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

Should you visit Punta Arenas or Sucre?

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

Should I visit Punta Arenas or Sucre? 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 Sucre?

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.

Sucre

Sucre is famous for its gorgeous town center and delightful climate, making it for many Bolivia's most beautiful city. Also considered the symbolic heart of the nation, 'La ciudad blanca' or the white city has preserved stunning whitewashed buildings sheltering pretty patios and other beauties of colonial architecture. The city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991 and is under strict controls on development. It offers many attractions including historic buildings and a renowned theatre, but you can also wander around prehistoric sites and discover indigenous culture in the surrounding towns and countryside.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, The Best Luxury Tours to Chile, The Best 3-Day Tours from La Paz, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Bolivia.


Which place is cheaper, Sucre 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.

The average daily cost (per person) in Punta Arenas is $79, while the average daily cost in Sucre is $57. 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 Sucre in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Punta Arenas $32
    Sucre $11
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Punta Arenas $64
    Sucre $22
Compare Hotels in Punta Arenas and Sucre

Looking for a hotel in Punta Arenas or Sucre? 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 Sucre


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 Sucre Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Punta Arenas $1.80
    Sucre $12

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
  • Private Transfer - Punta Arenas Airport(PUQ) to Punta Arenas Port: $78
  • Private Transfer - Punta Arenas Port to Punta Arenas Airport(PUQ): $78
  • Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ) to Punta Arenas - Round-Trip Transfer: $76
  • Punta Airport (PUQ) to Punta Arenas - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $57
  • Private Transfer from Punta Arenas hotels to Punta Arenas Port: $43
  • Punta Arenas Airport PUQ to Punta Arenas Arrival Private Transfer: $38
  • Oneway Private Transfer from Punta Arenas Airport to Punta Arenas: $37
  • Punta Arenas to Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ) - Departure Transfer: $35
  • Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ) to Punta Arenas - Arrival Transfer: $35
  • Punta Arenas Airport Private Transfer: $33
  • Transfer Airport Punta Arenas : $30

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Sucre

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Sucre are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.45

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sucre

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

  • Private transfer Sucre - Uyuni, stopover in Potosí Mines: $250
  • Private MiniVan or Bus Transfer from Sucre Airport SRE to Sucre: $28
  • Departure Transfer from Sucre to Sucre Airport by MiniVan or Bus: $27

Is it cheaper to fly into Punta Arenas or Sucre?

Prices for flights to both Sucre 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
    Sucre $32
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

Typical Food Prices in Sucre

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


  • Dinner
    $4.48
  • Juice
    $0.87
  • Juice
    $1.01
  • Chocolate
    $1.73
  • Cappuccino
    $4.34

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sucre

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

  • Traditional Bolivian Cooking Class w/ Cocktail Making by La Boca del Sapo, Sucre: $45
  • Ancestral Cooking Classes: $70

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Punta Arenas $6.44
    Sucre $16

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
  • Cruises shore Excursions: City Tour Cruises Private: $230
  • 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

Tours and Activities in Sucre

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

  • 2-Day Icla Canyon Tour from Sucre: $87
  • 4-Day Guided Adventure Trip from Tupiza to Salar de Uyuni: $267
  • Behind: Textiles and History Walking Tour: $20
  • Historical and Cultural Walking Tour in Sucre with Guide: $9.99
  • JATUN YAMPARA - Agro-artisan Indigenous Nucleus -Full Day Tours + Lunch: $85
  • JATUN YAMPARA - Nucleo Indigena, Agroartesanal - Half Day Tours: $66
  • Private Cultural Tour in Sucre with Visit to 3 Museums: $45
  • Private Half Day Tour: Sucre Walking Tour with Hotel Pick up: $67
  • Sucre - Walking City Tour - Half Day - English Speaking guide: $64
  • Sucre City Tour With Visit to Cretaceous Park: $123
  • Sucre | City tour and museums | Private: $105
  • City Highlights Walking Tour: $14

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Punta Arenas $4.86
    Sucre $13
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


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

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 Sucre Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Punta Arenas or Sucre?

Sucre has a larger population, and is about 91% larger than the population of Punta Arenas. When comparing the sizes of Punta Arenas and Sucre, 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.