Which place is cheaper, Pucon or Temuco?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Temuco or Pucon?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Temuco and Pucon. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Temuco or Pucon?
Temuco
Temuco is a large and modern city found 680 km south of Santiago. While the city is dynamic, it does not have any particular charm with the exception of being a great point of departure for many excursions around the lake region and the many national parks found in the surrounding area. Temuco is also well known for its Mapuche culture, a proud and rebellious community of around 20 000 in the area today, who has fought continuously against every invaders in the past.
Pucon
A popular hub for adventure tourism, Pucon is a town in the Lake District of the South American nation of Chile. Located on Lake Villarirca with the snowcapped Villarrica volcano looming above and plenty of forested valleys below, the town has become a home base year-round for a full range of outdoor activities.
Check out our ultimate guide to Traveling in Patagonia.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Chile, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, The Best Luxury Tours to Chile, and The Best Budget Tours to Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTemuco $80Pucon $100
The average daily cost (per person) in Temuco is $80, while the average daily cost in Pucon is $100. 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 Temuco and Pucon in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTemuco $44Pucon $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTemuco $88Pucon $86
Compare Hotels in Temuco and Pucon
Looking for a hotel in Temuco or Pucon? 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: Temuco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Temuco $23Pucon $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Temuco
Also for Temuco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Temuco Airport (ZCO) to Pucon Resorts - Arrival Private Transfer: $49
- Temuco Airport (ZCO) to Pucon Thermal Resorts-Round-Trip Transfer: $98
- Transfer Araucanía Airport - Temuco: $50
- Transfer from Temuco Airport to Pucon: $140
- Transfers from or to Temuco - Araucanía Airport: $35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pucon
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pucon:
- Pucon Temuco Airport Private Transfer: $130
- Pucon to Puerto Montt El Tepual Airport (PMC) -Departure Transfer: $114
- Private Transfer Pucon Thermal Resorts to Temuco Airport: $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Temuco or Pucon?
Prices for flights to both Pucon and Temuco 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 dayTemuco $22Pucon $38
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Temuco $7.85Pucon $37
Tours and Activities in Temuco
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Temuco.
- Tour Mapuche Community Araucanía: $582
Tours and Activities in Pucon
Here are a few actual costs in Pucon for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 3-Hour Rafting Experience in Pucon: $60
- Full Day Excursion Tour to Quetrupillán Volcano: $177
- Full Day Private Tour Ascending Sollipulli Volcano: $140
- Half Day Tour to The Eyes Of Caburgua from Pucon: $93
- Local Chile-Bavarian Culinary Pretzel Baking Experience n Sausage: $149
- Private 3-Hour Canyoning Experience on the Correntoso River: $68
- Private Half Day Andean Lakes Experience with pickup: $110
- Sightseeing Tour in Pucon and Villarica: $93
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTemuco $5.13Pucon $27
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Temuco and Pucon, we can see that Pucon is more expensive. And not only is Temuco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Temuco would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Temuco 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 Pucon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pucon than you might in Temuco.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Temuco Expensive? and Is Pucon Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Temuco or Pucon?
Temuco has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Pucon. When comparing the sizes of Temuco and Pucon, 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 Temuco or Pucon?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit Temuco or Pucon in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Temuco as well as Pucon.
In the summer, Temuco is around the same temperature as Pucon. Typically, the summer temperatures in Temuco in January average around 17°C (62°F), and Pucon averages at about 16°C (61°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pucon. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Temuco this time of the year. In the summer, Temuco often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Pucon. Temuco gets 290 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pucon receives 296 hours of full sun.
Temuco usually gets less rain in January than Pucon. Temuco gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryTemuco 17°C (62°F)Pucon 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Temuco or Pucon in the Autumn?
Both Pucon and Temuco are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
In April, Temuco is generally around the same temperature as Pucon. Daily temperatures in Temuco average around 12°C (53°F), and Pucon fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
Temuco usually receives more sunshine than Pucon during autumn. Temuco gets 150 hours of sunny skies, while Pucon receives 132 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Pucon. In April, Temuco usually receives less rain than Pucon. Temuco gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 133 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilTemuco 12°C (53°F)Pucon 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Temuco or Pucon in the Winter?
Both Pucon and Temuco during the winter are popular places to visit.
Temuco is around the same temperature as Pucon in the winter. The daily temperature in Temuco averages around 8°C (46°F) in July, and Pucon fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).
In the winter, Temuco often gets more sunshine than Pucon. Temuco gets 78 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pucon receives 66 hours of full sun.
Pucon gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Temuco. Temuco usually gets less rain in July than Pucon. Temuco gets 169 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 312 mm (12.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulyTemuco 8°C (46°F)Pucon 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Temuco or Pucon in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Temuco and Pucon.
In the spring, Temuco is around the same temperature as Pucon. Typically, the spring temperatures in Temuco in October average around 12°C (54°F), and Pucon averages at about 11°C (52°F).
Temuco usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Pucon during spring. Temuco gets 193 hours of sunny skies, while Pucon receives 198 hours of full sun in the spring.
Pucon receives a lot of rain in the spring. In October, Temuco usually receives less rain than Pucon. Temuco gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberTemuco 12°C (54°F)Pucon 11°C (52°F)
Typical Weather for Pucon and Temuco
| Temuco | Pucon | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 17°C (62°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Feb | 17°C (63°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Mar | 15°C (59°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) |
| May | 10°C (50°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 295 mm (11.6 in) |
| Jun | 9°C (47°F) | 177 mm (7 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 297 mm (11.7 in) |
| Jul | 8°C (46°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) |
| Aug | 9°C (48°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 247 mm (9.7 in) |
| Sep | 10°C (50°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) |
| Oct | 12°C (54°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 109 mm (4.3 in) |
| Nov | 14°C (57°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (61°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 63 mm (2.5 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.