A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cafayate vs. San Pedro de Atacama for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Cafayate or San Pedro de Atacama?

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 Cafayate and San Pedro de Atacama can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Cafayate or San Pedro de Atacama?

Cafayate

Cafayate is located in the province of Salta, in the central zone of the Valles Calchaquies. The small town has about 12,000 residents and is 1,329 kilometers from Buenos Aires.

People head to the small town of Cafayate to explore its vineyards and unique rock formations. It has become an important tourist destination in the area and there is a large golf course under construction just outside of town.

Cafayate is an important wine production center. The wines in the area thrive from the low humidity mild weather of the valleys. The town receives less than 250 millimeters of precipitation a year.

San Pedro de Atacama

San Pedro de Atacama is a gateway to northern Chile. It is a good jumping off point for exploring the area's impressive landscape, most of which is included in the Los Flamencos National Reserve. It is popular with both Chilean and international tourists, and because of its popularity, it is a relatively expensive destination, with many prices comparable to what you might pay in Santiago.

Which place is cheaper, San Pedro de Atacama or Cafayate?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Cafayate is $29, while the average daily cost in San Pedro de Atacama is $64. 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 Cafayate and San Pedro de Atacama in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cafayate $11
    San Pedro de Atacama $35
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cafayate $22
    San Pedro de Atacama $70
Compare Hotels in Cafayate and San Pedro de Atacama

Looking for a hotel in Cafayate or San Pedro de Atacama? 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.

Hotels in Cafayate


Hotels in San Pedro de Atacama


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: Cafayate Hotel Prices and San Pedro de Atacama Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cafayate $5.89
    San Pedro de Atacama $10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro de Atacama

Also for San Pedro de Atacama, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private 3 Days and 3 Tours + Airport Transfers: $950
  • 4 days in San Pedro de Atacama with hotel, tours and transfers: $820
  • Private transfer San Pedro de Atacama - calama airport: $200
  • Private transfer calama airport san Pedro de atcama: $200
  • Private transfer from San Pedro de Atacama to Calama City: $190
  • Atacama Airport Private Transfer: $129
  • Calama Airport Transfer to Atacama / Airport Lodging: $55
  • Atacama Airport Shuttle Transfer: $32
  • Shared Departure Transfer: San Pedro de Atacama Hotels to El Loa Airport: $31
  • Calama Airport: Shared Transfer to/from San Pedro de Atacama: $30
  • Shared Transfer from San Pedro de Atacama to Calama Airport: $29

Is it cheaper to fly into Cafayate or San Pedro de Atacama?

Prices for flights to both San Pedro de Atacama and Cafayate 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
    Cafayate $12
    San Pedro de Atacama $16
Typical Food prices in Cafayate

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Cafayate:


  • Dinner (Empanadas)
    $0.06
  • Sandwich
    $0.03
  • Pizza
    $0.05

Typical Food prices in San Pedro de Atacama

For San Pedro de Atacama, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Empanadas
    $1.38
  • Lunch
    $11
  • Dinner
    $12
  • Drink
    $1.03
  • Empanada
    $5.73

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Pedro de Atacama

For San Pedro de Atacama, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Private Dinner Under the Stars: $300

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cafayate $13
    San Pedro de Atacama $23

Tours and Activities in Cafayate

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cafayate.

  • From Salta: Cafayate, Cachi, & Hornocal 3-Day Tour: $175
  • From Salta: Cafayate, Humahuaca & Salinas Grandes 3-Day Tour: $85
  • From Salta: Cafayate, Salinas Grandes, & Hornocal Tour: $102
  • From Salta: Local Landscape, Winery, and Culture Tour: $94
  • Half-Day Wine Road Premium Tour From Cafayate: $51
  • Tour Quebrada De Las Conchas - Cafayate - Salta: $25

Typical Entertainment prices in San Pedro de Atacama

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for San Pedro de Atacama's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Sand Boarding
    $61

Tours and Activities in San Pedro de Atacama

For San Pedro de Atacama, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Atacama All inclusive 3 Days / 3 Nights / 3 Tours + Lodging: $590
  • Moon Valley Tour, the Best Seller: $59
  • The 3 Best Selling Tours in Atacama: $189
  • 2 Tours Valley of the Moon and Hidden Lagoons: $120
  • 2-days Private Tour in San Pedro de Atacama: $1,940
  • 23km downhill bike tour + trekking among giant cacti: $70
  • 3 Days and 4 Tours in San Pedro de Atacama: $220
  • 3 Main Tours in San Pedo de Atacama: $190
  • 3 Private Tours in San Pedro de Atacama: $1,200
  • 3-Day Tour in San Pedro de Atacama: $210
  • 3-Days Private Guided Hiking Tour in Atacama: $1,500
  • 4 Tour in 2 Days, in San Pedro de Atacama: $240

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cafayate $12
    San Pedro de Atacama $5.40

Typical Alcohol prices in San Pedro de Atacama

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in San Pedro de Atacama:


  • Alcohol
    $27

How are these travel costs calculated?

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cafayate and San Pedro de Atacama, we can see that San Pedro de Atacama is more expensive. And not only is Cafayate much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cafayate would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cafayate 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 Pedro de Atacama would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Pedro de Atacama than you might in Cafayate.

Which is Bigger, Cafayate or San Pedro de Atacama?

Cafayate is bigger, and its population is about 5.9 times larger than the population of San Pedro de Atacama. When comparing the population of Cafayate vs. San Pedro de Atacama, 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.

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.
About BudgetYourTrip.com
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Cafayate vs. San Pedro de Atacama Travel Comparison

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