Should you visit Bogota or El Chalten?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Bogota or El Chalten, 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.
Bogota
Sprawling across a high altitude in the Columbian Andes region, Bogota is the capital city of Columbia. It is a mix of the old and new with century-old plazas and churches shadowed by towering skyscrapers, museums representing the history, art, and culture of the region, as well as a mix of distinct neighborhoods from quaint and historic to trendy and contemporary.
El Chalten
El Chalten is probably one of the most beautiful areas of Patagonia, especially at the slightest ray of sunshine and one of your cheapest destination while you are travelling in Patagonia. Indeed, you will spend your days hiking and there are no park fees. There are restaurants, souvenir shops, and outdoor stores but most of them will not accept credit cards so before heading out, get cash in El Calafate or your previous stop. For the beginners, it will be long hikes in a magical setting and for the experts perhaps a week long expedition to the greatest glaciers of the world. To discover the way people live in the pampa, you may also decide to stay at an Estancia. In the stunning Estancia Santa Thelma, about 300km away from El Chalten, you will be able to explore the surroundings by horse, live a unique experience in the middle of the nature and its vast plains occupied by thousands of merino sheep and horses and of course eat a typical meal of the region.
Which city is cheaper, El Chalten or Bogota?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Bogota is $40, while the average daily cost in El Chalten is $66. 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 Bogota and El Chalten in more detail.
Accommodation
The prices for places to stay in Bogota can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $20, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $40.
The average price for accommodation for two people in El Chalten is $58. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Food
Food in Bogota costs travelers about $10 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.
While meal prices in El Chalten can vary, the average travelers spends about $24 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in El Chalten should cost around $9.60 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in El Chalten is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Bogota $10
El Chalten $24
Typical Food prices in Bogota
For Bogota, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Breakfast
$1.50
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Hot Dog
$0.88
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bogota
For Bogota, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Food Tour in La Candelaria Bogotá:
$52
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Bogotá Street Food Tour:
$52
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PALOQUEMAO MARKET FOOD TOUR. EXOTIC FRUIT. LOCAL SNACKS. /Min 2 pax:
$52
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Flavors of Colombia: Chapinero Street Food Tour:
$59
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Cooking Lesson and Gourmet Colombian Meal with a Professional Chef in Bogota:
$74
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Local Market Tour and Private Gourmet Cooking Lesson with a Chef in Bogotá:
$90
-
Private Street Food Tour In Bogota:
$119
-
Tropical Abundance: Interactive Cooking Class in Bogota:
$138
-
Private Gastronomy Tour Including Cooking Class:
$266
Local Transportation
To get around in Bogota, the average visitor spends $6.70 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.
The cost of a taxi ride in El Chalten is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $16 per person, per day, on local transportation in El Chalten.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Bogota
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Bogota are as follows:
-
Taxi from Airport
$7.22
-
Taxi Ride
$0.38
-
2 Bus Passes
$0.85
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bogota
Also for Bogota, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Arrival or Departure Transfer: El Dorado Airport:
$10
-
Transfer in Private Vehicle from El Dorado Airport (BOG) to Bogotá City:
$15
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Transfer in private vehicle from Bogotá City to El Dorado Airport (BOG):
$15
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Private Transfer from El Dorado Airport (BOG) to Bogotá City:
$17
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Transfer in private vehicle from Bogotá City to El Dorado Airport (BOG):
$17
-
Hotel to Airport Transportation in Bogota (transfer service):
$19
-
Bogota Airport Pick-up (transfer service):
$19
-
Transfer in private Minivan from El Dorado Airport (BOG) to Bogota City:
$25
-
Transfer in Private Minivan from Bogota City to El Dorado Airport (BOG):
$25
-
Private Airport Transfer: from Bogota to El Dorado International Airport (BOG):
$25
-
Private Airport Transfer: El Dorado International Airport (BOG) to Bogota:
$25
-
Transfer Aeropuerto El Dorado - Hotel or Accomodation (Private Transfer):
$27
Is it cheaper to fly into Bogota or El Chalten?
Prices for flights to both El Chalten and Bogota 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 Bogota, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $10 per person, per day.
Entertainment and activities in El Chalten typically cost an average of $18 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Typical Entertainment prices in Bogota
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Bogota's activities, tours, and tickets:
Tours and Activities in Bogota
For Bogota, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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The Walking Tour At Home:
$5.00
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Colonial Bogotá, La Candelaria Walking Audio Tour by VoiceMap:
$5.34
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Classic Sights and Hidden Histories of Bogota Walking Audio Tour by VoiceMap:
$5.34
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Bogotá: La Macarena to Parque Nacional Walking Audio Tour by VoiceMap:
$5.34
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Paranormal Candelaria: Find the terror and the stories. Tour Immersive 3D:
$6.99
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Divercity Bogotá Admission Ticket:
$7.05
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Shared Monserrate Tour:
$8.00
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La Macarena & Perseverancia walking tour-The Other History of Bogota Colonial:
$9.00
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Shared Graffiti Tour in La Candelaria Bogotá:
$9.60
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Shared Walking Tour in La Candelaria Bogotá:
$9.60
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Cycling tour in Simon Bolivar Park and Virgilio Barco Library:
$10
-
Memories of political violence : Bogota alternative walking tour:
$12
Tours and Activities in El Chalten
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for El Chalten are as follows:
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2-Day Chalten Adventure tour: Laguna de los Tres, Mount Fitz Roy & Cerro Torre:
$333
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2-Day Hiking Tour of Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre from El Chalten:
$553
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3-Day Eco-Lodge Trekking Tour at Los Glaciares National Park from El Chalten:
$789
-
El Chalten Rafting Experience:
$149
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El Chalten Rafting Experience:
$225
-
Module Fitz Roy Adventure:
$305
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Bogota spend on average $11 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
The average person spends about $8.11 on alcoholic beverages in El Chalten per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Bogota
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bogota:
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Brewery and Craft Beer Tour in Bogotá:
$41
-
Pub Crawl in Bogotá:
$45
-
Pub Crawl Tour in La Candelaria:
$58
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Gay bar crawling in Bogotá!:
$120
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bogota and El Chalten, we can see that El Chalten is more expensive. And not only is Bogota much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bogota would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bogota 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 Chalten would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in El Chalten than you might in Bogota.
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