Which place is cheaper, Ushuaia or La Plata?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit La Plata or Ushuaia?
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 Ushuaia can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: La Plata or Ushuaia?
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.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Buenos Aires, The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, and The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLa Plata $8.62Ushuaia $11
The average daily cost (per person) in La Plata is $8.62, while the average daily cost in Ushuaia is $11. 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 Plata and Ushuaia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLa Plata $3.47Ushuaia $5.64
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLa Plata $6.94Ushuaia $11
Compare Hotels in La Plata and Ushuaia
Looking for a hotel in La Plata 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 Plata Hotel Prices and Ushuaia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.La Plata $2.47Ushuaia -
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ushuaia
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ushuaia are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$0.03
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ushuaia
Also for Ushuaia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Airport and Hotel Transfer in Ushuaia: $139
- Private Embarkation Debarkation Transfer: $129
- Private Transfer Airport-Hotel-Airport (Ushuaia): $120
- Escondido and Fagnano Lakes with transfer: $97
- Transfer from/to the airport: $89
- Private Transfer Airport-Port or Port-Airport (Ushuaia): $55
- Ushuaia Airport(USH) to Ushuaia city - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $46
- Shared Transfer Airport-Hotel-Airport (Ushuaia): $37
- Transfer Ushuaia Airport - Hotel in Ushuaia - Ushuaia Airport : $35
- Private Transfer from Ushuaia Airport(USH) to Ushuaia Cruise Port: $28
- Private Transfer from Ushuaia Cruise Port to Ushuaia Airport(USH): $28
- Private Transfer Hotel-Bus Station or Bus Station-Hotel (Ushuaia): $27
Is it cheaper to fly into La Plata or Ushuaia?
Prices for flights to both Ushuaia 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
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Food Meals for one dayLa Plata $3.37Ushuaia $2.18
Typical Food Prices in La Plata
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to La Plata:
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Ice Cream$0.01
Typical Food Prices in Ushuaia
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ushuaia:
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Lunch for Two$0.06
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ushuaia
For Ushuaia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Ushuaia at night: A Snow and Fire dinner, sledding and adventure: $280
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.La Plata $2.16Ushuaia $13
Typical Entertainment Prices in La Plata
For La Plata, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Sciencias Naturales Museum Entrance Fee$0.01
Tours and Activities in Ushuaia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ushuaia.
- 2-day tour: Tierra del Fuego National Park + Fagnano and Escondido Lakes: $115
- 2-day tour:Tierra del Fuego NP + Beagle Channel Navigation + Fagnano & Escondido: $190
- 3-Hour Navigation Tour in the Beagle Channel with Isla de Lobos: $145
- 3-Hour Tour Sailing through the Beagle Channel: $105
- 4×4 Off Road Tour to Escondido and Khami Lakes: $122
- 4-Hour National Park - USHUAIA (Shared tour): $75
- 4WD Off-Road Lakes Adventure in Tierra del Fuego: $156
- 5-Hour Nat Park + City tour - USHUAIA (Private Tour): $195
- 5.5-Hour Nat Park w/ Hiking *Shore Excursion* USHUAIA (Shared tour for cruises): $115
- 5.5-Hour National park w/ hiking Shore excursion - USHUAIA (Private Tour): $280
- 5hrs of Trekking Experience in Martial Glacier: $95
- 7-Hour Lakes Escondido & Fagnano - USHUAIA (Shared tour): $105
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLa Plata $1.20Ushuaia -
Typical Alcohol Prices in Ushuaia
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Ushuaia are as follows:
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Wine$0.05
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Beer$0.01
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between La Plata and Ushuaia, we can see that Ushuaia is more expensive. And not only is La Plata much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to La Plata would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Plata 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 Ushuaia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ushuaia than you might in La Plata.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is La Plata Expensive? and Is Ushuaia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, La Plata or Ushuaia?
La Plata has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Ushuaia. When comparing the sizes of La Plata 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 Plata or Ushuaia?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit La Plata or Ushuaia in the Summer?
Both Ushuaia and La Plata are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities.
In January, La Plata is generally much warmer than Ushuaia. Daily temperatures in La Plata average around 25°C (77°F), and Ushuaia fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
La Plata usually receives more sunshine than Ushuaia during summer. La Plata gets 191 hours of sunny skies, while Ushuaia receives 169 hours of full sun in the summer.
In January, La Plata usually receives more rain than Ushuaia. La Plata gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Ushuaia receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryLa Plata 25°C (77°F)Ushuaia 10°C (50°F)
Should I visit La Plata or Ushuaia in the Autumn?
Both Ushuaia and La Plata during the autumn are popular places to visit.
La Plata is much warmer than Ushuaia in the autumn. The daily temperature in La Plata averages around 18°C (65°F) in April, and Ushuaia fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).
In the autumn, La Plata often gets more sunshine than Ushuaia. La Plata gets 156 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ushuaia receives 74 hours of full sun.
La Plata usually gets more rain in April than Ushuaia. La Plata gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Ushuaia receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilLa Plata 18°C (65°F)Ushuaia 6°C (43°F)
Should I visit La Plata or Ushuaia in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both La Plata and Ushuaia.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Ushuaia. In the winter, La Plata is much warmer than Ushuaia. Typically, the winter temperatures in La Plata in July average around 12°C (53°F), and Ushuaia averages at about 2°C (36°F).
La Plata usually receives more sunshine than Ushuaia during winter. La Plata gets 102 hours of sunny skies, while Ushuaia receives 61 hours of full sun in the winter.
In July, La Plata usually receives more rain than Ushuaia. La Plata gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Ushuaia receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulyLa Plata 12°C (53°F)Ushuaia 2°C (36°F)
Should I visit La Plata or Ushuaia in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to La Plata as well as Ushuaia.
In October, La Plata is generally much warmer than Ushuaia. Daily temperatures in La Plata average around 18°C (64°F), and Ushuaia fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).
In the spring, La Plata often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Ushuaia. La Plata gets 167 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ushuaia receives 156 hours of full sun.
La Plata receives a lot of rain in the spring. La Plata usually gets more rain in October than Ushuaia. La Plata gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Ushuaia receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberLa Plata 18°C (64°F)Ushuaia 6°C (43°F)
Typical Weather for Ushuaia and La Plata
| La Plata | Ushuaia | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Mar | 22°C (71°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 18°C (65°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Jun | 12°C (53°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 12°C (53°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 13°C (55°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 15°C (59°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (69°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (74°F) | 96 mm (3.8 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.