A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Punta Arenas vs. Guadalajara for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Punta Arenas or Guadalajara?

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

Should I visit Punta Arenas or Guadalajara? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Punta Arenas or Guadalajara?

Punta Arenas

Punta Arenas is in the far south of Chile and has a long history of maritime commerce, oil extraction, and sheep farming. It's the most populated city on the Strait of Magellan and has all the facilities you might need as a traveler, including banks, markets, drugstores and equipment shops. With a population of about 130,000, the city is a comfortable place to spend time. It serves as a base for Antarctic expeditions, although many expeditions also start in Ushuaia, Argentina, and Christchurch New Zealand.

Guadalajara

Guadalajara is the capital of the state of Jalisco in western Mexico, as well as one of the country's largest cities. It is best known for tequila and mariachi music, which both originate in Jalisco, as well as a thriving historic center with colonial architecture and landmarks.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, The Best Luxury Tours to Chile, The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico.


Which place is cheaper, Guadalajara or Punta Arenas?

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

  • Punta Arenas Prices
    Chile Prices
    Guadalajara Prices
    Mexico Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Punta Arenas $79
    Guadalajara $138

The average daily cost (per person) in Punta Arenas is $79, while the average daily cost in Guadalajara is $138. 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 Punta Arenas and Guadalajara in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Punta Arenas $32
    Guadalajara $38
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Punta Arenas $64
    Guadalajara $76
Compare Hotels in Punta Arenas and Guadalajara

Looking for a hotel in Punta Arenas or Guadalajara? 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 Punta Arenas


Hotels in Guadalajara


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: Punta Arenas Hotel Prices and Guadalajara Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Punta Arenas $1.80
    Guadalajara $35

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Arenas

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

  • Transfer from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales: $267
  • Oneway Private Transfer from Punta Arenas Airport to Punta Arenas: $37
  • Transfer Airport Punta Arenas : $30

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guadalajara

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

  • Guadalajara Airport Private Transfer to Ajijic & Chapala: $289
  • Guadalajara Airport(GDL) to Tequila - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $202
  • Guadalajara to Tequila - Private Transfer with English-speaking driver: $179
  • Tequila to Guadalajara - Private Transfer with English-speaking driver: $179
  • Private Airport Transfer to Guadalajara Hotels Safe & Stress-Free: $159
  • Guadalajara Airport (GDL) to Guadalajara hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $107
  • Tequila to Guadalajara Airport (GDL) - Departure Private Transfer: $101
  • Transfer from International Airport to Tequila Jalisco: $89
  • Transfer by car to or from Guadalajara Airport: $35

Is it cheaper to fly into Punta Arenas or Guadalajara?

Prices for flights to both Guadalajara and Punta Arenas 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
    Punta Arenas $36
    Guadalajara $75
Typical Food Prices in Punta Arenas

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Punta Arenas:


  • Donut
    $1.05
  • Dinner
    $25

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guadalajara

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

  • Private Street Food Tour and City Tour Guadalajara - Best Rated : $44
  • Guadalajara Private Food Tour: $70
  • Authentic Mexican Cooking & Tequila tasting experience-Casa Humo: $108
  • Mexican Cooking Classes and Market Visit in Guadalajara: $195
  • VIP Tequila Night Tour with Dinner and Tasting: $199

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Punta Arenas $6.44
    Guadalajara $25

Tours and Activities in Punta Arenas

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

  • Bike Tour in Punta Arenas, 100% local tour.: $70
  • Cruises Shore Excursions : City tour Cruises Regular: $70
  • For Cruise-ship passengers: Magdalena Island (Penguins): $200
  • Fuerte Bulnes Shore Tour for Cruisers in Punta Arenas: $80
  • Full day Torres del Paine from Punta Arenas ,Regular tours: $180
  • Guided Tour of Punta Arenas and Fort Bulnes: $300
  • King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $154
  • King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $154
  • Magallanes National Reserve and Punta Arenas City Tour: $165
  • Magdalena Island Penguin Boat Tour and Marta Island: $165
  • Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas: $160
  • Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas: $160

Tours and Activities in Guadalajara

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

  • Walking Tour Experience in Ajijic Mexico: $50
  • 3 Hours Private Tour Guide in Guadalajara, you choose!: $36
  • A unique tour! Visiting Hacienda Casa herradura From Guadalajara: $120
  • Architecture of Luis Barragan Walking Tour with Street Food: $70
  • Bar Tour of the Coolest Quarter of Guadalajara: $17
  • Cantaritos and Tequila Factory Tour: $89
  • Chapala Ajijic Area Tour from Guadalajara: $40
  • Chapala Lake & Ajijic Tour with "Tres Potrillos Ranch": $65
  • Chapala and Ajijic Private Full-Day Tour: $128
  • Charreria heritage tour be a charro for a day: $50
  • City Tour Downtown Guadalajara Historical and Cultural Walking Tour: $79
  • City tour in Guadalajara and Tlaquepaque: $90

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Punta Arenas $4.86
    Guadalajara $16
Typical Alcohol Prices in Punta Arenas

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Punta Arenas:


  • Alcohol
    $7.33

Sample the Local Flavors in Guadalajara

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

  • Saturday Night Bar Crawl in Guadalajara Mexico: $25
  • Tequila distillery experience, Jose Cuervo & Tequila Magic Town: $65
  • full day Tequila tour visiting artisanal distillery and downtown.: $95
  • Guided Tour of Guachimontones and Tequila Distillery: $105
  • Full-Day Tour to La Fortaleza Distillery and Cantaritos: $155
  • Private Adventure Day Tour to Tequila and Cazcanes Distillery: $156
  • Private Adventure to El Tequileño Distillery and visit to Tequila: $161
  • Private One Day Adventure Tour in Tequila and La Fortaleza Distillery: $167
  • Private Tour Cascahuin Distillery and visit to Tequila: $190
  • Private Tour to El Tequileño Distillery and visit to Tequila: $190
  • Private Tour one day in Guachimontones and La Fortaleza Distillery: $211
  • Guachimontones and Tequila Distillery in One Day: $264


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

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


Which is Bigger, Punta Arenas or Guadalajara?

Guadalajara has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Punta Arenas. When comparing the sizes of Punta Arenas and Guadalajara, 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.