Which place is cheaper, Ushuaia or Puerto Iguazu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Puerto Iguazu or Ushuaia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Puerto Iguazu or Ushuaia? 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 Ushuaia?
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.
Ushuaia
Ushuaia is a city on the Tierra del Fuego island of Argentina on the Beagle Strait. The city is considered to be one of the southernmost cities in the world and is often used as a base for cruises to Antarctica. Ushuaia's close proximity to Antarctica and their amazing hiking trails have made it a popular tourist destination over the past few decades.
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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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Iguazu $7.77Ushuaia $11
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Iguazu is $7.77, while the average daily cost in Ushuaia is $11. 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 Ushuaia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Iguazu $3.08Ushuaia $5.34
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Iguazu $6.16Ushuaia $11
Compare Hotels in Puerto Iguazu and Ushuaia
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Iguazu or Ushuaia? 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 Ushuaia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Iguazu $2.38Ushuaia -
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
- Full day tour visit to Iguazu Falls with transfers from airport : $120
- Puerto Iguazú Combo: Iguazu Falls 2 Day Tours + transfers: $98
- Private Transfer from Puerto Iguazu Airport to Foz do Iguaçu: $93
- Iguazu Falls Saver Package! Both sides excursions & transfers : $79
- Argentine and Brazilian Falls with transfers: $71
- Iguazú Falls Brazil & Argentina 3-Day In-Out Transfers: $64
- Iguazu Falls Argentina Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Hotels: $21
- One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $11
- Puerto Iguazu Airport Shuttle Transfer: $10
- One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $8.00
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ushuaia
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ushuaia are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$0.03
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ushuaia
Also for Ushuaia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared One-way Airport Transfer: $12
- Ushuaia to Ushuaia Airport (USH) - Departure Private Transfer: $32
- Ushuaia city to Ushuaia Airport(USH) - Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Ushuaia Airport(USH) to Ushuaia hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
- Ushuaia Airport(USH) to Ushuaia city - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $47
- Ushuaia Airport Shared Transfer: $8.80
- Ushuaia Airport Shared Transfer: $8.57
- Ushuaia Airport Departure Transfer: $12
- Ushuaia Airport Arrival Transfer: $12
- Ushuaia Airport (USH) to Ushuaia - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $64
- Transfer to Cerro Castor ski center: $25
- Transfer from/to the airport: $129
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Iguazu or Ushuaia?
Prices for flights to both Ushuaia 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 $2.85Ushuaia $2.07
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
- Madero Tango Show with Optional Dinner in Iguazu: $33
- Argentine Experience: Immersive Dinner & Wine Pairing in Iguazú: $60
- Iguazu Falls: The Argentine Experience Interactive Dinner: $69
- From Foz do Iguaçu: Madero Tango with dinner: $101
- Experience Guamini Mision Dinner and Tango Show Selva Iriapu Hotels Exclusive: $110
- Rafain Steakhouse Dinner & Show: $117
- Churrascaria Rafain - Show and Dinner : $117
- Foz do Iguaçu: Argentinean Cooking Class: $135
- FD Iguazu Falls Argentinian side + Dinner Tango Show -no transfer: $140
- Dinner Tango Show in Iguazú Falls - no transfers -: $145
- Experience Guamini Mision Dinner and Tango Show Belmond Hotel: $160
Typical Food Prices in Ushuaia
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ushuaia:
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Lunch for Two$0.06
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ushuaia
For Ushuaia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- The Martial Glacier at Night with Dinner Included: $118
- Tierra del Fuego National Park PM - with Dinner included: $210
- Ushuaia at night: A Snow and Fire dinner, sledding and adventure: $290
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Iguazu $2.54Ushuaia $12
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 in the Argentine Waterfalls - Guided Tour: $61
- Argentina Iguazu Falls Bus Tour: $37
- Argentinean Falls with Gran Aventura Boat Tour: $207
- Argentinean Side Iguassu Falls - Private Tour Hotels in Puerto Iguazú Exclusive: $140
- Argentinian Iguazu Falls Full Day Tour: $33
- Bird Park & Iguassu Brazilian Side From Puerto Iguazú Hotels - Private Tour: $120
- Brazilian Side Falls: Brazilian Falls Tour with Parque Das Aves:: $240
- Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Half-Day Sightseeing Tour : $43
- Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Tour from Puerto Iguazu: $55
- Brazilian Side of the Falls - All Tickets Included: $79
- City Tour Puerto Iguazú Gran Meliá Iguazú Exclusivo: $135
Tours and Activities in Ushuaia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ushuaia.
- 2-day tour: Tierra del Fuego National Park + Fagnano and Escondido Lakes: $165
- 3-Hour Navigation Tour in the Beagle Channel with Isla de Lobos: $75
- 3-Hour Tour Sailing through the Beagle Channel: $105
- 4×4 Off Road Tour to Escondido and Khami Lakes: $122
- 4-Hour National Park - USHUAIA (Shared tour): $75
- 5-Hour Nat Park + City tour - USHUAIA (Private Tour): $195
- 5-hour adventure in Panorama Blanco: $179
- 5.5-Hour Nat Park w/ Hiking *Shore Excursion* USHUAIA (Shared tour for cruises): $130
- 5hrs of Trekking Experience in Martial Glacier: $115
- Adventure 360º in Quads with Lunch: $219
- Assisted Bicycle Experience at Estancia Tunnel: $225
- Assisted Bicycle Experience in Urban Landscapes: $120
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Iguazu $1.22Ushuaia -
Typical Alcohol Prices in Ushuaia
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Ushuaia are as follows:
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Wine$0.05
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Beer$0.01
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Iguazu and Ushuaia, we can see that Ushuaia 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 Ushuaia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ushuaia 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 Ushuaia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Puerto Iguazu or Ushuaia?
Ushuaia has a larger population, and is about 81% larger than the population of Puerto Iguazu. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Iguazu and Ushuaia, 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.