Which place is cheaper, San Carlos de Bariloche or Cuenca?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Cuenca or San Carlos de Bariloche?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Cuenca and San Carlos de Bariloche. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Cuenca or San Carlos de Bariloche?
Cuenca
Cuenca is a vibrant colonial city in southern Ecuador, the third largest in the country, and the capital of Azuay Province. Cuenca is considered as Ecuador's most important and beautiful colonial city after Quito. Dating from the 16th century, Cuenca's historic center, a Unesco World Heritage Site with its trademark skyline of massive rotundas and soaring steeples, is a magical sight in which you will feel like you are moving back in time. Cuenca is the center of many craft traditions, including ceramics, metalwork and the internationally famous panama hat. The nearby villages also offer many other handicrafts. Tourists enjoy wandering the ancient streets discovering picturesque alleys and hidden corners, where nuns march along cobblestone streets and kids in Catholic-school uniforms skip past historic churches. Fascinating historic monuments and fabulous views are found at every turn. Cuenca also has outstanding art museums and festivals. For a rewarding cultural experience, visit during Easter to attend the Festival of Religious Music.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Ecuador, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ecuador, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Argentina.
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Cuenca Prices
Ecuador PricesSan Carlos de Bariloche Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCuenca $53San Carlos de Bariloche $86
The average daily cost (per person) in Cuenca is $53, while the average daily cost in San Carlos de Bariloche is $86. 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 Cuenca and San Carlos de Bariloche in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCuenca $13San Carlos de Bariloche $70
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCuenca $26San Carlos de Bariloche $140
Compare Hotels in Cuenca and San Carlos de Bariloche
Looking for a hotel in Cuenca or San Carlos de Bariloche? 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: Cuenca Hotel Prices and San Carlos de Bariloche Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cuenca $11San Carlos de Bariloche $2.77
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cuenca
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cuenca:
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Taxi Ride$2.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cuenca
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cuenca:
- Cuenca Airport Transfer: $13
- Cuenca to/from Guayaquil Private Transfer: $80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Carlos de Bariloche
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Carlos de Bariloche:
- Adventure in Piedras Blancas: Sledding Day with Transfers : $150
- Airport transfer - downtown hotel car up to 3 people: $23
- BARILOCHE: PRIVATE TRANSFER FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE CITY CENTER: $145
- Bariloche Airport (BRC) to Cerro Catedral - Arrival Transfer: $83
- Bariloche Airport Arrival Private Transfer: $74
- Bariloche Airport Arrival Shuttle Transfer: $25
- Bariloche Airport BRC to Cerro Catedral RoundTrip Transfer: $167
- Bariloche Airport Departure Private Transfer: $74
- Bariloche Airport Round Trip PrivateTransfer: $149
- Bariloche Airport Round Trip Shuttle Transfer: $44
- Bariloche: 1-Way or Round-Trip BRC Airport Transfer: $19
- Bariloche: BRC Airport to City Centre|Hotel Private Transfer: $14
Is it cheaper to fly into Cuenca or San Carlos de Bariloche?
Prices for flights to both San Carlos de Bariloche and Cuenca 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 dayCuenca $26San Carlos de Bariloche $6.11
Typical Food Prices in Cuenca
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cuenca:
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Lunch$10
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Snacks$5.00
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Empanada$1.50
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Hot Dog$1.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cuenca
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cuenca.
- Street food Tour in Cuenca,Ecuador: $33
- Cooking Class & Market Tour in Cuenca: $55
- Experience Ecuador: Join an Andean Cooking Class in Cuenca: $85
- Private Cooking Class: $125
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.
- Bariloche: Snowmobile ride with dinner 4 steps: $537
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cuenca $16San Carlos de Bariloche $33
Tours and Activities in Cuenca
Here are a few actual costs in Cuenca for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cuenca-Ec- Highlights City Tour : $16
- Half-Day Biking and Walking Tour in Cuenca: $30
- Cuenca Half-Day City Tour Including Panama Hat Factory: $35
- Tour of the best of Cuenca walking through its Historic Center: $35
- Half-Day City Tour including Panama Hat Factory: $35
- Cajas National Park Half Day Tour from Cuenca: $39
- El Chorro waterfalls and Busa lake tour from Cuenca: $44
- Cuenca Your Way Exclusive Private City Tour: $45
- City Sightseeing Tour: $45
- Amazing Cajas National Park Tour from Cuenca: $47
- Wonderful Cajas National Park tour from Cuenca: $48
- Cajas National Park Small-Group tour from Cuenca: $48
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:
- Circuito Chico Sightseeing Tour with Local Guide: $25
- Bariloche: Cerro Catedral Tour: $36
- Bariloche: Circuito Chico, iconic postcards of Bariloche in a single tour: $36
- Bariloche: German Immigration and History Walking Tour: $41
- German Footprint & Nazi presence - Walking Tour in Bariloche: $41
- Indigenous People of Patagonia History Tour: $41
- Bariloche: Cerro Catedral guided tour: $43
- Bariloche Chocolate Tour: Patagonian Flavors on Foot: $52
- Small Circuit Tour: Mt Campanario and Llao Llao Peninsula: $55
- Cerro Lopez Zipline Adventure from Bariloche: $56
- Pablo Bernasconi's Art Gallery Guided Tour: $60
- Canopy Half-Day Tour in Bariloche: $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCuenca $14San Carlos de Bariloche $8.76
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:
- Bariloche: Patagonian Experience wine tasting: $95
- Bariloche: Wine Tasting Winehouse Experience: $110
- Patagonian WineHouse in Bariloche: Cheese and Wine Tasting: $125
- Bariloche: Bar Crawl. Patagonian Bar Crawl: $160
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cuenca and San Carlos de Bariloche, we can see that San Carlos de Bariloche is more expensive. And not only is Cuenca much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cuenca would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cuenca 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 Carlos de Bariloche would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Carlos de Bariloche than you might in Cuenca.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cuenca Expensive? and Is San Carlos de Bariloche Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cuenca or San Carlos de Bariloche?
Cuenca has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of San Carlos de Bariloche. When comparing the sizes of Cuenca and San Carlos de Bariloche, 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.