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

Should you visit Manaus or San Carlos de Bariloche?

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

Should I visit Manaus or San Carlos de Bariloche? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

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

Manaus

Manaus is a Brazilian city, capital of the state of Amazonas, and is located on the Rio Negro a few miles before it meets the Rio Solimões to form the Amazon River. The city is a major departure point for those visiting the Amazon Rainforest, though there are a few sights worth seeing within the city itself as well.

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 Tours for Seniors to Brazil, The Best Contiki Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Argentina.


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

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Manaus is $61, while the average daily cost in San Carlos de Bariloche is $7.52. 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 Manaus and San Carlos de Bariloche in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Manaus $43
    San Carlos de Bariloche $2.72
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Manaus $86
    San Carlos de Bariloche $5.44
Compare Hotels in Manaus and San Carlos de Bariloche

Looking for a hotel in Manaus 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 Manaus


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: Manaus Hotel Prices and San Carlos de Bariloche Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Manaus $8.12
    San Carlos de Bariloche $2.32

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Manaus

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

  • Transfer 24h hotel - aeroporto em Manaus: $18
  • Private 24-hour transfer from the Hotel to the Airport in Manaus: $19
  • Private Transfer 24h Airport to Hotel in Manaus: $19
  • Private transfer hotel -> port of Manaus: $20
  • Private Transfers Services Airport -Hotel 24h: $20
  • Serviço de transfer privativo do Porto -> aeroporto de Mana: $20
  • Manaus to Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) -Departure Private Transfer: $21
  • Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus - Arrival Private Transfer: $21
  • Manaus to Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) - Departure Private Transfer: $23
  • Manaus Airport (MAO) to Manaus hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $24
  • Manaus hotels to Manaus Airport(MAO) - Departure Private Transfer: $24
  • Manaus private Airport transfer: $30

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Carlos de Bariloche

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

  • Visit to Piedras Blancas Bariloche with transfers: $52
  • Transfers to and from San Martín de los Andes: $295
  • Transfers in Bariloche: $22
  • Transfer from the Airport to Bariloche: $26
  • Shared Transfer One Way - Bariloche Airport to Hotel or v.v.: $26
  • Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to Bariloche Airport: $26
  • Private transfer Bariloche Airpot- Hotels: $13
  • Private Transfer from Tom Wesley to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $55
  • Private Transfer from Puerto Pañuelo to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $74
  • Private Transfer from Lago Moreno to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $46
  • Private Transfer from Hotel Tronador to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $166
  • Private Transfer from Hotel Llao Llao to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $74

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

Prices for flights to both San Carlos de Bariloche and Manaus 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
    Manaus $13
    San Carlos de Bariloche $2.83

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Manaus

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

  • Folklore Amazonian Dinner Show: $42
  • Food Tour: $50

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.
    Manaus -
    San Carlos de Bariloche $3.10

Tours and Activities in Manaus

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

  • Walking Tours in Manaus: $15
  • Like a Local Customized Guided Welcome Tour: $30
  • Manaus City Tour e Musa: $50
  • MUSA and INPA Museums with Observation Tower Tour: $50
  • Half-Day City Tour: $54
  • Full-Day Tour on the Amazon River: $55
  • Amazon Negro River Half-Day Expedition Tour: $55
  • City Tour - The Best of Manaus: $64
  • Solimoes River Piranha Fishing and Alligator Watching Tour: $66
  • Amazon Waterfalls Tour: $70
  • Meeting of the Waters & Pink Dolphin Tour with Lunch: $71
  • Full-Day Package Tour in Presidente Figueiredo : $72

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:

  • 4-Hour Guided Tour of the Small Circuit: $60
  • Bariloche Circuito Grande Sightseeing Tour: $118
  • Bariloche Horseback Riding & Traditional Argentine Barbecue Tour: $115
  • Bariloche San Martin de los Andes and Seven Lakes Road Tour: $130
  • Bariloche Sightseeing Tour: $42
  • Bariloche: 4-Hour Cerro Catedral Base Tour: $15
  • Bariloche: Blest Port and Cantaros Waterfall Tour : $158
  • Bariloche: Full-Day El Bolsón and Puelo Lake Tour: $42
  • Bariloche: Half Day Small Circuit Tour - Mt Campanario and Llao Llao Peninsula: $28
  • From Bariloche: Chico Circuit & Colonia Suiza Tour: $20
  • From Bariloche: Victoria Island & the Arrayanes Forest Tour: $128
  • From Rio Manso Rafting Tour: $185

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Manaus $2.90
    San Carlos de Bariloche $1.86

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 Manaus and San Carlos de Bariloche, we can see that Manaus is more expensive. And not only is San Carlos de Bariloche much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Manaus would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Manaus 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 Manaus Expensive? and Is San Carlos de Bariloche Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Manaus or San Carlos de Bariloche?

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