Which place is cheaper, La Serena or Veracruz?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Veracruz or La Serena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Veracruz and La Serena can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Veracruz or La Serena?
Veracruz
Veracruz is the name of both a state and city in the country of Mexico. Locals often call the city "Puerto" (port) in order to differentiate the city from the state. The general area runs along the Gulf of Mexico and encompasses ruins, old colonial cities, lush green mountains, and delicious seafood.
La Serena
La Serena is a charming town in Northern Chile. It is Chile's second-oldest city and the thriving capital of Region IV. With its beautiful architecture, its long golden shoreline, dignified stone churches, tree-shaded avenues and pretty plazas, La Serena has everything you could ask for!
Chileans on holidays flood in the city in January and February, though it is fairly peaceful outside the summer rush. Some of the city's architecture is from the colonial era, but most is actually neocolonial thanks to president Gabriel Gonzalez Videla, born in La Serena, and her 'Plan Serena' of the late 1940s.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Chile, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVeracruz $122La Serena $87
The average daily cost (per person) in Veracruz is $122, while the average daily cost in La Serena is $87. 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 Veracruz and La Serena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVeracruz $54La Serena $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVeracruz $108La Serena $84
Compare Hotels in Veracruz and La Serena
Looking for a hotel in Veracruz or La Serena? 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: Veracruz Hotel Prices and La Serena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Veracruz $28La Serena $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Veracruz
Also for Veracruz, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer: $25
- Transfer from Veracruz Airport to Hotel in Veracruz Port: $32
- Shared Arrival Transfer: General Heriberto Jara International Airport to Veracruz Hotels: $23
- Colima Airport (CLQ) to Colima - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $28
- Colima Airport (CLQ) to Colima - Arrival Private Transfer: $14
Is it cheaper to fly into Veracruz or La Serena?
Prices for flights to both La Serena and Veracruz 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 dayVeracruz $50La Serena $27
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Veracruz $15La Serena $24
Tours and Activities in Veracruz
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Veracruz.
- 1 day tour of Tlacotalpan and Alvarado from Veracruz: $102
- 3-hour tour to the San Juan de Ulúa Fortress: $25
- Adventure through the Chachalacas Beach and Dunes from Veracruz: $123
- Alvarado And Tlacotalpan Tour From Veracruz Or Boca Del Rio: $112
- Antigua and Zempoala Tour from Veracruz: $86
- Aquatico Inbursa Waterpark: Veracruz - Ticket: $27
- Catemaco And Los Tuxtlas Tour From Veracruz Or Boca Del Rio: $112
- City Tour en Veracruz y Acuario: $100
- Coffee Route, an adventure of aroma and flavor to Veracruz: $150
- From Veracruz or Boca del río: Coffee Tour in Coatepec: $96
- From Alvarado, Tlacotalpan and Agustín Lara Tour: $100
- From Catemaco, Nature, Waterfalls & Monkeys Tour: $100
Tours and Activities in La Serena
For La Serena, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Tour to the internationally renowned Pangue Observatory: $139
- Dama Island or Chañaral Navigation Tour Humboldt Penguin Reserve: $140
- Elqui Valley Full Day Tour: magical towns, pisco and mountains: $85
- Elqui Valley Grand-Tour: $189
- Elqui Valley Tour from La Serena: $120
- Elqui Valley and Vicuña Private Tour Including Lunch: $183
- Elqui Valley: Pisco Tour, Wine, Beer: $174
- Full Day History and Flavors Tour in the Elqui Valley: $50
- La Serena & Coquimbo City Tour - Short excursion for cruise ships: $128
- La Serena and Coquimbo City Tour (SIB): $66
- La Serena and Coquimbo Guided City Tour: $76
- La Serena and Coquimbo Private City Tour Including Lunch, Shore Excursion: $194
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVeracruz $17La Serena $22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Veracruz and La Serena, we can see that Veracruz is more expensive. And not only is La Serena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Veracruz is in North America and La Serena is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to La Serena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Serena 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 Veracruz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Veracruz than you might in La Serena.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Veracruz Expensive? and Is La Serena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Veracruz or La Serena?
Veracruz has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of La Serena. When comparing the sizes of Veracruz and La Serena, 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 Veracruz or La Serena?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. La Serena is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Veracruz has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Veracruz or La Serena in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Veracruz and La Serena.
In July, Veracruz is generally much warmer than La Serenain January. Daily temperatures in Veracruz average around 27°C (81°F), and La Serena fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in La Serena this time of the year. In Veracruz, it's very sunny this time of the year. Veracruz usually receives less sunshine than La Serena during summer. Veracruz gets 208 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 247 hours of full sun in the summer.
Veracruz gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Veracruz usually receives more rain than La Serenain January. Veracruz gets 410 mm (16.1 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryVeracruz 27°C (81°F)La Serena 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Veracruz or La Serena in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Veracruz as well as La Serena.
Veracruz is much warmer than La Serena in the autumn. The daily temperature in Veracruz averages around 26°C (79°F) in October, and La Serena fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in April.
In the autumn, Veracruz often gets more sunshine than La Serenain April. Veracruz gets 188 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 159 hours of full sun.
Veracruz receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Veracruz usually gets more rain in October than La Serenain April. Veracruz gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilVeracruz 26°C (79°F)La Serena 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Veracruz or La Serena in the Winter?
Both La Serena and Veracruz are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.
In the winter, Veracruz is much warmer than La Serena. Typically, the winter temperatures in Veracruz in January average around 21°C (71°F), and La Serena averages at about 12°C (54°F)in July.
Veracruz usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as La Serena during winter. Veracruz gets 156 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 160 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Veracruz usually receives more rain than La Serenain July. Veracruz gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyVeracruz 21°C (71°F)La Serena 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Veracruz or La Serena in the Spring?
Both La Serena and Veracruz during the spring are popular places to visit.
In April, Veracruz is generally much warmer than La Serenain October. Daily temperatures in Veracruz average around 26°C (78°F), and La Serena fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
It's quite sunny in Veracruz. In the spring, Veracruz often gets around the same amount of sunshine as La Serenain October. Veracruz gets 203 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 190 hours of full sun.
Veracruz usually gets more rain in April than La Serenain October. Veracruz gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberVeracruz 26°C (78°F)La Serena 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for La Serena and Veracruz
| Veracruz | La Serena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°C (71°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 22°C (71°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 24°C (74°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (78°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 290 mm (11.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 410 mm (16.1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 351 mm (13.8 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 346 mm (13.6 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (76°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 3 mm (0.1 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.