Which place is cheaper, El Calafate or Foz do Iguacu?
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 Foz do Iguacu or El Calafate?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Foz do Iguacu and El Calafate 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: Foz do Iguacu or El Calafate?
Foz do Iguacu
Foz do Iguacu is a larger city in Brazil that is most famous for the Iguacu Falls. The city serves as an entry point for Paraguay and Argentina as well. The obvious reason to visit the city is to see the beautiful falls, and together with Ciudad del Este, Paraguay and Puerto Iguazu, Argentina, it makes up one of the largest tourism sights in South America.
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 Contiki Tours to Brazil, The Best G Adventures Tours to Brazil, The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina.
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Foz do Iguacu Prices
Brazil PricesEl Calafate Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFoz do Iguacu $82El Calafate $59
The average daily cost (per person) in Foz do Iguacu is $82, while the average daily cost in El Calafate is $59. 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 Foz do Iguacu and El Calafate in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFoz do Iguacu $29El Calafate $37
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFoz do Iguacu $58El Calafate $74
Compare Hotels in Foz do Iguacu and El Calafate
Looking for a hotel in Foz do Iguacu 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: Foz do Iguacu Hotel Prices and El Calafate Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Foz do Iguacu $13El Calafate $4.23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Foz do Iguacu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Foz do Iguacu:
- Transfer from Puerto Iguazu Airport to Foz do Iguaçu Hotels: $79
- Transfer from Foz de Iguazu Airport to Hotels on the Argentine side: $70
- Transfer Paraguay - Shopping: $29
- Transfer In Airport Foz - Hotel in Foz do Iguazu: $8.00
- Transfer IN IGU & Iguassu Falls Brazilian side & Macuco Boat Safari: $235
- Shared Roundtrip Transfers with Brazilian and Argentinian sides: $155
- Roundtrip Airport Transfer in Foz do Iguaçu: $49
- Private transfer from Foz do Iguaçu Airport to Puerto Iguazu: $70
- Private Transfer to Foz do Iguaçu from the Airport: $159
- Private Transfer from IGU to Any Point within Foz Do Iguaçu City: $80
- Private Airport Transfers and Iguaçu National Parks: $37
- PRIVATE Transfer Iguassu Airport (IGU) to Hotels in Iguassu: $30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Calafate
Also for El Calafate, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer - Downtown: $35
- Airport Transfer Calafate Regular Bus or Private Car: $20
- Bus Transfer to Moreno Glacier from El Calafate: $77
- Calafate: Airport Transfer: $12
- Direct Private Transfer: El Calafate Airport to El Chaltén: $230
- El Calafate Airport (FTE) Private Transfer to El Calafate City: $40
- El Calafate to Puerto Natales Bus Transfer with Border Crossing: $72
- Kayaking on Lake Argentino with Transfers: $120
- Perito Moreno Mini Trek Pro (Optional Transfer): $540
- Private Airport Transfer: $270
- Transfers Between Airport and Hotels: $32
- FTE Aiport transfer Group 4 to 6 people with luggage: $210
Is it cheaper to fly into Foz do Iguacu or El Calafate?
Prices for flights to both El Calafate and Foz do Iguacu 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 dayFoz do Iguacu $38El Calafate $6.74
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Foz do Iguacu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Foz do Iguacu.
- Foz do Iguacu Brazilian BBQ and Home Cooking with a Local: $68
- Rafain Dinner Show: $71
- Boozy Cooking Class in Foz do Iguacu with a chef: $85
- Rafain Steakhouse Show - Dinner and Show Included: $108
- Experience Guamini Mision Dinner and Tango Show Selva Iriapu Hotels Exclusive: $110
- Dinner Show - Rafain Steakhouse: $120
- Shared Group: Rafain Dinner and Latin American Show with Transfer: $129
- Dinner Show at Rafain in Foz do Iguaçu: $132
- Dinner Show Rafain Steakhouse Belmond Hotel Cataratas: $135
- Foz: Private Guide & Transfer to Shared Dinner Show Experience: $208
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: $55
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Dinner & Show with Transfer: $88
- Country Afternoon with Dinner Show - Estancia 25 de Mayo: $92
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Country Afternoon with Dinner Show and Riding: $127
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Tour with Dinner & Transfer: $138
- Estancia 25 de Mayo in El Calafate - PM visit with dinner: $165
- Lakes and Caves Tour with Dinner and Wine Included: $179
- Lakes and Caves Tour with Dinner: $197
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Experience with Dinner and Horseback Riding: $225
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Foz do Iguacu $24El Calafate $52
Tours and Activities in Foz do Iguacu
Here are a few actual costs in Foz do Iguacu for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day Private Tour of Brazilian and Argentine Waterfalls: $90
- 2-Days PRIVATE Brasil & Argentina Experience Iguazu Falls: $165
- 2-day tour, both sides of Cataratas Brasil and Argentina.: $229
- Airport IGU Pick-Up & Shopping In Paraguay & Hotel Drop-Off - Private Tour: $120
- Ancestral Iguazu: Argentine Falls and Guarani Community Tour: $150
- AquaFoz VIP Experience with Guided Tour: $192
- Argentina Iguazu Falls Private Tour with Professional Guide: $159
- Argentinian Side of the Falls - All Tickets Included: $131
- Best Private Tour Iguassu Falls Brazil, Argentina in 1 day: $87
- Bike Tour Argentina: Pedal in the Guarani Indigenous Community: $123
- Bird Park General Admission Ticket and Tour: $88
- Brazil Adventure Tour - Complete Brazilian Falls: $294
Tours and Activities in El Calafate
For El Calafate, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- El Calafate History Museum Tour: $15
- Self-Guided History Museum Tour: $15
- Yeti Ice Bar: An Icy Adventure in the Heart of El Calafate: $33
- Guided Tour of the National Park + Perito Moreno Glacier + Boat Cruise (optional): $48
- Calafate: Perito Moreno Glacier Guided Full-Day Tour: $52
- Round Trip Ticket-Bus to Perito Moreno Glacier from El Calafate: $55
- Perito Moreno Glacier Guided Expedition with optional Cruise: $60
- Full Day Guided Tour Perito Moreno National Park and Glacier: $60
- Perito Moreno Glacier & Optional Boat Cruise: $69
- Perito Moreno Glacier Guided Tour: $69
- Perito Moreno walkways + Boat Tour (optional) from El Calafate: $69
- Perito Moreno Glacier Full Day Tour with Optional Boat Safari: $80
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFoz do Iguacu $12El Calafate $8.39
Typical Alcohol Prices in Foz do Iguacu
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Foz do Iguacu from other travelers:
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Beer$0.87
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Foz do Iguacu and El Calafate, we can see that Foz do Iguacu 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 Foz do Iguacu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Foz do Iguacu 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 Foz do Iguacu Expensive? and Is El Calafate Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Foz do Iguacu or El Calafate?
Foz do Iguacu has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of El Calafate. When comparing the sizes of Foz do Iguacu 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.