Which place is cheaper, El Calafate or Brasilia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Brasilia vs. El Calafate for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Brasilia or El Calafate?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Brasilia and El Calafate can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Brasilia or El Calafate?
Brasilia
The capital city of Brazil, Brasilia is a uniquely-planned city that was constructed in four years from 1956-1960 in the shape of a large bird or airplane. Renowned for its modern architecture, the city listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and attracts architecture aficionados worldwide.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBrasilia $87El Calafate $25
The average daily cost (per person) in Brasilia is $87, while the average daily cost in El Calafate is $25. 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 Brasilia and El Calafate in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBrasilia $37El Calafate $8.45
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBrasilia $74El Calafate $17
Compare Hotels in Brasilia and El Calafate
Looking for a hotel in Brasilia 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.
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: Brasilia Hotel Prices and El Calafate Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Brasilia $23El Calafate $8.71
Typical Local Transportation prices in El Calafate
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in El Calafate:
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Taxi$3.43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Calafate
Also for El Calafate, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer - Downtown: $22
- Door to Door Transfer Calafate to Chalten : $49
- El Calafate Airport Private Transfer: $117
- 1-Way Private Airport Transfer: $34
- Private Airport Transfer: $35
- Transfers Between Airport and Hotels: $14
- Excursion to the Perito Moreno Glacier, with guide and transfer to / from the hotel: $40
- From El Calafate Airport: Round-trip Transfer to El Chaltén: $187
- Full Day Perito Moreno Kayak Experience & Walkway Tour with Transfers: $206
- Kayak in Perito Moreno Glacier with transfers: $461
- Kayak in Perito Moreno Glacier without transfers: $336
- One Way Shared transfer from Hotel downtown Calafate to the Calafate Airport : $11
Is it cheaper to fly into Brasilia or El Calafate?
Prices for flights to both El Calafate and Brasilia 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 dayBrasilia $34El Calafate $9.16
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$0.03
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Dinner$4.46
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Dinner$2.63
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:
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Tour with Dinner & Transfer: $85
- Estancia 25 de Mayo in El Calafate - PM visit with dinner: $186
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Brasilia $20El Calafate $9.15
Tours and Activities in Brasilia
Here are a few actual costs in Brasilia for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Private custom tour with a local guide: $43
Typical Entertainment prices in El Calafate
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for El Calafate's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Glacerium Museum$3.43
Tours and Activities in El Calafate
For El Calafate, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- El Calafate History Museum Tour: $9.00
- city tour: $20
- Perito Moreno Glacier & Optional Boat Cruise: $35
- Panoramic Tour with Punta Walichu: $36
- city tour: $36
- Calafate City Tour with Walichu Caves: $36
- El Calafate City Tour and Walichu caves: $39
- Perito Moreno Glacier Sightseeing from El Calafate: $42
- El Calafate City Tour and Walichu caves: $43
- From Full-Day Tour to El Chaltén: $50
- Alternative tour to the Perito Moreno Glacier: $51
- El Calafate Balconies Experience: 3-Hour 4WD Tour: $55
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBrasilia $15El Calafate $4.59
Typical Alcohol prices in El Calafate
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in El Calafate:
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Beer$0.02
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Alcohol$0.91
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Brasilia and El Calafate, we can see that Brasilia 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 Brasilia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Brasilia than you might in El Calafate.
Which is Bigger, Brasilia or El Calafate?
Brasilia is bigger, and its population is about 276 times larger than the population of El Calafate. When comparing the population of Brasilia vs. El Calafate, 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 and the activities that interest you.
Related Articles for Brasilia
Related Articles for El Calafate
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.
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