Which place is cheaper, Puerto Montt or Tilcara?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Tilcara or Puerto Montt?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Tilcara and Puerto Montt can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Tilcara or Puerto Montt?
Tilcara
Tilcara signifies shooting star in Quechua. At 2465m of altitude, the little town of Tilcara is one of the most animated place of the area of the quebrada de humahuaca. Many South American backpackers and tourists from all around the world come to visit Tilcara and its pucara, the forteresse built by the Incas at the top of the hill, providing a stunning walk around the town. Tilcara hosts many festivals for different occasions such as the celebration of the Pachamama in August, the semana santa (Holy Week) in April, and the Enero Tilcareno, held in January as its name indicates, which is probably the busiest month of the year for the little town. If you enjoy concerts, parades and folklorique parties then definitely try to visit Tilcara during a festival month and avoid them if you prefer a calm and more relaxed holiday. There are many available activities around Tilcara including horseback riding, VTT, and you could also even try a ride in a caravan pulled by llamas.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Photography Tours in Argentina, The Best Camping Tours in Argentina, The Best Tours for Seniors to Chile, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Chile.
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Tilcara Prices
Argentina PricesPuerto Montt Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTilcara $78Puerto Montt $104
The average daily cost (per person) in Tilcara is $78, while the average daily cost in Puerto Montt is $104. 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 Tilcara and Puerto Montt in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTilcara $63Puerto Montt $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTilcara $126Puerto Montt $122
Compare Hotels in Tilcara and Puerto Montt
Looking for a hotel in Tilcara or Puerto Montt? 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.
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: Tilcara Hotel Prices and Puerto Montt Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tilcara $3.09Puerto Montt $6.42
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tilcara
Also for Tilcara, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Solar Train of the Quebrada de Humahuaca: Ticket and Transfer: $170
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Montt
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Montt:
- Transfer from Puerto Montt Airport to Castro: $300
- Puerto Montt El Tepual Airport (PMC) to Pucon - Arrival Transfer: $267
- Puerto Airport (PMC) to Frutillar - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $151
- Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Puerto Varas - Round-Trip Transfer: $127
- Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Frutillar: Roundtrip Transfer: $93
- Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Puerto Varas - Round-Trip Transfer: $84
- Private Transfer from Puerto Airport (PMC) to Puerto Montt Port: $82
- Private Transfer from Puerto Montt Port to Puerto Airport (PMC): $82
- Transfer from Puerto Montt Airport to Frutillar: $80
- Private Transfer from Puerto Airport (PMC) to Puerto Montt Port: $75
- Private Transfer from Puerto Montt Port to Puerto Airport (PMC): $75
- Puerto Montt Airport(PMC) to Frutillar - Arrival Private Transfer: $75
Is it cheaper to fly into Tilcara or Puerto Montt?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Montt and Tilcara 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
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Food Meals for one dayTilcara $7.41Puerto Montt $37
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tilcara $22Puerto Montt $14
Tours and Activities in Tilcara
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tilcara.
- 2 hours cycling tour trough the rural area: $20
- From Salta: Tour to Humahuaca + Hornocal "Route of Colors and Heights": $128
Tours and Activities in Puerto Montt
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Montt are as follows:
- 6 Hours Shared Tour in Calbuco and Millennial Forest from Hotel: $190
- Alerce Andino National Park/Alerce Millenario/Cruises: $105
- Chiloé Island Full Day Experience Castro, Ancud, Dalcahue & Lunch: $189
- Cruise Shore Private Excursion Osorno Volcano & Petrohué Falls: $256
- Custom Tour of the Lakes Region in Chile: $80
- Explore Peulla Full Day Tour from Puerto Montt : $64
- Osorno Volcano and National Park Shore Tour for Cruisers : $90
- Petrohué Falls Osorno Volcano Pto Varas Sightseeing Driver Only: $130
- Private Day tour Petrohue Falls, Osorno Volcano & Puerto Varas: $250
- Private Shore Excursion Tour to Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas and Frutillar: $287
- Private Tour of Puerto Montt with Stops : $38
- Half day Llanquihue and Frutillar City tour : $44
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTilcara $4.87Puerto Montt $4.49
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tilcara and Puerto Montt, we can see that Puerto Montt is more expensive. And not only is Tilcara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Tilcara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tilcara 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 Tilcara.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tilcara Expensive? and Is Puerto Montt Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tilcara or Puerto Montt?
Puerto Montt has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Tilcara. When comparing the sizes of Tilcara and Puerto Montt, 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.