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 Wildlife Tours to Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Argentina, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, Rosario 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 $57, while the average daily cost in Rosario is $62. 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 $41
    Rosario $47
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Puerto Iguazu $82
    Rosario $94
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 $3.10
    Rosario $3.17

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Iguazu

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

  • Estancia Las Mercedes Day Trip with Lunch & Transfers: $399
  • Full-day private transfer to Iguazu Falls: $185
  • Puerto Iguazú: Jungle Fly Adventure with Transfers: $166
  • Falls Package Both Sides with Transfers: $160
  • Brazilian Waterfalls Tour and Bird Park with Transfer: $98
  • Iguazú Falls Combo: Argentina & Brazil, with Transfers: $86
  • Puerto Iguazú Combo: Iguazu Falls 2 Day Tours + transfers: $85
  • Private Transfer from Puerto Iguazu Airport to Foz do Iguaçu: $83
  • Iguazu Falls Saver Package! Both sides excursions & transfers: $79
  • Iguazu Falls Argentina Brazil Duty Free Shop with Transfers: $60
  • Wanda Mines Guided Tour with Transfer / From Iguassu Falls: $56
  • Private Transfer from Iguazú (IGR) Airport to Puerto Iguazú: $45

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 $6.35
    Rosario $6.64

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
  • 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
  • FD Iguazu Falls Argentinian side + Dinner Tango Show -no transfer: $211
  • Rafain Steakhouse Dinner & Show: $232
  • Foz do Iguaçu: Argentinean Cooking Class: $244
  • Iguazu Falls: Argentina Side Tour with Dinner & Tango Show: $278

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Puerto Iguazu $34
    Rosario $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:

  • 2Day Iguazu Tour HELICOPTER Ride & Airfare from Buenos Aires: $1,290
  • Argentine Falls Package with Great Adventure and Brazilian Falls: $275
  • Argentinean Falls with Gran Aventura Boat Tour: $261
  • Bird Park & Iguassu Brazilian Side From Puerto Iguazú Hotels - Private Tour: $145
  • Bird Park & Iguassu Brazilian Side Gran Meliá Hotel Exclusive - Private Tour: $160
  • Brazilian Side of Iguassu Falls and Itaipu Dam Full-Day Sightseeing Tour from Puerto Iguazú: $96
  • Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Half-Day Sightseeing Tour: $48
  • Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Tour from Puerto Iguazu: $49
  • Brazilian Side of the Falls - All Tickets Included: $77
  • City Tour in Iguassu from Puerto Iguazú Hotels Private Tour: $90
  • Explore Iguazu Falls in Brazil: An Unforgettable Experience: $44
  • Fly Park Iguazú: Extreme Adventure in the Misiones Jungle: $75

Tours and Activities in Rosario

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Rosario.

  • Che Guevara Rosario Sightseeing Tour.: $58
  • Messi Experience. Guided tour of the places of his childhood: $60
  • Newell's Old Boys Football Match and Messi Tour: $100
  • Sucre: Night Tour with Drinks, Bars, and Local Culture: $35

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Puerto Iguazu $7.92
    Rosario $7.59


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.