Which place is cheaper, Ushuaia or La Fortuna?
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 La Fortuna or Ushuaia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for La Fortuna and Ushuaia. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: La Fortuna or Ushuaia?
La Fortuna
La Fortuna is in San Carlos, in the province of Alajuela. It is the closest town to Arenal Volcano, and the area is often simply refered to as Arenal. The volcano itself is active and has been constantly erupting since 1968. It erupts on average 41 times a day. This area of northern Costa Rica is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the country.
Ushuaia
Ushuaia is a city on the Tierra del Fuego island of Argentina on the Beagle Strait. The city is considered to be one of the southernmost cities in the world and is often used as a base for cruises to Antarctica. Ushuaia's close proximity to Antarctica and their amazing hiking trails have made it a popular tourist destination over the past few decades.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica, The Best 3-Week Tours in Argentina, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Buenos Aires.
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La Fortuna Prices
Costa Rica PricesUshuaia Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLa Fortuna $123Ushuaia $0.00
The average daily cost (per person) in La Fortuna is $123, while the average daily cost in Ushuaia is $0.00. 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 La Fortuna and Ushuaia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLa Fortuna $51Ushuaia -
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLa Fortuna $102Ushuaia $0.00
Compare Hotels in La Fortuna and Ushuaia
Looking for a hotel in La Fortuna or Ushuaia? 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: La Fortuna Hotel Prices and Ushuaia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.La Fortuna $21Ushuaia -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Fortuna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Fortuna:
- Puerto Viejo de Limon: Transfer to La Fortuna de Arenal: $400
- Private VIP Transfer La Fortuna to Tamarindo, Flamingo & Conchal: $299
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Arenal La Fortuna: $295
- From San Jose Airport To Arenal - La Fortuna - PRIVATE TRANSFER: $295
- Private Transfer From San Jose Airport To Arenal La Fortuna: $290
- Private One-Way Transfer from/to La Fortuna to Papagayo Peninsula: $289
- Private Transfer from Arenal La Fortuna to San Jose Airport: $255
- Private Transfer to/from Liberia Airport to La Fortuna Area (Arenal Volcano): $250
- Private Transfer La Fortuna to (SJO)Airport – 1–6 Passengers: $249
- Private Transfer La Fortuna To Int. Airport Liberia From 1 to 6 passengers: $249
- One-Way Private Transfer from La Fortuna (Arenal) to Liberia Guanacaste Airport: $241
- Transfer from Arenal to SJO Airport or Hotels for up to 5 passengers ( One way) : $240
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ushuaia
Also for Ushuaia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared One-way Airport Transfer: $7.00
- Ushuaia Airport Arrival Transfer: $7.00
- Ushuaia Airport Shared Transfer: $9.00
- Airport Transfer: $10
- Calafate: Airport Transfer: $12
- Low Cost Ushuaia Transfer from/to the airport: $16
- Ushuaia Low cost Transfers: $17
- Transfer from the hotel to the airport in shared service: $17
- Transfer from your accommodation to Ushuaia airport: $17
- Transfer from Ushuaia airport to your accomodation: $17
- Private Transfer to Ushuaia Airport (USH): $17
- Sky Resort Roundtrip Transfer: $20
Is it cheaper to fly into La Fortuna or Ushuaia?
Prices for flights to both Ushuaia and La Fortuna 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 dayLa Fortuna $47Ushuaia -
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Fortuna
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Fortuna.
- Farm to Table Cooking Class : $43
- Skip the Line: Mineral Hot Springs Full Day Ticket w/ Optional Lunch or Dinner: $47
- Typical Costa Rican Cooking Classes in La Fortuna: $48
- Costa Rican cuisine Cooking Class at Rancho Don Lelo: $54
- Costa Rica The Chela Cooking Experience : $55
- Costa Rican Cooking Class: $57
- Cooking Class "Cook Like a Local" La Fortuna: $63
- Private typical cooking class with a Costa Rican family: $70
- Rainforest Night Walk and Authentic Costa Rican Dinner from La Fortuna: $71
- Horseback Riding and Cooking Class with Lunch : $72
- Cooking and Salsa Dance Lesson Combo : $74
- Private cooking class in organic farm at La Fortuna: $75
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ushuaia
For Ushuaia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Adventure and Snow Moto + Buffet Lunch or Pizza Rodizio + Transfer: $96
- Beaver Sighting with Dinner off Lake Fagnano: $170
- Ushuaia City Tour: Vespertine Tour with Dinner: $189
- Snowmobile + Snowshoeing + Huskies + Skiing + Lunch or Pizza Buffet: $195
- Tierra del Fuego National Park PM - with Dinner included: $210
- Discovering Lakes Escondido and Fagnano with sunset dinner: $210
- Puerto Almanza and Punta Paraná Tour with Dinner: $210
- Tierra del Fuego National Park: vespertine tour with dinner: $210
- Snow and Fire with Dinner in Firepit, Sledge Ride and Snowmobile: $250
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.La Fortuna $44Ushuaia -
Tours and Activities in La Fortuna
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Fortuna are as follows:
- La Fortuna's 3 Essentials Private Tour: $280
- Sky Adventures Arenal : Zipline - Sky Tram & Sky Walk (guided): $260
- 12-Cable Zipline Canopy Tour Over Waterfalls: $111
- 3-In-1 Río Celeste: Tubing, Natural Pool and Jungle Night Tour.: $80
- 7 Nights Costa Rica Fully Guided Adventure: $1,850
- 7-Cable Zipline Canopy Tour Over La Fortuna Waterfall: $91
- ARENAL DISCOVERY ADVENTURE (1): Volcano Hike, Waterfall & Lunch: $179
- ARENAL DISCOVERY ADVENTURE (3):Hanging Bridges, Waterfall & Lunch: $191
- ATV Tour Discovery Adventure Double : $170
- ATV Tour Experience in Parque Ecologico Volcan Arenal : $130
- ATV adventure Tour in La Fortuna: $95
- Adventure Pass: $167
Tours and Activities in Ushuaia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ushuaia.
- Panoramic City Train Tour: $20
- Guided Tour of the City of Ushuaia: $21
- Double-Decker Sightseeing Tour: $23
- Exploring Double Decker Bus Tour: $28
- CITY TOUR USHUAIA+ MARTIAL GLACIER RESERVE VISIT: $28
- City Tour Ushuaia: $30
- USHUAIA | City Tour + Martial Glacier Reserve: $36
- Tierra del Fuego National Park Tour: $50
- LANDSCAPES AND DELIGHTS - CITY TOUR: $50
- End of the World Train Ticket: $55
- Urban Walking Tour with Yatana Forest Historic Site Visit: $55
- Experience in the Classic National Park in Ushuaia: $63
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLa Fortuna $11Ushuaia -
Sample the Local Flavors in La Fortuna
Also in La Fortuna, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wine Tasting Experience : $135
Sample the Local Flavors in Ushuaia
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Ushuaia:
- Photo tour and Wine Tasting in Ushuaia City: $115
- City tour and Wine tasting: $115
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between La Fortuna and Ushuaia, we can see that La Fortuna is more expensive. And not only is Ushuaia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since La Fortuna is in Central America and Ushuaia 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 Ushuaia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ushuaia 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 La Fortuna would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Fortuna than you might in Ushuaia.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is La Fortuna Expensive? and Is Ushuaia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, La Fortuna or Ushuaia?
Ushuaia has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of La Fortuna. When comparing the sizes of La Fortuna and Ushuaia, 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.
When is the best time to visit La Fortuna or Ushuaia?
Ushuaia has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but La Fortuna experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit La Fortuna or Ushuaia in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to La Fortuna as well as Ushuaia. La Fortuna attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, La Fortuna is generally much warmer than Ushuaiain January. Daily temperatures in La Fortuna average around 28°C (82°F), and Ushuaia fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
In the summer, La Fortuna often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Ushuaiain January. La Fortuna gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ushuaia receives 169 hours of full sun.
La Fortuna receives a lot of rain in the summer. La Fortuna usually gets more rain in July than Ushuaiain January. La Fortuna gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Ushuaia receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryLa Fortuna 28°C (82°F)Ushuaia 10°C (50°F)
Should I visit La Fortuna or Ushuaia in the Autumn?
Both Ushuaia and La Fortuna are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to La Fortuna throughout the year.
La Fortuna is much warmer than Ushuaia in the autumn. The daily temperature in La Fortuna averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Ushuaia fluctuates around 6°C (43°F)in April.
La Fortuna usually receives more sunshine than Ushuaia during autumn. La Fortuna gets 169 hours of sunny skies, while Ushuaia receives 74 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in La Fortuna. In October, La Fortuna usually receives more rain than Ushuaiain April. La Fortuna gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Ushuaia receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in La Fortuna is December to April. The hurricane season in La Fortuna is May to November.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilLa Fortuna 27°C (81°F)Ushuaia 6°C (43°F)
Should I visit La Fortuna or Ushuaia in the Winter?
Both Ushuaia and La Fortuna during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to La Fortuna because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Ushuaia can be very cold during winter. In the winter, La Fortuna is much warmer than Ushuaia. Typically, the winter temperatures in La Fortuna in January average around 27°C (81°F), and Ushuaia averages at about 2°C (36°F)in July.
It's quite sunny in La Fortuna. In the winter, La Fortuna often gets more sunshine than Ushuaiain July. La Fortuna gets 264 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ushuaia receives 61 hours of full sun.
La Fortuna usually gets less rain in January than Ushuaiain July. La Fortuna gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Ushuaia receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyLa Fortuna 27°C (81°F)Ushuaia 2°C (36°F)
Should I visit La Fortuna or Ushuaia in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both La Fortuna and Ushuaia. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to La Fortuna year-round.
In April, La Fortuna is generally much warmer than Ushuaiain October. Daily temperatures in La Fortuna average around 29°C (85°F), and Ushuaia fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).
In La Fortuna, it's very sunny this time of the year. La Fortuna usually receives more sunshine than Ushuaia during spring. La Fortuna gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while Ushuaia receives 156 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, La Fortuna usually receives around the same amount of rain as Ushuaiain October. La Fortuna gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Ushuaia receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the spring. December to April in La Fortuna is the dry season. May to November is the hurricane season in La Fortuna.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberLa Fortuna 29°C (85°F)Ushuaia 6°C (43°F)
Typical Weather for Ushuaia and La Fortuna
| La Fortuna | Ushuaia | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
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.