A Travel Price Comparison for Argentina Puerto Iguazu vs. Rosario for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Puerto Iguazu or Rosario?

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

Should I visit Puerto Iguazu or Rosario? 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 Rosario?

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.

Rosario

Rosario is the third largest city in Argentina. Located at the Parana river and known for its rich architectural heritage and beautiful riverside scenery, Rosario is the birthplace of the Argentinian flag as well as two of the nation's most famous icons, Che Guevara and Lionel Messi. Rosario is still an important river port but has done a great job of regenerating its center, which now has a vibrant cultural and night life. The abandoned buildings of the long riverbank have been converted into galleries, restaurants, skateparks and river beaches, which buzz with life in summer. Dynamic and confident without being showy, culturally rich and the best urban location to cool off in the boiling summers, Rosario is easily overlooked but not to be missed.

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, Rosario or Puerto Iguazu?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Iguazu is $8.20, while the average daily cost in Rosario is $9.05. 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 Rosario in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Puerto Iguazu $3.26
    Rosario $3.11
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Puerto Iguazu $6.52
    Rosario $6.22
Compare Hotels in Puerto Iguazu and Rosario

Looking for a hotel in Puerto Iguazu or Rosario? 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 Rosario


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 Rosario Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Puerto Iguazu $2.52
    Rosario $2.66

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
  • Argentine and Brazilian Falls with transfers: $67
  • Iguazú Falls Brazil & Argentina 3-Day In-Out Transfers: $61
  • Iguazu Falls Argentina Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Hotels: $20
  • One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $11
  • Puerto Iguazu Airport Shuttle Transfer: $8.34
  • One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $8.00

Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Iguazu or Rosario?

Prices for flights to both Rosario 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 $3.01
    Rosario $3.84

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: $45
  • Iguazu Falls: The Argentine Experience Interactive Dinner: $59
  • Argentine Experience: Immersive Dinner & Wine Pairing in Iguazú: $60
  • Puerto Iguazú: Madero Tango Show with Optional Dinner: $76
  • Experience Guamini Mision Dinner and Tango Show Selva Iriapu Hotels Exclusive: $110
  • Rafain Steakhouse Show - Dinner and Show Included: $115
  • Rafain Steakhouse Dinner & Show: $117
  • Dinner Show Rafain Steakhouse from Puerto Iguazú Hotels Private Tour: $120
  • Dinner Show Rafain Steakhouse Gran Meliá Hotel Exclusive - Private Tour: $120
  • From Foz do Iguaçu: Madero Tango with dinner: $123
  • Foz do Iguaçu: Argentinean Cooking Class: $135
  • Dinner Tango Show in Iguazú Falls: $145

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Puerto Iguazu $2.69
    Rosario $3.08

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
  • Adventure at the Iguazú Fly Park: $80
  • Argentina: Full-Day Iguazu Falls and Great Adventure Tour: $144
  • Argentine Falls Full-Day Guided Tour One of the 7 Wonders of the World: $31
  • Argentinean Side Iguassu Falls - Private Tour Hotels in Puerto Iguazú Exclusive: $140
  • Argentinian Iguazu Falls Full Day Tour: $33
  • 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
  • Brazilian Side of the Falls - All Tickets Included: $74
  • City Tour Puerto Iguazú Gran Meliá Iguazú Exclusivo: $135

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Puerto Iguazu $1.29
    Rosario $1.77


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


Which is Bigger, Puerto Iguazu or Rosario?

Rosario has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Puerto Iguazu. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Iguazu and Rosario, 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.