Which place is cheaper, Ushuaia or Banos?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Banos or Ushuaia?
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 Ushuaia. 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 Ushuaia?
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.
Ushuaia
Ushuaia is a city on the Tierra del Fuego island of Argentina on the Beagle Strait. The city is considered to be one of the southernmost cities in the world and is often used as a base for cruises to Antarctica. Ushuaia's close proximity to Antarctica and their amazing hiking trails have made it a popular tourist destination over the past few decades.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Ecuador, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ecuador, The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, and The Best Eco Tours in Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBanos $46Ushuaia $11
The average daily cost (per person) in Banos is $46, while the average daily cost in Ushuaia 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 Ushuaia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBanos $16Ushuaia $5.64
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBanos $32Ushuaia $11
Compare Hotels in Banos and Ushuaia
Looking for a hotel in Banos or Ushuaia? 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 Ushuaia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Banos $10Ushuaia -
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ushuaia
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ushuaia are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$0.03
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ushuaia
Also for Ushuaia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Airport and Hotel Transfer in Ushuaia: $139
- Private Embarkation Debarkation Transfer: $129
- Private Transfer Airport-Hotel-Airport (Ushuaia): $120
- Private Transfer Airport-Port or Port-Airport (Ushuaia): $55
- Private Transfer Hotel-Bus Station or Bus Station-Hotel (Ushuaia): $27
- Private Transfer from Ushuaia Airport (USH) to Ushuaia Port : $25
- Private Transfer from Ushuaia Airport(USH) to Ushuaia Cruise Port: $28
- Private Transfer from Ushuaia Cruise Port to Ushuaia Airport(USH): $28
- Private Transfer from Ushuaia Port to Ushuaia Airport (USH): $25
- Shared Transfer Airport-Hotel-Airport (Ushuaia): $37
- Transfer Cerro Castor (Round Trip): $25
- Transfer Ushuaia Airport - Hotel in Ushuaia - Ushuaia Airport : $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Banos or Ushuaia?
Prices for flights to both Ushuaia 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 $15Ushuaia $2.18
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 Ushuaia
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ushuaia:
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Lunch for Two$0.06
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ushuaia
For Ushuaia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Ushuaia at night: A Snow and Fire dinner, sledding and adventure: $280
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Banos $19Ushuaia $13
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 Ushuaia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ushuaia.
- Panoramic City Train Tour: $10
- Guided Tour of the City of Ushuaia: $20
- Exploring Double Decker Bus Tour: $22
- Double-Decker Sightseeing Tour: $24
- Ushuaia City Tour: $26
- Ushuaia City Half-Day Tour: $31
- An Hour Tour in the City of Ushuaia: $32
- City Tour of Ushuaia: $42
- Beagle Channel & Sea Wolves Island Catamaran Cruise: $45
- End of the World Train Ticket: $45
- Half-Day Tierra del Fuego National Park (NOT CRUISE): $59
- Escondido & Fagnano Lake Tour: $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBanos $9.74Ushuaia -
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
Typical Alcohol Prices in Ushuaia
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Ushuaia are as follows:
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Wine$0.05
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Beer$0.01
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Banos and Ushuaia, we can see that Banos is more expensive. And not only is Ushuaia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ushuaia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ushuaia 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 Ushuaia.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Banos Expensive? and Is Ushuaia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Banos or Ushuaia?
Ushuaia has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Banos. When comparing the sizes of Banos and Ushuaia, 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.