Which place is cheaper, La Paz or El Calafate?
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 El Calafate or La Paz?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit El Calafate or La Paz? 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 La Paz?
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.
La Paz
La Paz is the capital of Baja California Sur, Mexico. It has a population of about 215,000 people and is a significant commercial center for the region. The city has a good economy and a high standard of living when compared to much of Mexico. Much of the economy is focused on eco-tourism and there are many protected marine environments in the area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, The Best Budget Tours to Mexico, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Mexico.
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El Calafate Prices
Argentina PricesLa Paz Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEl Calafate $58La Paz $132
The average daily cost (per person) in El Calafate is $58, while the average daily cost in La Paz is $132. 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 La Paz in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEl Calafate $37La Paz $47
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEl Calafate $74La Paz $94
Compare Hotels in El Calafate and La Paz
Looking for a hotel in El Calafate or La Paz? 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: El Calafate Hotel Prices and La Paz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.El Calafate $4.20La Paz $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Calafate
Also for El Calafate, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Transfer from El Calafate Airport to downtown Hotel: $11
- Punta Walichu Reserve W Lunch & Transfer: $18
- Private Transfer to El Calafate Airport (FTE): $29
- Private Transfer from El Calafate Airport (FTE): $29
- Transfers Between Airport and Hotels: $44
- Private Airport Transfer in Calafate: $45
- Private Transfer: Calafate Airport to City Center: $59
- Transfer to Perito Moreno Glacier from El Calafate: $77
- Excursion to the Perito Moreno Glacier, with guide and transfer to / from the hotel: $79
- FTE Aiport transfer Group 4 to 6 people with luggage: $116
- Roundtrip transfers to Perito Moreno Glacier: $149
- Transfer from El Calafate Airport to El Chaltén: $190
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Paz
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Paz:
- La Paz hotels to La Paz International Airport (LAP) - Departure Private Transfer: $80
- La Paz International Airport (LAP) to La Paz hotels -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $159
Is it cheaper to fly into El Calafate or La Paz?
Prices for flights to both La Paz 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
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Food Meals for one dayEl Calafate $6.69La Paz $60
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:
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Dinner & Show with Transfer: $72
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Tour with Dinner & Transfer: $98
- Country Afternoon with Dinner Show - Estancia 25 de Mayo: $115
- Stargazing Tour with Dinner and Transfers: $120
- Estancia 25 de Mayo in El Calafate - PM visit with dinner: $165
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Experience with Dinner from Calafate: $190
- Lakes and Caves Tour with Dinner and Wine Included: $190
- Lakes and Caves Tour with Dinner: $255
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Paz
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Paz.
- 3 Hours of Guided La Paz Street Food Tour: $77
- 3 hrs SEAFOOD Tour in La Paz: $103
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.El Calafate $52La Paz $11
Tours and Activities in El Calafate
For El Calafate, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Self-Guided History Museum Tour: $15
- Guided Tour National Park+Perito Moreno Glacier+Sailing (optional): $47
- Perito Moreno Glacier & Optional Boat Cruise: $67
- From Perito Moreno walkways + Boat Tour (optional): $70
- Perito Moreno Glacier Walkway Tour: $71
- Perito Moreno Glacier Guided Tour: $79
- Tour to Walkways of the Perito Moreno Glacier: $83
- From Full-Day Tour to El Chaltén: $89
- Full Day Guided Tour Perito Moreno National Park and Glacier: $90
- Los Glaciares National Park and Perito Moreno Glacier Tour: $92
- Panoramic Tour with Punta Walichu: $96
- Perito Moreno Glacier Full Day Tour with optional Navigation : $96
Tours and Activities in La Paz
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Paz are as follows:
- 1 Day Espiritu Santo Island Wonders, Sea Lions and Paddleboard Adventure : $249
- 3 Hours La Paz Whale Shark First Class Snorkeling Tour: $167
- Adventure to Espiritu Santo Island: Snorkel with Sea Lions and Beach: $127
- Birding La Paz Mexico 4hrs.Tour : $160
- Birding Tour in La Paz Mexico: $177
- City Tour & Beaches from La Paz: $95
- Cultural and Culinary Tour of El Triunfo, Baja California Sur: $250
- Desert Off Road Adventure Tour in La Paz: $261
- Desert and Dunes ATV Adventure in La Paz BCS Mexico: $195
- Espíritu Santo and Balandra Beach Combo Tour: Sea Lion Snorkeling: $250
- Espiritu Santo Island Day Tour: $170
- Espiritu Santo Island Snorkel & Sea Lion Adventure: $145
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEl Calafate $8.33La Paz $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between El Calafate and La Paz, we can see that La Paz is more expensive. And not only is El Calafate much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since El Calafate is in South America and La Paz is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to El Calafate would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Calafate 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 La Paz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Paz than you might in El Calafate.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is El Calafate Expensive? and Is La Paz Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, El Calafate or La Paz?
La Paz has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of El Calafate. When comparing the sizes of El Calafate and La Paz, 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.