Which place is cheaper, San Miguel de Tucuman or Banos?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Banos or San Miguel de Tucuman?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Banos and San Miguel de Tucuman. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Banos or San Miguel de Tucuman?
Banos
Banos (de Agua Santa) is a small city in the Andean highlands of Ecuador under volcano Tungurahua. Its name, which is Spanish for "Baths (of sacred water)," comes from the famous hydrothermal springs in the area. It's equally popular with foreigners as with Ecuadorians, and is known as the adventure capital of Ecuador. The streets are lined with hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops, and tour agencies. Although it is very touristy, lots of people love it, more for the activities and surroundings than for the city itself. It is an important hub for outdoor sports and jungle tours.
San Miguel de Tucuman
The capital of the Tucuman Province in Argentina, San Miguel de Tucuman is the largest city in the country's northwest. The city is probably most well known as the sight where the Declaration of Independence from Spain took place on July 9, 1816. The location of this event, a colonial-style house called "Casa Historica" or "Casita de Tucuman", remains an important landmark in the city.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Ecuador, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ecuador, The Best Photography Tours in Argentina, and The Best Luxury Tours to Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBanos $46San Miguel de Tucuman $11
The average daily cost (per person) in Banos is $46, while the average daily cost in San Miguel de Tucuman is $11. 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 Banos and San Miguel de Tucuman in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBanos $16San Miguel de Tucuman $4.85
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBanos $32San Miguel de Tucuman $9.70
Compare Hotels in Banos and San Miguel de Tucuman
Looking for a hotel in Banos or San Miguel de Tucuman? 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: Banos Hotel Prices and San Miguel de Tucuman Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Banos $10San Miguel de Tucuman $3.08
Typical Local Transportation Prices in San Miguel de Tucuman
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in San Miguel de Tucuman:
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Taxi Ride$0.01
Is it cheaper to fly into Banos or San Miguel de Tucuman?
Prices for flights to both San Miguel de Tucuman and Banos 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 dayBanos $15San Miguel de Tucuman $4.01
Typical Food Prices in Banos
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Banos:
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Dinner$13
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Ice cream$1.50
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Coffee$2.50
Typical Food Prices in San Miguel de Tucuman
For San Miguel de Tucuman, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Sandwich$0.01
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Banos $19San Miguel de Tucuman $3.30
Typical Entertainment Prices in Banos
Here are a few typical costs in Banos for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Two Rented Bikes for the Day$10
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Cost to see Waterfall$2.00
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Day at the Spa$45
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2 Bike Rentals (1 Day)$10
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Entrance to Waterfall$2.00
Tours and Activities in Banos
Here are a few actual costs in Banos for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Adventure and Fun River Rafting in Baños Ecuador: $35
- 2 Hours Small-Group Horseback Riding Experience in Banos: $30
- 3 Hours Small-Group Horseback Riding Experience in Baños: $40
- 5-Hour Small-Group Horseback Riding Experience in Baños: $62
- Adventure Circuit 4 activities in 1. All within an impressive cascade: $25
- Adventure in Baños 3 Days 2 Nights: $225
- Animalpark | Theme Park | Tours | naturally fun: $45
- Baths Nature and Adventure 2 Days.: $190
- Canopy Ziplining in Puntzan Adventure Park: $26
- Canyoning Adventure Tour in the Ravine: $30
- Chimborazo Volcano Bike Tour: $95
- Chimborazo Volcano from Baños private day Tour: $139
Tours and Activities in San Miguel de Tucuman
For San Miguel de Tucuman, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Entrance ticket to Aerial Park, Zip Line and Palestra: $27
- Yungas Half-Day Tour from Tucuman: $51
- Tafi del Valle Half-Day Tour from Tucuman: $68
- Rio Hondo Hot Springs Full Day Tour from Tucuman: $82
- Discover Tafí del Valle and Quilmes Ruins in a Day Tour: $82
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBanos $9.74San Miguel de Tucuman $2.07
Typical Alcohol Prices in Banos
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Banos from other travelers:
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Beer$4.00
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Banos and San Miguel de Tucuman, we can see that Banos is more expensive. And not only is San Miguel de Tucuman much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Miguel de Tucuman would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Miguel de Tucuman 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 Banos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Banos than you might in San Miguel de Tucuman.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Banos Expensive? and Is San Miguel de Tucuman Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Banos or San Miguel de Tucuman?
San Miguel de Tucuman has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Banos. When comparing the sizes of Banos and San Miguel de Tucuman, 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.