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

Should you visit Mar del Plata or Curitiba?

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 Curitiba can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Mar del Plata or Curitiba?

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.

Curitiba

Curitiba is a relatively large city that is convenient to visit if you're traveling to Iguazu Falls from either Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo. It is worth a day or two stop over because it has a great old city that has been restored. It's also the capital of Parana, Brazil. Curitiba is one of the more wealthy cities in the southern region of Brazil. It has a diverse population with many immigrants and some interesting cultural events.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Argentina, The Best Budget Tours to Argentina, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Brazil, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Brazil.


Which place is cheaper, Curitiba 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 $9.01, while the average daily cost in Curitiba is $75. 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 Curitiba in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mar del Plata $3.23
    Curitiba $31
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mar del Plata $6.46
    Curitiba $62
Compare Hotels in Mar del Plata and Curitiba

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


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 Curitiba Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mar del Plata $2.56
    Curitiba $17

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Curitiba

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Curitiba:


  • Taxi Ride
    $2.02

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Curitiba

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

  • Curitiba Airport PrivateTransfers Round Trip or One Way: $113
  • Private Transfer from Curitiba Airport: $106
  • Afonso Pena Airport (CWB) to Beach Resorts - Round-Trip Transfer: $89
  • Private Transfer from Curitiba Airport (CWB) to Porto Belo Port : $77
  • Private Transfer from Curitiba City Hotels to Porto Belo Port: $77
  • Shared transfer between Curitiba Airport and Hotels: $76
  • Afonso Pena Airport CWB to Beach Resorts : Arrival Transfer: $44
  • Shared Transfer: Curitiba International Airport: $39
  • Private Transfer from Curitiba City to Curitiba Airport (CWB): $36
  • Curitiba Airport (CWB) to Downtown - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $33
  • Curitiba to Afonso Pena Airport (CWB)- Departure Private Transfer: $18
  • Curitiba to Curitiba Airport (CWB) - Departure Private Transfer: $17

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

Prices for flights to both Curitiba 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 $3.91
    Curitiba $29

Typical Food Prices in Curitiba

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


  • Chips
    $0.91

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Curitiba

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

  • Bar-hopping and Food Tour in Curitiba: $32
  • Curitiba's History Food Tour: $70
  • Curitiba's History Food Tour: $76
  • Curitiba Tour by Night with Dinner: $94

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mar del Plata $2.33
    Curitiba $20

Tours and Activities in Curitiba

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Curitiba.

  • Full Day Tour to Vila Velha and Buraco do Padre: $161
  • 2-Day Rafting and Rappelling Adventure in Tibagi: $195
  • 4-Hour Private Tour of Curitiba City: $72
  • Arte Bike Tour - Bike Tour with Kuritbike: $25
  • CRAFT BREWERS TOUR By Jens Tours: $74
  • Complete Tour to Ilha do Mel: $152
  • Curitiba City Tour: $58
  • A complete city tour: $108
  • A private city tour: $73
  • Walking tour from past to present: $12
  • Full-day tour in Curitiba: $81
  • Gastronomic Tour in Curitiba with Jens Tours: $82

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mar del Plata $1.82
    Curitiba $14

Typical Alcohol Prices in Curitiba

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


  • Beer
    $0.45


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mar del Plata and Curitiba, we can see that Curitiba is more expensive. And not only is Mar del Plata much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Curitiba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Curitiba 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 Curitiba Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Mar del Plata or Curitiba?

Curitiba has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Mar del Plata. When comparing the sizes of Mar del Plata and Curitiba, 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.