Which place is cheaper, Puerto Montt or Valdivia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Valdivia or Puerto Montt?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Valdivia 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: Valdivia or Puerto Montt?
Valdivia
Valdivia is a vibrant university city situated in southern Chile. It sits at the meeting point of three rivers in the aptly named Region de Los Rios (The Rivers Region) and is approximately 200 kilometers from both Temuco and Puerto Montt. Due to a large student population, Valdivia boasts a youthful and energetic vibe that is visible in its many bars, cafes and restaurants. The city is also known for having one of Chile's best craft beer cultures, which had its early beginnings when German settlers arrived in the 1840s. The rivers, nearby Pacific coastline and wetlands offer plenty for lovers of the outdoors, too.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Chile, The Best Wildlife Tours to Chile, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Chile, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayValdivia $70Puerto Montt $91
The average daily cost (per person) in Valdivia is $70, while the average daily cost in Puerto Montt is $91. 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 Valdivia and Puerto Montt in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personValdivia $41Puerto Montt $62
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomValdivia $82Puerto Montt $124
Compare Hotels in Valdivia and Puerto Montt
Looking for a hotel in Valdivia 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: Valdivia Hotel Prices and Puerto Montt Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Valdivia $8.28Puerto Montt $6.58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Valdivia
Also for Valdivia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Valdivia Airport Private Transfer: $49
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: $117
- Transfer from Puerto Montt Airport to Frutillar: $80
- Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Puerto Varas - Round-Trip Transfer: $67
- Transfer from Puerto Montt Airport to Puerto Varas: $50
- Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Frutillar: Roundtrip Transfer: $47
- Puerto Montt Airport to Puerto Varas - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $42
- Puerto Airport (PMC) to Frutillar - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $42
- Puerto Montt Shuttle Transfer: $34
- Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Puerto Varas City- Arrival Transfer: $33
Is it cheaper to fly into Valdivia or Puerto Montt?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Montt and Valdivia 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 dayValdivia $22Puerto Montt $22
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Valdivia $13Puerto Montt $14
Tours and Activities in Valdivia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Valdivia.
- Valdivia SUP Cruises for 6 People with Transportation Included: $35
- Huilo Huilo Reserve Tour from Valdivia with Lunch: $88
- Sightseeing Tour in Valdivia : $89
- Huilo Huilo Hot Springs Tour from Valdivia with Lunch: $102
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
- Cruise Shore Excursion Osorno Volcano & Petrohué Waterfalls: $239
- Frutillar Tour: $31
- Osorno Volcano Tour+Petrohue Falls / Cruises / Spanish: $68
- Petrohué Falls Osorno Volcano Puerto Varas Sightseeing Shore Tour: $130
- 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
- Private. City Tour Puerto Montt and Puerto Varas: $92
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayValdivia $4.91Puerto Montt $4.60
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Valdivia and Puerto Montt, we can see that Puerto Montt is more expensive. And not only is Valdivia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Valdivia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Valdivia 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 Valdivia.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Valdivia Expensive? and Is Puerto Montt Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Valdivia or Puerto Montt?
Puerto Montt has a larger population, and is about 20% larger than the population of Valdivia. When comparing the sizes of Valdivia 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 Valdivia 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 Valdivia or Puerto Montt in the Summer?
Both Puerto Montt and Valdivia during the summer are popular places to visit.
In the summer, Valdivia is around the same temperature as Puerto Montt. Typically, the summer temperatures in Valdivia in January average around 16°C (61°F), and Puerto Montt averages at about 16°C (60°F).
In Puerto Montt, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Valdivia. In the summer, Valdivia often gets more sunshine than Puerto Montt. Valdivia gets 296 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Montt receives 204 hours of full sun.
Valdivia usually gets less rain in January than Puerto Montt. Valdivia gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryValdivia 16°C (61°F)Puerto Montt 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Valdivia or Puerto Montt in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Valdivia and Puerto Montt.
In April, Valdivia is generally around the same temperature as Puerto Montt. Daily temperatures in Valdivia average around 11°C (52°F), and Puerto Montt fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Valdivia usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Montt during autumn. Valdivia gets 132 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. Valdivia gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Valdivia usually receives around the same amount of rain as Puerto Montt. Valdivia gets 133 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilValdivia 11°C (52°F)Puerto Montt 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Valdivia or Puerto Montt in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Valdivia as well as Puerto Montt.
Valdivia is around the same temperature as Puerto Montt in the winter. The daily temperature in Valdivia averages around 7°C (45°F) in July, and Puerto Montt fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).
In the winter, Valdivia often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Puerto Montt. Valdivia gets 66 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Montt receives 67 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Puerto Montt. Valdivia receives a lot of rain in the winter. Valdivia usually gets more rain in July than Puerto Montt. Valdivia gets 312 mm (12.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 229 mm (9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulyValdivia 7°C (45°F)Puerto Montt 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Valdivia or Puerto Montt in the Spring?
Both Puerto Montt and Valdivia are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In the spring, Valdivia is around the same temperature as Puerto Montt. Typically, the spring temperatures in Valdivia in October average around 11°C (52°F), and Puerto Montt averages at about 11°C (51°F).
Valdivia usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Montt during spring. Valdivia gets 198 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. It's quite rainy in Valdivia. In October, Valdivia usually receives less rain than Puerto Montt. Valdivia gets 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 121 mm (4.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberValdivia 11°C (52°F)Puerto Montt 11°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Puerto Montt and Valdivia
| Valdivia | Puerto Montt | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 16°C (61°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Feb | 17°C (62°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (57°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Apr | 11°C (52°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| May | 9°C (48°F) | 295 mm (11.6 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) |
| Jun | 8°C (46°F) | 297 mm (11.7 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) |
| Jul | 7°C (45°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 229 mm (9 in) |
| Aug | 8°C (46°F) | 247 mm (9.7 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 209 mm (8.2 in) |
| Sep | 9°C (48°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (52°F) | 109 mm (4.3 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (60°F) | 63 mm (2.5 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.