Which place is cheaper, La Plata 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.
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Should you visit Puerto Iguazu or La Plata?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Puerto Iguazu or La Plata? 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 La Plata?
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.
La Plata
Just over an hour from Buenos Aires, the bustling university city of La Plata is notable for being South America's first planned city. Indeed, also known as the City of Diagonal, La Plata's intricate grid system includes diagonal streets that run through it, contributing to easy navigation but confusing intersections.La Plata is the Capital of the Province of Buenos Aires, the main Argentine state, so you will find lots of elaborate government buildings alongside leafy green plazas in this laid back as well as active city. La Plata is a happening university town with a population of over 700,000. You can walk the width of it in under an hour, stopping at trendy craft beer bars, local music joints, and great restaurants along the way. Also, football is a religion in Argentina and if you're looking for some local atmosphere, La Plata is the place to go! Two of Argentina's biggest football teams, Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata and Estudiantes de La Plata challenge each other each year. If you are around during that special day for the city, you will witness thousands of fans wearing the relevant colours heading off to watch the match and parade by calle 7.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Argentina, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Argentina, The Best 10-Day Tours in Argentina, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Argentina.
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Puerto Iguazu Prices
Argentina PricesLa Plata Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Iguazu $72La Plata $78
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Iguazu is $72, while the average daily cost in La Plata is $78. 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 La Plata in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Iguazu $52La Plata $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Iguazu $104La Plata $122
Compare Hotels in Puerto Iguazu and La Plata
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Iguazu or La Plata? 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: Puerto Iguazu Hotel Prices and La Plata Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Iguazu $3.90La Plata $4.91
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Iguazu
Also for Puerto Iguazu, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Iguazu Falls 2-Day Tour with Airport Transfer: $323
- Transfer In + Transfer Out IGR Airport Puerto Iguazú Hotels Selva de Iryapu: $145
- Full day tour visit to Iguazu Falls with transfers from airport : $120
- Puerto Iguazú Combo: Iguazu Falls 2 Day Tours + transfers: $100
- Transfers IGR from the (ARG) to IGU (BRA) with PasseioTur: $80
- Iguazu Falls Saver Package! Both sides excursions & transfers : $79
- Private Transfer from Puerto Iguazu Airport to Foz do Iguaçu: $74
- Iguazú Falls Brazil & Argentina 3-Day In-Out Transfers: $54
- Private Transfer to or from Puerto Iguazu Airport IGR: $35
- Transfer from Iguazú Airport to hotels on the Argentine side: $30
- Puerto Iguazu Airport (IGR) Private Transfer to Puerto Iguazu: $27
- Iguazu Falls Argentina Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Hotels: $25
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Iguazu or La Plata?
Prices for flights to both La Plata 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
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Food Meals for one dayPuerto Iguazu $8.00La Plata $8.27
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: $33
- El Quincho Del Tio Querido - Dinner And Show from Foz do Iguaçu: $45
- Argentine Experience: Immersive Dinner & Wine Pairing in Iguazú: $65
- Iguazu Falls: The Argentine Experience Interactive Dinner: $65
- From Foz do Iguaçu: Madero Tango with dinner: $108
- Churrascaria Rafain - Show and Dinner : $117
- Dinner Show Rafain Steakhouse from Puerto Iguazú Hotels Private Tour: $120
- Dinner Show Rafain Steakhouse Gran Meliá Hotel Exclusive - Private Tour: $120
- Foz do Iguaçu: Argentinean Cooking Class: $142
- Dinner Tango Show in Iguazú Falls - no transfers -: $145
- Iguazu Falls: Argentina Side Tour with Dinner & Tango Show: $178
- Rafain Steakhouse Dinner & Show: $233
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Iguazu $43La Plata $27
Tours and Activities in Puerto Iguazu
For Puerto Iguazu, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Day Private Tour of Iguassu Waterfalls Lado BRA and ARG : $109
- 1-Day Private Tour In the Iguacu Falls of Brazil and Argentina : $100
- 2Day Iguazu Tour HELICOPTER Ride & Airfare from Buenos Aires: $590
- 3hr Experience Learning to Make an Argentine Asado: $150
- Argentina: Full-Day Iguazu Falls and Great Adventure Tour: $215
- Argentine Falls Package with Great Adventure and Brazilian Falls: $279
- Argentine Side Iguassu Falls Private Tour Hotels in Puerto Iguazú: $140
- Argentinean Falls with Gran Aventura Boat Tour: $225
- Argentinian Iguazu Falls Full Day Tour: $34
- Bird Park & Iguassu Brazilian Side From Puerto Iguazú Hotels - Private Tour: $135
- Bird Park & Iguassu Brazilian Side Gran Meliá Hotel Exclusive - Private Tour: $130
- Brazilian Side Falls: Brazilian Falls Tour with Parque Das Aves:: $99
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Iguazu $9.98La Plata $6.96
When comparing the travel costs between Puerto Iguazu and La Plata, we can see that La Plata 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. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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 La Plata Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Puerto Iguazu or La Plata?
La Plata has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Puerto Iguazu. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Iguazu and La Plata, 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.