Should you visit Cajamarca 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 Cajamarca and San Carlos de Bariloche can help you decide which place is right for you.
Cajamarca
Located in the northern highlands of Peru, Cajamarca is a town of about 100,000 people. The city's mild weather and fertile soil is ideal for agriculture, which is a major industry in the area. The city is also well known for its cheeses and dairy products. Cajamarca is the site of the Battle of Cajamarca which led to the execution of the Inca emperor Atahualpa and the end of the infamous Inca empire. Today, the area is appealing to visitors in part because of its lovely churches, nice hot springs, and interesting Inca Baths.
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 Cajamarca?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Cajamarca is $52, while the average daily cost in San Carlos de Bariloche is $54. 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 Cajamarca and San Carlos de Bariloche in more detail.
Accommodation
Cajamarca's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $36. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $18.
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
Cajamarca $18
San Carlos de Bariloche $19
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Accommodation
Typical double-occupancy room
Cajamarca
$36
San Carlos de Bariloche
$38
Food
The average traveler spends about $21 per day in Cajamarca 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.
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:
-
Pastries
$0.13
-
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
The average price of local transportation around Cajamarca is $13 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.
The average price of local transportation around San Carlos de Bariloche is $17 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.
Cajamarca $13
San Carlos de Bariloche $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Carlos de Bariloche
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Carlos de Bariloche:
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Shared Arrival Transfer: Bariloche Airport to Hotel:
$15
-
Bariloche Airport Arrival Shuttle Transfer:
$16
-
Bariloche Airport Departure Shuttle Transfer:
$16
-
Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to Bariloche Airport:
$26
-
Bariloche Airport Round Trip Shuttle Transfer:
$32
-
Private Airport Transfer: San Carlos De Bariloche Airport (BRC) to Bariloche:
$35
-
Private Airport Transfer: Bariloche to San Carlos De Bariloche Airport (BRC):
$35
-
Shared Round-Trip Transfer: Bariloche Hotels to Cerro Catedral Ski Resort:
$38
-
Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Tambo Viejo:
$41
-
Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Bariloche City:
$41
-
Private Transfer from Bariloche City to Bariloche (BRC) Airport:
$41
-
San Carlos de Bariloche Airport Roundtrip Transfer:
$48
Entertainment
Cajamarca's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $20 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.
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.
Cajamarca $20
San Carlos de Bariloche $22
Tours and Activities in Cajamarca
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cajamarca are as follows:
-
Cajamarca city tour - Private tour:
$47
-
Inca's Bath - Private tour:
$52
-
Ventanillas de Otuzco - private tour:
$53
-
Tour of the Port of Callao and fort Real Felipe:
$60
-
Cumbemayo, the stone forest - Private tour:
$75
-
Porcón farm - Private tour:
$76
-
3-Day Guided Cultural Tour of Cajamarca with Transportation:
$189
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
-
Bariloche Historic District Walking Tour:
$16
-
German Footprint Shared Tour:
$16
-
Cerro Catedral Sightseeing Tour:
$22
-
Bariloche Scenic Circle Tour:
$27
-
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
The average person spends about $12 on alcoholic beverages in Cajamarca per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
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 comparing the travel costs between Cajamarca and San Carlos de Bariloche, we can see that San Carlos de Bariloche is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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