A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Asuncion vs. Cafayate for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Asuncion or Cafayate?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Asuncion or Cafayate, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Asuncion or Cafayate?

Asuncion

Asuncion is a vastly underrated city. It is the capital but also the administrative economic and cultural center of Paraguay. It is located in the south central part of the country, near the border with Argentina and it is one of the oldest cities in South America, with people living here since almost 500 years. The city has a beautiful and simple center, with a few unique colonial and beaux arts buildings, international cuisine, shady plazas and friendly people. Its handful of historic buildings around the Plaza de los Heroes, Plaza Uruguaya and Manzana de la Ribera, two or three small museums, old bars and cafes, but also smart suburbs, ritzy shopping malls and fashionable nightclubs will keep you entertained for a day or two. It is a very charming city for travellers and apart from the sights, the city boasts a good tourist infrastructure with hotels and restaurants.

Cafayate

Cafayate is located in the province of Salta, in the central zone of the Valles Calchaquies. The small town has about 12,000 residents and is 1,329 kilometers from Buenos Aires.

People head to the small town of Cafayate to explore its vineyards and unique rock formations. It has become an important tourist destination in the area and there is a large golf course under construction just outside of town.

Cafayate is an important wine production center. The wines in the area thrive from the low humidity mild weather of the valleys. The town receives less than 250 millimeters of precipitation a year.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Buenos Aires, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires.


Which place is cheaper, Cafayate or Asuncion?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Asuncion is $68, while the average daily cost in Cafayate is $12. 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 Asuncion and Cafayate in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Asuncion $22
    Cafayate $4.43
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Asuncion $44
    Cafayate $8.86
Compare Hotels in Asuncion and Cafayate

Looking for a hotel in Asuncion or Cafayate? 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 Asuncion


Hotels in Cafayate


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: Asuncion Hotel Prices and Cafayate Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Asuncion $8.82
    Cafayate $2.40

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Asuncion

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

  • RoundTrip Transfer in Private Minivan Asuncion Airport (ASU) - Asuncion City: $59
  • RoundTrip Private Transfer Asuncion Airport (ASU) - Asuncion City: $52
  • Transfer in private minivan from Asuncion Airport (ASU) - Asuncion City: $29
  • Transfer in private minivan Asuncion City - Silvio Pettirosi Airport (ASU): $29
  • Transfer in Private Car from Asuncion Airport (ASU) - Asuncion City: $21
  • Transfer in private car from Asuncion City - Asuncion Airport (ASU): $20

Is it cheaper to fly into Asuncion or Cafayate?

Prices for flights to both Cafayate and Asuncion 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
    Asuncion $17
    Cafayate $4.83

Typical Food Prices in Cafayate

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


  • Dinner (Empanadas)
    $0.02
  • Sandwich
    $0.01
  • Pizza
    $0.02

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Asuncion $16
    Cafayate $5.19

Tours and Activities in Asuncion

For Asuncion, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Asunción Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $35
  • Asuncion Birding Tour: $70
  • Birding and Nature Chaco Tour: $140
  • Crystal Fall - day tour in a reduced group: $120
  • Day Tour “Cerrito”: $231
  • Day tour “Circuito San Bernardino”: $214
  • Day tour “Circuito Sapucai”: $221
  • Day tour “Pai Pukú”: $230
  • Day tour to “National Park Ybycuí”: $265
  • Full day Paraguay River Nature and Wildlife Boat Tour: $207
  • Golden Triangle Tour: $110
  • Half-Day Yparacai Lake Tour from Asuncion with Pick Up: $185

Tours and Activities in Cafayate

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

  • From Salta: Cafayate, Cachi, & Hornocal 3-Day Tour: $136
  • From Salta: Cafayate, Humahuaca & Salinas Grandes 3-Day Tour: $106
  • From Salta: Cafayate, Salinas Grandes, & Hornocal Tour: $128
  • From Salta: Full-Day Wine and Valley Tour to Cafayate: $62
  • From Salta: Local Landscape, Winery, and Culture Tour: $134
  • Half-Day Wine Road Premium Tour From Cafayate: $68
  • Tour Quebrada De Las Conchas - Cafayate - Salta: $25

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Asuncion $10
    Cafayate $4.88
Typical Alcohol Prices in Asuncion

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Asuncion are as follows:


  • Beer
    $1.22


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

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


Which is Bigger, Asuncion or Cafayate?

Asuncion has a larger population, and is about 130 times larger than the population of Cafayate. When comparing the sizes of Asuncion and Cafayate, 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.