Which place is cheaper, El Chalten or Cordoba?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cordoba or El Chalten?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Cordoba or El Chalten, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Cordoba or El Chalten?
Cordoba
Cordoba is the capital of the Cordoba province and the second largest city in all of Argentina. The city is in a beautiful setting surrounded by valleys and hills. Within the city you will find many colonial buildings and beautiful architecture. Cordoba also has many universities and scientific institutes, giving it the nickname "La Docta." Because of the large number of students, Cordoba's population is young and active, which keeps the atmosphere light and fun.
El Chalten
El Chalten is probably one of the most beautiful areas of Patagonia, especially at the slightest ray of sunshine and one of your cheapest destination while you are travelling in Patagonia. Indeed, you will spend your days hiking and there are no park fees. There are restaurants, souvenir shops, and outdoor stores but most of them will not accept credit cards so before heading out, get cash in El Calafate or your previous stop. For the beginners, it will be long hikes in a magical setting and for the experts perhaps a week long expedition to the greatest glaciers of the world. To discover the way people live in the pampa, you may also decide to stay at an Estancia. In the stunning Estancia Santa Thelma, about 300km away from El Chalten, you will be able to explore the surroundings by horse, live a unique experience in the middle of the nature and its vast plains occupied by thousands of merino sheep and horses and of course eat a typical meal of the region.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Argentina, The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, and The Best Eco Tours in Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCordoba $8.40El Chalten $9.93
The average daily cost (per person) in Cordoba is $8.40, while the average daily cost in El Chalten is $9.93. 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 Cordoba and El Chalten in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCordoba $3.05El Chalten $4.42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCordoba $6.10El Chalten $8.84
Compare Hotels in Cordoba and El Chalten
Looking for a hotel in Cordoba or El Chalten? 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: Cordoba Hotel Prices and El Chalten Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cordoba $2.08El Chalten $2.37
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cordoba
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Cordoba are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$0.01
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cordoba
Also for Cordoba, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer in private minivan from Cordoba to Ingeniero Ambrosio Taravella Airport: $61
Is it cheaper to fly into Cordoba or El Chalten?
Prices for flights to both El Chalten and Cordoba 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 dayCordoba $3.83El Chalten $3.66
Typical Food Prices in Cordoba
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Cordoba:
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Empanadas$0.01
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Sandwich$0.00
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Ice Cream$0.00
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cordoba $1.88El Chalten $2.66
Tours and Activities in Cordoba
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cordoba.
- Traditional Córdoba CityTour x 2 Pax: $45
- Exploring Villa Carlos Paz: Guided Sightseeing Tour: $50
- Alta Gracia: Unveiling Cordoba's Cultural Heritage Tour: $50
- Cordoba City Tour: $50
- Private Cordoba City Tour: $53
- Córdoba: Villa Carlos Paz Tour: $59
- Córdoba CityTour FULLDAY x 2 pax: $60
- Caroya WineTour x 2 Pax: $60
- Cordoba City Tour with Optional Jesuitic Square: $62
- Full Day Tour to Punilla Valley from Cordoba: $75
- La Cumbrecita and Villa General Belgrano Full Day Tour: $75
- Full Day Jesuit Legacy Tour from Cordoba: $80
Tours and Activities in El Chalten
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for El Chalten are as follows:
- 3 Hours Grilled Lamb Experience in Estancia Bonanza: $55
- Rafting experience on the Rio de las Vueltas in Patagonia: $90
- Rio de las Vueltas Rafting Experience - El Chalten: $90
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCordoba $1.48El Chalten $1.22
Sample the Local Flavors in Cordoba
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cordoba:
- Full-Day Private Colonia Caroya Wine Tour from Córdoba: $119
- Wine Tour Privado - Colonia Caroya: $130
- Wine Tour Privado - Calamuchita: $150
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cordoba and El Chalten, we can see that El Chalten is more expensive. And not only is Cordoba much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cordoba would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cordoba 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 El Chalten would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in El Chalten than you might in Cordoba.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cordoba Expensive? and Is El Chalten Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Cordoba or El Chalten?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit Cordoba or El Chalten in the Summer?
Both El Chalten and Cordoba during the summer are popular places to visit.
Cordoba is much colder than El Chalten in the summer. The daily temperature in Cordoba averages around 10°C (50°F) in January, and El Chalten fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
El Chalten gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Cordoba usually gets less rain in January than El Chalten. Cordoba gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryCordoba 10°C (50°F)El Chalten 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Cordoba or El Chalten in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Cordoba and El Chalten.
In the autumn, Cordoba is cooler than El Chalten. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Cordoba in April average around 16°C (61°F), and El Chalten averages at about 21°C (70°F).
El Chalten receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Cordoba usually receives less rain than El Chalten. Cordoba gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilCordoba 16°C (61°F)El Chalten 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Cordoba or El Chalten in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Cordoba as well as El Chalten.
In July, Cordoba is generally much warmer than El Chalten. Daily temperatures in Cordoba average around 27°C (81°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
Cordoba usually gets less rain in July than El Chalten. Cordoba gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulyCordoba 27°C (81°F)El Chalten 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Cordoba or El Chalten in the Spring?
Both El Chalten and Cordoba are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
Cordoba is cooler than El Chalten in the spring. The daily temperature in Cordoba averages around 19°C (66°F) in October, and El Chalten fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
It's quite sunny in El Chalten. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cordoba. Cordoba usually receives more sunshine than El Chalten during spring. Cordoba gets 243 hours of sunny skies, while El Chalten receives 205 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in El Chalten. In October, Cordoba usually receives less rain than El Chalten. Cordoba gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberCordoba 19°C (66°F)El Chalten 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for El Chalten and Cordoba
| Cordoba | El Chalten | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (50°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Feb | 11°C (52°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (57°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (61°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| May | 19°C (66°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Nov | 14°C (57°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Dec | 11°C (52°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
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.