Which place is cheaper, Mendoza or Mar del Plata?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mar del Plata or Mendoza?
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 Mendoza can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Mar del Plata or Mendoza?
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.
Mendoza
Mendoza is a city in western Argentina and more precisely in the desertic Cuyo region. Mendoza is the center of the Argentinian wine industry and is famed around the world for its vineyards and wine production. Spread across the valley of the Rio Mendoza and in the foothills of the Andean mountain range, Mendoza is also near the Aconcagua, the highest mountain outside of the Himalayas. The bustling and scenic city of wide, leafy avenues, atmospheric plazas and cosmopolitan cafes spoils visitors with unique natural attractions and historical landmarks. If you can, visit Mendoza during the harvest festival at the end of February. There are many events and festivals in Mendoza and they are usually free. Each has a different theme, and they usually have a stage with singing and dancing and booths that sell food around a plaza. Seventy percent of Argentina's wines are produced here, and Mendoza is especially known for its world-famous malbecs.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Argentina, The Best Budget Tours to Argentina, The Best Tours for Seniors to Argentina, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMar del Plata $8.78Mendoza $7.36
The average daily cost (per person) in Mar del Plata is $8.78, while the average daily cost in Mendoza is $7.36. 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 Mendoza in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMar del Plata $3.15Mendoza $2.79
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMar del Plata $6.30Mendoza $5.58
Compare Hotels in Mar del Plata and Mendoza
Looking for a hotel in Mar del Plata or Mendoza? 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: Mar del Plata Hotel Prices and Mendoza Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mar del Plata $2.50Mendoza $1.46
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mendoza
Also for Mendoza, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Mendoza Bodega Tempus Alba + Trapiche + Transfer incluido: $550
- Visit Trapiche+Lunch El Enemigo (Michelin). Private transfer: $290
- Transfer to Salentein Uco Valley with Lunch and Visit: $260
- Chandon Winery + Enemigo Lunch (Michelin Guide). Transfer included: $250
- Vistalba Winery + Susana Balbo Lunch. (Michelin Guide) Transfer inc: $230
- Visita Achaval F+Almuerzo Lagarde(Guia Michelin).Transfer privado: $230
- Visita Decero+Almuerzo S Balbo (Guia Michelin). Transfer privado: $230
- Desgustación Pulenta Estate + Almuerzo en Ruda. Transfer privado: $220
- Private Transfer Vinicolas Valle de Uco: $190
- 3 Wineries+Lunch with Unlimited Wine+Transfer included: $180
- Trapiche Winery + Laur + Antigal Winery Lunch.Transfer included: $180
- Zuccardi Santa Julia+Lunch at Antigal Winery.Transfer included: $150
Is it cheaper to fly into Mar del Plata or Mendoza?
Prices for flights to both Mendoza 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
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Food Meals for one dayMar del Plata $3.81Mendoza $3.29
Typical Food Prices in Mendoza
For Mendoza, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Empanadas$0.01
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mendoza
For Mendoza, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Traditional lunch with pairing, private cooking class and show: $110
- Visit Los Toneles + Saffron Dinner (Michelin Star). With Transfer: $240
- Night Visit to Bodega Toneles + Dinner at El Enemigo. Transport: $270
- Cooking class at Bodega Lamadrid Winery in Luján de Cuyo: $270
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mar del Plata $2.27Mendoza $2.08
Tours and Activities in Mendoza
For Mendoza, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 4X4 tour Villavicencio Puente del Inca: $44
- Adrenaline Canopy Tour on the Mendoza River: $77
- Adventure Park - Unforgettable Challenge!: $75
- Andes Day Horseback Riding Tour and BBQ: $189
- Andes High Mountain Tour in Mendoza: $99
- Andes High Mountain full day Tour: $76
- Andes Mountain Tour Circuit Mt Aconcagua: $220
- Asado em Casa Mendocina Experience with Friends: $150
- Choose your Wine Adventure at Uco Valley: $148
- City Tour And Wines With Lunch: $136
- City tour with visit to General San Martin Park: $27
- Discover Villavicencio Natural Reserve: Half-Day Adventure: $51
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMar del Plata $1.78Mendoza $1.25
Typical Alcohol Prices in Mendoza
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Mendoza:
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Beer$0.01
Sample the Local Flavors in Mendoza
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Mendoza:
- Classic Wine Tasting: $22
- Half-Day Wine Tour with Tastings: $28
- Premium Wine Tasting: $45
- Vineyards with Wine Tasting in Mendoza: $49
- Argentinean Asado with Local Host and Wine Tasting: $99
- Ultimate Uco Valley Wine Tour: $140
- Full-Day Private Luján De Cuyo Wine Tour from Mendoza: $143
- Private Wine Tour, Tastings and Lunch with Pairings: $150
- Wine Tour with Lunch from Mendoza: $163
- Full Day Wine Tour with 3 Course Lunch: $165
- Wine Tour with Lunch and Transport in Mendoza: $170
- All Day, Small Group, Luxury Wine Tour with Gourmet Lunch: $180
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mar del Plata and Mendoza, we can see that Mar del Plata is more expensive. And not only is Mendoza much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mendoza would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mendoza 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 Mar del Plata would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mar del Plata than you might in Mendoza.
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 Mendoza Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mar del Plata or Mendoza?
Mendoza has a larger population, and is about 58% larger than the population of Mar del Plata. When comparing the sizes of Mar del Plata and Mendoza, 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.