A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Mar del Plata vs. Bonaire for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Mar del Plata or Bonaire?

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 Mar del Plata and Bonaire can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Mar del Plata or Bonaire?

Mar del Plata

Mar del Plata is found only 404 km southeast of the city of Buenos Aires, on the Atlantic coast. Today Mar Del Plata is Argentina‘s most well known beach resort. It has successfully married the two worlds of beach and city into a fun, cosmopolitan urban center with the presence of highly developed tourist infrastructure. Founded in 1874, Mar del Plata was at first mainly an industrial and commercial center before becoming a vacation destination for Argentinians. For a peaceful trip and intimate oceanfront promenades, avoid visiting Mar del Plata during summer time, as the gorgeous arced coastline will be crawling with visitors. But the city is more than just beaches. It also offers some culture, lively nightlife, and great food.

Bonaire

An island municipality of the Netherlands, Bonaire resides in the Caribbean, east of Central America and north of Venezuela. It is a part of the ABC Islands together with Aruba and Curaçao, and is best known as a tropical vacation destination with many great dive spots, beaches, lagoons, and wildlife.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Argentina, and The Best Budget Tours to Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, Bonaire or Mar del Plata?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Mar del Plata is $8.78, while the average daily cost in Bonaire is $256. 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 Mar del Plata and Bonaire in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mar del Plata $3.15
    Bonaire $155
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mar del Plata $6.30
    Bonaire $310
Compare Hotels in Mar del Plata and Bonaire

Looking for a hotel in Mar del Plata or Bonaire? 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 Mar del Plata


Hotels in Bonaire


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: Mar del Plata Hotel Prices and Bonaire Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mar del Plata $2.50
    Bonaire $65

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bonaire

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bonaire:

  • Private Transfer from Kralendijk City to Kralendijk Cruise Port: $59
  • Private Transfer from Kralendijk Cruise Port to Kralendijk city : $59
  • Private Transfer from Kralendijk Port to Bonaire Airport (BON): $59
  • Airport Transfer Return Included: $44
  • Private Transfers from Bonaire airport to any address on Bonaire: $43

Is it cheaper to fly into Mar del Plata or Bonaire?

Prices for flights to both Bonaire and Mar del 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
    Mar del Plata $3.81
    Bonaire $59

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mar del Plata $2.27
    Bonaire $40

Tours and Activities in Bonaire

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bonaire are as follows:

  • 2 Hours Private Kitesurfing Adventure: $265
  • 4 Hours Open Air Party Bus Tour with Beach Stop in Caribbean: $39
  • Bonaire CaveTour Climb, Snorkel & Explore the Hidden Gems : $83
  • Bonaire Essentials Island Tour: $49
  • Bonaire Landsailing Adventures: $79
  • Bonaire Shore Excursion: The Bonaire Highlights Tour: $83
  • Guided Night Snorkeltour With Tarpons on the Hunt: $70
  • Brunch & Snorkel Catamaran Tour: $115
  • Catamaran Snorkel & BBQ Sail (cruise friendly): $105
  • Cave Adventure: Walk, Climb & Swim: $75
  • Cave Exploration Tour & Snorkeling: $100
  • Cave Tour with Local Guide: $94

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mar del Plata $1.78
    Bonaire $33


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mar del Plata Expensive? and Is Bonaire Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Mar del Plata or Bonaire?

Mar del Plata has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Bonaire. When comparing the sizes of Mar del Plata and Bonaire, 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.