Which place is cheaper, El Calafate or Merida?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Merida or El Calafate?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Merida or El Calafate, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Merida or El Calafate?
Merida
Merida is the largest city on the Yucatan Peninsula, which separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Caribbean Sea. It is also the capital of the state of Yucatan as a whole. There is a population of 750,000 and is very rich in diversity and culture.
El Calafate
Located in Patagonia, El Calafate has become a popular tourist destination in Argentina because of its beautiful setting on the stunningly blue Lago Argentina. The town sits on the southern border of the lake in the southwestern part of the Santa Cruz Province. It's about 320 kilometers from Rio Gallegos.
The rise in popularity of Patagonia as a tourist destination has truly put this small town on the map. You'll find no shortage of trekkers in the town and it makes an excellent base to explore different parts of the Los Glaciares National Park. Popular places to visit include Perito Moreno Glacier, Cerro Chalten, and Cerro Torre.
El Calafate has a cold semi-arid climate. The summers are cool to warm and very dry while the winters are cold and damp. Lago Argentino has a significant influence over the town's climate. The shallow bay where the town is located is usually frozen during the winter months.
Check out our ultimate guide to Hiking in Patagonia.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina.
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Merida Prices
Mexico PricesEl Calafate Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMerida $104El Calafate $58
The average daily cost (per person) in Merida is $104, while the average daily cost in El Calafate is $58. 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 Merida and El Calafate in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMerida $42El Calafate $36
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMerida $84El Calafate $72
Compare Hotels in Merida and El Calafate
Looking for a hotel in Merida or El Calafate? 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: Merida Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Merida $17El Calafate $4.17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Merida
Also for Merida, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- transfer from/to airport progress sisal telchac celestun: $146
- Transfer to and from Valladolid Izamal Chichen Itza Airport: $146
- Roundtrip Private Transfer from Merida Airport (MID): $39
- Private Transfer from Merida city hotels to Progreso Cruise Port: $131
- Private Transfer from Merida Rejon Airport (MID) to Progreso Port: $131
- Private Transfer Merida to Playa del Carmen with Flexible Stops: $245
- Private Transfer Mérida to Cancun with Flexible Sightseeing: $258
- Private Transfer From Uxmal to Merida, English Speaking Driver: $152
- Mexico Private Transfer from Merida airport to central Merida: $123
- Merida Rejon Airport(MID)to Tulum hotels-Arrival Private Transfer: $211
- Merida Airport (MID) Private Transfer to Merida Centre: $40
- Mérida International Airport (MID) to Merida hotels - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Calafate
Also for El Calafate, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfers from the Airport to El Calafate with City Tour: $29
- Transfer from your hotel to El Calafate airport: $16
- Transfer from the airport to your hotel in El Calafate: $16
- Transfer from Hotels to Airport: $45
- Shared Transfer from El Calafate to El Chaltén: $80
- Shared Transfer from El Calafate Airport to Hotel or v.v.: $16
- Shared Transfer Airport - Hotel in El Calafate: $18
- Private transfer from El Calafate Airport to hotel in El Chaltén: $315
- Private Transfer to El Calafate Airport (FTE): $25
- Private Transfer from El Calafate Hotels to the Airport: $45
- Private Transfer Hotel-Bus Station or Bus Station-Hotel (Calafate): $35
- Perito Moreno Glacier expedition with transfer Included: $62
Is it cheaper to fly into Merida or El Calafate?
Prices for flights to both El Calafate and Merida 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 dayMerida $48El Calafate $6.64
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Merida
For Merida, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Yucatán Flavours Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Merida Food Tour: Local Markets, Street Food & Yucatecan Cuisine: $64
- Merida Walking Food Tour. Authentic & Local Cuisine: $70
- Merida : Between Markets and Flavors Food Tour: $85
- Uxmal, two Amazing Cenotes & Local Food Tour from Mérida: $87
- Mérida Food Tour: Markets and Street Flavors: $95
- Taste of the Yucatan: Merida Cooking Class and Market Visit: $95
- Private Mérida Cooking Class in a Local Yucatecan Home: $109
- 7-Course Yucatecan Dinner Experience: $160
- Mérida: Yucatecan Cooking Class: $161
- Mérida: Yucatecan Cooking Class: $175
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in El Calafate
For El Calafate, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Argentine Dinner with Live Music Folklore -Estancia 25 de Mayo: $55
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Dinner & Show with Transfer: $88
- Country Afternoon with Dinner Show - Estancia 25 de Mayo: $92
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Tour with Dinner & Transfer: $138
- Estancia 25 de Mayo in El Calafate - PM visit with dinner: $165
- Lakes and Caves Tour with Dinner and Wine Included: $179
- Lakes and Caves Tour with Dinner: $197
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Experience with Dinner and Horseback Riding: $225
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Merida $15El Calafate $52
Typical Entertainment Prices in Merida
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Merida's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Train at the Zoo$0.11
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Uxmal Entrance (for 2)$19
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Mayan Village Entrance (for 2)$5.72
Tours and Activities in Merida
For Merida, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 3 Hour Tour in The Sotuta de Peón Live Museum: $58
- 3 Hours Private Tour in Merida, you choose!: $44
- 3x1 Tour Chichen Itza Magic Town & Cenote & Izamal from Merida: $108
- 4 Cenotes Tour in Homún all inclusive from Merida: $84
- ATV Adventure Tour to Cenotes Holca and Sotuta from Mérida: $231
- Adventure 4 cenotes: $114
- Adventure to Hacienda Mucuyche & Oxkintok, 2 cenotes from Mérida: $118
- Bar hopping tour in Merida: $69
- Beach Tour in Yucalpetén from Mérida: $105
- Bird Watching Tour North of Mérida-Half Day: $300
- Boat tour through the mangroves of Celestún and Playa from Merida: $103
- Celestun Biosphere Reserve Tour from Merida: $194
Tours and Activities in El Calafate
For El Calafate, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- “Todo Glaciares” Scenic Glacier Boat Tour from El Calafate: $235
- 2-Day Tours from Torres del Paine & Perito Moreno: $289
- 4 Days & 3 Nights El Calafate & El Chaltén Magical Adventure: $1,350
- Adventure Horseback Riding on Cerro Frias: $150
- Adventure on Ice: MiniTrekking in the Perito Moreno Glacier: $447
- Blue Safari Experience: Hiking and Navigation on Glaciers: $219
- Calafate : Patagonian Riding and Lunch Experience: $260
- Calafate Panoramic tour: The best balconies of Calafate 4x4: $195
- Calafate: Cerro Huyliche-SouthRoad Adventure 4x4 Full / Trekking / Zip Line: $120
- Calafate: Perito Moreno Glacier Guided Full-Day Tour: $52
- Calafate: SouthRoad Extreme Adventure. UTV Self-Drive: $250
- Chalten full day Trekking - Laguna de los Tres Experience: $400
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMerida $15El Calafate $8.26
Sample the Local Flavors in Merida
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Merida:
- Brewery Tour and Beer Tasting | Tour y Degustación de Cerveza: $41
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Merida and El Calafate, we can see that Merida is more expensive. And not only is El Calafate much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Merida is in North America and El Calafate is in South America, 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 El Calafate would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Calafate 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 Merida would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Merida than you might in El Calafate.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Merida Expensive? and Is El Calafate Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Merida or El Calafate?
Merida has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of El Calafate. When comparing the sizes of Merida and El Calafate, 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.