Which place is cheaper, San Carlos de Bariloche 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 San Carlos de Bariloche?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Merida or San Carlos de Bariloche, 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 San Carlos de Bariloche?
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.
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 2-Week Tours from Cancun, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Argentina.
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Merida Prices
Mexico PricesSan Carlos de Bariloche Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMerida $105San Carlos de Bariloche $90
The average daily cost (per person) in Merida is $105, while the average daily cost in San Carlos de Bariloche is $90. 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 San Carlos de Bariloche in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMerida $43San Carlos de Bariloche $74
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMerida $86San Carlos de Bariloche $148
Compare Hotels in Merida and San Carlos de Bariloche
Looking for a hotel in Merida 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: Merida Hotel Prices and San Carlos de Bariloche Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Merida $18San Carlos de Bariloche $2.90
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Merida
Also for Merida, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Mérida International Airport (MID) to Merida hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $25
- Airport Transfer to Merida Hotels Private: $32
- Roundtrip Private Transfer from Merida Airport (MID): $39
- Merida Airport (MID) Private Transfer to Merida Centre: $40
- Private Transfer from Merida Rejon Airport (MID) to Progreso Port: $132
- Private Transfer from Merida city hotels to Progreso Cruise Port: $132
- Transfer to and from Valladolid Izamal Chichen Itza Airport: $148
- transfer from/to airport progress sisal telchac celestun: $148
- Private Transfer From Merida to Uxmal, English Speaking Driver: $153
- Merida Rejon Airport(MID)to Tulum hotels-Arrival Private Transfer: $213
- Private Transfer Merida to Playa del Carmen with Flexible Stops: $245
- Private Transfer Mérida to Cancun with Flexible Sightseeing: $258
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Carlos de Bariloche
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Carlos de Bariloche:
- Transfer from the Airport to Bariloche: $35
- Sledge Experience at Piedras Blancas Snow Resort with Transfers: $178
- Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to Bariloche Airport: $15
- Private Transfer from Villa Mascardi to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $79
- Private Transfer from Tom Wesley to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $59
- Private Transfer from Playa Bonita to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $50
- Private Transfer from Pampa Linda to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $197
- Private Transfer from Lago Moreno to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $50
- Private Transfer from Hotel Tronador to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $177
- Private Transfer from Hotel Llao Llao to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $143
- Private Transfer from Hotel Catedral to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $50
- Private Transfer from El Casco Art Hotel to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $59
Is it cheaper to fly into Merida or San Carlos de Bariloche?
Prices for flights to both San Carlos de Bariloche 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 $49San Carlos de Bariloche $6.39
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Merida
For Merida, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Private Street Food Tour + Historic Tour Merida - Best Rated: $44
- Twilight Tastes Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Yucatán Flavours Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Merida Walking Food Tour. Authentic & Local Cuisine: $70
- Hands On night Mexican Cooking with Masa: $82
- Empanadas, Salsas and Spirits in Hands-On Mexican Cooking Night: $82
- Cooking with Strangers in Mérida, Yucatán: $88
- Uxmal, two Amazing Cenotes & Local Food Tour from Mérida: $94
- Taste of the Yucatan: Merida Cooking Class and Market Visit: $95
- Mérida Food Tour: Markets and Street Flavors: $95
- Flavors of Yucatán Cooking class & market tour: $97
- Vanilla Cooking Class and Tasting Experience: $112
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Merida $15San Carlos de Bariloche $34
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$0.12
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Uxmal Entrance (for 2)$19
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Mayan Village Entrance (for 2)$5.76
Tours and Activities in Merida
For Merida, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Panoramic Sightseeing Bus City Tour of Merida with 2 Routes: $10
- Historical, Cultural, and Artistic Tour of Downtown Merida: $18
- Vanilla Experience Flavor History Gallery and Garden: $21
- Walking Tour in the City of Mérida: $22
- Uxmal Archeological Site Guided Walking Tour with Entry Fee: $23
- Walking Tour Across the Historic Center in Merida: $30
- Mike&Duck Walking Tour Merida: $30
- Mérida Private Walking Tour with a Local: $35
- Merida Highlights Private Walking Tour with Local Guide: $37
- Mayan Flavors Merida Markets Tour: $44
- Experience at Telchac Beach and its beach club: $50
- Yucatan Cuisine Tasting Tour Merida: $50
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:
- 4-Hour Guided Tour of the Small Circuit: $90
- Bariloche Chocolate Tour: Patagonian Flavors on Foot: $52
- Bariloche Craft Beer Sensory Experience: $245
- Bariloche Horseback Riding & Traditional Argentine Barbecue Tour: $232
- Bariloche San Martin de los Andes and Seven Lakes Road Tour: $150
- Bariloche Tour Route of the 7 Lakes to San Martin de los Andes: $90
- 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
- Bariloche: Cerro Tronador and Ventisquero Negro Glacier Tour: $77
- Bariloche: Cerro Tronador and Ventisquero Negro Tour: $110
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMerida $15San Carlos de Bariloche $9.17
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
- Bariloche: Bar Crawl. Patagonian Bar Crawl: $160
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Merida and San Carlos de Bariloche, we can see that Merida is more expensive. And not only is San Carlos de Bariloche much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Merida is in North America and San Carlos de Bariloche 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 San Carlos de Bariloche would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Carlos de Bariloche 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 San Carlos de Bariloche.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Merida Expensive? and Is San Carlos de Bariloche Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Merida or San Carlos de Bariloche?
Merida has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of San Carlos de Bariloche. When comparing the sizes of Merida 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.