A Travel Price Comparison for Argentina Buenos Aires, Argentina vs. San Carlos de Bariloche for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Buenos Aires, Argentina or San Carlos de Bariloche?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Buenos Aires, Argentina and San Carlos de Bariloche can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires, federal capital of Argentina, also known as "The City of Tango", is best known for its energetic and unpredictable character. Like a restless child, Buenos Aires is a dynamic and modern city full of surprises. While its French-style palaces, rooftop restaurants, wide avenues and green plazas resemble European-style architecture, Buenos Aires preserves its musical, literary and culinary traditions. You can't miss dining in front of a Tango show, walking around the colourful streets of La Boca and visiting the renowned Recoleta Cemetery, designed by Argentina's most important architects and home to hundreds of illustrious corpses.

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 Buenos Aires, Argentina?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Buenos Aires, Argentina is $58, while the average daily cost in San Carlos de Bariloche is $42. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Buenos Aires, Argentina and San Carlos de Bariloche in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Buenos Aires, Argentina $23
    San Carlos de Bariloche $15
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Buenos Aires, Argentina $46
    San Carlos de Bariloche $30

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Buenos Aires, Argentina $8.90
    San Carlos de Bariloche $13
Typical Local Transportation prices in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Buenos Aires, Argentina:


  • Taxi from Airport
    $0.94
  • Local Bus
    $0.02
  • Metro Ride
    $0.02
  • Taxi to airport
    $0.25
  • Taxi
    $0.65

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Carlos de Bariloche

Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Carlos de Bariloche:

  • 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: 1-Way or Round-Trip BRC Airport Transfer: $11
  • 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 Buenos Aires, Argentina or San Carlos de Bariloche?

Prices for flights to both San Carlos de Bariloche and Buenos Aires, Argentina 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Buenos Aires, Argentina $18
    San Carlos de Bariloche $16
Typical Food prices in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Buenos Aires, Argentina:


  • Lunch
    $0.18
  • Cup of Coffee
    $0.10
  • Empandas
    $0.13
  • Espresso
    $0.07
  • Dinner (Pizza)
    $0.11
  • Ice Cream
    $0.10
  • Breakfast at Airport
    $0.26
  • Dinner (Sandwiches)
    $0.07
  • Sweets
    $0.04
  • Hot Dog
    $0.06
  • Breakfast (Take-Away)
    $0.09
  • Lunch for 2
    $1.16
  • Cake and Coffee
    $3.74
  • Dinner
    $13
  • Powerade
    $0.82
  • Lunch
    $5.88
  • Dinner
    $8.56
  • Chocolate
    $22

Typical Food prices in San Carlos de Bariloche

Some typical examples of dining costs in San Carlos de Bariloche are as follows:


  • Pastries
    $0.10
  • Empanadas
    $0.22

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.

  • Night hiking in the woods with headlamps & Candlelit dinner: $70
  • Half-Day Bariloche Highlights with Cooking Class & Beer Tasting -Private Service: $274

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Buenos Aires, Argentina $19
    San Carlos de Bariloche $17
Typical Entertainment prices in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Here are a few typical costs in Buenos Aires, Argentina for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Entry to Japanese Gardens (for 2)
    $0.26
  • Movie Ticket
    $0.12
  • Tango Class
    $0.20
  • Bar entrance
    $4.08

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:

  • Bariloche Civic Center Walking Tour: $5.00
  • Indigenous People of Patagonia History Tour: $18
  • Cerro Catedral Sightseeing Tour: $22
  • From Bariloche: Chico Circuit & Colonia Suiza Tour: $25
  • Bariloche: 4-Hour Cerro Catedral Base Tour: $34
  • Half Day Small Circuit Tour: Mt Campanario and Llao Llao Peninsula: $35
  • Bariloche Sightseeing Tour: $40
  • Nahuel Huapi National Park AdmissionTicket: $40
  • German Footprint & Nazi presence - Walking Tour in Bariloche: $40
  • Mount Tronador and the Black Glacier Day Tour: $50
  • Bariloche Flavours Tasting Walking Tour: $60
  • Nahuel Huapi Lake Cruise with Victoria Island and Arrayan Forest Walk: $68

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Buenos Aires, Argentina $10
    San Carlos de Bariloche $10
Typical Alcohol prices in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Buenos Aires, Argentina from other travelers:


  • Beer
    $0.08
  • Beer (0.66L)
    $0.14
  • Cocktail
    $0.21
  • Alcohol
    $4.70

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:


  • Beer
    $0.08

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:

  • City Tour, Nature Hiking & visit to a Local Microbrewery in Bariloche: $281

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Buenos Aires, Argentina and San Carlos de Bariloche, we can see that Buenos Aires, Argentina 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 Buenos Aires, Argentina would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Buenos Aires, Argentina than you might in San Carlos de Bariloche.

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Buenos Aires, Argentina vs. San Carlos de Bariloche Travel Comparison

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