A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Nairobi vs. Puerto Varas for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Nairobi or Puerto Varas?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Nairobi and Puerto Varas 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: Nairobi or Puerto Varas?

Nairobi

Nairobi is Kenya's capital as well as the country's largest city. With a population of about 3 million, it is also one of the largest cities in Africa. It is a prominent city both politically and financially within the region. There are many international companies that are located in Nairobi and the Nairobi Securities and Exchange is one of the largest in Africa.

Puerto Varas

Puerto Varas is a city in Southern Chile, in the Los Lagos (Lakes) Region, Llanquihue Province. It is a charming town, only 23 km away from Puerto Montt and surrounded by the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes as well as the impressive Llanquihue lake. In terms of landscape, accommodation and activities, Puerto Varas is well served! Kayak, paddle, canyoning, rock climbing, trekking, ski, fishing, you name it! If you decide to stop in that area, we recommend that you stay in Puerto Varas, as it provides the perfect starting point for many memorable excursions in the area.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Kenya, The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best Wildlife Tours to Chile, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Puerto Varas or Nairobi?

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

  • Nairobi Prices
    Kenya Prices
    Puerto Varas Prices
    Chile Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Nairobi $67
    Puerto Varas $127

The average daily cost (per person) in Nairobi is $67, while the average daily cost in Puerto Varas is $127. 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 Nairobi and Puerto Varas in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Nairobi $12
    Puerto Varas $67
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Nairobi $24
    Puerto Varas $134
Compare Hotels in Nairobi and Puerto Varas

Looking for a hotel in Nairobi or Puerto Varas? 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 Nairobi


Hotels in Puerto Varas


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: Nairobi Hotel Prices and Puerto Varas Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Nairobi $11
    Puerto Varas $21
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nairobi

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Nairobi:


  • Taxi from Airport
    $9.23

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nairobi

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

  • Airport Transfers: $40
  • Airport Transfers In Nairobi City: $67
  • Airport VIP Transfers - Nairobi Hotels : $55
  • Airport/hotel/transfers In Van/bus/sedan Car Within Nairobi: $80
  • From JKIA Airport: Nairobi private transfer in a car (3 pax max): $35
  • From Wilson Airport: Nairobi private transfer in a car (3 pax): $30
  • Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Private Transfer: $27
  • Mwashi Airport Transfer & Taxi: $27
  • Nairobi - Maasai Mara Shuttle Transfers. : $61
  • Nairobi Airport Transfer, Hotel Pick up and Drop Off: $20
  • Nairobi Airport Transfers to Wilson Airport or City Hotels: $28
  • Nairobi National Park Game Drive and Transfer: $95

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Varas

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Varas:

  • Transfer from Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport: $50
  • Transfer to Puerto Montt Airport: $22
  • Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) - Departure Transfer: $63
  • Puerto Varas Bus Terminal Private Transfer: $25
  • Puerto Varas Airport Shuttle Transfer: $38
  • Frutillar to Puerto Montt Airport PMC- Departure Private Transfer: $47
  • Cruce Andino Office Shuttle Transfer from Puerto Varas: $19

Is it cheaper to fly into Nairobi or Puerto Varas?

Prices for flights to both Puerto Varas and Nairobi 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
    Nairobi $13
    Puerto Varas $43
Typical Food Prices in Nairobi

For Nairobi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Dinner for Two
    $5.00

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nairobi

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

  • Carnivore Restaurant: Lunch or Dinner Experience in Nairobi: $21
  • Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class and Dining Experience: $40
  • Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class & Local Market Tour : $55
  • Private Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class with Lunch in Nairobi: $60
  • Carnivore restaurant Dinner or lunch from Nairobi: $65
  • Safari Park Dinner with Safari Cats Dance Show: $97
  • Safari Cat Dancers Show And Dinner: $100
  • Nairobi dinner and safari cat dancers : $100
  • Authentic Local Kenyan Food Tour: $108
  • Carnivore Restaurant Dinner Experience in Nairobi: $125
  • Nairobi Carnivore Restaurant Lunch / Dinner Experience: $125
  • Barbecue Dinner & Entertainment in Nairobi : $135

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Nairobi $46
    Puerto Varas $19
Typical Entertainment Prices in Nairobi

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Nairobi's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Village Visit
    $15

Tours and Activities in Nairobi

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

  • Nairobi Walking City Culture Tour: $20
  • Nairobi Historic Downtown City WalkingTour: $20
  • Nairobi City Walk Tour : $23
  • Nairobi City Tour: $25
  • Mathare Community Slum Tour: $26
  • Carnivore Restaurant Nairobi Dinning experience-transport: $30
  • Nairobi Historical Walking Half Day Tour : $35
  • Kibera Slum Tour with Lucas : $35
  • Nairobi national park Elephant orphanage and giraffe center tour.: $38
  • Nairobi National Park Half Day Game Drive Tour With FREE Pick up: $39
  • Walking tour in Nairobi town: $40
  • Nairobi National Park Half-Day Game Drive Guided Tour: $40

Tours and Activities in Puerto Varas

Here are a few actual costs in Puerto Varas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Chiloe Island - Puñihuil Tour: $90
  • From Chiloe Island Full-day Tour: $65
  • From Osorno Volcano & Petrohue Falls Day Tour: $49
  • Full-Day Osorno Vulcano and Petrohue Falls Small-Group Tour: $80
  • Half-Day Small-Group Rafting Experience in Petrohué River: $52
  • Lake Llanquihue Bike Tour in Puerto Varas: $162
  • Premium Full Day Shared Tour Osorno Volcano and Petrohue Falls: $230
  • Premium Half Day Shared Tour Sunset at Osorno Volcano: $130
  • Private Rock Climbing Experience in Northern Patagonia: $120
  • Private Tour of Sport Rock Climbing: $150
  • Full-Day Tour Chiloe Island: Castro and Dalcahue : $62
  • FullDay Chiloe Island Tour Castro and dalcahue: $59

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Nairobi $16
    Puerto Varas $6.51


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nairobi and Puerto Varas, we can see that Puerto Varas is more expensive. And not only is Nairobi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Nairobi is in Africa and Puerto Varas 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 Nairobi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nairobi 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 Varas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Varas than you might in Nairobi.

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


Which is Bigger, Nairobi or Puerto Varas?

Nairobi has a larger population, and is about 110 times larger than the population of Puerto Varas. When comparing the sizes of Nairobi and Puerto Varas, 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.