Which place is cheaper, Mendoza or Montevideo?
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 Montevideo or Mendoza?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Montevideo and Mendoza can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Montevideo or Mendoza?
Montevideo
As the morning sun tinges the calm waters of the Rio de la Plata with a golden hue, the Rambla and its city awakens to life with new adventures for those near and far. From tanning on the luxurious beaches to peering into Uruguayan history at local museums, one can be far from bored while staying in Montevideo. Combining the quaintness of the countryside with the excitement of urban life, this city holds a unique trait that cannot easily be replicated.
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 Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina.
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Montevideo Prices
Uruguay PricesMendoza Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontevideo $70Mendoza $56
The average daily cost (per person) in Montevideo is $70, while the average daily cost in Mendoza is $56. 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 Montevideo and Mendoza in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontevideo $38Mendoza $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontevideo $76Mendoza $84
Compare Hotels in Montevideo and Mendoza
Looking for a hotel in Montevideo 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: Montevideo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montevideo $6.99Mendoza $4.15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montevideo
Also for Montevideo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer to Punta del Este from Montevideo O Punta to Montevideo: $98
- Transfer from the Hotel in Montevideo to Montevideo airport: $60
- Transfer from Carrasco International Aiport to Montevideo: $47
- Private transfer from Montevideo to Punta del Este: $328
- Private transfer from Montevideo to Colonia del Sacramento: $438
- Private Transfer from or to Carrasco Airport in Montevideo: $40
- Private Transfer from Montevideo city to Montevideo Cruise Port: $41
- Private Transfer from Montevideo Port to Carrasco Airport (MVD): $41
- Private Transfer from Montevideo Port to Carrasco Airport (MVD): $84
- Private Transfer from Montevideo Cruise Port to Montevideo city: $41
- Private Transfer from Montevideo Cruise Port to Montevideo city: $79
- Private Transfer from Carrasco Airport to Montevideo: $40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mendoza
Also for Mendoza, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Helicopter Flight with Lunch and Transfer: $560
- Viña Cobos Lunch, Wine & Private Transfer: $520
- Round Trip Private Transfer to the Uco Valley: $393
- Private Transfer to Uco Valley Wineries Full Day: $280
- Clos of the 7 Experience. Winery Visits, Lunch & Private Transfer: $280
- Pulenta Estate Wine Tasting+Lunch at Ruca Malen. Private Transfer: $260
- Tasting Experience and Roast in Sottano Winery– Private Transfer: $230
- Sunset Electronic Music Party at Las Palapas with Transfers: $220
- Los Toneles Winery Lunch with Private Transfer: $220
- Cerro Bayo Guided Trek with Hotel Transfers: $220
- Premium Spa Day at Cacheuta Hot Springs with Transfers: $183
- Cacheuta Thermal Water Park Full-Day Spa, Creole Buffet and Private Transfer: $155
Is it cheaper to fly into Montevideo or Mendoza?
Prices for flights to both Mendoza and Montevideo 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 dayMontevideo $22Mendoza $5.80
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montevideo
For Montevideo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Best Montevideo Street Food Tour With 5 tastings: $64
- Private Uruguayan Cooking Class with Local Chef: $85
- Uruguayan Wine Pairing Dinner at City Winery Uruguay: $90
- Show + Dinner - El Milongon (No Transport): $93
- The best Montevideo Dinner Show. Tango and Candombe. El Milongon.: $98
- Dinner and Tango Show at Primuseum Restaurant: $100
- Dinner and Tango Show at the Historic Bar Fun Fun, Established in 1895: $100
- Traditional Dinner & Tango Show at Primuseum: $110
- Food Tour with Asado, Chivito, and Mate: $221
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mendoza
For Mendoza, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Mendoza Meals Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $95
- 3h Cooking Class in Mendoza with 7 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $110
- Original Asado Cooking Class at a Local's Home: $114
- Sunset Horseback Riding Tour in Lunlunta with Dinner Included: $120
- 4-Hour Argentine Cooking Class at Grazie Mille Winery: $125
- Cooking Class with 7 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $150
- City Tour with Dinner at a Local Restaurant: $164
- Full-Day Small-Group Mendoza Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $194
- Horseback Riding at Sunset and Dinner in Mendoza: $205
- Horseback Riding at Sunset and Dinner at an Estancia in Mendoza: $210
- Private Roast & Wine Dinner with Chef Sommelier: $220
- Tango Show with Dinner at Hualta Winery Hotel: $220
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montevideo $20Mendoza $23
Tours and Activities in Montevideo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Montevideo.
- “Discovering Montevideo” – Shared Small-Group Tour for Cruise Passengers: $65
- Afternoon Tea Experience at Sofitel Montevideo Carrasco & Spa: $36
- Audio Guided Tour in Montevideo City for Cruisers: $26
- Authentic Uruguayan Roast Experience in Montevideo: $115
- Best Private Tour of Montevideo for Cruise Passengers: $450
- Bodega Santa Rosa: Passadore Family Tasting Tour with Lunch: $86
- City tour Montevideo: $27
- Club Atlético Peñarol Match Live Experience: $157
- Colonia del Sacramento - Regular Tour: $60
- Complete Tour of Uruguay: $1,455
- Cruise-Friendly Shared Tour: Explore Montevideo’s Best: $69
- Discover Top-Rated Shared Tour for Cruise Passengers: $69
Tours and Activities in Mendoza
For Mendoza, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2 Wineries & Olive Oil Experience with Lunch. Private Transport: $130
- 3 Wineries & Olive Oil Experience with Private Transport: $100
- 3 Winery Tour with Lunch and Blend Set: $150
- 3-hour Mendoza Tasting Tour with 34 Traditional Argentine Flavors: $95
- 3-hour Mendoza Tasting Tour: 34 Authentic Argentine Flavors: $86
- Aconcagua & Puente del Inca Full Day Tour from Mendoza with Lunch: $110
- Adrenaline Canopy Tour on the Mendoza River: $173
- Adventure & Flavor: Breakfast, Rafting & Asado in Mendoza: $220
- Adventure Park - Unforgettable Challenge!: $39
- Adventure and Relaxation in Mendoza Rafting and Cacheuta Springs: $237
- Andes High Mountain full day Tour: $64
- Andes Hiking Experience Full Day: $240
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontevideo -Mendoza $5.90
Sample the Local Flavors in Montevideo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Montevideo:
- Bodega Pizzorno wine tasting in Montevideo: $45
- Wine tasting of 4 wines from 4 wineries & empanadas in Montevideo: $50
- Pizzorno Winery with Lunch and Wine Tasting: $125
- The best wine tour: $140
- Wine tour - Lunch & Tasting with Wine Explorers: $198
- Private Wine Tours by Wine Explorers Uruguay: $205
- Wine Tasting & Countryside Lunch Experience: $220
- Wine Tasting Tour for Cruise Passengers: $450
Sample the Local Flavors in Mendoza
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Mendoza:
- Walking & Wine Tasting Tour & San Martin Park Gate: $17
- Burlesque Cabaret Show with Wine: $20
- Maipu Wine Tour: 3 Wineries and Olive Oil Factory: $37
- Mendoza Wine Tasting at Bodega Ciclo Andino with Snacks: $39
- Wine, Distillery & Chocolate Tour with Tastings: $39
- Half-Day Wine Tour with Tastings: $41
- Classic Wine Tasting: $44
- La Histórica Winery Tour and Wine Tasting: $48
- Premium Wine Tasting: $66
- Winery tours in Mendoza, wine tasting and lunches: $90
- El Enemigo and Casa Vigil Wine Tour: $93
- Wine Tour, Paired Lunch and Olive Oil Tasting from Mendoza: $95
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montevideo and Mendoza, we can see that Montevideo 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 Montevideo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Montevideo 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 Montevideo Expensive? and Is Mendoza Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montevideo or Mendoza?
Montevideo has a larger population, and is about 45% larger than the population of Mendoza. When comparing the sizes of Montevideo 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.