Which place is cheaper, Punta Arenas or Santa Marta?
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 Santa Marta or Punta Arenas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Santa Marta and Punta Arenas can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Santa Marta or Punta Arenas?
Santa Marta
Santa Marta is a city in the Magdalena Department of Colombia's Costa Norte. Over the last decade, security has steadily been replacing the shadow of the Colombia's violent past. One destination in Colombia's northeast region is now attracting more international visitors: the coastal Caribbean area of Santa Marta. Established in 1525 by the Spanish as a base of conquest, Santa Marta sits at the foot of the world's highest coastal mountain range, the towering Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. It is South America's oldest European-founded town and the second most important colonial city on Colombia's Caribbean coast. While many travelers complain about Santa Marta's horrible traffic and unsightly urban sprawl, the city holds a numerous amounts of great hotels, bars and restaurants and holds a few fantastic destinations nearby to which you can go during the daytime.
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 Eco Tours in Colombia, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Colombia, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.
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Santa Marta Prices
Colombia PricesPunta Arenas Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySanta Marta $39Punta Arenas $79
The average daily cost (per person) in Santa Marta is $39, while the average daily cost in Punta Arenas is $79. 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 Santa Marta and Punta Arenas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanta Marta $14Punta Arenas $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanta Marta $28Punta Arenas $64
Compare Hotels in Santa Marta and Punta Arenas
Looking for a hotel in Santa Marta 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: Santa Marta Hotel Prices and Punta Arenas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santa Marta $5.15Punta Arenas $1.80
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Santa Marta
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santa Marta:
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Gas$5.12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Marta
Also for Santa Marta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Exclusive transfer Santa Marta - Cartagena: $229
- Private Transfer from Santa Marta Port to Cartagena Airport (CTG): $220
- Private Transfer from Santa Marta Cruise Port to Cartagena hotels: $220
- Calderon Beach Club Day Pass with Lunch & Transfer: $194
- Cartagena to or from Santa Marta Private Transfer: $159
- Santa Marta to or from Cartagena Private Transfer: $149
- Private transfer between Santa Marta and Barranquilla (or viceversa): $130
- Private Transfer Santa Marta to Palomino (or vice versa): $117
- Private Transfer from Santa Marta Airport SMR to Santa Marta Port: $72
- Private Transfer from Santa Marta city to Santa Marta Cruise Port: $72
- Private Transfer from Santa Marta Port to Santa Marta Airport SMR: $72
- Private Transfer from Santa Marta Cruise Port to Santa Marta city: $72
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Arenas
Also for Punta Arenas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales: $267
- Transfer Airport Punta Arenas : $30
- Oneway Private Transfer from Punta Arenas Airport to Punta Arenas: $37
Is it cheaper to fly into Santa Marta or Punta Arenas?
Prices for flights to both Punta Arenas and Santa Marta 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 daySanta Marta $17Punta Arenas $36
Typical Food Prices in Santa Marta
For Santa Marta, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Breakfast$3.07
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Marta
For Santa Marta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Santa Marta Walking Food Tour: $40
- Food Tour in Santa Marta Old City Half-Day : $66
- Food Tour in Santa Marta Old City: $76
- Private Santa Marta City & Food Tour: $86
- Flavors of Colombia - Santa Marta Street Food Tour: $93
- Santa Marta Street Food Tour: $93
- Fast Food Tour In Santa Marta More Than Just Food: $120
- Upscale Food Tour in A Culinary Journey: $155
- Fast Food Tour with Local Guide: $155
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.Santa Marta $13Punta Arenas $6.44
Tours and Activities in Santa Marta
For Santa Marta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Tayrona Playa Cristal 7 Waves Neguanje Park Tour: $47
- "Gabo Márquez" Tour - Aracataca and Cienaga: $205
- 2 Day Minca Tour with Bird Watching: $95
- 2 days 1 night tour - in Trompito, I meet indigenous community Kogui Uldezhaxa.: $208
- 2-Day Cultural Tour to Gotsezhy from Santa Marta: $198
- 3-Day Private Tour of Taorayiná Ecolodge and Nature Reserve: $200
- A Pearl In The Caribbean-walking tour in English: $16
- Adventures in Santa Marta private beaches by Paddle or kayak: $52
- Al Tayrona yacht experience: $60
- Ancestral Thought Tour: $180
- Ancestral Thought Tour (Indigenous life in Kogui people) Santa Marta: $220
- Authentic experience with the Sewiaxa Kogui community and the River 1 day.: $137
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
- Cruises Shore Excursions : City tour Cruises Regular: $70
- For Cruise-ship passengers: Magdalena Island (Penguins): $200
- Fuerte Bulnes Shore Tour for Cruisers in Punta Arenas: $80
- Full day Torres del Paine from Punta Arenas ,Regular tours: $180
- Guided Tour of Punta Arenas and Fort Bulnes: $300
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $154
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $154
- Magallanes National Reserve and Punta Arenas City Tour: $165
- Magdalena Island Penguin Boat Tour and Marta Island: $165
- Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas: $160
- Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas: $160
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySanta Marta $6.55Punta Arenas $4.86
Typical Alcohol Prices in Santa Marta
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Santa Marta from other travelers:
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Beer$0.56
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Beer$2.30
Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Marta
Also in Santa Marta, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Thursday Night Bar Crawl in Santa Marta, Colombia: $24
- Saturday Night Bar Crawl in Santa Marta, Colombia: $25
- Bar Crawl In Santa Marta: $125
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$7.33
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santa Marta and Punta Arenas, we can see that Punta Arenas is more expensive. And not only is Santa Marta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Santa Marta would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Marta 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 Arenas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Punta Arenas than you might in Santa Marta.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santa Marta Expensive? and Is Punta Arenas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santa Marta or Punta Arenas?
Santa Marta has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Punta Arenas. When comparing the sizes of Santa Marta 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.
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.