Which place is cheaper, Puerto Montt or San Ignacio?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Ignacio or Puerto Montt?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Ignacio or Puerto Montt, 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: San Ignacio or Puerto Montt?
San Ignacio
So you want a tropical getaway, but also don't want to lay around with nothing to do. You want an adventure! You want relaxation and exploration.
You want to visit the small town of San Ignacio, Belize.
This section of the Cayo region is really more of a jungle than a typical Belize beach getaway. Located close the ancient Mayan ruins on the western and inland side of Belize, this town is most popular for its many outdoor adventures including hiking, climbing, and caving!
Puerto Montt
The Lake District is a region of snow capped volcanoes, pale green lakes and endless miles of virgin and ancient forests. Found 1,016 km away from Santiago de Chile, Puerto Montt is famous for its beautiful lakes and its germanic architecture, old wooden houses and its legendary Iglesia Catedral, found on the town's main square, la Plaza de Armas. The monument, entirely built with alerce (cypress) wood, is the oldest building of the city. The capital of the Lake Region is a good starting point for many memorable excursions in the area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Belize, The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Ignacio $72Puerto Montt $89
The average daily cost (per person) in San Ignacio is $72, while the average daily cost in Puerto Montt is $89. 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 Ignacio and Puerto Montt in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Ignacio $19Puerto Montt $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Ignacio $38Puerto Montt $122
Compare Hotels in San Ignacio and Puerto Montt
Looking for a hotel in San Ignacio or Puerto Montt? 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 Ignacio Hotel Prices and Puerto Montt Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Ignacio $3.11Puerto Montt $6.43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Ignacio
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Ignacio:
- From Van Transfer To Flores Peten in Guatemala: $20
- San Ignacio Hotel to Belize City Transfer: $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Montt
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Montt:
- 4 Days Tour Los Lagos Region with Transfer Chiloe and Peulla: $177
- Cruce Andino Office Private Transfer from Puerto Montt: $44
- Private Transfer from Puerto Airport (PMC) to Puerto Montt Port: $31
- Private Transfer from Puerto Montt Port to Puerto Airport (PMC): $27
- Private Transfer from Puerto Montt Port to Puerto Airport (PMC): $31
- Puerto Airport (PMC) to Frutillar - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $42
- Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Frutillar: Roundtrip Transfer: $46
- Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Puerto Varas - Round-Trip Transfer: $66
- Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Puerto Varas City- Arrival Transfer: $33
- Puerto Montt Airport Arrival Transfer to Hotel in Puerto Varas: $24
- Puerto Montt Airport to Puerto Varas - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $42
- Puerto Montt Airport(PMC) to Frutillar - Arrival Private Transfer: $21
Is it cheaper to fly into San Ignacio or Puerto Montt?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Montt and San Ignacio 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 Ignacio $21Puerto Montt $21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Ignacio
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Ignacio.
- Xunantunich & Food Tour with local chocolate experience: $150
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Ignacio $100Puerto Montt $14
Tours and Activities in San Ignacio
Here are a few actual costs in San Ignacio for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Xunantunich Maya Site with Local Tour guide: $65
- Xunantunich & Adventure Horse Ride: $75
- Xunantunich Mayan Ruins Tour from San Ignacio: $75
- Half-Day Cave Canoeing Adventure: $75
- From Xunantunich Mayan Tour & Optional Combos: $75
- Cave Canoeing with Local Tour Guide: $80
- Cave Tubing with local tour Guide and Belizean Lunch: $90
- Farm Ride plus Xunantunich tour: $90
- Belize Cave Tubing Adventure from San Ignacio: $90
- Xunantunich horseback riding tour: $100
- Full-Day Mountain Pine Ridge Tour from San Ignacio with Lunch: $100
- Private Tour:Xunantunich Mayan Ruin from San Ignacio: $103
Tours and Activities in Puerto Montt
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Montt are as follows:
- Frutillar Tour: $31
- Half day Llanquihue and Frutillar City tour : $44
- Private Tour: Puerto Montt Sightseeing: $47
- Frutillar & Llanquihue Tour from Puerto Montt: $56
- Osorno Volcano and Petrohué Falls Guided Tour: $62
- Osorno Volcano Tour+Petrohue Falls / Cruises / Spanish: $68
- Alerce Andino National Park/Alerce Millenario/Cruises: $77
- Private. City Tour Puerto Montt and Puerto Varas: $92
- Austral / Hornopiren Road Tour: $102
- Frutillar & Llanquihue Private Tour from Puerto Montt: $128
- 6 Hours Shared Tour in Calbuco and Millennial Forest : $130
- Tagua Tagua Lake and Wild Patagonia Tour: $133
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Ignacio $17Puerto Montt $4.49
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Ignacio and Puerto Montt, we can see that Puerto Montt is more expensive. And not only is San Ignacio much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Ignacio is in Central America and Puerto Montt 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 Ignacio would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Ignacio 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 Montt would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Montt than you might in San Ignacio.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Ignacio Expensive? and Is Puerto Montt Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Ignacio or Puerto Montt?
Puerto Montt has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of San Ignacio. When comparing the sizes of San Ignacio and Puerto Montt, 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 San Ignacio or Puerto Montt?
Puerto Montt has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Ignacio experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit San Ignacio or Puerto Montt in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both San Ignacio and Puerto Montt. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Ignacio year-round.
San Ignacio is much warmer than Puerto Montt in the summer. The daily temperature in San Ignacio averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Puerto Montt fluctuates around 16°C (60°F)in January.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Puerto Montt this time of the year. In San Ignacio, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Ignacio usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Montt during summer. San Ignacio gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Montt receives 204 hours of full sun in the summer.
San Ignacio gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, San Ignacio usually receives more rain than Puerto Monttin January. San Ignacio gets 243 mm (9.6 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuarySan Ignacio 28°C (82°F)Puerto Montt 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit San Ignacio or Puerto Montt in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to San Ignacio as well as Puerto Montt. San Ignacio attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, San Ignacio is much warmer than Puerto Montt. Typically, the autumn temperatures in San Ignacio in October average around 26°C (80°F), and Puerto Montt averages at about 11°C (51°F)in April.
In the autumn, San Ignacio often gets more sunshine than Puerto Monttin April. San Ignacio gets 196 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Montt receives 104 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Puerto Montt. San Ignacio receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Ignacio usually gets more rain in October than Puerto Monttin April. San Ignacio gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilSan Ignacio 26°C (80°F)Puerto Montt 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit San Ignacio or Puerto Montt in the Winter?
Both Puerto Montt and San Ignacio are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Ignacio throughout the year.
In January, San Ignacio is generally much warmer than Puerto Monttin July. Daily temperatures in San Ignacio average around 24°C (74°F), and Puerto Montt fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).
San Ignacio usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Montt during winter. San Ignacio gets 199 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Montt receives 67 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Montt. It's quite rainy in San Ignacio. In January, San Ignacio usually receives less rain than Puerto Monttin July. San Ignacio gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 229 mm (9 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulySan Ignacio 24°C (74°F)Puerto Montt 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit San Ignacio or Puerto Montt in the Spring?
Both Puerto Montt and San Ignacio during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Ignacio because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
San Ignacio is much warmer than Puerto Montt in the spring. The daily temperature in San Ignacio averages around 27°C (80°F) in April, and Puerto Montt fluctuates around 11°C (51°F)in October.
It's quite sunny in San Ignacio. In the spring, San Ignacio often gets more sunshine than Puerto Monttin October. San Ignacio gets 256 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Montt receives 151 hours of full sun.
Puerto Montt gets a good bit of rain this time of year. San Ignacio usually gets less rain in April than Puerto Monttin October. San Ignacio gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 121 mm (4.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberSan Ignacio 27°C (80°F)Puerto Montt 11°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Puerto Montt and San Ignacio
| San Ignacio | Puerto Montt | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (80°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.2 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 243 mm (9.6 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 229 mm (9 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 209 mm (8.2 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (80°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (76°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 103 mm (4.1 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.