Which place is cheaper, Pucon or Ushuaia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ushuaia or Pucon?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ushuaia or Pucon? 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: Ushuaia or Pucon?
Ushuaia
Ushuaia is a city on the Tierra del Fuego island of Argentina on the Beagle Strait. The city is considered to be one of the southernmost cities in the world and is often used as a base for cruises to Antarctica. Ushuaia's close proximity to Antarctica and their amazing hiking trails have made it a popular tourist destination over the past few decades.
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 Wildlife Tours to Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayUshuaia $11Pucon $100
The average daily cost (per person) in Ushuaia is $11, 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 Ushuaia and Pucon in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personUshuaia $5.64Pucon $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomUshuaia $11Pucon $86
Compare Hotels in Ushuaia and Pucon
Looking for a hotel in Ushuaia 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: Ushuaia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ushuaia -Pucon $19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ushuaia
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ushuaia are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$0.03
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ushuaia
Also for Ushuaia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Airport and Hotel Transfer in Ushuaia: $139
- Private Embarkation Debarkation Transfer: $129
- Private Transfer Airport-Hotel-Airport (Ushuaia): $120
- Private Transfer Airport-Port or Port-Airport (Ushuaia): $55
- Private Transfer Hotel-Bus Station or Bus Station-Hotel (Ushuaia): $27
- Private Transfer from Ushuaia Airport (USH) to Ushuaia Port : $25
- Private Transfer from Ushuaia Airport(USH) to Ushuaia Cruise Port: $28
- Private Transfer from Ushuaia Cruise Port to Ushuaia Airport(USH): $28
- Private Transfer from Ushuaia Port to Ushuaia Airport (USH): $25
- Shared Transfer Airport-Hotel-Airport (Ushuaia): $37
- Transfer Cerro Castor (Round Trip): $25
- Transfer Ushuaia Airport - Hotel in Ushuaia - Ushuaia 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 Ushuaia or Pucon?
Prices for flights to both Pucon and Ushuaia 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 dayUshuaia $2.18Pucon $38
Typical Food Prices in Ushuaia
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ushuaia:
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Lunch for Two$0.06
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ushuaia
For Ushuaia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Ushuaia at night: A Snow and Fire dinner, sledding and adventure: $280
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ushuaia $13Pucon $37
Tours and Activities in Ushuaia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ushuaia.
- Panoramic City Train Tour: $10
- Guided Tour of the City of Ushuaia: $20
- Exploring Double Decker Bus Tour: $22
- Double-Decker Sightseeing Tour: $24
- Ushuaia City Tour: $26
- Ushuaia City Half-Day Tour: $31
- An Hour Tour in the City of Ushuaia: $32
- City Tour of Ushuaia: $42
- Beagle Channel & Sea Wolves Island Catamaran Cruise: $45
- End of the World Train Ticket: $45
- Half-Day Tierra del Fuego National Park (NOT CRUISE): $59
- Escondido & Fagnano Lake Tour: $60
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 dayUshuaia -Pucon $27
Typical Alcohol Prices in Ushuaia
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Ushuaia are as follows:
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Wine$0.05
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Beer$0.01
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ushuaia and Pucon, we can see that Pucon is more expensive. And not only is Ushuaia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ushuaia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ushuaia 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 Ushuaia.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ushuaia Expensive? and Is Pucon Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ushuaia or Pucon?
Ushuaia has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Pucon. When comparing the sizes of Ushuaia 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 Ushuaia 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 Ushuaia or Pucon in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Ushuaia as well as Pucon.
Ushuaia is much colder than Pucon in the summer. The daily temperature in Ushuaia averages around 10°C (50°F) in January, and Pucon fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pucon. In the summer, Ushuaia often gets less sunshine than Pucon. Ushuaia gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pucon receives 296 hours of full sun.
Ushuaia usually gets less rain in January than Pucon. Ushuaia gets 40 mm (1.6 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 JanuaryUshuaia 10°C (50°F)Pucon 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Ushuaia or Pucon in the Autumn?
Both Pucon and Ushuaia are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
In the autumn, Ushuaia is much colder than Pucon. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Ushuaia in April average around 6°C (43°F), and Pucon averages at about 11°C (52°F).
Ushuaia usually receives less sunshine than Pucon during autumn. Ushuaia gets 74 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, Ushuaia usually receives less rain than Pucon. Ushuaia gets 40 mm (1.6 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 AprilUshuaia 6°C (43°F)Pucon 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Ushuaia or Pucon in the Winter?
Both Pucon and Ushuaia during the winter are popular places to visit.
The weather in Ushuaia can be very cold. In July, Ushuaia is generally much colder than Pucon. Daily temperatures in Ushuaia average around 2°C (36°F), and Pucon fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).
In the winter, Ushuaia often gets less sunshine than Pucon. Ushuaia gets 61 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. Ushuaia usually gets less rain in July than Pucon. Ushuaia gets 30 mm (1.2 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 JulyUshuaia 2°C (36°F)Pucon 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Ushuaia or Pucon in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Ushuaia and Pucon.
Ushuaia is much colder than Pucon in the spring. The daily temperature in Ushuaia averages around 6°C (43°F) in October, and Pucon fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
Ushuaia usually receives less sunshine than Pucon during spring. Ushuaia gets 156 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, Ushuaia usually receives less rain than Pucon. Ushuaia gets 30 mm (1.2 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 OctoberUshuaia 6°C (43°F)Pucon 11°C (52°F)
Typical Weather for Pucon and Ushuaia
| Ushuaia | Pucon | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Feb | 10°C (50°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 6°C (43°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) |
| May | 3°C (37°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 295 mm (11.6 in) |
| Jun | 1°C (34°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 297 mm (11.7 in) |
| Jul | 2°C (36°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) |
| Aug | 2°C (36°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 247 mm (9.7 in) |
| Sep | 4°C (39°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) |
| Oct | 6°C (43°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 109 mm (4.3 in) |
| Nov | 8°C (46°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (48°F) | 30 mm (1.2 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.