A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Puerto Montt vs. Santa Cruz de la Sierra for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Puerto Montt or Santa Cruz de la Sierra?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Puerto Montt and Santa Cruz de la Sierra 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: Puerto Montt or Santa Cruz de la Sierra?

Puerto Montt

The Lake District is a region of snow capped volcanoes, pale green lakes and endless miles of virgin and ancient forests. Found 1,016 km away from Santiago de Chile, Puerto Montt is famous for its beautiful lakes and its germanic architecture, old wooden houses and its legendary Iglesia Catedral, found on the town's main square, la Plaza de Armas. The monument, entirely built with alerce (cypress) wood, is the oldest building of the city. The capital of the Lake Region is a good starting point for many memorable excursions in the area.

Santa Cruz de la Sierra

Santa Cruz de la Sierra, or simply Santa Cruz, is a larger city in the middle of Bolivia. It is also one of the most wealthy cities in the country. The city is also one of the fastest growing in the world. It is famous for its nightlife and it makes an excellent base for exploring many of the tourist attractions in the nearby areas.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Chile, The Best G Adventures Tours to Chile, The Best Tours Under $1000 in Bolivia, and The Best Luxury Tours to Bolivia.


Which place is cheaper, Santa Cruz de la Sierra or Puerto Montt?

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

  • Puerto Montt Prices
    Chile Prices
    Santa Cruz de la Sierra Prices
    Bolivia Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Puerto Montt $104
    Santa Cruz de la Sierra $68

The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Montt is $104, while the average daily cost in Santa Cruz de la Sierra is $68. 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 Puerto Montt and Santa Cruz de la Sierra in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Puerto Montt $61
    Santa Cruz de la Sierra $22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Puerto Montt $122
    Santa Cruz de la Sierra $44
Compare Hotels in Puerto Montt and Santa Cruz de la Sierra

Looking for a hotel in Puerto Montt or Santa Cruz de la Sierra? 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 Puerto Montt


Hotels in Santa Cruz de la Sierra


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: Puerto Montt Hotel Prices and Santa Cruz de la Sierra Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Puerto Montt $6.42
    Santa Cruz de la Sierra $9.90

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Montt

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Montt:

  • Cruce Andino Office Transfer to or from Puerto Montt: $32
  • Private Transfer from Puerto Airport (PMC) to Puerto Montt Port: $75
  • Private Transfer from Puerto Airport (PMC) to Puerto Montt Port: $83
  • Private Transfer from Puerto Montt Port to Puerto Airport (PMC): $83
  • Puerto Montt - Puerto Varas Airport English private transfer: $50
  • Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Frutillar: Roundtrip Transfer: $93
  • Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Puerto Varas - Round-Trip Transfer: $127
  • Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Puerto Varas - Round-Trip Transfer: $84
  • Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Puerto Varas City- Arrival Transfer: $63
  • Puerto Montt Airport Arrival Transfer to Hotel: $25
  • Puerto Montt Airport Arrival Transfer to Hotel in Puerto Varas: $24
  • Puerto Montt Airport(PMC) to Frutillar - Arrival Private Transfer: $75

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Santa Cruz de la Sierra

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santa Cruz de la Sierra:


  • Taxi Ride
    $4.34
  • Mini Bus
    $0.58

Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Montt or Santa Cruz de la Sierra?

Prices for flights to both Santa Cruz de la Sierra and Puerto Montt 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
    Puerto Montt $37
    Santa Cruz de la Sierra $34

Typical Food Prices in Santa Cruz de la Sierra

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Santa Cruz de la Sierra:


  • Snacks
    $3.18
  • Chips
    $0.29
  • Banana
    $0.14
  • Cookies
    $1.30

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Cruz de la Sierra

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.

  • Guided Street Food Tour: Santa Cruz de la Sierra: $10

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Puerto Montt $14
    Santa Cruz de la Sierra $19

Tours and Activities in Puerto Montt

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Montt are as follows:

  • Private Tour of Puerto Montt with Stops : $38
  • Half day Llanquihue and Frutillar City tour : $44
  • Osorno Volcano and Petrohué Falls Guided Tour: $62
  • Explore Peulla Full Day Tour from Puerto Montt : $64
  • Tour Osorno Volcano and Petrohue Jumps / English: $68
  • Shore Excursion: Osorno Volcano Private Tour from Puerto Montt: $70
  • Osorno Volcano and National Park Shore Tour for Cruisers : $90
  • Puerto Varas: Puerto Montt & Puerto Varas Private City Tour: $90
  • Alerce Andino National Park/Alerce Millenario/Cruises: $105
  • Petrohué Falls Osorno Volcano Pto Varas Sightseeing Driver Only: $130
  • Tagua Tagua Lake and Wild Patagonia Tour: $133
  • Chiloé Island Full Day Experience Castro, Ancud, Dalcahue & Lunch: $189

Tours and Activities in Santa Cruz de la Sierra

Here are a few actual costs in Santa Cruz de la Sierra for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Walking tour - A journey through the History of Santa Cruz: $11
  • Lomas de Arena Sandboarding Tour: $42
  • Santa Cruz: Wildlife Sanctuary and Preservation Park Tour: $85
  • Day Tour /El Fuerte & Samaipata: $98
  • Day Tour Jardin de las Delicias: $99

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Puerto Montt $4.49
    Santa Cruz de la Sierra $14

Typical Alcohol Prices in Santa Cruz de la Sierra

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Santa Cruz de la Sierra from other travelers:


  • Beer
    $1.59

Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Cruz de la Sierra

Also in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Bolivia: Bolivian Wine Tasting with Charcuterie Board: $39


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Puerto Montt Expensive? and Is Santa Cruz de la Sierra Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Puerto Montt or Santa Cruz de la Sierra?

Santa Cruz de la Sierra has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Puerto Montt. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Montt and Santa Cruz de la Sierra, 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.