A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Piriapolis vs. Ushuaia for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Piriapolis or Ushuaia?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Piriapolis or Ushuaia, 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: Piriapolis or Ushuaia?

Piriapolis

Piriapolis is a small beach town between Montevideo and Punta del Este in Uruguay. It is a more laid back version of Punta del Este with fewer fancy restaurants and clubs but it has perhaps more charm, with its grand old hotel and beachfront promenade backed by small mountains. The rather old-school coastal resort is vaguely reminiscent of a Mediterranean beach town.

Ushuaia

Ushuaia is a city on the Tierra del Fuego island of Argentina on the Beagle Strait. The city is considered to be one of the southernmost cities in the world and is often used as a base for cruises to Antarctica. Ushuaia's close proximity to Antarctica and their amazing hiking trails have made it a popular tourist destination over the past few decades.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, and The Best Eco Tours in Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, Ushuaia or Piriapolis?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Piriapolis is $67, while the average daily cost in Ushuaia is $11. 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 Piriapolis and Ushuaia in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Piriapolis $27
    Ushuaia $5.64
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Piriapolis $54
    Ushuaia $11
Compare Hotels in Piriapolis and Ushuaia

Looking for a hotel in Piriapolis or Ushuaia? 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.

Hotels in Piriapolis


Hotels in Ushuaia


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: Piriapolis Hotel Prices and Ushuaia Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Piriapolis $31
    Ushuaia -

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ushuaia

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ushuaia are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $0.03

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ushuaia

Also for Ushuaia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Airport and Hotel Transfer in Ushuaia: $139
  • Private Embarkation Debarkation Transfer: $129
  • Private Transfer Airport-Hotel-Airport (Ushuaia): $120
  • Private Transfer Airport-Port or Port-Airport (Ushuaia): $55
  • Private Transfer Hotel-Bus Station or Bus Station-Hotel (Ushuaia): $27
  • Private Transfer from Ushuaia Airport (USH) to Ushuaia Port : $25
  • Private Transfer from Ushuaia Airport(USH) to Ushuaia Cruise Port: $28
  • Private Transfer from Ushuaia Cruise Port to Ushuaia Airport(USH): $28
  • Private Transfer from Ushuaia Port to Ushuaia Airport (USH): $25
  • Shared Transfer Airport-Hotel-Airport (Ushuaia): $37
  • Transfer Cerro Castor (Round Trip): $25
  • Transfer Ushuaia Airport - Hotel in Ushuaia - Ushuaia Airport : $35

Is it cheaper to fly into Piriapolis or Ushuaia?

Prices for flights to both Ushuaia and Piriapolis 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Piriapolis $23
    Ushuaia $2.18

Typical Food Prices in Ushuaia

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ushuaia:


  • Lunch for Two
    $0.06

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ushuaia

For Ushuaia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Ushuaia at night: A Snow and Fire dinner, sledding and adventure: $280

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Piriapolis $5.89
    Ushuaia $13

Tours and Activities in Ushuaia

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ushuaia.

  • Panoramic City Train Tour: $10
  • Guided Tour of the City of Ushuaia: $20
  • Exploring Double Decker Bus Tour: $22
  • Double-Decker Sightseeing Tour: $24
  • Ushuaia City Tour: $26
  • Ushuaia City Half-Day Tour: $31
  • An Hour Tour in the City of Ushuaia: $32
  • City Tour of Ushuaia: $42
  • Beagle Channel & Sea Wolves Island Catamaran Cruise: $45
  • End of the World Train Ticket: $45
  • Half-Day Tierra del Fuego National Park (NOT CRUISE): $59
  • Escondido & Fagnano Lake Tour: $60

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Piriapolis $8.11
    Ushuaia -

Typical Alcohol Prices in Ushuaia

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Ushuaia are as follows:


  • Wine
    $0.05
  • Beer
    $0.01


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Piriapolis and Ushuaia, we can see that Piriapolis is more expensive. And not only is Ushuaia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ushuaia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ushuaia 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 Piriapolis would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Piriapolis than you might in Ushuaia.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Piriapolis Expensive? and Is Ushuaia Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Piriapolis or Ushuaia?

Ushuaia has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Piriapolis. When comparing the sizes of Piriapolis and Ushuaia, 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.


When is the best time to visit Piriapolis or Ushuaia?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.

Should I visit Piriapolis or Ushuaia in the Summer?

Both Ushuaia and Piriapolis during the summer are popular places to visit.

In the summer, Piriapolis is much warmer than Ushuaia. Typically, the summer temperatures in Piriapolis in January average around 23°C (73°F), and Ushuaia averages at about 10°C (50°F).

It's quite sunny in Piriapolis. In the summer, Piriapolis often gets more sunshine than Ushuaia. Piriapolis gets 296 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ushuaia receives 169 hours of full sun.

Piriapolis usually gets more rain in January than Ushuaia. Piriapolis gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Ushuaia receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures January
    Piriapolis 23°C (73°F) 
    Ushuaia 10°C (50°F)

Should I visit Piriapolis or Ushuaia in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Piriapolis and Ushuaia.

In April, Piriapolis is generally much warmer than Ushuaia. Daily temperatures in Piriapolis average around 17°C (63°F), and Ushuaia fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).

Piriapolis usually receives more sunshine than Ushuaia during autumn. Piriapolis gets 171 hours of sunny skies, while Ushuaia receives 74 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In April, Piriapolis usually receives more rain than Ushuaia. Piriapolis gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Ushuaia receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures April
    Piriapolis 17°C (63°F) 
    Ushuaia 6°C (43°F)

Should I visit Piriapolis or Ushuaia in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Piriapolis as well as Ushuaia.

It's quite cold in Ushuaia in the winter. Piriapolis is much warmer than Ushuaia in the winter. The daily temperature in Piriapolis averages around 10°C (50°F) in July, and Ushuaia fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).

In the winter, Piriapolis often gets more sunshine than Ushuaia. Piriapolis gets 135 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ushuaia receives 61 hours of full sun.

Piriapolis usually gets more rain in July than Ushuaia. Piriapolis gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Ushuaia receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures July
    Piriapolis 10°C (50°F) 
    Ushuaia 2°C (36°F)

Should I visit Piriapolis or Ushuaia in the Spring?

Both Ushuaia and Piriapolis are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.

In the spring, Piriapolis is much warmer than Ushuaia. Typically, the spring temperatures in Piriapolis in October average around 16°C (61°F), and Ushuaia averages at about 6°C (43°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Piriapolis. Piriapolis usually receives more sunshine than Ushuaia during spring. Piriapolis gets 248 hours of sunny skies, while Ushuaia receives 156 hours of full sun in the spring.

In October, Piriapolis usually receives more rain than Ushuaia. Piriapolis gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Ushuaia receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures October
    Piriapolis 16°C (61°F) 
    Ushuaia 6°C (43°F)

Typical Weather for Ushuaia and Piriapolis

Piriapolis Ushuaia
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 23°C (73°F) 75 mm (3 in) 10°C (50°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Feb 22°C (72°F) 85 mm (3.3 in) 10°C (50°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Mar 20°C (68°F) 79 mm (3.1 in) 8°C (46°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Apr 17°C (63°F) 84 mm (3.3 in) 6°C (43°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
May 14°C (57°F) 91 mm (3.6 in) 3°C (37°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Jun 11°C (52°F) 90 mm (3.5 in) 1°C (34°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Jul 10°C (50°F) 90 mm (3.5 in) 2°C (36°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Aug 11°C (52°F) 94 mm (3.7 in) 2°C (36°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Sep 13°C (55°F) 93 mm (3.7 in) 4°C (39°F) 20 mm (0.8 in)
Oct 16°C (61°F) 85 mm (3.3 in) 6°C (43°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Nov 19°C (66°F) 87 mm (3.4 in) 8°C (46°F) 20 mm (0.8 in)
Dec 21°C (70°F) 67 mm (2.6 in) 9°C (48°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)