Which place is cheaper, San Carlos de Bariloche or Manaus?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
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 Contiki Tours to Brazil, The Best G Adventures Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Argentina.
-
Manaus Prices
Brazil PricesSan Carlos de Bariloche Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayManaus $66San Carlos de Bariloche $86
The average daily cost (per person) in Manaus is $66, while the average daily cost in San Carlos de Bariloche is $86. 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 personManaus $41San Carlos de Bariloche $70
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomManaus $82San Carlos de Bariloche $140
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.
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 $7.63San Carlos de Bariloche $2.77
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Manaus
Also for Manaus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 24-hour Hotel Transfer to Manaus Airport: $16
- 24-hour transfer from airport to hotel in Manaus: $17
- 24h Private Transfer Service Hotel to Manaus Airport: $23
- Transfer service from Iberostar (Port) to Manaus Airport: $23
- Serviço de Transfer Privado 24h Aeroporto - Hotel em Manaus: $25
- Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus - Arrival Private Transfer: $36
- Manaus to Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) - Departure Private Transfer: $36
- Transfer from Manaus Airport to Manaus City: $45
- Manaus to Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) -Departure Private Transfer: $55
- Manaus Airport(MAO) to Manaus hotels- Round-Trip Private Transfer: $57
- Manaus private Airport transfer: $60
- Shared Round-Trip Transfer: Eduardo Gomes International Airport: $64
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Carlos de Bariloche
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Carlos de Bariloche:
- Shared Transfer Airport Bariloche Downtown : $25
- Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to Bariloche Airport: $29
- Private Transfer from Villa Mascardi to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $80
- Private Transfer from Tom Wesley to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $60
- Private Transfer from Playa Bonita to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $50
- Private Transfer from Pampa Linda to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $200
- Private Transfer from Lago Moreno to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $50
- Private Transfer from Hotel Tronador to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $179
- Private Transfer from Hotel Llao Llao to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $144
- Private Transfer from Hotel Catedral to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $50
- Private Transfer from El Casco Art Hotel to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $60
- Private Transfer from Downtown Bariloche to the Airport: $43
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 dayManaus $21San Carlos de Bariloche $6.11
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: $60
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Carlos de Bariloche
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Carlos de Bariloche.
- Bariloche: Snowmobile ride with dinner 4 steps: $537
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Manaus -San Carlos de Bariloche $33
Tours and Activities in Manaus
For Manaus, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Manaus Private Walking Tour with a Local: $30
- Walking Tours in Manaus: $36
- 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 in Manaus at Teatro Amazonas and Praça da Matriz: $55
- Manaus City Tour e Musa: $60
- Manaus Sightseeing Tour: $64
- Meeting of the Waters & Pink Dolphin Tour with Lunch: $65
- Solimoes River Piranha Fishing and Alligator Watching Tour: $66
- Full-Day Package Tour in Presidente Figueiredo : $67
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:
- 2-Day Bariloche Experience with Optional Airfare: $430
- 4-Hour Guided Tour of the Small Circuit: $90
- Adventure to Cerro Tronador and Black Ventisquero from Bariloche: $140
- Bariloche Chocolate Tour: Patagonian Flavors on Foot: $52
- Bariloche Craft Beer Sensory Experience: $285
- Bariloche Horseback Riding & Traditional Argentine Barbecue Tour: $204
- Bariloche San Martin de los Andes and Seven Lakes Road Tour: $135
- Bariloche Tour Route of the 7 Lakes to San Martin de los Andes : $80
- Bariloche: Beer Tour through 3 breweries: $240
- Bariloche: Boat Tour to Victoria Island and Arrayanes Forest: $120
- Bariloche: Cerro Catedral Tour: $36
- Bariloche: Cerro Catedral guided tour: $43
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayManaus $2.72San Carlos de Bariloche $8.76
Sample the Local Flavors in San Carlos de Bariloche
Also in San Carlos de Bariloche, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bariloche: Patagonian Experience wine tasting: $95
- Bariloche: Wine Tasting Winehouse Experience: $110
- Patagonian WineHouse in Bariloche: Cheese and Wine Tasting: $125
- Bariloche: Bar Crawl. Patagonian Bar Crawl: $160
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Manaus and San Carlos de Bariloche, we can see that San Carlos de Bariloche is more expensive. And not only is Manaus much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Manaus would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Manaus 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 San Carlos de Bariloche would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Carlos de Bariloche than you might in Manaus.
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.
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.