Which place is cheaper, San Carlos de Bariloche or Buenos Aires, Argentina?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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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.
Where Should I go: Buenos Aires, Argentina or San Carlos de Bariloche?
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Buenos Aires, The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, and The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina.
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Buenos Aires, Argentina Prices
Argentina PricesSan Carlos de Bariloche Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBuenos Aires, Argentina $56San Carlos de Bariloche $85
The average daily cost (per person) in Buenos Aires, Argentina is $56, while the average daily cost in San Carlos de Bariloche is $85. 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 Buenos Aires, Argentina and San Carlos de Bariloche in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBuenos Aires, Argentina $40San Carlos de Bariloche $70
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBuenos Aires, Argentina $80San Carlos de Bariloche $140
Compare Hotels in Buenos Aires, Argentina and San Carlos de Bariloche
Looking for a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina or San Carlos de Bariloche? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Buenos Aires, Argentina $2.09San Carlos de Bariloche $2.75
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Buenos Aires, Argentina:
- Private Aeroparque (AEP) Airport Transfer TO Buenos Aires City: $18
- Jorge Newbery Airport (AEP) Private Transfer to Buenos Aires City: $20
- Private Airport Transfer from Buenos Aires to Aeroparque AEP: $25
- Private Transfer from Buenos Aires Cruise Port to Ezeiza: $28
- Tango Show in Catullo Without Transfer: $28
- Private Transfer to Buenos Aires Airport (EZE): $29
- Jorge Newbery Airport One-way Private Transfer to Buenos Aires City Center: $30
- Buenos Aires Center One-way Private Transfer to Local Airport: $30
- Buenos Aires Local Airport One - way Private Transfer from 30 USD: $30
- Local Airport One-way Private Transfer to Buenos Aires City Center: $30
- Private Transfer from Ezeiza (EZE) to Buenos Aires Cruise Port: $35
- Port Transfers with English Speaking Driver: $35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Carlos de Bariloche
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Carlos de Bariloche:
- Airport Transfer - Llao Llao Hotel: $98
- BARILOCHE: PRIVATE TRANSFER FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE CITY CENTER: $145
- Bariloche Airport Arrival Private Transfer: $73
- Bariloche Airport Arrival Shuttle Transfer: $29
- Bariloche Airport BRC to Cerro Catedral RoundTrip Transfer: $163
- Bariloche Airport Round Trip Shuttle Transfer: $50
- Bariloche: 1-Way or Round-Trip BRC Airport Transfer: $19
- Bariloche: BRC Airport Private Transfer to/from City Center: $14
- Bariloche: Snow Day at Piedras Blancas Winter Park+Transfer: $180
- Cerro Catedral to Bariloche Airport (BRC) - Departure Transfer: $82
- Combo: Small Circuit, Campanario and Llao Llao + Transfers: $66
- Private Transfer Bariloche Airport to Bariloche or Villa La Angostura by minibus: $99
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
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Food Meals for one dayBuenos Aires, Argentina $7.54San Carlos de Bariloche $6.07
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Esquina Homero Manzi Tango Show with Optional Transfer and Dinner: $27
- Tango Porteño Show with Optional Dinner in Buenos Aires: $38
- Esquina Homero Manzi Tango Show Ticket Including Optional Dinner in Buenos Aires: $39
- BA: Premium Empanadas Cooking Class in Palermo: $39
- Madero Tango Dance Show with Dinner on Demand: $42
- BA: Premium Empanadas & Alfajores Cooking Experience in Palermo: $43
- Señor Tango Show with Optional Dinner in Buenos Aires: $45
- BA: Small-Group Empanadas Cooking Class in Palermo: $46
- Early Tango Dinner Show with Optional Traditional Bus Transfer: $46
- El Aljibe Tango Show in Buenos Aires with Optional Dinner: $47
- El Viejo Almacen Tango Show with Optional Dinner: $47
- Tango Dinner-Show at El Aljibe with Optional Classic Bus Transfer: $48
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.
- Bariloche: TRE Experience – “Three-Course Dinner. Catena Zapata”: $135
- Bariloche: El Mallín. Dinner with Tango Show: $185
- Bariloche: Winter Night – Evening Activities in the Snow with Dinner and Show: $275
- Bariloche Nordic Night: Quad Bike Ride and Dinner on Cerro Otto: $410
- Bariloche: Snowmobile Ride with 4-Course Dinner: $425
- Bariloche: Snow Adventure and 4-Course Dinner: $425
- Bariloche: Evening Snowmobile Ride with Dinner at La Cueva Catedral: $428
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Buenos Aires, Argentina $30San Carlos de Bariloche $33
Tours and Activities in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Here are a few actual costs in Buenos Aires, Argentina for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Heart of Colonial Buenos Aires Walking Audio Tour: $5.34
- Buenos Aires Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
- Literature Self-Guided Audio Tour in Buenos Aires: $6.72
- Self-Guided Audio Tour Evita Peron: Don't cry for me Argentina: $6.72
- Buenos Aires Audio Guided Walking Tour 2h30 and 18 reviews: $6.92
- Discover Buenos Aires: A Self-Guided Tour: $8.16
- The Women Behind Puerto Madero’s Streets: A Self Guided Tour: $9.99
- Small Group Buenos Aires Walking Tour: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - Discover Caminito and Tango: $11
- Private Tour of San Telmo, Old Town: $12
- Guided tour of the Mate Museum: $13
- La Boca Walking Tour: $13
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: Play Soccer With Locals – Recreational Soccer Experience: $30
- Bariloche: Circuito Chico, Iconic Views of Bariloche in One Tour: $40
- Indigenous People of Patagonia History Tour: $41
- Bariloche: German Immigration and History Walking Tour: $41
- Bariloche: Circuito Chico Bike Rental Adventure: $42
- Circuito Chico Sightseeing Tour with Local Guide: $42
- Bariloche: Guided Tour of Cerro Catedral: $43
- Bariloche: Circuito Chico with Tour Guide: $56
- Bariloche Chocolate Sightseeing Tour: Patagonian Flavors Walking Tour: $60
- Bariloche Football Experience with Locals & Traditional BBQ: $60
- Bariloche: Half-Day Small Circuit Tour with Mount Campanario: $60
- Bariloche: Lake Gutierrez Guided Kayaking Tour with Pickup: $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBuenos Aires, Argentina $9.20San Carlos de Bariloche $8.70
Sample the Local Flavors in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Also in Buenos Aires, Argentina, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Buenos Aires Full City Tour with Wine Tasting and Stops: $35
- Exclusive Malbec Wine Tasting in Buenos Aires: $42
- Wine Tasting and Local Specialties in Buenos Aires: $46
- BA: Small Group Wine Tasting and Blending in Palermo: $54
- Malbec Wine Tasting at Boutique Hotel in Palermo: $59
- Wine Tasting in Palermo, City of Buenos Aires.: $65
- Tango Lesson and Wine Tasting in Buenos Aires, Argentina: $65
- Wine Tasting at Encuentro Nativo a Historic Tenement in Caminito: $69
- BA: Wine tour with 5 tasting stops in the heart of Palermo: $78
- Premium Wine Tasting in Buenos Aires: $85
- Malbec Wine Tasting in Buenos Aires Private Experience: $92
- Wine Tasting Boutique in Buenos Aires: $94
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:
- Bariloche: Patagonian Experience wine tasting: $95
- Bariloche: Wine Tasting Winehouse Experience: $110
- Patagonian WineHouse in Bariloche: Cheese and Wine Tasting: $122
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Buenos Aires, Argentina and San Carlos de Bariloche, we can see that San Carlos de Bariloche is more expensive. And not only is Buenos Aires, Argentina much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Buenos Aires, Argentina would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Buenos Aires, Argentina 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 San Carlos de Bariloche would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Carlos de Bariloche than you might in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Buenos Aires, Argentina Expensive? and Is San Carlos de Bariloche Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Buenos Aires, Argentina or San Carlos de Bariloche?
Buenos Aires, Argentina has a larger population, and is about 140 times larger than the population of San Carlos de Bariloche. When comparing the sizes of Buenos Aires, Argentina and San Carlos de Bariloche, 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.