Which place is cheaper, San Carlos de Bariloche 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 San Carlos de Bariloche?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Puerto Iguazu or San Carlos de Bariloche? 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 San Carlos de Bariloche?
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.
San Carlos de Bariloche
Set in the foothills of the Andes Mountains in Argentina, San Carlos de Bariloche is the biggest city in the Lake District. Bariloche is popular for skiing and snowboarding in the winter and trekking, swimming, fishing and horseback riding in the summertime.
No matter the time of year, there is something for everyone in Bariloche. Skiing season begins from June to October while fishing season is from November to April. Summer is from December to March, but visiting during low seasons (Spring in October to December and Autumn in late-April to mid-June) also has its benefits when it comes to saving cash and avoiding crowds.
Check out our ultimate guide to Hiking in Patagonia.
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 PricesSan Carlos de Bariloche Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Iguazu $71San Carlos de Bariloche $108
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Iguazu is $71, while the average daily cost in San Carlos de Bariloche is $108. 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 San Carlos de Bariloche in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Iguazu $51San Carlos de Bariloche $88
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Iguazu $102San Carlos de Bariloche $176
Compare Hotels in Puerto Iguazu and San Carlos de Bariloche
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Iguazu or San Carlos de Bariloche? 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 San Carlos de Bariloche Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Iguazu $3.85San Carlos de Bariloche $3.47
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: $11
- Puerto Iguazu Airport Shuttle Transfer: $17
- Iguazu Airport Private Transfer: $22
- Iguazu Falls Argentina Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Hotels: $25
- Puerto Iguazu Airport (IGR) Private Transfer to Puerto Iguazu: $27
- Transfer from Iguazú Airport to hotels on the Argentine side: $30
- Private Transfer to or from Puerto Iguazu Airport IGR: $35
- Iguazú Falls Brazil & Argentina 3-Day In Transfer: $54
- Private Transfer from Puerto Iguazu Airport to Foz do Iguaçu: $75
- Iguazu Falls Saver Package! Both sides excursions & transfers : $79
- Transfers IGR from the (ARG) to IGU (BRA) with PasseioTur: $80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Carlos de Bariloche
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Carlos de Bariloche:
- Visit to Piedras Blancas Bariloche with Transfers: $112
- Transfer from the Airport to Bariloche: $26
- Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to Bariloche Airport: $26
- Private Transfer from Tom Wesley to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $58
- Private Transfer from Pampa Linda to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $194
- Private Transfer from Lago Moreno to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $49
- Private Transfer from Hotel Llao Llao to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $141
- Private Transfer from Hotel Catedral to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $49
- Private Transfer from El Casco Art Hotel to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $58
- Private Transfer from Downtown Bariloche to the Airport: $43
- Private Transfer from Cascada Los Alerces to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $174
- Private Transfer from Camping los Rápidos to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $96
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Iguazu or San Carlos de Bariloche?
Prices for flights to both San Carlos de Bariloche 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 $7.89San Carlos de Bariloche $7.64
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: $33
- Iguazu Falls: The Argentine Experience Interactive Dinner: $65
- Argentine Experience: Immersive Dinner & Wine Pairing in Iguazú: $65
- Madero Tango Iguazú - Premium Dinner (Foz do Iguaçu/Puerto Iguazú): $69
- From Foz do Iguaçu: Madero Tango with dinner: $108
- Dinner Show Rafain Steakhouse from Puerto Iguazú Hotels Private Tour: $120
- FD Iguazu Falls Argentinian side + Dinner Tango Show -no transfer: $140
- Foz do Iguaçu: Argentinean Cooking Class: $142
- Dinner Tango Show in Iguazú Falls - no transfers -: $145
- Experience Guamini Mision Dinner and Tango Show Belmond Hotel: $160
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Carlos de Bariloche
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Carlos de Bariloche.
- Bariloche: Nighttime activities in the snow plus dinner and show: $286
- Bariloche: Night snowmobile ride with dinner at La Cueva Catedral: $430
- Bariloche Nordic Night: ATV ride and dinner at Cerro Otto: $430
- Bariloche: Snowmobile ride with dinner 4 steps: $430
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Iguazu $42San Carlos de Bariloche $41
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
- Argentinian Iguazu Falls Full Day Tour: $32
- Iguazu Falls Tour on Brazil Side: $37
- Foz do Iguaçu: Brazil/Argentina Sides Iguazu Falls Day Tour: $40
- Ciudad del Este Shopping Tour: $40
- Iguazu Falls: one-day tour on the Argentine side: $40
- From San Ignacio Ruins and Wanda Mines Tour: $46
- Iguaza Falls Brazilian Side & Bird Park Tour: $46
- Iguazu Falls Brazilian Side Tour: $49
- Full-Day Tour to Iguazu Falls : $49
- Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Tour from Puerto Iguazu: $49
Tours and Activities in San Carlos de Bariloche
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Carlos de Bariloche are as follows:
- 4-Hour Guided Tour of the Small Circuit: $60
- Adventure to Cerro Tronador and Black Ventisquero from Bariloche: $140
- Bariloche Chocolate Tour: Patagonian Flavors on Foot: $52
- Bariloche Horseback Riding & Traditional Argentine Barbecue Tour: $165
- Bariloche San Martin de los Andes and Seven Lakes Road Tour: $120
- Bariloche Tour Route of the 7 Lakes to San Martin de los Andes : $80
- Bariloche: 4-Hour Cerro Catedral Base Tour: $26
- Bariloche: Beer Tour through 3 breweries: $220
- Bariloche: Cerro Catedral guided tour: $43
- Bariloche: Cerro Tronador and Ventisquero Negro Glacier Tour: $91
- Bariloche: Cerro Tronador and Ventisquero Negro Glacier Tour: $69
- Bariloche: Cerro Tronador and Ventisquero Negro Tour: $110
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Iguazu $9.84San Carlos de Bariloche $11
Sample the Local Flavors in San Carlos de Bariloche
Also in San Carlos de Bariloche, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bariloche: Patagonian Experience wine tasting: $80
- Patagonian WineHouse in Bariloche: Cheese and Wine Tasting: $86
- Bariloche: Wine Tasting Winehouse Experience: $100
- Bariloche: Bar Crawl. Patagonian Bar Crawl: $136
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Iguazu and San Carlos de Bariloche, we can see that San Carlos de Bariloche 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 San Carlos de Bariloche would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Carlos de Bariloche 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 San Carlos de Bariloche Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Puerto Iguazu or San Carlos de Bariloche?
San Carlos de Bariloche has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Puerto Iguazu. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Iguazu and San Carlos de Bariloche, 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.