A Travel Price Comparison for Argentina El Calafate vs. Cordoba for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

South America / Comparisons /
Jump to  down-arrow

Should you visit El Calafate or Cordoba?

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

Should I visit El Calafate or Cordoba? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: El Calafate or Cordoba?

El Calafate

Located in Patagonia, El Calafate has become a popular tourist destination in Argentina because of its beautiful setting on the stunningly blue Lago Argentina. The town sits on the southern border of the lake in the southwestern part of the Santa Cruz Province. It's about 320 kilometers from Rio Gallegos.

The rise in popularity of Patagonia as a tourist destination has truly put this small town on the map. You'll find no shortage of trekkers in the town and it makes an excellent base to explore different parts of the Los Glaciares National Park. Popular places to visit include Perito Moreno Glacier, Cerro Chalten, and Cerro Torre.

El Calafate has a cold semi-arid climate. The summers are cool to warm and very dry while the winters are cold and damp. Lago Argentino has a significant influence over the town's climate. The shallow bay where the town is located is usually frozen during the winter months.

Check out our ultimate guide to Hiking in Patagonia.

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.

Which place is cheaper, Cordoba or El Calafate?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in El Calafate is $25, while the average daily cost in Cordoba is $21. 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 El Calafate and Cordoba in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    El Calafate $8.41
    Cordoba $7.50
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    El Calafate $17
    Cordoba $15
Compare Hotels in El Calafate and Cordoba

Looking for a hotel in El Calafate or Cordoba? 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 El Calafate


Hotels in Cordoba


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: El Calafate Hotel Prices and Cordoba Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    El Calafate $8.67
    Cordoba $5.10
Typical Local Transportation prices in El Calafate

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


  • Taxi
    $3.41

Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Calafate

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

  • Kayak in Perito Moreno Glacier with transfers: $461
  • Kayak in Perito Moreno Glacier without transfers: $336
  • Perito Moreno Glacier Mini Trek with Transfer: $317
  • South Glacier Pioneers with transfer: $300
  • Full Day Perito Moreno Kayak Experience & Walkway Tour with Transfers: $252
  • El Calafate Airport Private Transfer: $117
  • From El Calafate Airport: Round-trip Transfer to El Chaltén: $107
  • Private Transfer Airport-Hotel-Airport (Calafate): $90
  • Shared transfer to El Calafate -El Chaltén: $75
  • Door to Door Transfer Calafate to Chalten : $49
  • Roundtrip transfer in Private Car from Calafate Airport (FTE)- Calafate City: $49
  • Excursion to the Perito Moreno Glacier, with guide and transfer to / from the hotel: $40

Typical Local Transportation prices in Cordoba

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Cordoba are as follows:


  • 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 Ingeniero Ambrosio Taravella Airport to Cordoba: $61
  • Transfer in private minivan from Cordoba to Ingeniero Ambrosio Taravella Airport: $61
  • Transfer in Private Car from Ingeniero Ambrosio Taravella Airport-COR to Cordoba: $35
  • Transfer in Private Car from Cordoba to Ingeniero Ambrosio Taravella Airport-COR: $19
  • Round trip transfer in private minivan from-to Cordoba Intl. Airport to Cordoba: $116
  • Round trip transfer Private Car Cordoba airport (COR) -Cordoba: $37

Is it cheaper to fly into El Calafate or Cordoba?

Prices for flights to both Cordoba and El Calafate 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
    El Calafate $9.11
    Cordoba $9.41
Typical Food prices in El Calafate

For El Calafate, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Dessert
    $0.03
  • Dinner
    $4.44
  • Dinner
    $2.62

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in El Calafate

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

  • Argentine Dinner with Live Music Folklore -Estancia 25 de Mayo: $48
  • Estancia 25 de Mayo Tour with Dinner & Transfer: $67
  • Country Afternoon with Dinner Show - Estancia 25 de Mayo: $100
  • Private Country Afternoon with Horseback Riding Initiation and Dinner Show: $125
  • Estancia 25 de Mayo in El Calafate - PM visit with dinner: $186

Typical Food prices in Cordoba

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


  • Empanadas
    $0.03
  • Sandwich
    $0.01
  • Ice Cream
    $0.01

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    El Calafate $9.10
    Cordoba $4.62
Typical Entertainment prices in El Calafate

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for El Calafate's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Glacerium Museum
    $3.41

Tours and Activities in El Calafate

For El Calafate, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • "Calafate Night" Astrotourism in El Calafate: $130
  • "Glaciares Gourmet" - Maria Turquesa Cruiser Navigation (classic): $285
  • 13-Day Best of Patagonia Tour from El Calafate to Ushuaia: Los Glaciares, Torres del Paine and Tierra del Fuego National Parks: $2,440
  • 2 Days Private Horseback Riding Tour through Patagonia: $325
  • 2-Days and 1 Night Experience El Calafate with Airfare from Buenos Aires: $1,174
  • 3-Day Private Glacier Tour in Santa Cruz: $1,823
  • 3-Day Tour of El Calafate and the Glaciers: $359
  • 3-Days and 2 Nights Experience El Calafate with Airfare from Buenos Aires: $1,410
  • 4 Day Tour to El Calafate by Air from Buenos Aires : $1,590
  • 4-Days El Calafate Adventure - Hiking Patagonia Forests & Perito Moreno Glacier!: $1,227
  • 4-Days El Calafate Easy Going Experience: $1,029
  • 4x4 adventure through the Balconies of Calafate: $59

Tours and Activities in Cordoba

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

  • Córdoba ASADO Experience: $96
  • Córdoba CityTour FULLDAY x 2 pax: $80
  • Córdoba: Villa Carlos Paz Tour: $29
  • Calamuchita Valley WineTour: $200
  • Caroya WineTour x 2 Pax: $90
  • Cordoba City Tour: $24
  • Cordoba City Tour with Optional Jesuitic Square: $32
  • Cordoba Cumbrecita Tour with Spanish Speaking Guide: $40
  • Cordoba Jesuit Legacy Tour: $40
  • Cumbrecita Tour: $42
  • El Inicio WineTour x 2 Pax (History and Wines): $120
  • Full Day Jesuit Legacy Tour from Cordoba: $40

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    El Calafate $4.56
    Cordoba $3.64
Typical Alcohol prices in El Calafate

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


  • Beer
    $0.02
  • Alcohol
    $0.91

Sample the Local Flavors in El Calafate

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in El Calafate:

  • Calafate Wine Tours | Pedestrian City Tour Paired with Wines: $40

Sample the Local Flavors in Cordoba

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cordoba:

  • Wine Tour Privado - Colonia Caroya: $120
  • Wine Tour Privado - Calamuchita: $140

How are these travel costs calculated?

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between El Calafate and Cordoba, we can see that El Calafate 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 Calafate would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in El Calafate than you might in Cordoba.

Which is Bigger, El Calafate or Cordoba?

Cordoba is bigger, and its population is about 178.5 times larger than the population of El Calafate. When comparing the population of El Calafate vs. Cordoba, 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 and the activities 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.
About BudgetYourTrip.com
More City Comparisons
Share This Page
Pin This Page
El Calafate vs. Cordoba Travel Comparison

Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.