Which place is cheaper, El Calafate or Ocho Rios?
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 Ocho Rios or El Calafate?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Ocho Rios 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: Ocho Rios or El Calafate?
Ocho Rios
Ocho Rios, or "Ochi" is a town located on the northeastern shore of Jamaica and is a popular hub for cruise ships. It is a great destination for tourists as it has many resorts and beautiful beaches.
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 Buenos Aires, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina.
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Ocho Rios Prices
Jamaica PricesEl Calafate Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayOcho Rios $87El Calafate $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Ocho Rios is $87, while the average daily cost in El Calafate is $61. 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 Ocho Rios and El Calafate in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOcho Rios $52El Calafate $38
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOcho Rios $104El Calafate $76
Compare Hotels in Ocho Rios and El Calafate
Looking for a hotel in Ocho Rios 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: Ocho Rios Hotel Prices and El Calafate Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ocho Rios $7.46El Calafate $4.39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ocho Rios
Also for Ocho Rios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Ocho Rios Port to Montego Bay Sangster Airport(MBJ): $81
- Sandals Ocho Rios Resort Airport Transfer: $67
- Runaway Bay to Norman Manley Airport (KIN) - Departure Private Transfer: $127
- Runaway Bay Hotels Transfers between Montego Bay Airport: $60
- Runaway Bay Hotels Private Airport Transfer: $53
- Roundtrip Airport Transfer from Montego Bay to Ocho Rios and Runaway Bay Hotels: $240
- Round-Trip or Direct Private Airport Transfers to Runaway Bay: $50
- Riu Ocho Rios Jamaica Private Airport Transfer: $80
- Private Transfers To/From Ocho Rios & OCJ Airport Across Jamaica: $143
- Private Transfer to horseback,Bluehole,River rafting in OchoRios.: $70
- Private Transfer to Yaaman Adventure Park from Ocho Rios: $65
- Private Transfer to Hotels in Ocho Rios from Montego Bay Airport: $63
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Calafate
Also for El Calafate, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Perito Moreno Full Day Minitrekking with Transfer & Walkways: $460
- Perito Moreno Glacier Mini Trek with Transfer: $441
- Private Airport Transfer: $296
- Minitrekking Perito Moreno: Ice hiking tour (optional transfers): $255
- Direct Private Transfer: El Calafate Airport to El Chaltén: $230
- Roundtrip transfers to Perito Moreno Glacier: $165
- FTE Aiport transfer Group 4 to 6 people with luggage: $116
- Shared Transfer from El Calafate to El Chaltén: $80
- Excursion to the Perito Moreno Glacier, with guide and transfer to / from the hotel: $79
- Bus Transfer to Moreno Glacier from El Calafate: $77
- Perito Moreno Glacier expedition with transfer Included: $62
- Private Transfer: Calafate Airport to City Center: $59
Is it cheaper to fly into Ocho Rios or El Calafate?
Prices for flights to both El Calafate and Ocho Rios 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 dayOcho Rios $28El Calafate $6.99
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ocho Rios
For Ocho Rios, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Exclusive Sunset Dinner At Reggae Hill: $99
- Taste of Jamaica Food Tour from Ocho Rios: $150
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: $72
- Country Afternoon with Dinner Show - Estancia 25 de Mayo: $92
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Tour with Dinner & Transfer: $98
- Stargazing Tour with Dinner and Transfers: $120
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Country Afternoon with Dinner Show and Riding: $129
- Lakes and Caves Tour with Dinner and Wine Included: $183
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Experience with Dinner and Horseback Riding: $225
- Lakes and Caves Tour with Dinner: $255
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ocho Rios $15El Calafate $54
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ocho Rios
For Ocho Rios, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Tour of Brimmer Hall Estate$11
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Admission to Coyaba Gardens$5.37
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Tour of Prospect Plantation$18
Tours and Activities in Ocho Rios
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ocho Rios.
- ATV Adventure Ride in Ocho Rios Jamaica with Jerk Chicken Lunch: $175
- ATV Adventure and Shopping from Falmouth (Minimum 4 persons): $165
- ATV and Dunns River Falls Adventure: $205
- ATV, Bamboo Rafting and Horseback Riding Experience in Ocho Rios: $243
- ATV, Horseback Riding and Bluehole Adventure Tour: $210
- Appleton Rum Tour and YS Falls: $280
- Aqua Fun Tours Dunns Falls, River Tubing and Horse Back: $170
- BOGO Adventure: ATV and/or Horseback Ride and Swim in Ocho Rios: $139
- Bali Style High Ropes Swing and Dunn's River Fall Adventure: $230
- Bamboo Rafting & Horseback Ride n Swim Guided Tour In Ocho Rios: $95
- Bamboo Rafting & River Tubing Tour Ocho Rios(Entry Fee Included): $195
- Bamboo Rafting and ATV Jungle Adventure in Jamaica: $200
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
- 4 Days & 3 Nights El Calafate & El Chaltén Magical Adventure: $1,350
- Adventure Horseback Riding on Cerro Frias: $150
- CAÑADON EXPERIENCE - TREKKING & STAY - PRIVATE VEHICLE: $1,500
- Calafate Panoramic tour: The best balconies of Calafate 4x4: $210
- Calafate: Perito Moreno Glacier Boat Tour: $207
- Cerro Frías Experience FWD Tour: $174
- DARWIN EXPERIENCE KAYAK & ADVENTURE: $240
- Darwin Experience - kayaks & adventure: $250
- Day Tour to the Perito Moreno Glacier from El Calafate: $88
- EL CALAFATE Native experience lakes and caverns: $214
- El Calafate City Sightseeing Tour Including Walichu Caves: $105
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayOcho Rios $7.57El Calafate $8.71
Sample the Local Flavors in Ocho Rios
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Ocho Rios:
- Bar Hopping, Pub Crawl, Shopping and Sightseeing Tour Ocho Rios: $90
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ocho Rios and El Calafate, we can see that Ocho Rios is more expensive. And not only is El Calafate much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ocho Rios is in Caribbean Islands 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 Ocho Rios would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ocho Rios 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 Ocho Rios Expensive? and Is El Calafate Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ocho Rios or El Calafate?
Ocho Rios has a larger population, and is about 18% larger than the population of El Calafate. When comparing the sizes of Ocho Rios 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.