A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Ushuaia vs. Puerto Varas for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Ushuaia or Puerto Varas?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Ushuaia or Puerto Varas? 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 Varas?

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 Varas

Puerto Varas is a city in Southern Chile, in the Los Lagos (Lakes) Region, Llanquihue Province. It is a charming town, only 23 km away from Puerto Montt and surrounded by the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes as well as the impressive Llanquihue lake. In terms of landscape, accommodation and activities, Puerto Varas is well served! Kayak, paddle, canyoning, rock climbing, trekking, ski, fishing, you name it! If you decide to stop in that area, we recommend that you stay in Puerto Varas, as it provides the perfect 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 G Adventures Tours to Chile, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago.


Which place is cheaper, Puerto Varas or Ushuaia?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Ushuaia is $12, while the average daily cost in Puerto Varas is $106. 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 Varas in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ushuaia $5.73
    Puerto Varas $66
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ushuaia $11
    Puerto Varas $132
Compare Hotels in Ushuaia and Puerto Varas

Looking for a hotel in Ushuaia or Puerto Varas? 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.

Hotels in Ushuaia


Hotels in Puerto Varas


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 Varas Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ushuaia -
    Puerto Varas $21
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ushuaia

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ushuaia are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $0.04

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: $29
  • Private Transfer from Ushuaia Cruise Port to Ushuaia Airport(USH): $29
  • Private Transfer from Ushuaia Port to Ushuaia Airport (USH): $25
  • Shared Transfer Airport-Hotel-Airport (Ushuaia): $37
  • Transfer Cerro Castor (Round Trip): $32
  • Transfer Ushuaia Airport - Hotel in Ushuaia - Ushuaia Airport : $35

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Varas

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Varas:

  • Transfer from Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport: $50
  • Transfer from Hotel in Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport: $24
  • Transfer to Puerto Montt Airport: $22
  • Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $21

Is it cheaper to fly into Ushuaia or Puerto Varas?

Prices for flights to both Puerto Varas 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 day
    Ushuaia $2.22
    Puerto Varas $24
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: $270

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ushuaia $13
    Puerto Varas $19

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: $23
  • 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: $50
  • Half-Day Tierra del Fuego National Park (NOT CRUISE): $59
  • Escondido & Fagnano Lake Tour: $60

Tours and Activities in Puerto Varas

Here are a few actual costs in Puerto Varas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Chiloé Island Tour: $60
  • From Osorno Volcano & Petrohue Falls Day Tour: $49
  • Full-Day Osorno Vulcano and Petrohue Falls Small-Group Tour: $80
  • Half-Day Small-Group Rafting Experience in Petrohué River: $50
  • Lake Llanquihue Bike Tour in Puerto Varas: $129
  • Osorno Volcano Tour: $31
  • Petrohue Falls and Osorno Volcano Bike Tour: $124
  • Peulla Full Day Tour from Puerto Varas: $68
  • Premium Half Day Shared Tour Sunset at Osorno Volcano: $130
  • Premium Small-Group Half day Tour to Frutillar in Puerto Varas: $144
  • Private Sightseeing Tour in Puerto Varas & Puerto Montt: $99
  • Puerto Varas Mountain Biking Experience: $67

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ushuaia -
    Puerto Varas $6.36
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 Varas, we can see that Puerto Varas 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 Varas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Varas 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 Varas Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Ushuaia or Puerto Varas?

Ushuaia has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Puerto Varas. When comparing the sizes of Ushuaia and Puerto Varas, 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 Varas?

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 Varas in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Ushuaia as well as Puerto Varas.

In the summer, Ushuaia is much colder than Puerto Varas. Typically, the summer temperatures in Ushuaia in January average around 10°C (50°F), and Puerto Varas averages at about 16°C (60°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Puerto Varas. In the summer, Ushuaia often gets less sunshine than Puerto Varas. Ushuaia gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Varas receives 204 hours of full sun.

Ushuaia usually gets less rain in January than Puerto Varas. Ushuaia gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Puerto Varas receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures January
    Ushuaia 10°C (50°F) 
    Puerto Varas 16°C (60°F)

Should I visit Ushuaia or Puerto Varas in the Autumn?

Both Puerto Varas and Ushuaia are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.

In April, Ushuaia is generally much colder than Puerto Varas. Daily temperatures in Ushuaia average around 6°C (43°F), and Puerto Varas fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

Ushuaia usually receives less sunshine than Puerto Varas during autumn. Ushuaia gets 74 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Varas receives 104 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Varas. In April, Ushuaia usually receives less rain than Puerto Varas. Ushuaia gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Puerto Varas receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures April
    Ushuaia 6°C (43°F) 
    Puerto Varas 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Ushuaia or Puerto Varas in the Winter?

Both Puerto Varas and Ushuaia during the winter are popular places to visit.

The weather in Ushuaia can be very cold. Ushuaia is much colder than Puerto Varas in the winter. The daily temperature in Ushuaia averages around 2°C (36°F) in July, and Puerto Varas fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).

In the winter, Ushuaia often gets less sunshine than Puerto Varas. Ushuaia gets 61 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Varas receives 67 hours of full sun.

Puerto Varas gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Ushuaia usually gets less rain in July than Puerto Varas. Ushuaia gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Puerto Varas receives 229 mm (9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures July
    Ushuaia 2°C (36°F) 
    Puerto Varas 7°C (45°F)

Should I visit Ushuaia or Puerto Varas in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Ushuaia and Puerto Varas.

In the spring, Ushuaia is much colder than Puerto Varas. Typically, the spring temperatures in Ushuaia in October average around 6°C (43°F), and Puerto Varas averages at about 11°C (51°F).

Ushuaia usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Puerto Varas during spring. Ushuaia gets 156 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Varas receives 151 hours of full sun in the spring.

Puerto Varas receives a lot of rain in the spring. In October, Ushuaia usually receives less rain than Puerto Varas. Ushuaia gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Puerto Varas receives 121 mm (4.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures October
    Ushuaia 6°C (43°F) 
    Puerto Varas 11°C (51°F)

Typical Weather for Puerto Varas and Ushuaia

Ushuaia Puerto Varas
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)