A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Piriapolis vs. San Pedro de Atacama for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Piriapolis or San Pedro de Atacama?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Piriapolis or San Pedro de Atacama, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Piriapolis or San Pedro de Atacama?

Piriapolis

Piriapolis is a small beach town between Montevideo and Punta del Este in Uruguay. It is a more laid back version of Punta del Este with fewer fancy restaurants and clubs but it has perhaps more charm, with its grand old hotel and beachfront promenade backed by small mountains. The rather old-school coastal resort is vaguely reminiscent of a Mediterranean beach town.

San Pedro de Atacama

San Pedro de Atacama is a gateway to northern Chile. It is a good jumping off point for exploring the area's impressive landscape, most of which is included in the Los Flamencos National Reserve. It is popular with both Chilean and international tourists, and because of its popularity, it is a relatively expensive destination, with many prices comparable to what you might pay in Santiago.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Tours for Seniors to Chile, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Chile.


Which place is cheaper, San Pedro de Atacama or Piriapolis?

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

  • Piriapolis Prices
    Uruguay Prices
    San Pedro de Atacama Prices
    Chile Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Piriapolis $81
    San Pedro de Atacama $69

The average daily cost (per person) in Piriapolis is $81, while the average daily cost in San Pedro de Atacama is $69. 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 Piriapolis and San Pedro de Atacama in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Piriapolis $26
    San Pedro de Atacama $32
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Piriapolis $52
    San Pedro de Atacama $64
Compare Hotels in Piriapolis and San Pedro de Atacama

Looking for a hotel in Piriapolis or San Pedro de Atacama? 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 Piriapolis


Hotels in San Pedro de Atacama


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: Piriapolis Hotel Prices and San Pedro de Atacama Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Piriapolis $30
    San Pedro de Atacama $9.14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro de Atacama

Also for San Pedro de Atacama, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • 3 Perfect Days in Atacama + Airport Transfer: $224
  • 3 Perfect Days in Atacama + Transfer: $260
  • Astronomical Tour in San Pedro de Atacama includes transfer, photo, and cocktail.: $53
  • Atacama Airport Private Transfer: $88
  • Atacama Airport Shuttle Transfer: $38
  • Calama Airport Transfer to Atacama / Airport Lodging: $60
  • Calama Airport: Transfer to/from San Pedro de Atacama: $30
  • Private transfer from San Pedro de Atacama to Calama City: $190
  • Puritama Hot Springs Experience with Transfer and Entrance: $90
  • Etno-Stargazing Tour with Transfer: $40
  • Etno-Stargazing Tour with Transfer: $40
  • Puritama Hot Springs Transfer Tour: $45

Is it cheaper to fly into Piriapolis or San Pedro de Atacama?

Prices for flights to both San Pedro de Atacama and Piriapolis 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
    Piriapolis $38
    San Pedro de Atacama $25

Typical Food Prices in San Pedro de Atacama

For San Pedro de Atacama, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Empanadas
    $1.26
  • Lunch
    $10
  • Dinner
    $11
  • Drink
    $0.94
  • Empanada
    $5.24

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Pedro de Atacama

For San Pedro de Atacama, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Local haute cuisine tasting menu dinner: $135
  • Private Dinner Under the Stars: $300

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Piriapolis $5.68
    San Pedro de Atacama $21

Typical Entertainment Prices in San Pedro de Atacama

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for San Pedro de Atacama's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Sand Boarding
    $56

Tours and Activities in San Pedro de Atacama

For San Pedro de Atacama, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Shared Moon Valley Tour: $32
  • Half-Day Tour to Laguna Cejar: $35
  • Tour to the Valley of the Moon San Pedro de Atacama: $35
  • Stargazing Experience: $35
  • Astronomical Guided Tour in San Pedro: $35
  • Stargazing Tour in San Pedro de Atacama: $36
  • Stargazing Tour in the Atacama Desert: $36
  • Cejar Lagoon Tour: San Pedro de Atacama: $37
  • Rainbow Valley Tour + Petroglyphs (Yerbas Buenas): $37
  • Astronomical Tour with Guide and Pick Up San Pedro de Atacama: $38
  • Shared Archaeological Tour in San Pedro de Atacama: $38
  • Moon Valley Tour: $39

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Piriapolis $7.82
    San Pedro de Atacama $4.93

Typical Alcohol Prices in San Pedro de Atacama

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in San Pedro de Atacama:


  • Alcohol
    $25


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Piriapolis Expensive? and Is San Pedro de Atacama Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Piriapolis or San Pedro de Atacama?

Piriapolis has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of San Pedro de Atacama. When comparing the sizes of Piriapolis and San Pedro de Atacama, 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.