A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Puerto Iguazu vs. Cochabamba for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Puerto Iguazu or Cochabamba?

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

Should I visit Puerto Iguazu or Cochabamba? 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: Puerto Iguazu or Cochabamba?

Puerto Iguazu

Puerto Iguazu is located in the northeastern part of Argentina at the border with Paraguay and Brazil. It is a tourist city and travel destination because of its close proximity to Iguazu Falls, which is only 18 kilometers away. Much of the city's infrastructure has grown to maintain the tourist crowds that come to see the falls. The town itself has a population of slightly over 80,000.

Cochabamba

With a population of about 630,000, Cochabamba is the fourth largest city in Bolivia. It's located about 240 kilometers from the capital city of La Paz and is surrounded by mountains, but sits within a valley.

The city is known for its gardens and has many sights to offer the visitor. Cochabamba offers a calming retreat that is a refreshing break from the hustle and bustle of many South American cities. It's a great location to learn Spanish and there are plenty of activities and cultural events that you can enjoy in and around town.

Cochabamba's climate is semi-arid. There is an extended dry season between May and October and the wet season is from November to March. The days are warm and the nights are cool.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, The Best 10-Day Tours in Bolivia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Bolivia.


Which place is cheaper, Cochabamba or Puerto Iguazu?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Iguazu is $59, while the average daily cost in Cochabamba is $79. 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 Puerto Iguazu and Cochabamba in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Puerto Iguazu $42
    Cochabamba $25
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Puerto Iguazu $84
    Cochabamba $50
Compare Hotels in Puerto Iguazu and Cochabamba

Looking for a hotel in Puerto Iguazu or Cochabamba? 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 Puerto Iguazu


Hotels in Cochabamba


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: Puerto Iguazu Hotel Prices and Cochabamba Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Puerto Iguazu $3.22
    Cochabamba $16

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Iguazu

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

  • One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $8.00
  • One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $14
  • Iguazu Falls Argentina Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Hotels: $22
  • Puerto Iguazú Round-Trip Airport Transfer: $22
  • Puerto Iguazu Airport Private Transfer: $23
  • Private Transfer from Iguazú (IGR) Airport to Puerto Iguazú: $45
  • Wanda Mines Guided Tour with Transfer / From Iguassu Falls: $56
  • Iguazu Falls Saver Package! Both sides excursions & transfers: $79
  • Private Transfer from Puerto Iguazu Airport to Foz do Iguaçu: $83
  • Puerto Iguazú Combo: Iguazu Falls 2 Day Tours + transfers: $85
  • Iguazú Falls Combo: Argentina & Brazil, with Transfers: $86
  • Iguazú Falls Argentine and Brazilian Sides with Airport Transfers: $86

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cochabamba

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cochabamba:

  • MiniVan or Suv Transfer from Cochabamba Airport CBB to Cochabamba: $36

Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Iguazu or Cochabamba?

Prices for flights to both Cochabamba and Puerto Iguazu 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
    Puerto Iguazu $6.59
    Cochabamba $38

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Puerto Iguazu

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

  • Puerto Iguazú: Madero Tango Show with Optional Dinner: $34
  • Madero Tango Show with Optional Dinner in Iguazu: $36
  • ASADOR: Argentine Asado Cooking Class: $70
  • Argentine Experience: Immersive Dinner & Wine Pairing in Iguazú: $75
  • Iguazu Falls: The Argentine Experience Interactive Dinner: $75
  • Churrascaria Rafain - Show and Dinner: $125
  • Dinner Show Rafain Steakhouse from Puerto Iguazú Hotels Private Tour: $130
  • Dinner Tango Show in Iguazú Falls - no transfers -: $152
  • Experience Guamini Mision Dinner and Tango Show Gran Meliá Iguazú Exclusive: $155
  • Rafain Steakhouse Dinner & Show: $232
  • Foz do Iguaçu: Argentinean Cooking Class: $244
  • Puerto Iguazú: Romantic Dinner at Pristine Iguazú Camp: $306

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cochabamba

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cochabamba.

  • Adelante Mujer Bolivian Cooking Workshops: $29

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Puerto Iguazu $35
    Cochabamba $25

Tours and Activities in Puerto Iguazu

For Puerto Iguazu, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Iguazu Falls Argentinian Side Full-Day Tour: $18
  • Hito Tres Fronters and La Aripuca City Tour: $27
  • Foz do Iguaçu: Brazil/Argentina Sides Iguazu Falls Day Tour: $41
  • Explore Iguazu Falls in Brazil: An Unforgettable Experience: $44
  • From San Ignacio Ruins and Wanda Mines Tour: $46
  • Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Half-Day Sightseeing Tour: $48
  • Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Tour from Puerto Iguazu: $49
  • Iguazu Falls Argentine Side Tour & Ecological Train Ride: $55
  • Iguazú Falls National Park Entry Ticket or Flexipass 3 days: $60
  • Private Shopping Tour in Puerto Iguazú: $69
  • Iguazu Falls, Argentina + Boat Option (Private Tour): $71
  • Iguazu Falls Guided Tour Argentina side: $73

Tours and Activities in Cochabamba

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cochabamba are as follows:

  • City of Eternal Spring: Self-Guided Tour of Downtown Cochabamba: $5.99
  • Tour to Valle Alto (Tarata): $82

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Puerto Iguazu $8.22
    Cochabamba $15


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

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


Which is Bigger, Puerto Iguazu or Cochabamba?

Cochabamba has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Puerto Iguazu. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Iguazu and Cochabamba, 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.