Which place is cheaper, Puerto Varas or San Cristobal de Las Casas?
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 San Cristobal de Las Casas or Puerto Varas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Cristobal de Las Casas or Puerto Varas? 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: San Cristobal de Las Casas or Puerto Varas?
San Cristobal de Las Casas
Far away from the luxuries of Cancun and Cabo, Mexico's San Cristobal de las Casas is a stunning colonial city located in the southern state of Chiapas. Due to its strategic location, the town is commonly used as a transfer point for travelers looking to cross the border between Guatemala and Mexico. San Cristobal also has an immensely strong appeal among budget-minded travelers as it's one of Mexico's most affordable cities.
Puerto Varas
Puerto Varas is a city in Southern Chile, in the Los Lagos (Lakes) Region, Llanquihue Province. It is a charming town, only 23 km away from Puerto Montt and surrounded by the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes as well as the impressive Llanquihue lake. In terms of landscape, accommodation and activities, Puerto Varas is well served! Kayak, paddle, canyoning, rock climbing, trekking, ski, fishing, you name it! If you decide to stop in that area, we recommend that you stay in Puerto Varas, as it provides the perfect starting point for many memorable excursions in the area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Mexico City, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, The Best Wildlife Tours to Chile, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Chile.
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San Cristobal de Las Casas Prices
Mexico PricesPuerto Varas Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $107Puerto Varas $127
The average daily cost (per person) in San Cristobal de Las Casas is $107, while the average daily cost in Puerto Varas is $127. 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 San Cristobal de Las Casas and Puerto Varas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Cristobal de Las Casas $42Puerto Varas $67
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Cristobal de Las Casas $84Puerto Varas $134
Compare Hotels in San Cristobal de Las Casas and Puerto Varas
Looking for a hotel in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Puerto Varas? 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: San Cristobal de Las Casas Hotel Prices and Puerto Varas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Cristobal de Las Casas $29Puerto Varas $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Cristobal de Las Casas
Also for San Cristobal de Las Casas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer Hotel in San Cristobal de las Casas to TGZ Airport: $53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Varas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Varas:
- Transfer from Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport: $50
- Transfer to Puerto Montt Airport: $22
- Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) - Departure Transfer: $63
- Puerto Varas Bus Terminal Private Transfer: $25
- Puerto Varas Airport Shuttle Transfer: $38
- Frutillar to Puerto Montt Airport PMC- Departure Private Transfer: $47
- Cruce Andino Office Shuttle Transfer from Puerto Varas: $19
Is it cheaper to fly into San Cristobal de Las Casas or Puerto Varas?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Varas and San Cristobal de Las Casas 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 daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $37Puerto Varas $43
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Cristobal de Las Casas
For San Cristobal de Las Casas, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- City Tour with Dinner Pizza and Wine: $71
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Cristobal de Las Casas $13Puerto Varas $19
Tours and Activities in San Cristobal de Las Casas
For San Cristobal de Las Casas, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Rancho Nuevo Caves and Arcotete Ecotourism Center: $23
- Tour of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantan: $28
- Tour to San Juan Chamula & Zinacantan Indian communities: $35
- Adventure through the Grottos del Arcotete, and Rancho Nuevo: $39
- Tour Sumidero Canyon and Magic Town of Chiapa de Corzo: $42
- Adventure to the Sumidero Canyon Viewpoints and Chiapa de Corzo: $42
- Maya Cultural Tour From San Cristobal: Chamula, Zinacantan: $45
- Private Tour in San Cristobal de las Casas: $48
- Montebello Lakes and Chiflon Waterfalls Tour: $48
- Tour to the Viewpoints, Sumidero Canyon and Chiapa de Corzo: $50
- Tour to the Chiflón Waterfalls and Montebello Lagoons: $50
- Sink Canyon and Chiapa de Corzo Tour : $50
Tours and Activities in Puerto Varas
Here are a few actual costs in Puerto Varas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Chiloe Island - Puñihuil Tour: $90
- From Chiloe Island Full-day Tour: $65
- From Osorno Volcano & Petrohue Falls Day Tour: $49
- Full-Day Osorno Vulcano and Petrohue Falls Small-Group Tour: $80
- Half-Day Small-Group Rafting Experience in Petrohué River: $52
- Lake Llanquihue Bike Tour in Puerto Varas: $162
- Premium Full Day Shared Tour Osorno Volcano and Petrohue Falls: $230
- Premium Half Day Shared Tour Sunset at Osorno Volcano: $130
- Private Rock Climbing Experience in Northern Patagonia: $120
- Private Tour of Sport Rock Climbing: $150
- Full-Day Tour Chiloe Island: Castro and Dalcahue : $62
- FullDay Chiloe Island Tour Castro and dalcahue: $59
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $27Puerto Varas $6.51
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Cristobal de Las Casas and Puerto Varas, we can see that Puerto Varas is more expensive. And not only is San Cristobal de Las Casas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Cristobal de Las Casas is in North America and Puerto Varas 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 San Cristobal de Las Casas would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Cristobal de Las Casas 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 Varas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Varas than you might in San Cristobal de Las Casas.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Cristobal de Las Casas Expensive? and Is Puerto Varas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Cristobal de Las Casas or Puerto Varas?
San Cristobal de Las Casas has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Puerto Varas. When comparing the sizes of San Cristobal de Las Casas and Puerto Varas, 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.