Which place is cheaper, Puerto Montt or Ushuaia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Ushuaia or Puerto Montt?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ushuaia or Puerto Montt? 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 Puerto Montt?
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.
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 Wildlife Tours to Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Chile.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayUshuaia $11Puerto Montt $89
The average daily cost (per person) in Ushuaia is $11, 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 Ushuaia and Puerto Montt in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personUshuaia $5.64Puerto Montt $61
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomUshuaia $11Puerto Montt $122
Compare Hotels in Ushuaia and Puerto Montt
Looking for a hotel in Ushuaia 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: Ushuaia Hotel Prices and Puerto Montt Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ushuaia -Puerto Montt $6.43
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ushuaia
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ushuaia are as follows:
-
Taxi Ride$0.03
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ushuaia
Also for Ushuaia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Ushuaia Airport Shared Transfer: $7.25
- Ushuaia Airport Shared Transfer: $7.48
- Shared One-way Airport Transfer: $10
- Ushuaia Airport Arrival Transfer: $10
- Transfer from the airport to the hotel in shared service: $19
- Ushuaia Airport(USH) to Ushuaia hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
- Ushuaia city to Ushuaia Airport(USH) - Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Private Transfer from Ushuaia Airport (USH) to Ushuaia Port : $25
- Private Transfer from Ushuaia Port to Ushuaia Airport (USH): $25
- Transfer Cerro Castor (Round Trip): $25
- Private Transfer Hotel-Bus Station or Bus Station-Hotel (Ushuaia): $27
- Private Transfer from Ushuaia Cruise Port to Ushuaia Airport(USH): $28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Montt
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Montt:
- Transfer from Puerto Montt Airport to Castro: $300
- Transfer Puerto Montt Airport to Castro: $277
- 4 Days Tour Los Lagos Region with Transfer Chiloe and Peulla: $177
- Puerto Montt El Tepual Airport (PMC) to Pucon - Arrival Transfer: $114
- Transfer from Puerto Montt Airport to Frutillar: $80
- Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Puerto Varas - Round-Trip Transfer: $65
- Transfer from Puerto Montt Airport to Puerto Varas: $50
- Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Frutillar: Roundtrip Transfer: $46
- Puerto Montt Airport to Puerto Varas - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $41
- Puerto Airport (PMC) to Frutillar - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $41
- Puerto Montt Shuttle Transfer: $34
- Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Puerto Varas City- Arrival Transfer: $33
Is it cheaper to fly into Ushuaia or Puerto Montt?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Montt 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
-
Food Meals for one dayUshuaia $2.18Puerto Montt $21
Typical Food Prices in Ushuaia
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ushuaia:
-
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
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ushuaia $13Puerto Montt $14
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 Puerto Montt
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Montt are as follows:
- 6 Hours Shared Tour in Calbuco and Millennial Forest : $130
- Alerce Andino National Park/Alerce Millenario/Cruises: $77
- Austral / Hornopiren Road Tour: $102
- Excursion City tour Puerto Varas / Llanquihue and Frutillar: $77
- Frutillar & Llanquihue Private Tour from Puerto Montt: $128
- Frutillar & Llanquihue Tour from Puerto Montt: $56
- Frutillar Tour: $31
- Osorno Volcano Tour+Petrohue Falls / Cruises / Spanish: $68
- Private Day tour Petrohue Falls, Osorno Volcano & Puerto Varas: $250
- Private Shore Excursion Tour to Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas and Frutillar: $143
- Private Tour: Puerto Montt Sightseeing: $47
- Private Tour: Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas and Vicente Peres Rosales National Park: $164
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayUshuaia -Puerto Montt $4.49
Typical Alcohol Prices in Ushuaia
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Ushuaia are as follows:
-
Wine$0.05
-
Beer$0.01
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ushuaia and Puerto Montt, we can see that Puerto Montt 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 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 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 Puerto Montt Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ushuaia or Puerto Montt?
Puerto Montt has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Ushuaia. When comparing the sizes of Ushuaia 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 Ushuaia or Puerto Montt?
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 Puerto Montt in the Summer?
Both Puerto Montt and Ushuaia during the summer are popular places to visit.
In the summer, Ushuaia is much colder than Puerto Montt. Typically, the summer temperatures in Ushuaia in January average around 10°C (50°F), and Puerto Montt averages at about 16°C (60°F).
In Puerto Montt, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Ushuaia often gets less sunshine than Puerto Montt. Ushuaia gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Montt receives 204 hours of full sun.
Ushuaia usually gets less rain in January than Puerto Montt. Ushuaia gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryUshuaia 10°C (50°F)Puerto Montt 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Ushuaia or Puerto Montt in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Ushuaia and Puerto Montt.
In April, Ushuaia is generally much colder than Puerto Montt. Daily temperatures in Ushuaia average around 6°C (43°F), and Puerto Montt fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Ushuaia usually receives less sunshine than Puerto Montt during autumn. Ushuaia gets 74 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Montt receives 104 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Puerto Montt receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Ushuaia usually receives less rain than Puerto Montt. Ushuaia gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures AprilUshuaia 6°C (43°F)Puerto Montt 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Ushuaia or Puerto Montt in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Ushuaia as well as Puerto Montt.
The weather in Ushuaia can be very cold. Ushuaia is much colder than Puerto Montt in the winter. The daily temperature in Ushuaia averages around 2°C (36°F) in July, and Puerto Montt fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).
In the winter, Ushuaia often gets less sunshine than Puerto Montt. Ushuaia gets 61 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Montt receives 67 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Puerto Montt. Ushuaia usually gets less rain in July than Puerto Montt. Ushuaia gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 229 mm (9 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JulyUshuaia 2°C (36°F)Puerto Montt 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Ushuaia or Puerto Montt in the Spring?
Both Puerto Montt and Ushuaia are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In the spring, Ushuaia is much colder than Puerto Montt. Typically, the spring temperatures in Ushuaia in October average around 6°C (43°F), and Puerto Montt averages at about 11°C (51°F).
Ushuaia usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Puerto Montt during spring. Ushuaia gets 156 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Montt receives 151 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Montt. In October, Ushuaia usually receives less rain than Puerto Montt. Ushuaia gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 121 mm (4.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures OctoberUshuaia 6°C (43°F)Puerto Montt 11°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Puerto Montt and Ushuaia
| Ushuaia | Puerto Montt | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Feb | 10°C (50°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Apr | 6°C (43°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| May | 3°C (37°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) |
| Jun | 1°C (34°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) |
| Jul | 2°C (36°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 229 mm (9 in) |
| Aug | 2°C (36°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 209 mm (8.2 in) |
| Sep | 4°C (39°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Oct | 6°C (43°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Nov | 8°C (46°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (48°F) | 30 mm (1.2 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.