A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Curitiba vs. San Carlos de Bariloche for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Curitiba or San Carlos de Bariloche?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Curitiba and San Carlos de Bariloche can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Curitiba or San Carlos de Bariloche?

Curitiba

Curitiba is a relatively large city that is convenient to visit if you're traveling to Iguazu Falls from either Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo. It is worth a day or two stop over because it has a great old city that has been restored. It's also the capital of Parana, Brazil. Curitiba is one of the more wealthy cities in the southern region of Brazil. It has a diverse population with many immigrants and some interesting cultural events.

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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Brazil, The Best 10-Day Tours in Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, San Carlos de Bariloche or Curitiba?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Curitiba is $74, while the average daily cost in San Carlos de Bariloche is $7.52. 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 Curitiba and San Carlos de Bariloche in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Curitiba $31
    San Carlos de Bariloche $2.72
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Curitiba $62
    San Carlos de Bariloche $5.44
Compare Hotels in Curitiba and San Carlos de Bariloche

Looking for a hotel in Curitiba 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.

Hotels in Curitiba


Hotels in San Carlos de Bariloche


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: Curitiba Hotel Prices and San Carlos de Bariloche Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Curitiba $16
    San Carlos de Bariloche $2.32
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Curitiba

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Curitiba:


  • Taxi Ride
    $2.00

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Curitiba

Also for Curitiba, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Curitiba to Curitiba Airport (CWB) - Departure Private Transfer: $17
  • Curitiba Airport CWB to Downtown hotels- Arrival Private Transfer: $17
  • Curitiba to Afonso Pena Airport (CWB)- Departure Private Transfer: $18
  • Curitiba Airport (CWB) to Downtown - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $33
  • Private Transfer from Curitiba City to Curitiba Airport (CWB): $35
  • Shared Transfer: Curitiba International Airport: $39
  • Afonso Pena Airport CWB to Beach Resorts : Arrival Transfer: $44
  • Private Transfer from Curitiba City Hotels to Porto Belo Port: $76
  • Private Transfer from Curitiba Airport (CWB) to Porto Belo Port : $76
  • Shared transfer between Curitiba Airport and Hotels: $76
  • Afonso Pena Airport (CWB) to Beach Resorts - Round-Trip Transfer: $88
  • Private Transfer from Curitiba Airport: $106

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Carlos de Bariloche

Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Carlos de Bariloche:

  • Transfers to and from San Martín de los Andes: $295
  • Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to San Martín de los Andes: $239
  • Private Transfer from Hotel Tronador to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $166
  • Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Pampa Linda: $166
  • Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Villa Traful: $165
  • Private Transfer from Cascada Los Alerces to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $165
  • Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Cascada Los Alerces: $165
  • Bariloche Airport Round Trip PrivateTransfer: $147
  • Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Ruca Malen: $138
  • Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Villa La Angostura: $138
  • Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Lago Correntoso: $138
  • Bariloche Airport Arrival Private Transfer: $106

Is it cheaper to fly into Curitiba or San Carlos de Bariloche?

Prices for flights to both San Carlos de Bariloche and Curitiba 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
    Curitiba $29
    San Carlos de Bariloche $2.83
Typical Food Prices in Curitiba

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


  • Chips
    $0.90

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Curitiba

For Curitiba, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Bar-hopping and Food Tour in Curitiba: $32
  • Curitiba's History Food Tour: $70
  • Curitiba's History Food Tour: $76
  • Curitiba Tour by Night with Dinner: $94

Typical Food Prices in San Carlos de Bariloche

Some typical examples of dining costs in San Carlos de Bariloche are as follows:


  • Pastries
    $0.01
  • Empanadas
    $0.03

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Curitiba $20
    San Carlos de Bariloche $3.10

Tours and Activities in Curitiba

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

  • Ticket MAI - Museum of Indigenous Art - Curitiba: $5.06
  • Walking tour from past to present: $12
  • Arte Bike Tour - Bike Tour with Kuritbike: $25
  • Half Day Curitiba Sightseeing Tour: $31
  • Private City Tour - Top Postcards from Curitiba by Pinheiro Turismo: $41
  • Historic City Tour in Curitiba with Jens Tours: $41
  • Interparks Cycling Tour Curitiba for small groups: $51
  • Curitiba City Tour: $58
  • 4-Hour Private Tour of Curitiba City: $72
  • A private city tour: $73
  • CRAFT BREWERS TOUR By Jens Tours: $74
  • Full-day tour in Curitiba: $81

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:

  • 4-Hour Guided Tour of the Small Circuit: $60
  • Bariloche Circuito Grande Sightseeing Tour: $118
  • Bariloche Horseback Riding & Traditional Argentine Barbecue Tour: $115
  • Bariloche San Martin de los Andes and Seven Lakes Road Tour: $130
  • Bariloche Sightseeing Tour: $42
  • Bariloche: 4-Hour Cerro Catedral Base Tour: $15
  • Bariloche: Blest Port and Cantaros Waterfall Tour : $158
  • Bariloche: Full-Day El Bolsón and Puelo Lake Tour: $42
  • Bariloche: Half Day Small Circuit Tour - Mt Campanario and Llao Llao Peninsula: $28
  • From Bariloche: Chico Circuit & Colonia Suiza Tour: $20
  • From Bariloche: Victoria Island & the Arrayanes Forest Tour: $128
  • From Rio Manso Rafting Tour: $185

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Curitiba $14
    San Carlos de Bariloche $1.86
Typical Alcohol Prices in Curitiba

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Curitiba:


  • Beer
    $0.45

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:


  • Beer
    $0.01


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Curitiba Expensive? and Is San Carlos de Bariloche Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Curitiba or San Carlos de Bariloche?

Curitiba has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of San Carlos de Bariloche. When comparing the sizes of Curitiba 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.