Which place is cheaper, El Chalten or Ocho Rios?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ocho Rios or El Chalten?
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 Chalten, 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 Chalten?
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 Chalten
El Chalten is probably one of the most beautiful areas of Patagonia, especially at the slightest ray of sunshine and one of your cheapest destination while you are travelling in Patagonia. Indeed, you will spend your days hiking and there are no park fees. There are restaurants, souvenir shops, and outdoor stores but most of them will not accept credit cards so before heading out, get cash in El Calafate or your previous stop. For the beginners, it will be long hikes in a magical setting and for the experts perhaps a week long expedition to the greatest glaciers of the world. To discover the way people live in the pampa, you may also decide to stay at an Estancia. In the stunning Estancia Santa Thelma, about 300km away from El Chalten, you will be able to explore the surroundings by horse, live a unique experience in the middle of the nature and its vast plains occupied by thousands of merino sheep and horses and of course eat a typical meal of the region.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, and The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayOcho Rios $77El Chalten $9.93
The average daily cost (per person) in Ocho Rios is $77, while the average daily cost in El Chalten is $9.93. 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 Chalten in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOcho Rios $52El Chalten $4.42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOcho Rios $104El Chalten $8.84
Compare Hotels in Ocho Rios and El Chalten
Looking for a hotel in Ocho Rios or El Chalten? 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 Chalten Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ocho Rios $7.60El Chalten $2.37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ocho Rios
Also for Ocho Rios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Ian Fleming Ocho Rios Airport Private Transfer to Ocho Rios Hotel: $15
- Ocho Rios or Runaway Bay 2-Hour Shopping Transfer: $15
- Private Transfer from Ian Fleming Airport to Ocho Rios: $20
- Private Transfer to Mystic Mountain from Ocho Rios: $20
- Shuttle Transfer From Montego Bay Airport - Runaway Bay: $24
- AirBnB Roundtrip Shuttle / One Way MBJ Airport Transfers: $25
- Private Transfer to Konoko Falls Botanical Gardens: $27
- Relaxing Montego Bay To Ducanon and Juwel Runaway Bay Transfer: $27
- Airport Transfer Roundtrip Jamaica MBJ: $29
- Private Airport transfer from Montego Bay To Ocho Rios .: $30
- Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Ocho Rios and Runnaway Bay Hotels(Private) : $32
- Private Montego Bay Airport Transfer To Ocho Rios : $33
Is it cheaper to fly into Ocho Rios or El Chalten?
Prices for flights to both El Chalten 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 $17El Chalten $3.66
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:
- From Flavors of Jamaica Guided Food Tour: $89
- Taste of Jamaica Farm & Food Tour: $98
- Private Hillside Cooking Class Jamaican Style with Pickup : $104
- Ocho Ros: Hillside Cooking Class, Jamaican Style: $130
- Taste of Jamaica Food Tour: $140
- The Jamaica School of Cooking and Ocho Rios Highlights Tour: $141
- Ocho Rios Sunset Catamaran Cruise with Dinner: $218
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ocho Rios $15El Chalten $2.66
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$5.47
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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.
- Blue Hole Admission Fee Ticket: $25
- Private Sightseeing Tour in Ocho Rios : $30
- Private Blue Hole and Shopping Tour from Ocho Rios: $30
- Private Blue hole Tour from Ocho Rios : $40
- Ocho Rios Sightseeing and Taxi from Runaway Bay & Ocho Rios: $40
- Blue Hole Private Tour from Ocho Rios with Pickup: $40
- Private Guided Tour To Yaaman Adventures Safari jungle park: $40
- Blue Hole And Konoko Falls Combo Tour From Ocho Rios & Runaway Bay!: $43
- Private Konoko Falls and Sightseeing Tour from Ocho Rios : $45
- Half-Day Blue Hole and Secret Falls Tour from Runaway Bay: $46
- Blue Hole Tour from Ocho Rios: $49
- Dunn's River Falls and Blue Hole Private Tour from Ocho Rios: $50
Tours and Activities in El Chalten
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for El Chalten are as follows:
- 3 Hours Grilled Lamb Experience in Estancia Bonanza: $55
- Rafting experience on the Rio de las Vueltas in Patagonia: $90
- Rio de las Vueltas Rafting Experience - El Chalten: $90
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayOcho Rios $7.71El Chalten $1.22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ocho Rios and El Chalten, we can see that Ocho Rios is more expensive. And not only is El Chalten much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ocho Rios is in Caribbean Islands and El Chalten 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 Chalten would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Chalten 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 Chalten.
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 Chalten Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Ocho Rios or El Chalten?
El Chalten has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Ocho Rios experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Ocho Rios or El Chalten in the Summer?
Both El Chalten and Ocho Rios during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Ocho Rios because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the summer, Ocho Rios is around the same temperature as El Chalten. Typically, the summer temperatures in Ocho Rios in July average around 29°C (83°F), and El Chalten averages at about 27°C (81°F)in January.
El Chalten gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Ocho Rios usually gets less rain in July than El Chaltenin January. Ocho Rios gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryOcho Rios 29°C (83°F)El Chalten 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Ocho Rios or El Chalten in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Ocho Rios and El Chalten. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ocho Rios year-round.
In October, Ocho Rios is generally a little warmer than El Chaltenin April. Daily temperatures in Ocho Rios average around 28°C (82°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
El Chalten receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Ocho Rios gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Ocho Rios usually receives more rain than El Chaltenin April. Ocho Rios gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilOcho Rios 28°C (82°F)El Chalten 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Ocho Rios or El Chalten in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Ocho Rios as well as El Chalten. Ocho Rios attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Ocho Rios is much warmer than El Chalten in the winter. The daily temperature in Ocho Rios averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and El Chalten fluctuates around 16°C (61°F)in July.
Ocho Rios usually gets less rain in January than El Chaltenin July. Ocho Rios gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyOcho Rios 26°C (79°F)El Chalten 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Ocho Rios or El Chalten in the Spring?
Both El Chalten and Ocho Rios are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ocho Rios throughout the year.
In the spring, Ocho Rios is a little warmer than El Chalten. Typically, the spring temperatures in Ocho Rios in April average around 26°C (80°F), and El Chalten averages at about 22°C (72°F)in October.
It's quite sunny in El Chalten. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ocho Rios. Ocho Rios usually receives more sunshine than El Chalten during spring. Ocho Rios gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while El Chalten receives 205 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in El Chalten. In April, Ocho Rios usually receives less rain than El Chaltenin October. Ocho Rios gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberOcho Rios 26°C (80°F)El Chalten 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for El Chalten and Ocho Rios
| Ocho Rios | El Chalten | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
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.