Which place is cheaper, San Carlos de Bariloche or Playa del Carmen?
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 Playa del Carmen or San Carlos de Bariloche?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or San Carlos de Bariloche? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Playa del Carmen or San Carlos de Bariloche?
Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is in Quintana Roo on the Yucatan Peninsula. It's a popular resort town and is about seventy kilometers south of Cancun. It has a European atmosphere with many small hotels and a nice relaxed feel. It was originally a small fishing town but tourism began with the introduction of a passenger ferry to Cozumel. The area developed rapidly and there are many luxury hotels, condos, and resorts. There are also American chains and a variety of shopping opportunities nearby.
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 in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Argentina.
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Playa del Carmen Prices
Mexico PricesSan Carlos de Bariloche Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPlaya del Carmen $95San Carlos de Bariloche $90
The average daily cost (per person) in Playa del Carmen is $95, 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 Playa del Carmen and San Carlos de Bariloche in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPlaya del Carmen $38San Carlos de Bariloche $74
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPlaya del Carmen $76San Carlos de Bariloche $148
Compare Hotels in Playa del Carmen and San Carlos de Bariloche
Looking for a hotel in Playa del Carmen 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: Playa del Carmen Hotel Prices and San Carlos de Bariloche Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Playa del Carmen $23San Carlos de Bariloche $2.90
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Playa del Carmen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Playa del Carmen:
- Cancun Airport Departure transfer from Playa Paraiso, Playa del Carmen, Playacar: $28
- One way shared transfer to Chiquila: $34
- Chetumal Airport (CTM) to Chetumal - Arrival Private Transfer: $64
- Chetumal Airport (CTM) to Chetumal - Arrival Private Transfer: $65
- From One way shared transfer to Holbox: $69
- Round trip Private Transfer Cancun- Costa Mujeres/Playa Mujeres: $71
- Transfer from Playa del Carmen to Cancun airport and hotels: $74
- Private Transfer Playa del Carmen to Cancun Airport CUN by Minivan - Minibus: $75
- Private Transfer Cancun Airport to Nickelodeon Riviera.: $77
- Private Transfer from ATO Cancun to Playa Mujeres: $80
- Private Van Transfer to Cancun Airport: $82
- Akumal to Cancun - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $83
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Carlos de Bariloche
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Carlos de Bariloche:
- BARILOCHE: PRIVATE TRANSFER FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE CITY CENTER: $145
- Bariloche Airport (BRC) to Cerro Catedral - Arrival Transfer: $83
- Bariloche Airport Arrival Private Transfer: $73
- Bariloche Airport Arrival Shuttle Transfer: $29
- Bariloche Airport BRC to Cerro Catedral RoundTrip Transfer: $166
- Bariloche Airport Departure Private Transfer: $73
- Bariloche Airport Departure Shuttle Transfer: $28
- Bariloche Airport Round Trip PrivateTransfer: $145
- Bariloche Airport Round Trip Shuttle Transfer: $50
- Bariloche: 1-Way or Round-Trip BRC Airport Transfer: $19
- Bariloche: BRC Airport to City Centre|Hotel Private Transfer: $14
- Private Transfer Bariloche Center Cerro Catedral or vice versa: $60
Is it cheaper to fly into Playa del Carmen or San Carlos de Bariloche?
Prices for flights to both San Carlos de Bariloche and Playa del Carmen 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 dayPlaya del Carmen $39San Carlos de Bariloche $6.39
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Playa del Carmen
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Playa del Carmen.
- Dinner and Show at the Mayan Planetarium of Chichen: $39
- Flavors of Playa del Carmen, Mexican Food Tour: $63
- Playa del Carmen Food Tour with 8+ Authentic Yucatan Dishes: $81
- local walking food tour Inlakech Playa del Carmen: $83
- Playa del Carmen Walking Food Tour: $84
- VIP Private Mystery Dinner Murder in the Jungle: $85
- Riviera Maya Luxury Sunset Sailing plus Light Dinner and Open Bar: $89
- Mayan Ceremony in Tulum. Temazcal, Dinner and pick up included.: $92
- PDC Traditional Mexican Cooking Experience: $109
- Mayan Cooking Class: Chicken Pibil in Secret Cenote: $114
- Mexican Cooking Class: $120
- Isa’s Authentic Mexican Cooking Class: $120
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.Playa del Carmen $16San Carlos de Bariloche $34
Tours and Activities in Playa del Carmen
Here are a few actual costs in Playa del Carmen for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Bus Ticket connecting Cancun Central and Playa del Carmen: $6.43
- Tulum Legends: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of the Ancient Mayan City: $6.99
- 4 ADVENTURES 1 DAY Tulum Coba Cenote and Playa del Carmen: $16
- Riviera Maya: Frida Kahlo Museum Guided Tour 2025: $19
- YAL-KU Park in Riviera Maya Admission Ticket: $22
- Adrenaline ATV Cenote and Zip Lines Experience at Tulum: $25
- Chichen Itza and Cenote Full Day Tour from Playa del Carmen: $28
- Tulum and 2 Cenotes Half Day Tour from Riviera: $29
- Chichen Itza Tour Options with Cenote Swim from Playa del Carmen: $31
- ATV Tour, Ziplines, Mayan Cenote, Tacos, Tequila and Transport: $35
- Round-Trip Ferry Ticket to/from Cozumel: $36
- Full Day Chichen Itza Historical Tour: $36
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:
- Bariloche: Circuito Chico, iconic postcards of Bariloche in a single tour: $36
- Bariloche: Cerro Catedral Tour: $36
- Circuito Chico Sightseeing Tour with Local Guide: $38
- Bariloche: German Immigration and History Walking Tour: $41
- Indigenous People of Patagonia History Tour: $41
- German Footprint & Nazi presence - Walking Tour in Bariloche: $41
- Bariloche: Cerro Catedral guided tour: $43
- Bariloche Chocolate Tour: Patagonian Flavors on Foot: $52
- Small Circuit Tour: Mt Campanario and Llao Llao Peninsula: $55
- Pablo Bernasconi's Art Gallery Guided Tour: $60
- Canopy Half-Day Tour in Bariloche: $60
- Half Day Small Circuit Tour in San Carlos de Bariloche: $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPlaya del Carmen $20San Carlos de Bariloche $9.17
Sample the Local Flavors in Playa del Carmen
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Playa del Carmen:
- Tour to the Brewery with Tasting and Fifth Avenue: $107
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 comparing the travel costs between Playa del Carmen and San Carlos de Bariloche, we can see that Playa del Carmen is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Playa del Carmen is in North America and San Carlos de Bariloche is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Playa del Carmen Expensive? and Is San Carlos de Bariloche Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Playa del Carmen or San Carlos de Bariloche?
San Carlos de Bariloche has a larger population, and is about 76% larger than the population of Playa del Carmen. When comparing the sizes of Playa del Carmen 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.