A Travel Price Comparison for Argentina Puerto Iguazu vs. Mar del Plata for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Puerto Iguazu or Mar del Plata?

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

Should I visit Puerto Iguazu or Mar del 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 Mar del 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.

Mar del Plata

Mar del Plata is found only 404 km southeast of the city of Buenos Aires, on the Atlantic coast. Today Mar Del Plata is Argentina‘s most well known beach resort. It has successfully married the two worlds of beach and city into a fun, cosmopolitan urban center with the presence of highly developed tourist infrastructure. Founded in 1874, Mar del Plata was at first mainly an industrial and commercial center before becoming a vacation destination for Argentinians. For a peaceful trip and intimate oceanfront promenades, avoid visiting Mar del Plata during summer time, as the gorgeous arced coastline will be crawling with visitors. But the city is more than just beaches. It also offers some culture, lively nightlife, and great food.

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.


Which place is cheaper, Mar del Plata or Puerto Iguazu?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Iguazu is $8.41, while the average daily cost in Mar del Plata is $9.01. 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 Mar del Plata in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Puerto Iguazu $3.34
    Mar del Plata $3.23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Puerto Iguazu $6.68
    Mar del Plata $6.46
Compare Hotels in Puerto Iguazu and Mar del Plata

Looking for a hotel in Puerto Iguazu or Mar del 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.

Hotels in Puerto Iguazu


Hotels in Mar del Plata


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 Mar del Plata Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Puerto Iguazu $2.58
    Mar del Plata $2.56

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Iguazu

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

  • Transfer In + Transfer Out IGR Airport Puerto Iguazú Hotels Selva de Iryapu: $145
  • Puerto Iguazú Combo: Iguazu Falls 2 Day Tours + transfers: $98
  • Transfers IGR (ARG) from IGU (BRA) with PasseioTur: $90
  • Iguazu Falls Saver Package! Both sides excursions & transfers : $79
  • Argentine and Brazilian Falls with transfers: $60
  • Iguazú Falls Brazil & Argentina 3-Day In-Out Transfers: $55
  • Iguazu Airport Private Transfer: $51
  • Transfer from Iguazú Airport to hotels on the Argentine side: $15
  • Puerto Iguazú Round-Trip Airport Transfer: $14
  • Iguazu Falls Argentina Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Hotels: $14
  • One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $11
  • One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $8.00

Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Iguazu or Mar del Plata?

Prices for flights to both Mar del 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Puerto Iguazu $3.09
    Mar del Plata $3.91

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:

  • El Quincho Del Tio Querido - Dinner And Show from Foz do Iguaçu: $46
  • Puerto Iguazú: Madero Tango Show with Optional Dinner: $58
  • Argentine Experience: Immersive Dinner & Wine Pairing in Iguazú: $60
  • Iguazu Falls: The Argentine Experience Interactive Dinner: $69
  • Madero Tango Show with Optional Dinner in Iguazu: $76
  • Churrascaria Rafain - Show and Dinner : $107
  • Experience Guamini Mision Dinner and Tango Show Selva Iriapu Hotels Exclusive: $110
  • Rafain Steakhouse Show - Dinner and Show Included: $115
  • The Argentine Experience: wine & dinner experience: $118
  • Dinner Show Rafain Steakhouse Gran Meliá Hotel Exclusive - Private Tour: $120
  • Dinner Show Rafain Steakhouse from Puerto Iguazú Hotels Private Tour: $120
  • From Foz do Iguaçu: Madero Tango with dinner: $123

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Puerto Iguazu $2.75
    Mar del Plata $2.33

Tours and Activities in Puerto Iguazu

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

  • 3hr Experience Learning to Make an Argentine Asado: $150
  • Argentina: Full-Day Iguazu Falls and Great Adventure Tour: $142
  • Argentine Falls Full-Day Guided Tour One of the 7 Wonders of the World: $31
  • Argentine Falls Package with Great Adventure and Brazilian Falls: $200
  • Argentine Gastronomy Experience in Iguazú: $105
  • Argentinean Side Iguassu Falls - Private Tour Hotels in Puerto Iguazú Exclusive: $140
  • Argentinian Iguazu Falls Full Day Tour: $31
  • Bird Park & Iguassu Brazilian Side From Puerto Iguazú Hotels - Private Tour: $120
  • Brazilian Side Falls: Brazilian Falls Tour with Parque Das Aves:: $120
  • Brazilian Side of Iguassu Falls and Itaipu Dam Full-Day Sightseeing Tour from Puerto Iguazú: $78
  • Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Half-Day Sightseeing Tour : $41
  • Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Tour from Puerto Iguazu: $55

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Puerto Iguazu $1.32
    Mar del Plata $1.82


When comparing the travel costs between Puerto Iguazu and Mar del Plata, we can see that Mar del 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 Mar del Plata Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Puerto Iguazu or Mar del Plata?

Mar del 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 Mar del 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.