A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Havana vs. San Carlos de Bariloche for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Havana or San Carlos de Bariloche?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Havana and San Carlos de Bariloche can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Havana or San Carlos de Bariloche?

Havana

The city of Havana is at the top of most peoples' bucket list - mostly because of the allure of a forbidden land. Before the Communist revolution, Cuba was a popular tourist destination. Since it has reopened in the 1990s, it has drawn tourists from all over the world (except the US).

This capital city is a land trapped in the past. With 50 years of neglect, when you step off the plane, prepare to step back in time. A trip to Havana is meant for those with truly open minds - and when they arrive they'll be swept away.

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 Eco Tours in Argentina, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, San Carlos de Bariloche or Havana?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Havana is $65, while the average daily cost in San Carlos de Bariloche is $7.40. 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 Havana and San Carlos de Bariloche in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Havana $40
    San Carlos de Bariloche $2.68
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Havana $80
    San Carlos de Bariloche $5.36
Compare Hotels in Havana and San Carlos de Bariloche

Looking for a hotel in Havana 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.

Hotels in Havana


Hotels in San Carlos de Bariloche


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: San Carlos de Bariloche Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Havana $19
    San Carlos de Bariloche $2.28
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Havana

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Havana:


  • Short Taxi Ride
    $0.68

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Carlos de Bariloche

Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Carlos de Bariloche:

  • Bariloche Airport (BRC) to Cerro Catedral - Arrival Transfer: $27
  • Bariloche Airport Arrival Private Transfer: $106
  • Bariloche Airport Arrival Shuttle Transfer: $36
  • Bariloche Airport BRC to Cerro Catedral RoundTrip Transfer: $55
  • Bariloche Airport Departure Private Transfer: $106
  • Bariloche Airport Departure Shuttle Transfer: $36
  • Bariloche Airport Round Trip PrivateTransfer: $147
  • Bariloche: 1-Way or Round-Trip BRC Airport Transfer: $9.00
  • Bariloche: One-Way Private Transfer from Airport: $35
  • One Way Transfer from Bariloche Airport to or from Llao Llao: $60
  • Private Transfer Bariloche or Villa La Angostura to Bariloche Airport BRC by van: $70
  • Private Transfer Bariloche or Villa La Angostura to Bariloche Airport by Minibus: $83

Is it cheaper to fly into Havana or San Carlos de Bariloche?

Prices for flights to both San Carlos de Bariloche and Havana 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
    Havana $10
    San Carlos de Bariloche $2.78
Typical Food Prices in Havana

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Havana:


  • Pizza
    $0.03

Typical Food Prices in San Carlos de Bariloche

Some typical examples of dining costs in San Carlos de Bariloche are as follows:


  • Pastries
    $0.01
  • Empanadas
    $0.03

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Havana $11
    San Carlos de Bariloche $3.05

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:

  • Bariloche: 4-Hour Cerro Catedral Base Tour: $15
  • Classic Bariloche: Half-Day Sightseeing Excursion: $26
  • Bariloche: Half Day Small Circuit Tour - Mt Campanario and Llao Llao Peninsula: $28
  • German Footprint & Nazi presence - Walking Tour in Bariloche: $29
  • German Footprint Tour: $29
  • Indigenous People of Patagonia History Tour: $29
  • From Bariloche: Half-Day Circuito Chico Sightseeing Tour: $38
  • Small Circuit Tour: Mt Campanario and Llao Llao Peninsula: $39
  • Bariloche: Full-Day El Bolsón and Puelo Lake Tour: $42
  • Half-Day Tour to Circuito Chico and Cerro Catedral with Transportation: $56
  • President Peron in Bariloche - Historic Tour: $60
  • Pablo Bernasconi's Art Gallery Guided Tour: $60

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Havana $5.76
    San Carlos de Bariloche $1.83
Typical Alcohol Prices in Havana

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Havana:


  • Mojito
    $0.15

Typical Alcohol Prices in San Carlos de Bariloche

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in San Carlos de Bariloche from other travelers:


  • Beer
    $0.01


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Havana Expensive? and Is San Carlos de Bariloche Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Havana or San Carlos de Bariloche?

Havana has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of San Carlos de Bariloche. When comparing the sizes of Havana 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.