A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Mendoza vs. La Serena for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Mendoza or La Serena?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Mendoza and La Serena. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Mendoza or La Serena?

Mendoza

Mendoza is a city in western Argentina and more precisely in the desertic Cuyo region. Mendoza is the center of the Argentinian wine industry and is famed around the world for its vineyards and wine production. Spread across the valley of the Rio Mendoza and in the foothills of the Andean mountain range, Mendoza is also near the Aconcagua, the highest mountain outside of the Himalayas. The bustling and scenic city of wide, leafy avenues, atmospheric plazas and cosmopolitan cafes spoils visitors with unique natural attractions and historical landmarks. If you can, visit Mendoza during the harvest festival at the end of February. There are many events and festivals in Mendoza and they are usually free. Each has a different theme, and they usually have a stage with singing and dancing and booths that sell food around a plaza. Seventy percent of Argentina's wines are produced here, and Mendoza is especially known for its world-famous malbecs.

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 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Chile.


Which place is cheaper, La Serena or Mendoza?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Mendoza is $56, 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 Mendoza and La Serena in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mendoza $43
    La Serena $42
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mendoza $86
    La Serena $84
Compare Hotels in Mendoza and La Serena

Looking for a hotel in Mendoza 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.

Hotels in Mendoza


Hotels in La Serena


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: Mendoza Hotel Prices and La Serena Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mendoza $4.18
    La Serena $20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mendoza

Also for Mendoza, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Winery Trapiche + Laur + Lunch in Tempus Alba. Private transfer: $230
  • Winery Salentein + Gourmet Lunch in Ruda.Transfer included: $260
  • Visita Bodega Huarpe + Almuerzo Bodega Lagarde. Transfer privado: $220
  • Visit to Winery and Argentine Asado in Terrace. Transfer included: $170
  • Visit to 2 Wineries and Lunch Top. Private transfer.: $190
  • Transfer Bodegas Lujan de Cuyo and Maipu: $130
  • Tasting in Enemy; Lunch at Tempus Alba + Private Transfer: $245
  • Tasting The Enemy + Lunch Santa Julia. Private transfer: $260
  • Shared Transfer Mendoza Bus Station / Downtown Hotel: $23
  • Private Transfer to Bodegas de Luján de Cuyo and Maipú Full Day: $200
  • Private Transfer in Mendoza: $25
  • Private Transfer from Mendoza Airport (MDZ): $17

Is it cheaper to fly into Mendoza or La Serena?

Prices for flights to both La Serena and Mendoza 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Mendoza $5.85
    La Serena $46

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mendoza

For Mendoza, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Argentine BBQ on Terrace with Views. Dinner, Sunset.: $80
  • Mendoza Cooking Experience with Unlimited Wine & Cocktails: $95
  • Argentine Hands-On Cooking & Wine Experience in Mendoza: $95
  • Bar Safari 4 Best Mendoza’s Bars in 1 Night with Full Dinner: $167
  • Bar Safari: 4 Best Mendoza’s Bars in 1 night. + Full Dinner: $180
  • Horseback Riding at Sunset and Dinner in Mendoza: $185
  • Tango Show with Dinner at Hualta Winery Hotel: $190
  • Full-Day Small-Group Mendoza Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $199
  • City Tour with Dinner at a Local Restaurant: $200
  • Winery Los Toneles + Dinner in Saffron Restó. Private transportation: $250

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mendoza $23
    La Serena $24

Tours and Activities in Mendoza

For Mendoza, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Zipline Adventure: Exploring Potrerillos Valley: $102
  • 2 Winery Tour in Valle de Uco with Lunch Included: $185
  • Aconcagua Classic Tour 1 Day - Shared : $114
  • Aconcagua Private Full Day Experience : $179
  • Adventure & Flavor: Breakfast, Rafting & Asado in Mendoza: $220
  • Adventure Day in Potrerillos, Rafting, Canopy or Trekking: $188
  • Adventure Park - Unforgettable Challenge!: $39
  • Adventure and Trekking Day in Vallecitos Cordon del Plata: $150
  • Andes Day Hiking Tour Experience : $190
  • Andes High Mountain Tour in Mendoza: $129
  • Andes High Mountain full day Tour: $84
  • Andes Hiking Experience Full Day: $195

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
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mendoza $5.94
    La Serena $22

Sample the Local Flavors in Mendoza

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Mendoza:

  • Classic Wine Tasting: $44
  • Premium Wine Tasting: $66
  • Half-Day Wine Tour with Tastings: $80
  • Make an Argentine Asado BBQ w/ Local Host & Wine Tasting: $89
  • El Enemigo and Casa Vigil Wine Tour: $93
  • In Mendoza Wine Tours, Empanadas, and Olive Oil: $99
  • Mendoza Private Wine Tour Paired Lunch and Olive Oil Tasting: $115
  • Classic Wine Tour on a Budget. Lunch. Private Driver: $120
  • Wine Tour with Lunch and Transport in Mendoza: $130
  • Full Day Wine Tour with 3 Course Lunch: $164
  • Wine tasting region Uco Valley in Mendoza: $180
  • Bike Tour at Zuccardi: Olive Oil, Wine Tasting & Lunch: $182


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mendoza and La Serena, we can see that La Serena is more expensive. And not only is Mendoza much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mendoza would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mendoza 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 Mendoza.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mendoza Expensive? and Is La Serena Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Mendoza or La Serena?

Mendoza has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of La Serena. When comparing the sizes of Mendoza 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.