Which place is cheaper, Puerto Montt or Cali?
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 Cali or Puerto Montt?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Cali and Puerto Montt can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Cali or Puerto Montt?
Cali
Cali is Colombia's third largest city. Founded in 1536, can be explored on foot: walk under the shade of trees along the riverbank, admire the architecture of churches and other national monuments, and visit the city's many museums. Being the salsa capital of the world, Cali is primarily a destination for salsa and party but it also offers some great days out in the nearby natural surroundings. In Cali, travelers can enjoy music festivals, learn about sugarcane farming, and take in the mountainous landscapes.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bogota, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Colombia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Chile, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Chile.
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Cali Prices
Colombia PricesPuerto Montt Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCali $31Puerto Montt $104
The average daily cost (per person) in Cali is $31, while the average daily cost in Puerto Montt is $104. 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 Cali and Puerto Montt in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCali $6.02Puerto Montt $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCali $12Puerto Montt $122
Compare Hotels in Cali and Puerto Montt
Looking for a hotel in Cali 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: Cali Hotel Prices and Puerto Montt Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cali $5.62Puerto Montt $6.42
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cali
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cali:
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Short Taxi Ride$1.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cali
Also for Cali, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Arrival or Departure Transfer: Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airport : $20
- Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airpot One Way Transfer: $20
- Airport Transfers to Cali Hotels: $28
- Airport Transfers Cali (per way): $34
- Transfer Airport Private- Hotels North: $36
- Alfonso Airport (CLO) to Cali/Palmira - Arrival Private Transfer: $37
- Transfer from Hotel Zone to Cali Airport: $39
- Cali/Palmira to Alfonso B.Aragon Airport (CLO) - Private Transfer: $46
- Departure Private Transfer from Cali City to Cali Airport CLO by Minivan: $71
- Arrival Private Transfer from Cali Airport CLO to Cali City by Minivan: $71
- Arrival Transfer from Cali Airport CLO to Cali City by MiniSuv: $93
- Alfonso B.Aragon Airport (CLO) to Cali/Palmira-RoundTrip Transfer: $93
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Montt
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Montt:
- Transfer from Puerto Montt Airport to Puerto Varas: $50
- Transfer from Puerto Montt Airport to Frutillar: $80
- Transfer from Puerto Montt Airport to Castro: $300
- Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) - Private Transfer: $42
- Puerto Tepual Airport (PMC) to Puerto Varas - Arrival Transfer: $42
- Puerto Montt to Puerto Varas English private Guided Transfer: $40
- Puerto Montt Shuttle Transfer: $37
- Puerto Montt El Tepual Airport (PMC) to Pucon - Arrival Transfer: $267
- Puerto Montt Departure Transfer from Hotel: $23
- Puerto Montt Airport(PMC) to Frutillar - Arrival Private Transfer: $47
- Puerto Montt Airport(PMC) to Frutillar - Arrival Private Transfer: $75
- Puerto Montt Airport Arrival Transfer to Hotel in Puerto Varas: $24
Is it cheaper to fly into Cali or Puerto Montt?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Montt and Cali 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 dayCali $15Puerto Montt $37
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cali
For Cali, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Street Food Tour: $23
- Street Food Tour: $29
- Cali tastes good! Authentic street food tour through the salsa capital: $53
- Alameda Market Food Tour: $55
- Traditional Colombian Meal Cooking Class: $67
- Street Food Tour - Live A Unique Gastronomic Experience: $67
- Flavors of Food tour at the local market: $73
- Food Tour San Antonio: $75
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cali $11Puerto Montt $14
Tours and Activities in Cali
For Cali, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Historical Shared Tour Salsa, Graffiti & Resistance in Cali: $10
- Shared Tour of the Historical and Cultural Center of Cali: $10
- Shared Tour Cali's Local Food at Alameda Market: $12
- Shared Tour Cali's Historical Downtown: $12
- Shared Tour Cali's Salsa, Graffiti & Resistance Experience: $12
- Chiva Private Cultural Tour with Audio Guide in Buga: $15
- Cali Zoo Access Ticket: $15
- Cultural and heritage Cali tour: $15
- Ceramic Workshop for Tourists: $18
- Tour in Cali : Culture, Tropical Fruits and Sauce: $23
- Walking tour of the historic center: $25
- Coffee Tasting Experience in Cali Colombia : $26
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 from Hotel: $190
- Alerce Andino National Park/Alerce Millenario/Cruises: $105
- Chiloé Island Full Day Experience Castro, Ancud, Dalcahue & Lunch: $189
- Cruise Shore Private Excursion Osorno Volcano & Petrohué Falls: $256
- Explore Peulla Full Day Tour from Puerto Montt : $64
- Osorno Volcano and National Park Shore Tour for Cruisers : $90
- Petrohué Falls Osorno Volcano Pto Varas Sightseeing Driver Only: $130
- Private Day tour Petrohue Falls, Osorno Volcano & Puerto Varas: $250
- Private Shore Excursion Tour to Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas and Frutillar: $287
- Private Tour of Puerto Montt with Stops : $38
- Half day Llanquihue and Frutillar City tour : $44
- Osorno Volcano Tour Shore Tour in Private: $660
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCali $8.48Puerto Montt $4.49
Sample the Local Flavors in Cali
Also in Cali, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Friday Night Bar Crawl in Cali, Colombia: $25
- Craft Beer Pub Crawl in Cali: $40
- Salsa Pub Crawl in Cali: $45
- Paragliding + Wine tasting + Hacienda El Paraiso + Saint Helena: $210
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cali and Puerto Montt, we can see that Puerto Montt is more expensive. And not only is Cali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cali would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cali 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 Cali.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cali Expensive? and Is Puerto Montt Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cali or Puerto Montt?
Cali has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Puerto Montt. When comparing the sizes of Cali 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.
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.