A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Galapagos Islands vs. Cordoba for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Galapagos Islands or Cordoba?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Galapagos Islands or Cordoba, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Galapagos Islands or Cordoba?

Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands are a small archipelago of islands belonging to Ecuador in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The Galapagos archipelago is world-renowned for its unique and fearless wildlife, much of which was inspiration for Charles Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection. Thanks to a lack of natural predators, friendly wildlife such as sea lions and gigantic sea tortoises let visitors get up close. This archipelago of about 19 islands and many smaller islets found over 620 miles off Ecuador's coast in the Pacific Ocean is a double World Heritage site, where both land and sea are protected. Each island boasts its own unique landscape, ranging from black, volcanic rocks to white sand beaches and gemstone-blue waters. There is no bad time to visit the Galapagos Islands but the busiest months for tourism tend to be June, July and August, as well as mid-December to mid-January. This is when prices are at their highest.

Cordoba

Cordoba is the capital of the Cordoba province and the second largest city in all of Argentina. The city is in a beautiful setting surrounded by valleys and hills. Within the city you will find many colonial buildings and beautiful architecture. Cordoba also has many universities and scientific institutes, giving it the nickname "La Docta." Because of the large number of students, Cordoba's population is young and active, which keeps the atmosphere light and fun.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Ecuador, The Best Honeymoon Tours in Ecuador, The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, Cordoba or Galapagos Islands?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Galapagos Islands is $138, while the average daily cost in Cordoba is $8.40. 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 Galapagos Islands and Cordoba in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Galapagos Islands $65
    Cordoba $3.05
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Galapagos Islands $130
    Cordoba $6.10
Compare Hotels in Galapagos Islands and Cordoba

Looking for a hotel in Galapagos Islands or Cordoba? 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.

Hotels in Galapagos Islands


Hotels in Cordoba


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: Cordoba Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Galapagos Islands $54
    Cordoba $2.08

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Galapagos Islands

Also for Galapagos Islands, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer from Baltra Airport to Hotels in Santa Cruz Island: $159
  • Private Transfer from Hotels in Santa Cruz to Baltra Airport: $159
  • Transfer from Santa Cruz Island to San Cristobal Island: $64
  • Transfer from Santa Cruz Island to Isabela Island: $55
  • Transfer from Santa Cruz Island to San Cristobal Island: $48

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cordoba

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Cordoba are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $0.01

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cordoba

Also for Cordoba, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer in private minivan from Cordoba to Ingeniero Ambrosio Taravella Airport: $61

Is it cheaper to fly into Galapagos Islands or Cordoba?

Prices for flights to both Cordoba and Galapagos Islands 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 Meals for one day
    Galapagos Islands $33
    Cordoba $3.83

Typical Food Prices in Cordoba

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Cordoba:


  • Empanadas
    $0.01
  • Sandwich
    $0.00
  • Ice Cream
    $0.00

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Galapagos Islands $35
    Cordoba $1.88

Tours and Activities in Galapagos Islands

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Galapagos Islands.

  • Isla Pinzón - Day Tour - From Santa Cruz - Islas Galápagos: $250
  •  Tour of the city to Isabela + Tintoreras from Santa Cruz: $256
  • Bay Tour in Santa Cruz - Galapagos Islands: $60
  • Cabo Rosa (Tuneles) Hiking & Snorkeling Tour from Isabela: $199
  • Daily diving tour in Gordon Rocks: $280
  • Day Tour to Floreana Island with Snorkeling and Fishing: $249
  • Day Tour to Isabela Island with Tintorera Islet, Snorkeling Wetlands & Flamingos: $249
  • Day Tour to Santa Fe Island and Hidden Beach with snorkeling and fishing: $219
  • Day tour to Pinzón Island and La Fé/Palmitas Bay with snorkeling and fishing: $239
  • Day tour to San Cristobal Island with private Land Tour and snorkeling: $249
  • FERRY TICKET From: Santa Cruz / To: San Cristobal (PM): $65
  • Full Day Floreana Tour: $220

Tours and Activities in Cordoba

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cordoba.

  • Alta Gracia: Unveiling Cordoba's Cultural Heritage Tour: $50
  • Córdoba CityTour FULLDAY x 2 pax: $60
  • Córdoba: Villa Carlos Paz Tour: $59
  • Caroya WineTour x 2 Pax: $60
  • Cordoba City Tour: $50
  • Cordoba City Tour with Optional Jesuitic Square: $62
  • Cordoba Cumbrecita Tour with Spanish Speaking Guide: $88
  • Cordoba Jesuit Legacy Tour: $87
  • Cumbrecita Tour: $88
  • El Inicio WineTour x 2 Pax (History and Wines): $85
  • Exploring Villa Carlos Paz: Guided Sightseeing Tour: $50
  • Full Day Jesuit Legacy Tour from Cordoba: $80

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Galapagos Islands $15
    Cordoba $1.48

Sample the Local Flavors in Cordoba

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cordoba:

  • Full-Day Private Colonia Caroya Wine Tour from Córdoba: $119
  • Wine Tour Privado - Colonia Caroya: $130
  • Wine Tour Privado - Calamuchita: $150


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Galapagos Islands and Cordoba, we can see that Galapagos Islands is more expensive. And not only is Cordoba much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cordoba would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cordoba 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 Galapagos Islands would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Galapagos Islands than you might in Cordoba.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Galapagos Islands Expensive? and Is Cordoba Expensive?.