Which place is cheaper, El Chalten or Fort-de-France?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Fort-de-France or El Chalten?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Fort-de-France and El Chalten 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: Fort-de-France or El Chalten?
Fort-de-France
As the largest city and capital of Martinique, Fort-de-France serves as the main entryway for visitors traveling to the island. It is a busy city with a significant population, which creates an atmosphere bustling with traffic amidst its historic and cultural sights.
El Chalten
El Chalten is probably one of the most beautiful areas of Patagonia, especially at the slightest ray of sunshine and one of your cheapest destination while you are travelling in Patagonia. Indeed, you will spend your days hiking and there are no park fees. There are restaurants, souvenir shops, and outdoor stores but most of them will not accept credit cards so before heading out, get cash in El Calafate or your previous stop. For the beginners, it will be long hikes in a magical setting and for the experts perhaps a week long expedition to the greatest glaciers of the world. To discover the way people live in the pampa, you may also decide to stay at an Estancia. In the stunning Estancia Santa Thelma, about 300km away from El Chalten, you will be able to explore the surroundings by horse, live a unique experience in the middle of the nature and its vast plains occupied by thousands of merino sheep and horses and of course eat a typical meal of the region.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, and The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFort-de-France €152El Chalten €9.27
The average daily cost (per person) in Fort-de-France is €152, while the average daily cost in El Chalten is €9.27. 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 Fort-de-France and El Chalten in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFort-de-France €79El Chalten €4.13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFort-de-France €158El Chalten €8.26
Compare Hotels in Fort-de-France and El Chalten
Looking for a hotel in Fort-de-France or El Chalten? 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: Fort-de-France Hotel Prices and El Chalten Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Fort-de-France €16El Chalten €2.21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fort-de-France
Also for Fort-de-France, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Fort de France to Martinique Airport (FDF) - Departure Transfer: $66
- Private Transfer from Martinique Airport to Fort de France Port: $71
- Private Transfer from Fort de France to Fort de France Port: $71
- Private transfer Fort de France Airport to and from Les Trois Ilets: $103
Is it cheaper to fly into Fort-de-France or El Chalten?
Prices for flights to both El Chalten and Fort-de-France 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 dayFort-de-France €58El Chalten €3.42
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Fort-de-France
For Fort-de-France, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Food tour in the rainforest and St Pierre - Pile et Face: $104
- Private Food Tour of Martinique in Fort-de-France: $199
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Fort-de-France €31El Chalten €2.48
Tours and Activities in Fort-de-France
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Fort-de-France.
- Habitation Clement - entrance ticket: $15
- Admission Ticket Balata's Garden: $19
- Small train tour of a banana farm in Martinique: $22
- Fort-de-France Private 2-Hour Walking Tour: $26
- Mangrove Guided Tour: $43
- Martinique: The Jewels of the Southern Caribbean Tour: $63
- Martinique: Coral and Turtle Coves Cruise with Snacks: $64
- Martinique: Half-Day Dolphin and Volcano Cruise: $64
- Fort-de-France Food Tasting and Cultural Walking Tour: $64
- Karaib Tour: $66
- Martinique Shore Excursion - Unmissable Martinique North tour: $75
- Martinique Shore Excursion - Authentic Tour of Southern Martinique: $75
Tours and Activities in El Chalten
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for El Chalten are as follows:
- 3 Hours Grilled Lamb Experience in Estancia Bonanza: $55
- Rafting experience on the Rio de las Vueltas in Patagonia: $90
- Rio de las Vueltas Rafting Experience - El Chalten: $90
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFort-de-France €10El Chalten €1.14
Sample the Local Flavors in Fort-de-France
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Fort-de-France:
- Small-Group Tour: Unmissable Martinique with Rum Distillery, Ruins, and More: $75
- North Tour: rainforest, rum distillery, black sand beach etc: $120
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Fort-de-France and El Chalten, we can see that Fort-de-France is more expensive. And not only is El Chalten much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Fort-de-France is in Caribbean Islands and El Chalten is in South 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 Chalten would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Chalten 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 Fort-de-France would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Fort-de-France than you might in El Chalten.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Fort-de-France Expensive? and Is El Chalten Expensive?.
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.