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

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Should you visit Asuncion or El Calafate?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Asuncion or El Calafate, 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 El Calafate?

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.

El Calafate

Located in Patagonia, El Calafate has become a popular tourist destination in Argentina because of its beautiful setting on the stunningly blue Lago Argentina. The town sits on the southern border of the lake in the southwestern part of the Santa Cruz Province. It's about 320 kilometers from Rio Gallegos.

The rise in popularity of Patagonia as a tourist destination has truly put this small town on the map. You'll find no shortage of trekkers in the town and it makes an excellent base to explore different parts of the Los Glaciares National Park. Popular places to visit include Perito Moreno Glacier, Cerro Chalten, and Cerro Torre.

El Calafate has a cold semi-arid climate. The summers are cool to warm and very dry while the winters are cold and damp. Lago Argentino has a significant influence over the town's climate. The shallow bay where the town is located is usually frozen during the winter months.

Check out our ultimate guide to Hiking in Patagonia.

Which city is cheaper, El Calafate or Asuncion?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Asuncion is $56, while the average daily cost in El Calafate is $42. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Asuncion and El Calafate in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Asuncion $18
    El Calafate $14
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Asuncion $36
    El Calafate $28
Compare Hotels in Asuncion and El Calafate

Looking for a hotel in Asuncion or El Calafate? 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 El Calafate


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 El Calafate Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Asuncion $7.21
    El Calafate $15

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Asuncion

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

  • Transfer in private minivan from Asuncion City to Silvio Pettirosi Airport: $37
  • Transfer in private car from Asuncion City to Asuncion Silvio Pettirosi Airport: $30
  • Round Trip Transfer Silvio Pettirossi Airport (ASU) to Asuncion City Center: $46
  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Asunción Airport: $47
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Asunción Airport to Hotel: $47
  • Private Airport Transfer: from Asuncion to Silvio Pettirossi Int. Airport (ASU): $26

Typical Local Transportation prices in El Calafate

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in El Calafate:


  • Taxi
    $7.26

Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Calafate

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

  • Shared transfer to El Calafate -El Chaltén: $75
  • Shared Transfer Airport-Hotel-Airport (Calafate): $32
  • Private Transfer Hotel-Bus Station or Bus Station-Hotel (Calafate): $35
  • Private Transfer Airport-Hotel-Airport (Calafate): $90
  • Kayak in Perito Moreno Glacier without transfers: $336
  • Kayak in Perito Moreno Glacier with transfers: $461
  • Transfers Between Airport and Hotels: $26
  • Private Airport Transfer: $49
  • El Calafate Airport Private Transfer: $57
  • Bus Transfer from El Calafate to El Chalten: $50

Is it cheaper to fly into Asuncion or El Calafate?

Prices for flights to both El Calafate 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 $14
    El Calafate $16

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Asuncion

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

  • Asunción Dinner and Show Experience: $93
  • Private Tour: Asuncion at Night with Dinner Show: $103
  • Dinner Show in Asuncion: $149

Typical Food prices in El Calafate

For El Calafate, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Dessert
    $0.06
  • Dinner
    $9.44
  • Dinner
    $5.57

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in El Calafate

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

  • Visit to Estancia Alice El Galpon, Dinner and Folkloric Show: $120

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Asuncion $13
    El Calafate $15

Tours and Activities in Asuncion

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

  • 2 Hours Catamaran Tour from the Asunción Bay with Audio Guide: $55
  • Asuncion Birding Tour: $70
  • Asunción City Market Tour: $72
  • Asunción Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $31
  • Asunción Small-Group Art and Cultural Walking Tour: $78
  • Birding and Nature Chaco Tour: $140
  • City Tour Asunción: $48
  • Crystal Fall - day tour in a reduced group: $110
  • Cultural City 3 Hour Tour in Asuncion by Bus: $99
  • Day Tour “Cerrito”: $231
  • Day tour to “National Park Ybycuí”: $265
  • Day tour “Circuito San Bernardino”: $214

Typical Entertainment prices in El Calafate

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for El Calafate's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Glacerium Museum
    $7.26

Tours and Activities in El Calafate

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

  • "Glaciares Gourmet" - Maria Turquesa Cruiser Navigation: $180
  • 13-Day Best of Patagonia Tour from El Calafate to Ushuaia: Los Glaciares, Torres del Paine and Tierra del Fuego National Parks: $1,704
  • 2-day El Chalten Hiking Adventure Tour from El Calafate: $406
  • 2-day tour: Perito Moreno Glacier + Torres del Paine National Park: $215
  • 3-Day Tour of El Calafate and the Glaciers: $255
  • 4 Days Tour in El Calafate & Chalten: $190
  • 4-Days El Calafate Easy Going Experience: $965
  • 4WD Ride tour to Cerro Frias from El Calafate: $99
  • 4x4 Adventure Day Trip to Torres del Paine National Park with lunchbox: $165
  • 5-Day Adventure Trip in El Calafate: $1,151
  • 5-Days El Calafate Experience without limits!: $1,426
  • 5-Days Pearls from Argentina and Chilean Patagonia Experience!: $1,345

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Asuncion $8.46
    El Calafate $7.77
Typical Alcohol prices in Asuncion

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


  • Beer
    $1.25

Typical Alcohol prices in El Calafate

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in El Calafate:


  • Beer
    $0.05
  • Alcohol
    $1.94

Sample the Local Flavors in El Calafate

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

  • Calafate Wine Tour | City Tour Peatonal Maridado con Vinos: $38
  • Calafate Wine Tour: $48

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Asuncion and El Calafate, we can see that Asuncion is more expensive. And not only is El Calafate much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to El Calafate would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Calafate 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 El Calafate.

Budget Your Trip

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Asuncion vs. El Calafate Travel Comparison

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