas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Quepos is in Central America and Punta Arenas is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Quepos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Quepos 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 Quepos Expensive? and Is Punta Arenas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Quepos or Punta Arenas?
Punta Arenas has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Quepos and Punta Arenas, 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 Quepos or Punta Arenas?
Punta Arenas has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Quepos experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Quepos or Punta Arenas in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Quepos and Punta Arenas. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Quepos year-round.
Quepos is much warmer than Punta Arenas in the summer. The daily temperature in Quepos averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 11°C (52°F)in January.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Punta Arenas this time of the year. Quepos usually receives less sunshine than Punta Arenas during summer. Quepos gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Punta Arenas receives 208 hours of full sun in the summer.
Quepos gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Quepos usually receives more rain than Punta Arenasin January. Quepos gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryQuepos 28°C (82°F)Punta Arenas 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Quepos or Punta Arenas in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Quepos as well as Punta Arenas. Quepos attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, Quepos is much warmer than Punta Arenas. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Quepos in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Punta Arenas averages at about 7°C (44°F)in April.
In the autumn, Quepos often gets more sunshine than Punta Arenasin April. Quepos gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Punta Arenas receives 119 hours of full sun.
Quepos receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Quepos usually gets more rain in October than Punta Arenasin April. Quepos gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilQuepos 27°C (81°F)Punta Arenas 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Quepos or Punta Arenas in the Winter?
Both Punta Arenas and Quepos are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Quepos throughout the year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Punta Arenas. In January, Quepos is generally much warmer than Punta Arenasin July. Daily temperatures in Quepos average around 27°C (81°F), and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 1°C (35°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Quepos. Quepos usually receives more sunshine than Punta Arenas during winter. Quepos gets 264 hours of sunny skies, while Punta Arenas receives 70 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Quepos usually receives less rain than Punta Arenasin July. Quepos gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyQuepos 27°C (81°F)Punta Arenas 1°C (35°F)
Should I visit Quepos or Punta Arenas in the Spring?
Both Punta Arenas and Quepos during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Quepos because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Quepos is much warmer than Punta Arenas in the spring. The daily temperature in Quepos averages around 29°C (85°F) in April, and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 7°C (44°F)in October.
It's quite sunny in Quepos. In the spring, Quepos often gets more sunshine than Punta Arenasin October. Quepos gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Punta Arenas receives 183 hours of full sun.
Quepos usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Punta Arenasin October. Quepos gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberQuepos 29°C (85°F)Punta Arenas 7°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Punta Arenas and Quepos
| Quepos | Punta Arenas | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 1°C (35°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 29 mm (1.1 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.