Is Puerto Montt expensive to visit?
In Puerto Montt, budget travelers spend $45 (CL$43,633) per day on average, mid-range travelers spend $103 (CL$99,716) per day, and luxury travelers spend around $197 (CL$190,420) per day. These costs are calculated from the reported expenses of previous travelers to Puerto Montt.
Puerto Montt is a charming destination that draws in visitors with an array of travel preferences, spending habits, and budgetary choices. You'll find a wide array of accommodation options, such as luxury hotels, mid-range places, or budget-friendly hostels.
Puerto Montt can become quite costly if you let it, but there are ways to save money, such as looking for discounts and coupons.
Within South America, Puerto Montt is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Brasilia or Puerto Natales.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Puerto Montt Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Puerto Montt?
The average Puerto Montt trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Puerto Montt travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers. Also, you can see more details at How much does a trip to Puerto Montt cost?
Realistic Expectations for Your Travel Budget
It's important to set realistic expectations for your travel budget in Puerto Montt. While many think they can cut costs for many things, the reality is that most people won't enjoy such a low-budget experience. Consider your preferences and travel style. Do you like resorts, hotels, vacation rentals, or hostels? Are activities and dining out a big part of your travel plans? Your answers will shape your budget and itinerary.
Puerto Montt on a Shoestring Budget?
You might think that you're a budget traveler. But unless you're willing to eliminate a lot of comforts from your trip, prepare to spend a lot more than the daily average of $45 that backpackers often get by on.
Young backpackers often get away with this shoestring budget, but it usually involves staying in hostel dorms, eating at the cheapest restaurants or fast food places, taking public transit or walking, and only visiting free attractions.
Luckily, there are plenty of hostels in Puerto Montt, such as Blah Blah Hostel Cultural. Staying at these hostels means you can score affordable dorm lodging and a lively social vibe, but be prepared for basic amenities.
Do You Fit the Profile of an Average Traveler?
As a couple or family looking for fun, you're likely to choose a mid-range hotel, dine at popular restaurants, and explore the major museums and attractions with entry fees. Most visitors to Puerto Montt will want to visit the major attractions, museums, sights, and landmarks. After all, most activities do cost money. Therefore, it's sensible to expect your daily budget to be approximately $103 per person, per day.
Puerto Montt offers a diverse selection of hotels and vacation rentals. If you're traveling with companions, you can share a hotel room with a partner, friend, or your kids, making it easier on your wallet. Families should look for hotels and restaurants that are family-friendly. Hotel Seminario is an excellent option for kids, and Manquehue Hotel Puerto Montt is another fantastic choice. For more family and couple-friendly accommodations, check out our hotel guide for Puerto Montt here.
Dreaming of a Stylish Getaway?
If you want a vacation with premium amenities and superior service, brace yourself for a price near $197 daily. Choosing upscale hotels, dining at award-winning eateries, enjoying lavish excursions, and using taxis or private drivers around the destination will require a luxury budget. Also, higher-end tours are common with luxury travelers, such as Private Day tour Petrohue Falls, Osorno Volcano & Puerto Varas - offered by Viator.
Accommodation Budget in Puerto Montt
The wide range of prices for hotels and accommodation in Puerto Montt can be very surprising. Some hotels have much higher price tags than others, and in turn offer higher levels of luxury and more amenities. Also, during peak season, prices are much higher. The average price for a hotel room in Puerto Montt in the off-season is $56, but in the peak travel season it will average around $104. In general, you can expect hotel prices in Puerto Montt to range from $43 to $155. Hostels are typically much cheaper, especially if you stay in a dorm. Also, note that the average hotel price is not always what travelers will pay (see below). You can save a good bit of money if you travel during the low season or shoulder seasons, as room prices adjust according to the overall demand. Booking in advance can often save you money, too, along with taking advantage of sale prices or special deals.
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid in Puerto Montt for two people for a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $122 (CL$116,432). For one person sharing a room, the average price paid for a hotel room is $61 (CL$58,216) per night. These costs are from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Montt? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
The most affordable highest rated hotels in Puerto Montt include:
- Hotel Gran Pacifico starting at $56
- Hotel Departamentos del Sur starting at $59
- Apart Hotel Presidente Suites Puerto Montt starting at $57
- Hotel Apart Colon starting at $58
By avoiding the peak season and traveling in the low or shoulder seasons, you will be rewarded with lower accommodation prices and fewer crowds.
Transportation Budget in Puerto Montt
Calculated from travelers like you
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On average, past travelers have spent $6.42 (CL$6,132) per person, per day, on local transportation in Puerto Montt. The cost of a taxi ride or rideshare service (Uber/Lyft) in Puerto Montt is significantly more than public transportation.
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Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$6.42
CL$6,132
Other than Santiago, Puerto Montt is the main gateway for air, land, and sea connections to Chilean Patagonia and across the Andes to Argentina. Indeed, you can travel to Puerto Montt by plane, mostly with Latam to the nearest airport, El Tepual de Puerto Montt. Many travellers opt to rent a car as this gives you far more scope for exploration of your own. You can also easily travel through the region by bus. Services are frequent to rural, regional, and most long-distance destinations, as well as to Bariloche, Argentina. Buses to the Chilean Patagonia destinations of Coyhaique and Punta Arenas, which pass through Argentina, are less frequent but reliable. Note that if you decide to go into Argentinean Patagonia with a car, you will need a notarial permission to bring your vehicle into the country. Puerto Montt is also the main departure port for Patagonia. At the port, you can find ticket offices and waiting lounges for both Navimag and Naviera Austral. From Puerto Montt there are passenger and passenger/vehicle ferries or bus-ferry combinations to Chiloe, Chaiten and Puerto Natales.
A few of the typical transportation options and hotel transfers include:
- Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Puerto Varas City- Arrival Transfer for $63 details
- Puerto Montt Airport Arrival Transfer to Hotel in Puerto Varas for $24 details
- Puerto Montt El Tepual Airport (PMC) to Pucon - Arrival Transfer for $267 details
How much does it cost to go to Puerto Montt? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Puerto Montt will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Puerto Montt
For many, the local food is a significant part of the travel experience, so don't miss the chance to enjoy it.
Calculated from travelers like you
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While restaurant and meal prices in Puerto Montt can vary significantly, the average cost of food in Puerto Montt is $37 (CL$35,159) per day, per person, based on the spending habits of previous travelers.
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Food2
Meals for one day
$37
CL$35,159
When dining out, the average daily cost for food in Puerto Montt is around $36 (CL$35159) per person, with previous travelers spending from $16 to $70. Generally, breakfast and lunch cost less than dinner, but this will depend on the type of restaurant and what you order.
Typical meal prices in Puerto Montt are as follows:
- Breakfast: $4 to $11
- Lunch: $5 to $15
- Dinner: $11 to $25
- Coffee: $3
- Fast Food or Street Food: $5
Puerto Montt is Chile's seafood capital. If you're feeling adventurous, try a Chilean favorite, such as abalone, sea urchin, or the regional barnacle. Dive into the chaotic but somewhat wonderful fish market of Angelmo or stop in one of the restaurants along the Avenida Angelmo to eat delicious seafood. The artisanal objects market is found 3 km west of the city center towards the fishing harbor of Puerto Montt. The market is opened every day from 10h to 20h during summer, and until 18h during winter. Puerto Montt also offers a handful of inexpensive cafes in which have lunches, empanadas, and appetizer platters but also German pastries and beer from microbreweries due to the German colonisation of the city in 1845.
Many hotels include breakfast in their pricing structure, while some charge additional fees for it. The quality and cost can vary significantly by hotel. Knowing this in advance can help you decide whether to allocate more money. It might be worth paying for the delicious hotel buffet, or you could go to a local bakery or cafe that's less expensive.
Fill up a water bottle rather than buying drinks every chance you get. It's also kinder to the earth.
While planning your tour, it's essential to know which meals are included. You may find yourself paying for some meals, which can add to your travel budget.
Sightseeing and Activities Budget in Puerto Montt
Calculated from travelers like you
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Sightseeing activities, entertainment, and entrance tickets in Puerto Montt typically cost an average of $14 (CL$13,100) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
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Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$14
CL$13,100
Most travellers stop in Puerto Montt because of its close proximity to the Parque Nacional Alerce Andino, the Parque Nacional Vicente Perez Rosales, the town of Puerto Varas as well as Petrohue. The Lago Todos Los Santos, the Volcan Osorno, the Volcan Puntiagudo and the Monte Tronador are well-known sites found in the Parque Nacional Vicente Perez Rosales. Trekking in the park will be a journey full of surprises, as one lake may be hidden by another. The Sendero Los Alerces, which continues on to the Sendero La Picada will bring you to a spectacular viewpoint on the park's lakes and volcanoes including the Volcan Osorno. Buses leave regularly from Puerto Varas to the park. Do not miss the Saltos del Petrohue waterfalls (USD$2.30 entry fee), found 6 km away from the entry of Petrohue, a small town where you will find the pier for Cruce de Lagos boats going to Peulla. For ski lovers, the Centro de Ski y Montaña Volcan Osorno in Ensenada offers ski and snowboard equipment rentals and a pass for half a day (USD$30) or a full day (USD$38) of unlimited ski lift access. During off-season, the ski lift (USD$22) can be taken to reach a few trekking paths with spectacular views. You can access the ski station from Ensenada by bus or with your car, taking the road Ensenada-Puerto Octay until you reach a sign about 3 km away from Ensenada, indicating you to turn right and continue for 10 km on a dirt road. If you call a day before, you can spend a night at the bottom of the slopes in the Refugio Teski (USD$19-24 for a bed in a dormitory or USD$55 for a bedroom or USD$74 for a bedroom with private bathroom), where you can relax in a hot bath in the mountain (USD$63 to rent a bath with appetizers and a pisco sour cocktail) or enjoy the 2 drinks for 1 at happy hour.
There is an absolute feast of activities that can be done while you are in Puerto Montt. You can easily move around the city by using the colectivos (city bus USD$1 per ride). Do not miss a visit to the Casa del Arte Diego Rivera (opened from 9h to 13h and from 15h to 18h30 from Monday to Friday), a museum presenting Hardy Wistuba's work as well as other local artists (painters, photographs and sculptors). The Museo Juan Pablo II (opened Monday to Friday from 10h to 13h and 14h30 to 18h), east of the city's bus terminal, is also interesting for those who want to know more about the region. It has a collection of crafts and relics from the nearby archipelago of Chiloe. Historical photos of Puerto Montt give a sense of the area's slow and often difficult growth, as well as the impact of the 1960 earthquake, which virtually destroyed the port. For walkers and outdoor activity fans there really is very little to fault this stunning region. While you are in the Chilean Lake District, you must also try one of the many legendary water sport activities of the region. Only 23 km away from Puerto Montt and surrounded by the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes as well as the impressive Llanquihue lake, is the charming town of Puerto Varas. In terms of landscape, accommodation and activities, Puerto Varas is well served! Kayak, paddle, canyoning, rock climbing, trekking, ski, fishing, you name it! In Puerto Varas, you can also visit the Paseo Patrimonial, a pedestrian tour across 10 houses classified as national monuments. If none of these water sports tempts you and if you have time, we recommend that you make a little detour to the Cochamo and Rio Puelo Valley. While this area is not very well known among tourist, agencies such as Secret Patagonia or Campo Aventura organizes excursions on horses, mountain bikes or by foot to discover the beautiful valley. You may even end up spending a night in the heart of the forest at Domo Camp (USD$78 for a cabaña) or simply stop there for a delicious lunch.
Local tours that last a few hours can be a great way to explore Puerto Montt. Prices vary by the type of activity or tour, the dates, and the size of the group. Here are a few of the highest rated tours by previous visitors:
- Cruise Shore Private Excursion Osorno Volcano & Petrohué Falls for $256 details
- Shore Excursion: Osorno Volcano Private Tour from Puerto Montt for $70 details
- Osorno Volcano and National Park Shore Tour for Cruisers for $90 details
Puerto Montt, Chile
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.