Should you visit Brasilia or San Carlos de Bariloche?
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 San Carlos de Bariloche can help you decide which place is right for you.
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. For more information about this, check out this guide to architecture in Brasilia.
San Carlos de Bariloche
Set in the foothills of the Andes Mountains in Argentina, San Carlos de Bariloche is the biggest city in the Lake District. Bariloche is popular for skiing and snowboarding in the winter and trekking, swimming, fishing and horseback riding in the summertime.
No matter the time of year, there is something for everyone in Bariloche. Skiing season begins from June to October while fishing season is from November to April. Summer is from December to March, but visiting during low seasons (Spring in October to December and Autumn in late-April to mid-June) also has its benefits when it comes to saving cash and avoiding crowds.
Check out our ultimate guide to Hiking in Patagonia.
Which city is cheaper, San Carlos de Bariloche or Brasilia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Brasilia is $65, while the average daily cost in San Carlos de Bariloche is $52. 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 Brasilia and San Carlos de Bariloche in more detail.
Accommodation
Brasilia's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $54. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $27.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $38 for a double occupancy room in San Carlos de Bariloche.
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Accommodation
Hotel or hostel for one person
Brasilia $27
San Carlos de Bariloche $19
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Accommodation
Typical double-occupancy room
Brasilia
$54
San Carlos de Bariloche
$38
Food
The price of a meal in Brasilia can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $25 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $10 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
The average traveler spends about $20 per day in San Carlos de Bariloche for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
Typical Food prices in San Carlos de Bariloche
Some typical examples of dining costs in San Carlos de Bariloche are as follows:
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Pastries
$0.12
-
Empanadas
$0.28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Carlos de Bariloche
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Carlos de Bariloche.
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Night hiking in the woods with headlamps & Candlelit dinner:
$70
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Half-Day Bariloche Highlights with Cooking Class & Beer Tasting -Private Service:
$274
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $17 per day to get around in Brasilia.
The average price of local transportation around San Carlos de Bariloche is $16 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
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Local Transportation
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
Brasilia $17
San Carlos de Bariloche $16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Brasilia
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Brasilia:
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Private Airport Transfer: Brasilia International Airport (BSB) to Brasilia:
$37
-
Private Airport Transfer: from Brasilia to Brasilia International Airport (BSB):
$37
-
Private Transfer: International Airport of Brasilia (BSB) to Brasilia:
$68
-
Private Transfer: Brasilia to International Airport of Brasilia (BSB):
$68
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Carlos de Bariloche
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Carlos de Bariloche:
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Arrival Private Transfer Bariloche Airport BRC to Bariloche City by Minivan:
$292
-
Arrival Private Transfer Bariloche Airport BRC to Bariloche City by SUV:
$150
-
Bariloche Airport Arrival Private Transfer:
$53
-
Bariloche Airport Arrival Shuttle Transfer:
$16
-
Bariloche Airport Departure Private Transfer:
$53
-
Bariloche Airport Departure Shuttle Transfer:
$16
-
Bariloche Airport Round Trip PrivateTransfer:
$106
-
Bariloche Airport Round Trip Shuttle Transfer:
$32
-
Bariloche Airport Roundtrip Transfer:
$52
-
Departure Private Transfer Bariloche City to Bariloche Airport BRC by Minivan:
$292
-
Departure Private Transfer Bariloche City to Bariloche Airport BRC by SUV:
$150
-
Private Airport Transfer: Bariloche to San Carlos De Bariloche Airport (BRC):
$35
Is it cheaper to fly into Brasilia or San Carlos de Bariloche?
Prices for flights to both San Carlos de Bariloche 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.
Entertainment
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $15 per person, per day in Brasilia. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
San Carlos de Bariloche's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $22 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
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Entertainment
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
Brasilia $15
San Carlos de Bariloche $22
Tours and Activities in Brasilia
Here are a few actual costs in Brasilia for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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City Tour Brasilia Noturna:
$91
-
Half Day city Tour:
$138
-
Half Day Cultural Tour:
$138
Tours and Activities in San Carlos de Bariloche
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Carlos de Bariloche are as follows:
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Bariloche Civic Center Walking Tour:
$5.00
-
Bariloche Historic District Walking Tour:
$16
-
German Footprint Shared Tour:
$16
-
Cerro Catedral Sightseeing Tour:
$22
-
Bariloche Scenic Circle Tour:
$27
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Half Day Small Circuit Tour: Mt Campanario and Llao Llao Peninsula:
$35
-
Bariloche Sightseeing Tour:
$40
-
German Footprint & Nazi presence - Walking Tour in Bariloche:
$40
-
Nahuel Huapi National Park AdmissionTicket:
$40
-
Mount Tronador and the Black Glacier Day Tour:
$50
-
Bariloche Flavours Tasting Walking Tour:
$60
-
San Martín de los Andes por 7 Lagos Full-Day Tour:
$62
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Brasilia may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $11 per day on alcoholic beverages.
The average person spends about $13 on alcoholic beverages in San Carlos de Bariloche per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Typical Alcohol prices in San Carlos de Bariloche
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in San Carlos de Bariloche from other travelers:
Sample the Local Flavors in San Carlos de Bariloche
Also in San Carlos de Bariloche, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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City Tour, Nature Hiking & visit to a Local Microbrewery in Bariloche:
$281
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Brasilia and San Carlos de Bariloche, we can see that Brasilia is more expensive. And not only is San Carlos de Bariloche much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Carlos de Bariloche would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Carlos de Bariloche 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 San Carlos de Bariloche.
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