Which place is cheaper, El Calafate or Florianopolis?
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 Florianopolis or El Calafate?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Florianopolis or El Calafate? 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: Florianopolis or El Calafate?
Florianopolis
With a population of almost 500,000, Florianopolis is the capital city of the state of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil. The city is split between mainland Brazil and Santa Catarina Island.
Florianopolis has grown in popularity with tourists recently because of its wonderful scenery, beautiful beaches, and fascinating culture. Many Brazilians have also moved here, leaving behind the big cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
Florianopolis has a warm humid subtropical climate. There are summer, winter, spring and fall seasons. Frosts are rare but do occur occasionally. Highs during the warmest months are usually in the high 70s Fahrenheit. Rain is evenly distributed throughout the year and there is no distinct dry season.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Brazil, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Brazil, The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina.
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Florianopolis Prices
Brazil PricesEl Calafate Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFlorianopolis $74El Calafate $58
The average daily cost (per person) in Florianopolis is $74, while the average daily cost in El Calafate is $58. 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 Florianopolis and El Calafate in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFlorianopolis $25El Calafate $37
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFlorianopolis $50El Calafate $74
Compare Hotels in Florianopolis and El Calafate
Looking for a hotel in Florianopolis or El Calafate? 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: Florianopolis Hotel Prices and El Calafate Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Florianopolis $13El Calafate $4.20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Florianopolis
Also for Florianopolis, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer Hotels in Florianópolis/Airport - private: $67
- Shared transfer from Florianópolis airport to Balneário Camboriú: $56
- Shared Transfer: $13
- Roundtrip transfer from Florianópolis Airport to Bombinhas: $228
- Private Transfer from Florianópolis Airport to Bombinhas: $115
- Private Transfer from FLN Airport to the City Balneario Camboriú : $81
- Private Transfer Florianópolis Airport to City Center: $31
- Hercilio Luz Airport - North Island Transfer: $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Calafate
Also for El Calafate, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer to Perito Moreno Glacier from El Calafate: $77
- Transfer from El Calafate Airport to El Chaltén: $190
- Shared Transfer from El Calafate Airport to downtown Hotel: $11
- Roundtrip transfers to Perito Moreno Glacier: $149
- Private Transfer: Calafate Airport to City Center: $59
- Private Transfer to El Calafate Airport (FTE): $29
- Private Transfer from El Calafate Airport (FTE): $29
- Private Airport Transfer in Calafate: $45
- Perito Moreno Full Day Minitrekking with Transfer & Walkways: $460
- FTE Aiport transfer Group 4 to 6 people with luggage: $116
- Excursion to the Perito Moreno Glacier, with guide and transfer to / from the hotel: $79
- Transfers Between Airport and Hotels: $44
Is it cheaper to fly into Florianopolis or El Calafate?
Prices for flights to both El Calafate and Florianopolis 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 dayFlorianopolis $36El Calafate $6.69
Typical Food Prices in Florianopolis
For Florianopolis, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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A Quick Snack$0.42
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Florianopolis $25El Calafate $52
Typical Entertainment Prices in Florianopolis
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Florianopolis's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Internet$0.56
Tours and Activities in Florianopolis
For Florianopolis, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Balneário Camboriú tour and cable car ride from Florianópolis: $39
- Blumenau City Tour - departing from Florianópolis: $40
- Blumenau City Tour from Florianópolis: $40
- Bombinhas Beach and 4 Islands Tour: $21
- Cinematic Kayak Tour: The Best of Florianópolis: $59
- Discover Florianópolis: Full Day City Tour and Local Highlights: $27
- Florianópolis city tour (full day): $21
- Florianopolis Bike Tour: Photography, History & Street Food: $86
- Florianopolis Walking Tour - History, Art and Gastronomy: $17
- Floripa City Tour by Bus - Whole Island - The Most Complete City Tour: $35
- Floripa by Night: The Local Party Tour: $299
- Lagoinha do Leste Hiking and Photography Adventure : $58
Tours and Activities in El Calafate
For El Calafate, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Argentine Cuisine Experience in El Calafate: $130
- 4 Days & 3 Nights El Calafate & El Chaltén Magical Adventure: $1,350
- Adventure Horseback Riding on Cerro Frias: $140
- CAÑADON EXPERIENCE - TREKKING & STAY - PRIVATE VEHICLE: $1,500
- CALAFATE: Panoramic tour: The best balconies of Calafate: $194
- Calafate Panoramic tour: The best balconies of Calafate 4x4: $210
- Calafate: Perito Moreno Glacier Boat Tour: $207
- DARWIN EXPERIENCE KAYAK & ADVENTURE: $240
- Discover La Leona Petrified Forest: Guided Hiking Tour: $224
- EL CALAFATE Native experience lakes and caverns: $214
- "Perito Moreno Glacier with the Tour - Blue Safari".: $319
- 4WD Adventure with Optional Hike or Zipline: $128
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFlorianopolis $8.34El Calafate $8.33
Typical Alcohol Prices in Florianopolis
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Florianopolis from other travelers:
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Beer$0.56
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Florianopolis and El Calafate, we can see that Florianopolis is more expensive. And not only is El Calafate much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Florianopolis would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Florianopolis 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 Florianopolis Expensive? and Is El Calafate Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Florianopolis or El Calafate?
Florianopolis has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of El Calafate. When comparing the sizes of Florianopolis and El Calafate, 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.