Which place is cheaper, Torres del Paine National Park or Cancun?
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 Cancun or Torres del Paine National Park?
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 Cancun and Torres del Paine National Park can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Cancun or Torres del Paine National Park?
Cancun
In the northeast corner of the Mexican Caribbean, Cancun is one of Mexico's most popular destinations. The area that is now Cancun was actually selected specifically by the Mexican government for development as a tourist destination. The area was chosen because it has fourteen miles of beautiful white beaches, nearby Mayan ruins, and turquoise blue water with nearby snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities. Prior to its development as a tourist destination, there were few inhabitants in the area.
Torres del Paine National Park
The Torres del Paine National Park is located in the extreme south of Patagonian Chile. Situated in the southern part of the Andes, the National Park is full of stunning mountains, lakes, rock formations, and glaciers, making it a hiker's paradise. The best time to visit is between November and April, which is their spring and summer. Be prepared though, as weather can change dramatically when traveling through the park, no matter the season!
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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.
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Cancun Prices
Mexico PricesTorres del Paine National Park Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCancun $153Torres del Paine National Park $96
The average daily cost (per person) in Cancun is $153, while the average daily cost in Torres del Paine National Park is $96. 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 Cancun and Torres del Paine National Park in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCancun $89Torres del Paine National Park $31
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCancun $178Torres del Paine National Park $62
Compare Hotels in Cancun and Torres del Paine National Park
Looking for a hotel in Cancun or Torres del Paine National Park? 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: Cancun Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cancun $16Torres del Paine National Park $32
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cancun
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cancun:
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Taxi Around Town$1.52
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Airport Shuttle (for 2)$13
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Ferry to Isla de Mujeres (for 2)$15
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Local Bus (for 2)$1.85
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cancun
Also for Cancun, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Xcaret 1 Day Tour from Cancun with Hotel Transfer: $228
- Tulum One Way Or Roundtrip Private Transfer: $132
- Transfers From Hotel to Hotel: $120
- Transfer in Luxury Mercedes Benz Minivan: $96
- Transfer from Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen: $123
- Transfer Redondo Private Airport Cancun to Playa del Carmen: $145
- Transfer Airport-Hotel ( One Way ) Apto Cancun to Playa del Carmen: $87
- Transfer Airport To Excellence Finest Atelier Playa Mujeres: $75
- Super Combo ATV in Cancun with Zipline, Snorkel, Cenote, transfer: $115
- Shared transfer R/T VAN Apto-Muelle Ferry Isla Mujeres-Apto C/ Tickets Ferry: $40
- Shared Transfer from Cancun Airport : $6.00
- Shared Round-Trip Transfer To/From Cancun International Airport: $20
Is it cheaper to fly into Cancun or Torres del Paine National Park?
Prices for flights to both Torres del Paine National Park and Cancun 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 dayCancun $45Torres del Paine National Park $42
Typical Food Prices in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cancun Pirate Ship Adventure : Dinner & Show at Sea 2 for 1 Deal: $50
- Pirate Show in Cancun! Dinner & drinks: $62
- Cancun Street Food Tour with Food Stalls, Local Market and Murals: $64
- Pirate Shop & Dinner at Cancun! Drinks, Adventure and Fun: $65
- Cancun Walking Food Tour: Local Food, Markets, and Street Art.: $77
- Puerto Morelos Walking Food Tour: $77
- Mexican Cooking Class with fresh Local Market ingredients selection and transpor: $79
- Cancun Taco & Mexican Food Tour with Tequila Tasting: $79
- Cancun Private Mural Art and Food Tour: $81
- Hands-On Cooking Class in Drink & Cook Authentic Dishes: $85
- Pirate’s Night Out: Dinner and Entertainment in the Caribbean: $89
- Unforgettable Pirate Dinner Adventure in the Mexican Caribbean: $89
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cancun $32Torres del Paine National Park $31
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cancun
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cancun's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Seasick Pills$0.54
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Whale Shark Tour (for 2)$92
Tours and Activities in Cancun
For Cancun, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2 Day Combo Tour, Xcaret, Xel-Ha, Xplor and Chichen Itza Option: $260
- 3 in 1 Tour to Coba Cenote and Maya Village: $149
- Atv tour from Cancun with ziplines and cenote swim experience: $30
- Cancun Private Street Art Tour: $65
- Clear Boat Tour in Cancun 1.5 hours great for pictures: $19
- Coco Bongo Music And Show Ticket: $90
- Holbox plus Island Magic by boat Tour from Cancun : $144
- Isla Contoy and Isla Mujeres Tour from Cancun: $152
- Isla Mujeres Catamaran Platinum Tour with Open Bar: $115
- LDS Tour to Chichen Itza + Cenote : $215
- Las Coloradas and Rio Lagartos Day Tour from Cancun: $105
- Private Tour to Tulum Ruins and Cenotes : $257
Tours and Activities in Torres del Paine National Park
For Torres del Paine National Park, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Torres del Paine: 3-Hour Scenic Boat Tour to Grey Glacier: $120
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCancun $12Torres del Paine National Park $5.38
Sample the Local Flavors in Cancun
Also in Cancun, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Social Pub Crawl in Cancun: $35
- Bar Crawl Madness Tour in Cancun: $99
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cancun and Torres del Paine National Park, we can see that Cancun is more expensive. And not only is Torres del Paine National Park much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cancun is in North America and Torres del Paine National Park 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 Torres del Paine National Park would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Torres del Paine National Park 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 Cancun would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cancun than you might in Torres del Paine National Park.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cancun Expensive? and Is Torres del Paine National Park Expensive?.
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.