A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Montevideo vs. Lake Titicaca (Puno) for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Montevideo or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Montevideo and Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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: Montevideo or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?

Montevideo

As the morning sun tinges the calm waters of the Rio de la Plata with a golden hue, the Rambla and its city awakens to life with new adventures for those near and far. From tanning on the luxurious beaches to peering into Uruguayan history at local museums, one can be far from bored while staying in Montevideo. Combining the quaintness of the countryside with the excitement of urban life, this city holds a unique trait that cannot easily be replicated.

Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Lake Titicaca, which directly translates to "puma stone" in Quechua, is located high in the Andes Mountains straddling Peru and Bolivia, with about 60% of the lake in Peru and 40% in Bolivia. Among the lake are three main islands, the most popular of which are the Uros Islands, also known as the floating islands, where the Uros people live on totora reeds that grow in the lake.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Photography Tours in Peru, and The Best Jungle Trekking Tours in Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Lake Titicaca (Puno) or Montevideo?

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

  • Montevideo Prices
    Uruguay Prices
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) Prices
    Peru Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Montevideo $70
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $70

The average daily cost (per person) in Montevideo is $70, while the average daily cost in Lake Titicaca (Puno) is $70. 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 Montevideo and Lake Titicaca (Puno) in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Montevideo $38
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $28
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Montevideo $76
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $56
Compare Hotels in Montevideo and Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Looking for a hotel in Montevideo or Lake Titicaca (Puno)? 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 Montevideo


Hotels in Lake Titicaca (Puno)


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: Montevideo Hotel Prices and Lake Titicaca (Puno) Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Montevideo $7.06
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $11

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montevideo

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

  • Private Transfer from Montevideo Airport (MVD): $21
  • Private Transfer Montevideo Airport to Hotel Y Hotel - Aero: $22
  • MVD Airport to Downtown|Hotels Private Transfer: $24
  • Montevideo Airport Transfers: $33
  • Carrasco Airport (MVD) to Montevideo - Arrival Private Transfer: $37
  • Carrasco Airport (MVD) to Montevideo - Arrival Private Transfer: $41
  • Private Transfer from Montevideo Cruise Port to Montevideo city: $42
  • Private Transfer from Montevideo Port to Carrasco Airport (MVD): $42
  • Private Transfer from Montevideo city to Montevideo Cruise Port: $42
  • Roundtrip Private Transfer from Montevideo Airport (MVD): $42
  • Transfer from Montevideo to Carrasco Airport: $45
  • Private 1-Way or Round Trip MVD Airport Transfer: $45

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno):


  • Taxi
    $0.86

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno):

  • Private Transfer From Puno to Chivay, English Speaking Driver: $229
  • Private Transfer from Puno to Frontera Kasani: $222
  • Private Transfer from Puno to Desaguadero: $212
  • Private Transfer from Puno to Inca Manco Capac (JUL) Airport: $97
  • Private Transfer from Inca Manco Capac (JUL) Airport to Puno: $97
  • Private transfer airport-puno-viceverse: $60
  • Private Transfer from Juliaca Airport to Puno or Viceversa: $50
  • Private transfer from Juliaca Airport to Puno or Viceversa: $47
  • Private Transfer from Juliaca Airport to Puno Plaza de Armas: $40
  • Private Transfer from Puerto de Puno to Hotel Puno: $23
  • Juliaca Airport Shared Transfer to/from Puno: $20
  • Puno Arrival Transfer from bus or railway Station: $14

Is it cheaper to fly into Montevideo or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?

Prices for flights to both Lake Titicaca (Puno) and Montevideo 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
    Montevideo $22
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $28

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montevideo

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

  • Show + Dinner - El Milongon (No Transport): $93
  • The best Montevideo Dinner Show. Tango and Candombe. El Milongon.: $98
  • Montevideo Private Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $107
  • El Milongon Dinner & Show: Candombe, Tango and Folklore: $108

Typical Food Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Some typical examples of dining costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:


  • Tamales
    $1.58

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Montevideo $20
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $31

Tours and Activities in Montevideo

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Montevideo.

  • Montevideo's Culture and History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.00
  • Palacio Salvo Official Ticket with Guided Tour: $13
  • Complete Half-Day Tour with Guide and 6 Stops: $20
  • Tourist Bus Discover Montevideo: $25
  • Half-Day City Tour with Live Guide: $25
  • Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $25
  • Half-day Regular City Tour at Montevideo : $25
  • Tour and tasting at Bodega Santa Rosa: $26
  • Montevideo City Tour for Cruisers - AudioGuided: $26
  • Audio Guided Tour in Montevideo City for Cruisers: $26
  • City tour Montevideo: $27
  • Afternoon Tea Experience at Sofitel Montevideo Carrasco & Spa: $29

Tours and Activities in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:

  • 2 Day Lake Titicaca Tour From Puno: $150
  • 2 Day Tour to Uros, Amantani and Taquile from Puno: $69
  • 2 Days and 1 Night Tour from Puno to Colca Canyon and Arequipa: $210
  • 2 Days and One Night Tour on the Aymara Route and Churches in Juli: $90
  • 2-Day Amantani Homestay Including Kayak Experience: $233
  • 3-Hour Uros Floating Islands Tour from Puno: $13
  • 3h Boat Tour to Uros Island from Puno: $40
  • Aymara's route 1 day tour in Puno: Inca Uyo, Aramu Muru, Molloco: $90
  • Chullpas de Sillustani Inca Cemetery Tour by Tourist Bus: $26
  • Cultural Tour to Uros Floating Island: $60
  • Full Day Guided Tour of the Aymara Route from Puno: $40
  • Full Day Lake Titicaca Tour to Uros and Taquile Islands: $52

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Montevideo -
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $14

Sample the Local Flavors in Montevideo

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

  • Pizzorno Winery with Lunch and Wine Tasting: $116
  • The best wine tour: $140
  • Wine tour - Lunch & Tasting with Wine Explorers: $198
  • Wine Tasting & Countryside Lunch Experience: $225
  • Montevideo Wine Tour with Tasting and Lunch: $226
  • Wine Tasting Tour for Cruise Passengers: $450


When comparing the travel costs between Montevideo and Lake Titicaca (Puno), we can see that Montevideo is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Montevideo Expensive? and Is Lake Titicaca (Puno) Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Montevideo or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?

Montevideo has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Lake Titicaca (Puno). When comparing the sizes of Montevideo and Lake Titicaca (Puno), 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.