A Travel Price Comparison for Argentina La Plata vs. Mendoza for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit La Plata or Mendoza?

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 La Plata and Mendoza can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: La Plata or Mendoza?

La Plata

Just over an hour from Buenos Aires, the bustling university city of La Plata is notable for being South America's first planned city. Indeed, also known as the City of Diagonal, La Plata's intricate grid system includes diagonal streets that run through it, contributing to easy navigation but confusing intersections.La Plata is the Capital of the Province of Buenos Aires, the main Argentine state, so you will find lots of elaborate government buildings alongside leafy green plazas in this laid back as well as active city. La Plata is a happening university town with a population of over 700,000. You can walk the width of it in under an hour, stopping at trendy craft beer bars, local music joints, and great restaurants along the way. Also, football is a religion in Argentina and if you're looking for some local atmosphere, La Plata is the place to go! Two of Argentina's biggest football teams, Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata and Estudiantes de La Plata challenge each other each year. If you are around during that special day for the city, you will witness thousands of fans wearing the relevant colours heading off to watch the match and parade by calle 7.

Mendoza

Mendoza is a city in western Argentina and more precisely in the desertic Cuyo region. Mendoza is the center of the Argentinian wine industry and is famed around the world for its vineyards and wine production. Spread across the valley of the Rio Mendoza and in the foothills of the Andean mountain range, Mendoza is also near the Aconcagua, the highest mountain outside of the Himalayas. The bustling and scenic city of wide, leafy avenues, atmospheric plazas and cosmopolitan cafes spoils visitors with unique natural attractions and historical landmarks. If you can, visit Mendoza during the harvest festival at the end of February. There are many events and festivals in Mendoza and they are usually free. Each has a different theme, and they usually have a stage with singing and dancing and booths that sell food around a plaza. Seventy percent of Argentina's wines are produced here, and Mendoza is especially known for its world-famous malbecs.

Which city is cheaper, Mendoza or La Plata?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in La Plata is $43, while the average daily cost in Mendoza is $37. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for La Plata and Mendoza in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    La Plata $17
    Mendoza $14
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    La Plata $34
    Mendoza $28

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    La Plata $12
    Mendoza $7.23

Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Plata

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

  • La Plata hotels to El Palomar Airport (EPA) - Departure Private Transfer: $75

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mendoza

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

  • Premium Spa Day & Fango Therapy at Cacheuta Hot Springs with Lunch and Transfers: $93
  • Mendoza Airport Arrival Transfer: $55
  • Private Transfer in Mendoza: $29
  • Private Airport Transfer: El Plumerillo International Airport (MDZ) to Mendoza: $22
  • Private Airport Transfer: Mendoza to El Plumerillo International Airport (MDZ): $22
  • Private 1-Way or Round-Trip MDZ Airport Transfer: $20
  • Mendoza Airport Shuttle Transfer: $11
  • Shared 1-Way or Round Trip MDZ Airport Transfer: $7.00

Is it cheaper to fly into La Plata or Mendoza?

Prices for flights to both Mendoza and La Plata 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
    La Plata $17
    Mendoza $16
Typical Food prices in La Plata

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


  • Ice Cream
    $0.09

Typical Food prices in Mendoza

For Mendoza, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Empanadas
    $0.07

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mendoza

For Mendoza, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Gourmet Dinner at Espacio Trapiche: $54
  • Cooking class experience at a Mendoza winery: $145
  • Asado cooking class and dinner in Mendoza city.: $168
  • Winery dinner. Enjoy the best restaurant in a winery: $252

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    La Plata $11
    Mendoza $10
Typical Entertainment prices in La Plata

For La Plata, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Sciencias Naturales Museum Entrance Fee
    $0.04

Tours and Activities in Mendoza

For Mendoza, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 3-Days Getaway for Wine lovers - Mendoza Experience!: $670
  • 360ยบ Tour: Vintage classic driving in the Uco Valley.: $97
  • 4-Day Semi-private Mendoza Wine Experience: $718
  • 4-Days of Adventure at Mendoza - Beauty & Adrenaline: $705
  • 4-day Semi-private Tour of Mendoza Andes & Wine: $570
  • 5-Day Adventure Trip in Mendoza: $766
  • 5-Day Private Tour of Mendoza: $1,290
  • 7-Day Mendoza & Bariloche Adventure: Horseback riding, Wine, Trekking & Kayaking: $1,326
  • 7-Day Mendoza & Santiago de Chile Adventure tour: $1,863
  • Aconcagua hiking tour Quebrada del Durazno: $148
  • Amazing High mountain tour to Aconcagua: $180
  • Andes Hiking Experience Full Day: $145

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    La Plata $5.98
    Mendoza $6.19

Typical Alcohol prices in Mendoza

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


  • Beer
    $0.04

Sample the Local Flavors in Mendoza

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Mendoza:

  • Half-Day Wine Tour with Tastings: $19
  • Vineyards with Wine Tasting in Mendoza: $21
  • Full Day Wine Tour with 3 Course Lunch: $75
  • Mendoza Wine Tour with Lunch: $80
  • Sunday Wine Tasting Tour and Argentinien BBQ: $80
  • Bike wine tour. Visit 2 of the best wineries: $81
  • Private Uco Valley Tour including Lunch and Wine Tasting from Mendoza: $95
  • Private Lujan Wine Tour with Gourmet Wine-Paired Lunch from Mendoza: $100
  • Half day wine tour. Visit 2 wineries in Lujan de Cuyo: $103
  • Private Wine Tasting and Vineyards Tour from Mendoza: $136
  • Deluxe Mendoza Half-Day Wine Tasting Tour: $145
  • Bike wine tours. Visit 3 wineries and enjoy gourmet lunch: $153

About these numbers

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

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La Plata vs. Mendoza Travel Comparison

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