Which place is cheaper, Ushuaia 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 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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Puerto Iguazu Prices
Argentina PricesUshuaia Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Iguazu $71Ushuaia $0.00
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Iguazu is $71, while the average daily cost in Ushuaia is $0.00. 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 $51Ushuaia -
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Iguazu $102Ushuaia $0.00
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 $3.85Ushuaia -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Iguazu
Also for Puerto Iguazu, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Iguazu Falls 2-Day Tour with Airport Transfer: $323
- Transfer In + Transfer Out IGR Airport Puerto Iguazú Hotels Selva de Iryapu: $145
- Private Transfers Full Day Iguazú Falls: $130
- Puerto Iguazú Combo: Iguazu Falls 2 Day Tours + transfers: $100
- Transfers IGR from the (ARG) to IGU (BRA) with PasseioTur: $80
- Iguazu Falls Saver Package! Both sides excursions & transfers : $79
- Private Transfer from Puerto Iguazu Airport to Foz do Iguaçu: $75
- Iguazú Falls Brazil & Argentina 3-Day In Transfer: $54
- Private Transfer to or from Puerto Iguazu Airport IGR: $35
- Transfer from Iguazú Airport to hotels on the Argentine side: $30
- Puerto Iguazu Airport (IGR) Private Transfer to Puerto Iguazu: $27
- Iguazu Falls Argentina Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Hotels: $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ushuaia
Also for Ushuaia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfers to Cerro Castor: $25
- Shared One-way Airport Transfer: $7.00
- National Park, Train and Navigation. Airport transfer included: $204
- Airport Transfer: $10
- Ushuaia to Ushuaia Airport (USH) - Departure Private Transfer: $24
- Ushuaia city to Ushuaia Airport(USH) - Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Ushuaia Low cost Transfers: $17
- Ushuaia Guided Visit to the National Park with Transfer: $90
- Ushuaia Combo: Tierra del Fuego National Park & Round Trip Transfers to airport: $129
- Ushuaia Airport Shared Transfer: $8.50
- Ushuaia Airport Shared Transfer: $9.00
- Ushuaia Airport Hotel Transfer: $30
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 $7.89Ushuaia -
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 Ushuaia
For Ushuaia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Adventure and Snow Moto + Buffet Lunch or Pizza Rodizio + Transfer: $96
- 4WD Off Road Beaver Watching with Dinner in Shelter: $170
- Ushuaia City Tour: Vespertine Tour with Dinner: $189
- Snowmobile+Rockets+Huskies+Skiing+Lunch or Pizza Rodizio: $195
- Moto+Quadricycle+Ski+Buoys+Lunch or Pizza Rodizio: $206
- Tierra del Fuego National Park PM - with Dinner included: $210
- Discovering Lakes Escondido and Fagnano with sunset dinner: $210
- Puerto Almanza and Punta Paraná Tour with Dinner: $210
- Tierra del Fuego National Park: vespertine tour with dinner: $210
- Snow and Fire with Dinner in Firepit, Sledge Ride and Snowmobile: $250
- Motorcycle+Rockets+Huskies+Skiing+Buoys+Lunch or Pizza Rodizio: $268
- Ushuaia at night: A Snow and Fire dinner, sledding and adventure: $298
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Iguazu $42Ushuaia -
Tours and Activities in Puerto Iguazu
For Puerto Iguazu, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Day Private Tour of Iguassu Waterfalls Lado BRA and ARG : $120
- 1-Day Private Tour In the Iguacu Falls of Brazil and Argentina : $101
- 2Day Iguazu Tour HELICOPTER Ride & Airfare from Buenos Aires: $590
- 3-Day Iguazu Falls Exploring Tour: $290
- 3hr Experience Learning to Make an Argentine Asado: $150
- Argentina: Full-Day Iguazu Falls and Great Adventure Tour: $256
- Argentine Falls Package with Great Adventure and Brazilian Falls: $279
- Argentine Side Iguassu Falls Private Tour Hotels in Puerto Iguazú: $140
- Argentinean Falls with Gran Aventura Boat Tour: $229
- Argentinian Iguazu Falls Full Day Tour: $34
- Bird Park & Iguassu Brazilian Side From Puerto Iguazú Hotels - Private Tour: $135
- Bird Park & Iguassu Brazilian Side Gran Meliá Hotel Exclusive - Private Tour: $130
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
- 2-day tour:Tierra del Fuego NP + Beagle Channel Navigation + Fagnano & Escondido: $240
- 3-Hour Tour Sailing through the Beagle Channel: $105
- 4×4 Off Road Tour to Escondido and Khami Lakes: $200
- 4W4 Adventure in Lagos Full Day with Roast : $170
- 5-Hour National Park + City tour - USHUAIA (Private Tour): $205
- 5hrs of Trekking Experience in Martial Glacier: $115
- 7-Hour Lakes Escondido & Fagnano - USHUAIA (Shared tour): $165
- Adventure through Lagos 4X4 in Ushuaia: $188
- Albino's Eye Glacier Full-Day Trekking Tour from Ushuaia: $286
- Almanza Port Tour with Lunch: $100
- An Hour Tour in the City of Ushuaia: $71
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Iguazu $9.84Ushuaia -
Sample the Local Flavors in Ushuaia
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Ushuaia:
- Photo tour and Wine Tasting in Ushuaia City: $115
- City tour and Wine tasting: $115
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Iguazu and Ushuaia, we can see that Puerto Iguazu is more expensive. And not only is Ushuaia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ushuaia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ushuaia 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 Puerto Iguazu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Iguazu than you might in Ushuaia.
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.