Which place is cheaper, San Pedro de Atacama or Cordoba?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cordoba or San Pedro de Atacama?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Cordoba or San Pedro de Atacama, 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 San Pedro de Atacama?
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.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Argentina, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCordoba $8.40San Pedro de Atacama $59
The average daily cost (per person) in Cordoba is $8.40, while the average daily cost in San Pedro de Atacama is $59. 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 San Pedro de Atacama in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCordoba $3.05San Pedro de Atacama $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCordoba $6.10San Pedro de Atacama $64
Compare Hotels in Cordoba and San Pedro de Atacama
Looking for a hotel in Cordoba 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.
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 San Pedro de Atacama Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cordoba $2.08San Pedro de Atacama $9.15
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro de Atacama
Also for San Pedro de Atacama, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 3 Perfect Days in Atacama + Transfer: $250
- Private transfer from San Pedro de Atacama to Calama City: $190
- Atacama Airport Private Transfer: $129
- Direct Transfer Atacama to Uyuni: $128
- Calama Airport Transfer to Atacama / Airport Lodging: $60
- Transfer to the Puritama Hot Springs: $60
- Puritama Thermal Transfer: $46
- Stargazing Experience with Transfer: $39
- Atacama Airport Shuttle Transfer: $38
- Transfers to San Pedro de Acatama (shared service): $30
- 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 Cordoba or San Pedro de Atacama?
Prices for flights to both San Pedro de Atacama 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 $3.83San Pedro de Atacama $14
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
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:
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Empanadas$1.26
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Lunch$10
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Dinner$11
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Drink$0.94
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Empanada$5.24
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cordoba $1.88San Pedro de Atacama $21
Tours and Activities in Cordoba
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cordoba.
- Alta Gracia: Unveiling Cordoba's Cultural Heritage Tour: $50
- Córdoba CityTour FULLDAY x 2 pax: $60
- Córdoba: Villa Carlos Paz Tour: $59
- Caroya WineTour x 2 Pax: $60
- Cordoba City Tour: $50
- Cordoba City Tour with Optional Jesuitic Square: $62
- Cordoba Cumbrecita Tour with Spanish Speaking Guide: $88
- Cordoba Jesuit Legacy Tour: $87
- Cumbrecita Tour: $88
- El Inicio WineTour x 2 Pax (History and Wines): $85
- Exploring Villa Carlos Paz: Guided Sightseeing Tour: $50
- Full Day Jesuit Legacy Tour from Cordoba: $80
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:
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Sand Boarding$56
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:
- Moon Valley Tour, the Best Seller: $49
- 1-Day Tour Altiplanic Lagoons and Piedras Rojas and Laguna Chaxa: $70
- 2 Tours Valley of the Moon and Hidden Lagoons: $120
- 23km downhill bike tour + trekking among giant cacti: $70
- 3 Days and 4 Tours in San Pedro de Atacama: $199
- 3 Main Tours in San Pedo de Atacama: $190
- 3-Day Tour in San Pedro de Atacama: $210
- 4 Tour in 2 Days, in San Pedro de Atacama: $240
- 4 Tours in the Atacama Desert: $230
- 4 Tours to Discover Atacama (3 days): $219
- 4-Hour Puritama Hot Springs Tour with Pick Up in Atacama: $88
- 6-hour tour to Valle del Arcoíris: $44
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCordoba $1.48San Pedro de Atacama $4.94
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: $120
- Wine Tour Privado - Calamuchita: $140
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:
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Alcohol$25
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cordoba and San Pedro de Atacama, we can see that San Pedro de Atacama 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 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 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 San Pedro de Atacama Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cordoba or San Pedro de Atacama?
Cordoba has a larger population, and is about 710 times larger than the population of San Pedro de Atacama. When comparing the sizes of Cordoba and 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 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.