A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Acapulco de Juarez vs. San Carlos de Bariloche for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Acapulco de Juarez or San Carlos de Bariloche?

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

Should I visit Acapulco de Juarez or San Carlos de Bariloche? 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: Acapulco de Juarez or San Carlos de Bariloche?

Acapulco de Juarez

Located on the southwestern Pacific Coast of Mexico is the beautiful beach city of Acapulco de Juarez. Acapulco is one of the original travel and resort destinations in Mexico, and it's still considered a popular spring break destination for Americans. Known as simply "Acapulco" to many travelers, this region is a popular spot for cruise lines to stop and timeshares to grow. Thanks to those cruise lines and timeshares, tourist activities like water parks and jet skis have experienced considerable growth.

San Carlos de Bariloche

Set in the foothills of the Andes Mountains in Argentina, San Carlos de Bariloche is the biggest city in the Lake District. Bariloche is popular for skiing and snowboarding in the winter and trekking, swimming, fishing and horseback riding in the summertime.

No matter the time of year, there is something for everyone in Bariloche. Skiing season begins from June to October while fishing season is from November to April. Summer is from December to March, but visiting during low seasons (Spring in October to December and Autumn in late-April to mid-June) also has its benefits when it comes to saving cash and avoiding crowds.

Check out our ultimate guide to Hiking in Patagonia.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, San Carlos de Bariloche or Acapulco de Juarez?

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

  • Acapulco de Juarez Prices
    Mexico Prices
    San Carlos de Bariloche Prices
    Argentina Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Acapulco de Juarez $92
    San Carlos de Bariloche $86

The average daily cost (per person) in Acapulco de Juarez is $92, while the average daily cost in San Carlos de Bariloche is $86. 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 Acapulco de Juarez and San Carlos de Bariloche in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Acapulco de Juarez $35
    San Carlos de Bariloche $70
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Acapulco de Juarez $70
    San Carlos de Bariloche $140
Compare Hotels in Acapulco de Juarez and San Carlos de Bariloche

Looking for a hotel in Acapulco de Juarez or San Carlos de Bariloche? 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 Acapulco de Juarez


Hotels in San Carlos de Bariloche


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: Acapulco de Juarez Hotel Prices and San Carlos de Bariloche Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Acapulco de Juarez $15
    San Carlos de Bariloche $2.77

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Acapulco de Juarez

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Acapulco de Juarez:

  • Shared Transfer from Acapulco Airport (ACA): $13
  • Shared Transfer to Acapulco Airport (ACA): $13
  • Private Transfer from Acapulco Airport (ACA): $13
  • Private Transfer to Acapulco Airport (ACA): $13
  • Roundtrip Shared Transfer from Acapulco Airport (ACA): $27
  • Roundtrip Private Transfer from Acapulco Airport (ACA): $27
  • Airport Transfer In Suburban: $45
  • Acapulco hotels to Acapulco Airport (ACA) – Departure Private Transfer : $45
  • Acapulco Airport (ACA) to Acapulco hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
  • Private - One Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $66
  • Acapulco Airport Roundtrip Transfers: $75
  • Private Airport Transfer &on 2nd Day 4Hr TourAll AttractionsCombo: $90

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Carlos de Bariloche

Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Carlos de Bariloche:

  • Adventure in Piedras Blancas: Sledding Day with Transfers : $150
  • Airport transfer - downtown hotel car up to 3 people: $23
  • BARILOCHE: PRIVATE TRANSFER FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE CITY CENTER: $145
  • Bariloche Airport (BRC) to Cerro Catedral - Arrival Transfer: $83
  • Bariloche Airport Arrival Private Transfer: $74
  • Bariloche Airport Arrival Shuttle Transfer: $25
  • Bariloche Airport BRC to Cerro Catedral RoundTrip Transfer: $167
  • Bariloche Airport Departure Private Transfer: $74
  • Bariloche Airport Round Trip PrivateTransfer: $149
  • Bariloche Airport Round Trip Shuttle Transfer: $44
  • Bariloche: 1-Way or Round-Trip BRC Airport Transfer: $19
  • Bariloche: BRC Airport to City Centre|Hotel Private Transfer: $14

Is it cheaper to fly into Acapulco de Juarez or San Carlos de Bariloche?

Prices for flights to both San Carlos de Bariloche and Acapulco de Juarez 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
    Acapulco de Juarez $45
    San Carlos de Bariloche $6.11

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Acapulco de Juarez

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Acapulco de Juarez.

  • Lucha Libre-Wrestling FiestaExper Taco Dinner Beer ONLY SUNDAYS: $62
  • High Divers DeLuxe Three Course Dinner + Two Drinks plus SUNSET: $66
  • Wrestling-Lucha Libre Experience Tacos Beer Dinner Only On SUNDAY: $74
  • Sunset Dinner and Cliff Divers in Acapulco: $91
  • Mexican Cooking Class & Market Tour with a Professional Chef: $100
  • Mexican Fiesta Show & Dinner: $115
  • Super DeLuxe Bella Vista Dinner &1 Drink +2 Drinks at CliffDivers: $253
  • Off the Beaten Path Mexican Cooking Class Lagoon Boatride &Lunch: $286

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Carlos de Bariloche

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Carlos de Bariloche.

  • Bariloche: Snowmobile ride with dinner 4 steps: $537

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Acapulco de Juarez $16
    San Carlos de Bariloche $33

Tours and Activities in Acapulco de Juarez

Here are a few actual costs in Acapulco de Juarez for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Kayaks Tour to El Morro Islet: $22
  • Acapulco Malibu, Avenida Kids Tour : $50
  • Small-Group or Private All Inclusive 4 Hours City Tour & Divers: $53
  • Different Faces Of Acapulco Tour: $55
  • Acapulco Port Tour in 4 hours: $56
  • 4hr Fun Guide Tour For Cruisers or Hotels Guests with Divers Show: $58
  • 4Hrs City Tour Exclusively for Hotels, Divers, Chapel & Mural.: $60
  • Acapulco City Tour: $65
  • Acapulco Historical Tour with Cliff Divers Show: $65
  • City Tour & Sunset High Cliff Divers by Night w/Different Choices: $67
  • 4 Hrs Exclusive to Cruise Ship Passengers Sightseeing Experience : $67
  • Tour Isla de la Roqueta Stand up paddle Acapulco: $67

Tours and Activities in San Carlos de Bariloche

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Carlos de Bariloche are as follows:

  • Circuito Chico Sightseeing Tour with Local Guide: $25
  • Bariloche: Cerro Catedral Tour: $36
  • Bariloche: Circuito Chico, iconic postcards of Bariloche in a single tour: $36
  • Bariloche: German Immigration and History Walking Tour: $41
  • German Footprint & Nazi presence - Walking Tour in Bariloche: $41
  • Indigenous People of Patagonia History Tour: $41
  • Bariloche: Cerro Catedral guided tour: $43
  • Bariloche Chocolate Tour: Patagonian Flavors on Foot: $52
  • Small Circuit Tour: Mt Campanario and Llao Llao Peninsula: $55
  • Cerro Lopez Zipline Adventure from Bariloche: $56
  • Pablo Bernasconi's Art Gallery Guided Tour: $60
  • Canopy Half-Day Tour in Bariloche: $60

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Acapulco de Juarez $9.81
    San Carlos de Bariloche $8.76

Sample the Local Flavors in San Carlos de Bariloche

Also in San Carlos de Bariloche, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Bariloche: Patagonian Experience wine tasting: $95
  • Bariloche: Wine Tasting Winehouse Experience: $110
  • Patagonian WineHouse in Bariloche: Cheese and Wine Tasting: $125
  • Bariloche: Bar Crawl. Patagonian Bar Crawl: $160


When comparing the travel costs between Acapulco de Juarez and San Carlos de Bariloche, we can see that Acapulco de Juarez is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Acapulco de Juarez is in North America and San Carlos de Bariloche is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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


Which is Bigger, Acapulco de Juarez or San Carlos de Bariloche?

Acapulco de Juarez has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of San Carlos de Bariloche. When comparing the sizes of Acapulco de Juarez and San Carlos de Bariloche, 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.