Which place is cheaper, La Serena or Buzios?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Buzios or La Serena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Buzios or La Serena? 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: Buzios or La Serena?
Buzios
Initially a fishing village, Armação dos Buzios is a small beach resort town about three hours from Rio de Janeiro by bus. Buzios is a common weekend getaway destination for Cariocas. With 23 beaches, visitors from all over come to swim, snorkel, surf and enjoy sun and sand.
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 Adventure Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Chile.
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Buzios Prices
Brazil PricesLa Serena Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBuzios $91La Serena $106
The average daily cost (per person) in Buzios is $91, while the average daily cost in La Serena 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 Buzios and La Serena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBuzios $36La Serena $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBuzios $72La Serena $84
Compare Hotels in Buzios and La Serena
Looking for a hotel in Buzios 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: La Serena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Buzios $18La Serena $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Buzios
Also for Buzios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Tour in Buzios City Tour, Lunch and Transfer: $60
- Rio de Janeiro Transfer from Buzios to Airport (GIG)(SDU): $73
- Private transfer from Buzios to the GIG Airport : $182
- Private transfer Minivan from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 6 pax to Buzios: $134
- Private transfer Buzios in Rio to the SDU Airport : $182
- Private Transfer from GIG Airport to City Buzios in Rio : $170
- Private Transfer from Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro: $91
- Private Transfer from Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) to Buzios Port: $118
- Private Transfer from Buzios Port to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB): $118
- Private Transfer Buzios to Rio de Janeiro: $91
- Executive private transfer from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 4 pax to Buzios: $115
- Executive private transfer from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 3 pax to Buzios: $115
Is it cheaper to fly into Buzios or La Serena?
Prices for flights to both La Serena and Buzios 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 dayBuzios $40La Serena $46
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Buzios $25La Serena $24
Tours and Activities in Buzios
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Buzios.
- Buzios Trolley City Tour: $31
- 3-hour Small Group Buzios Peninsula Open Air Trolley Tour: $31
- Búzios Full day: Boat and Trolley Tour with Lunch from Arraial do Cabo: $120
- Búzios Full day: Boat and Trolley Tour with Lunch from Búzios: $93
- Búzios Full day: Boat and Trolley Tour with Lunch from Cabo Frio: $112
- Boat Tour Open Bar A Floor Arraial do Cabo : $13
- Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo: $23
- Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo from Buzios with Lunch: $60
- Buggy Ride in Buzios by Buziana Tour: $19
- Buggy Tour in Arraial do Cabo by Arraial Viagens: $58
- Cabo Frio Full-Day Tour From Buzios with Lunch: $64
- Catamaran Boat Tour in Búzios: $26
Tours and Activities in La Serena
For La Serena, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Astronomical Tour Collowara Observatory: $64
- Astronomy and Astrophotography Tour: $55
- Charm Valley Archaeological Tour, Shamanism and Petroglyphs: $175
- Dama Island or Chañaral Navigation Tour Humboldt Penguin Reserve: $165
- Elqui Valley Tour from La Serena: $85
- Elqui Valley Tour: Full Day History and Flavors : $42
- Elqui Valley: Pisco Tour, Wine, Beer: $174
- Grand Tour Valley of Elqui Mystic Mountains and Cultural Treasures: $115
- La Serena and Coquimbo City Tour (SIB): $66
- La Serena and Coquimbo Guided City Tour: $76
- Full day Tour to Elqui Valley : $110
- Milky Way Sanctuary Stargazing Tour at Pangue Observatory: $225
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBuzios $17La Serena $22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Buzios and La Serena, we can see that La Serena is more expensive. And not only is Buzios much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Buzios would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Buzios 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 La Serena would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Serena than you might in Buzios.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Buzios Expensive? and Is La Serena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Buzios or La Serena?
La Serena has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Buzios. When comparing the sizes of Buzios 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.
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.