Which place is cheaper, Mendoza or Buzios?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Buzios or Mendoza?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Buzios or Mendoza? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Buzios or Mendoza?
Buzios
Initially a fishing village, Armação dos Buzios is a small beach resort town about three hours from Rio de Janeiro by bus. Buzios is a common weekend getaway destination for Cariocas. With 23 beaches, visitors from all over come to swim, snorkel, surf and enjoy sun and sand.
Mendoza
Mendoza is a city in western Argentina and more precisely in the desertic Cuyo region. Mendoza is the center of the Argentinian wine industry and is famed around the world for its vineyards and wine production. Spread across the valley of the Rio Mendoza and in the foothills of the Andean mountain range, Mendoza is also near the Aconcagua, the highest mountain outside of the Himalayas. The bustling and scenic city of wide, leafy avenues, atmospheric plazas and cosmopolitan cafes spoils visitors with unique natural attractions and historical landmarks. If you can, visit Mendoza during the harvest festival at the end of February. There are many events and festivals in Mendoza and they are usually free. Each has a different theme, and they usually have a stage with singing and dancing and booths that sell food around a plaza. Seventy percent of Argentina's wines are produced here, and Mendoza is especially known for its world-famous malbecs.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best Photography Tours in Argentina, and The Best Luxury Tours to Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBuzios $77Mendoza $7.36
The average daily cost (per person) in Buzios is $77, while the average daily cost in Mendoza is $7.36. 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 Buzios and Mendoza in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBuzios $37Mendoza $2.79
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBuzios $74Mendoza $5.58
Compare Hotels in Buzios and Mendoza
Looking for a hotel in Buzios or Mendoza? 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: Mendoza Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Buzios $19Mendoza $1.46
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Buzios
Also for Buzios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Tour in Buzios City Tour, Lunch and Transfer: $60
- Private transfer from Buzios to the GIG Airport : $191
- Private transfer Minivan from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 6 pax to Buzios: $112
- Private transfer Buzios in Rio to the SDU Airport : $191
- Private Transfer from GIG Airport to City Buzios in Rio : $170
- Private Transfer from Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro: $91
- Private Transfer from Buzios Port to Santos Dumont Airport (SDU): $31
- Private Transfer from Buzios Port to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB): $42
- Private Transfer from Buzios Port to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB): $47
- Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Santos Dumont (SDU): $28
- Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Rio de Janeiro hotels: $28
- Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Cabo Frio hotels: $40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mendoza
Also for Mendoza, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Mendoza Bodega Tempus Alba + Trapiche + Transfer incluido: $550
- Visit Trapiche+Lunch El Enemigo (Michelin). Private transfer: $290
- Transfer to Salentein Uco Valley with Lunch and Visit: $260
- Chandon Winery + Enemigo Lunch (Michelin Guide). Transfer included: $250
- Vistalba Winery + Susana Balbo Lunch. (Michelin Guide) Transfer inc: $230
- Visita Achaval F+Almuerzo Lagarde(Guia Michelin).Transfer privado: $230
- Visita Decero+Almuerzo S Balbo (Guia Michelin). Transfer privado: $230
- Desgustación Pulenta Estate + Almuerzo en Ruda. Transfer privado: $220
- Private Transfer Vinicolas Valle de Uco: $190
- Trapiche Winery + Laur + Antigal Winery Lunch.Transfer included: $180
- 3 Wineries+Lunch with Unlimited Wine+Transfer included: $180
- Zuccardi Santa Julia+Lunch at Antigal Winery.Transfer included: $150
Is it cheaper to fly into Buzios or Mendoza?
Prices for flights to both Mendoza and Buzios 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 dayBuzios $24Mendoza $3.29
Typical Food Prices in Mendoza
For Mendoza, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Empanadas$0.01
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mendoza
For Mendoza, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Traditional lunch with pairing, private cooking class and show: $110
- Visit Los Toneles + Saffron Dinner (Michelin Star). With Transfer: $240
- Night Visit to Bodega Toneles + Dinner at El Enemigo. Transport: $270
- Cooking class at Bodega Lamadrid Winery in Luján de Cuyo: $270
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Buzios $27Mendoza $2.08
Tours and Activities in Buzios
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Buzios.
- Trolley Tour Through the City Buzios: $29
- 3-hour Small Group Buzios Peninsula Open Air Trolley Tour: $33
- 7 Beaches In Búzios With Photos On A Private Tour!: $35
- Búzios Full day: Boat and Trolley Tour with Lunch from Arraial do Cabo: $128
- Búzios Full day: Boat and Trolley Tour with Lunch from Búzios: $99
- Búzios Full day: Boat and Trolley Tour with Lunch from Cabo Frio: $116
- Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo: $24
- Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo from Buzios with Lunch: $60
- Buggy Ride in Buzios by Buziana Tour: $16
- Buggy Tour in Arraial do Cabo by Arraial Trips (For 2 People): $56
- Cabo Frio Full-Day Tour From Buzios with Lunch: $68
- Catamaran Boat Tour in Búzios: $24
Tours and Activities in Mendoza
For Mendoza, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 4X4 tour Villavicencio Puente del Inca: $44
- Adrenaline Canopy Tour on the Mendoza River: $77
- Adventure Park - Unforgettable Challenge!: $75
- Andes Day Horseback Riding Tour and BBQ: $189
- Andes High Mountain Tour in Mendoza: $99
- Andes High Mountain full day Tour: $76
- Andes Mountain Tour Circuit Mt Aconcagua: $220
- Asado em Casa Mendocina Experience with Friends: $150
- Choose your Wine Adventure at Uco Valley: $148
- City Tour And Wines With Lunch: $136
- City tour with visit to General San Martin Park: $27
- Discover Villavicencio Natural Reserve: Half-Day Adventure: $51
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBuzios $17Mendoza $1.25
Typical Alcohol Prices in Mendoza
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Mendoza:
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Beer$0.01
Sample the Local Flavors in Mendoza
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Mendoza:
- Classic Wine Tasting: $22
- Half-Day Wine Tour with Tastings: $28
- Premium Wine Tasting: $45
- Vineyards with Wine Tasting in Mendoza: $49
- Argentinean Asado with Local Host and Wine Tasting: $99
- Ultimate Uco Valley Wine Tour: $140
- Full-Day Private Luján De Cuyo Wine Tour from Mendoza: $143
- Private Wine Tour, Tastings and Lunch with Pairings: $150
- Wine Tour with Lunch from Mendoza: $163
- Full Day Wine Tour with 3 Course Lunch: $165
- Wine Tour with Lunch and Transport in Mendoza: $170
- All Day, Small Group, Luxury Wine Tour with Gourmet Lunch: $180
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Buzios and Mendoza, we can see that Buzios is more expensive. And not only is Mendoza much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mendoza would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mendoza 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 Buzios would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Buzios than you might in Mendoza.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Buzios Expensive? and Is Mendoza Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Buzios or Mendoza?
Mendoza has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Buzios. When comparing the sizes of Buzios and Mendoza, 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.