Should you visit Foz do Iguacu or San Carlos de Bariloche?
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 San Carlos de Bariloche 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 San Carlos de Bariloche?
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.
San Carlos de Bariloche
Set in the foothills of the Andes Mountains in Argentina, San Carlos de Bariloche is the biggest city in the Lake District. Bariloche is popular for skiing and snowboarding in the winter and trekking, swimming, fishing and horseback riding in the summertime.
No matter the time of year, there is something for everyone in Bariloche. Skiing season begins from June to October while fishing season is from November to April. Summer is from December to March, but visiting during low seasons (Spring in October to December and Autumn in late-April to mid-June) also has its benefits when it comes to saving cash and avoiding crowds.
Check out our ultimate guide to Hiking in Patagonia.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Brazil, The Best G Adventures Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Argentina.
Which place is cheaper, San Carlos de Bariloche 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.
The average daily cost (per person) in Foz do Iguacu is $85, while the average daily cost in San Carlos de Bariloche is $84. 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 San Carlos de Bariloche in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation
Hotel or hostel for one person
Foz do Iguacu $30
San Carlos de Bariloche $68
-
Accommodation
Typical double-occupancy room
Foz do Iguacu
$60
San Carlos de Bariloche
$136
Looking for a hotel in Foz do Iguacu or San Carlos de Bariloche? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
Foz do Iguacu $14
San Carlos de Bariloche $2.69
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Foz do Iguacu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Foz do Iguacu:
-
Transfer In Airport Foz - Hotel in Foz do Iguazu:
$6.40
-
Transfer from Airport to Hotel:
$10
-
Foz do Iguaçu Airport Shared Transfer:
$11
-
Private Transfer from Foz de Iguazu Airport (IGU):
$13
-
Private Transfer to Foz de Iguazu Airport (IGU):
$13
-
IGU Airport Transfers:
$17
-
Transfer Paraguay - Shopping:
$20
-
Transfer from Foz Airport (IGU) to Foz do Iguacu Hotels:
$24
-
Foz do Iguaçu Airport Private Transfer:
$24
-
Roundtrip Private Transfer from Foz de Iguazu Airport (IGU):
$25
-
Private airport transfers – National & International:
$29
-
Brazilian Falls Tour Transfers with Tour Guide:
$29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Carlos de Bariloche
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Carlos de Bariloche:
-
Airport Transfer - Llao Llao Hotel:
$98
-
BARILOCHE: PRIVATE TRANSFER FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE CITY CENTER:
$145
-
Bariloche Airport Arrival Private Transfer:
$73
-
Bariloche Airport BRC to Cerro Catedral RoundTrip Transfer:
$160
-
Bariloche Airport Departure Shuttle Transfer:
$28
-
Bariloche Airport Round Trip PrivateTransfer:
$145
-
Bariloche Airport Round-Trip Shared Shuttle Transfer:
$50
-
Bariloche Airport(BRC) to Cerro Catedral-Arrival Private Transfer:
$80
-
Bariloche: 1-Way or Round-Trip BRC Airport Transfer:
$19
-
Bariloche: BRC Airport Private Transfer to/from City Center:
$14
-
Bariloche: BRC Airport Private Transfer to/from City Center:
$19
-
Bariloche: Snow Day at Piedras Blancas Winter Park+Transfer:
$180
Is it cheaper to fly into Foz do Iguacu or San Carlos de Bariloche?
Prices for flights to both San Carlos de Bariloche 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
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.
-
Rafain Dinner Show:
$68
-
Boozy Cooking Class in Foz do Iguacu with a chef:
$85
-
Foz do Iguacu Brazilian BBQ and Home Cooking with a Local:
$85
-
Rafain Steakhouse Show - Dinner and Show Included:
$108
-
Experience Guamini Mision Dinner and Tango Show Selva Iriapu Hotels Exclusive:
$110
-
Foz do Iguaçu: Latin American Show with Dinner and Transfers:
$119
-
Dinner Show - Rafain Steakhouse:
$120
-
Dinner Show at Rafain in Foz do Iguaçu:
$126
-
Dinner Show Rafain Steakhouse Belmond Hotel Cataratas:
$135
-
Rafain Samba Show & Dinner – Round Trip Transfer Included:
$135
-
Foz: Private Guide & Transfer to Shared Dinner Show Experience:
$208
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Carlos de Bariloche
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Carlos de Bariloche.
-
Bariloche: TRE Experience – “Three-Course Dinner. Catena Zapata”:
$135
-
Bariloche: El Mallín. Dinner with Tango Show:
$185
-
Bariloche: Winter Night – Evening Activities in the Snow with Dinner and Show:
$275
-
Bariloche Nordic Night: Quad Bike Ride and Dinner on Cerro Otto:
$410
-
Bariloche: Snowmobile Ride with 4-Course Dinner:
$425
-
Bariloche: Snow Adventure and 4-Course Dinner:
$425
-
Bariloche: Evening Snowmobile Ride with Dinner at La Cueva Catedral:
$428
Entertainment
-
Entertainment
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
Foz do Iguacu $25
San Carlos de Bariloche $32
Tours and Activities in Foz do Iguacu
Here are a few actual costs in Foz do Iguacu for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
Shopping tour at Duty Free Shop Argentina:
$14
-
Shopping tour in Paraguay from hotels in Foz do Iguaçu:
$14
-
Visit to Itaipu: Panoramic Tour:
$15
-
Private Shopping Tour in Puerto Iguazú:
$20
-
City Tour Puerto Iguazu:
$23
-
Three Borders Landmark - Rountrip Transportation + Ticket:
$24
-
Foz do Iguaçu City Tour: Temple, Mosque & Cathedral:
$29
-
Iguassu Falls Shopping Tour:
$30
-
Guided tour of the Iguacu Falls on the Argentine side:
$33
-
Puerto Iguazú City Tour Experience:
$35
-
Itaipu Dam Panoramic Tour:
$36
-
Itaipu Panoramic Tour:
$37
Tours and Activities in San Carlos de Bariloche
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Carlos de Bariloche are as follows:
-
Podcast Tour The Hidden Indigenous Heart:
$6.83
-
Cerro Catedral The Unmissable Experience of Bariloche:
$30
-
Bariloche: Play Soccer With Locals – Recreational Soccer Experience:
$30
-
Circuito Chico Sightseeing Tour with Local Guide:
$36
-
Adventure motorcycle and snow on Otto Hill:
$39
-
Bariloche: Circuito Chico, Iconic Views of Bariloche in One Tour:
$40
-
Indigenous People of Patagonia History Tour:
$41
-
Bariloche: German Immigration and History Walking Tour:
$41
-
Bariloche: Circuito Chico Bike Rental Adventure:
$42
-
Bariloche: Guided Tour of Cerro Catedral:
$43
-
Bariloche: Circuito Chico with Tour Guide:
$56
-
Bariloche Chocolate Sightseeing Tour: Patagonian Flavors Walking Tour:
$60
Alcohol
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:
Sample the Local Flavors in San Carlos de Bariloche
Also in San Carlos de Bariloche, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Bariloche: Patagonian Experience wine tasting:
$95
-
Bariloche: Wine Tasting Winehouse Experience:
$110
-
Patagonian WineHouse in Bariloche: Cheese and Wine Tasting:
$122
When comparing the travel costs between Foz do Iguacu and San Carlos de Bariloche, we can see that Foz do Iguacu is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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 San Carlos de Bariloche Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Foz do Iguacu or San Carlos de Bariloche?
Foz do Iguacu has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of San Carlos de Bariloche. When comparing the sizes of Foz do Iguacu and San Carlos de Bariloche, 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.
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