Should you visit Asuncion or El Calafate?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Asuncion or El Calafate, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
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 $58, while the average daily cost in El Calafate is $67. 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. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Asuncion and El Calafate in more detail.
Accommodation
The prices for places to stay in Asuncion can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $19, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $38.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $46 in El Calafate For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
In Asuncion travelers spend around $15 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
Food in El Calafate costs travelers about $25 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
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Food
Meals for one day
Asuncion $15
El Calafate $25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Asuncion
For Asuncion, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Asunción Dinner and Show Experience:
$93
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Private Tour: Asuncion at Night with Dinner Show:
$103
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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:
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Dessert
$0.10
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Dinner
$15
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Dinner
$8.86
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:
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Visit to Estancia Alice El Galpon, Dinner and Folkloric Show:
$120
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Gaucho, Dinner and Folklore Full-Day Tour:
$165
Local Transportation
To get around in Asuncion, the average visitor spends $7.47 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
El Calafate's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $23 per person, per day on transportation in El Calafate.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Asuncion
Also for Asuncion, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Transfer in private minivan from Asuncion City to Silvio Pettirosi Airport:
$37
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Transfer in private car from Asuncion City to Asuncion Silvio Pettirosi Airport:
$30
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Round Trip Transfer Silvio Pettirossi Airport (ASU) to Asuncion City Center:
$46
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Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Asunción Airport:
$47
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Private Arrival Transfer: Asunción Airport to Hotel:
$47
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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:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Calafate
Also for El Calafate, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Shared transfer to El Calafate -El Chaltén:
$75
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Shared Transfer Airport-Hotel-Airport (Calafate):
$32
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Private Transfer Hotel-Bus Station or Bus Station-Hotel (Calafate):
$35
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Private Transfer Airport-Hotel-Airport (Calafate):
$90
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Kayak in Perito Moreno Glacier without transfers:
$336
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Kayak in Perito Moreno Glacier with transfers:
$461
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From Calafate: Round-trip transfer to Perito Moreno Glacier:
$27
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El Calafate Airport Private Transfer:
$57
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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.
Entertainment
In Asuncion, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $14 per person, per day.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in El Calafate can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $25 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Asuncion
For Asuncion, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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2 Hours Catamaran Tour from the Asunción Bay with Audio Guide:
$55
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Asuncion Birding Tour:
$70
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Asunción City Market Tour:
$72
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Asunción Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$31
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Asunción Small-Group Art and Cultural Walking Tour:
$78
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Birding and Nature Chaco Tour:
$140
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City Tour Asunción:
$48
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Crystal Fall - day tour in a reduced group:
$110
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Cultural City 3 Hour Tour in Asuncion by Bus:
$99
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Day Tour “Cerrito”:
$231
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Day tour to “National Park Ybycuí”:
$265
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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:
Tours and Activities in El Calafate
For El Calafate, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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"Glaciares Gourmet" - Maria Turquesa Cruiser Navigation:
$180
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13-Day Best of Patagonia Tour from El Calafate to Ushuaia: Los Glaciares, Torres del Paine and Tierra del Fuego National Parks:
$1,704
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2-Day Perito Moreno Tour with Boat Ride & 4x4 Safari:
$243
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2-day El Chalten Hiking Adventure Tour from El Calafate:
$406
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2-day tour: Perito Moreno Glacier + Torres del Paine National Park:
$215
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3-Day Tour of El Calafate and the Glaciers:
$255
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4 Days Tour in El Calafate & Chalten:
$190
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4-Days El Calafate Easy Going Experience:
$965
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4WD Ride tour to Cerro Frias from El Calafate:
$99
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4x4 Adventure Day Trip to Torres del Paine National Park with lunchbox:
$165
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5-Day Adventure Trip in El Calafate:
$1,151
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5-Days El Calafate Experience without limits!:
$1,426
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Asuncion spend on average $8.76 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typically, people visiting El Calafate spend on average $12 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typical Alcohol prices in Asuncion
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Asuncion are as follows:
Typical Alcohol prices in El Calafate
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in El Calafate:
Sample the Local Flavors in El Calafate
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in El Calafate:
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Calafate Wine Tour | City Tour Peatonal Maridado con Vinos:
$38
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Calafate Wine Tour:
$48
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Asuncion and El Calafate, we can see that El Calafate is more expensive. And not only is Asuncion much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Asuncion would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Asuncion 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 El Calafate would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in El Calafate than you might in Asuncion.
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