Which place is cheaper, El Chalten or Recife?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Recife or El Chalten?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Recife and El Chalten can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Recife or El Chalten?
Recife
One of the largest cities on Brazil's northeast coast, Recife is also the capital of the state of Pernambuco. The city gets its name from the Portuguese word for "reef," as it was built around a landscape of natural reef beaches. Many people visit to enjoy these beaches, experience the culture, and explore the history of this important Brazilian city.
El Chalten
El Chalten is probably one of the most beautiful areas of Patagonia, especially at the slightest ray of sunshine and one of your cheapest destination while you are travelling in Patagonia. Indeed, you will spend your days hiking and there are no park fees. There are restaurants, souvenir shops, and outdoor stores but most of them will not accept credit cards so before heading out, get cash in El Calafate or your previous stop. For the beginners, it will be long hikes in a magical setting and for the experts perhaps a week long expedition to the greatest glaciers of the world. To discover the way people live in the pampa, you may also decide to stay at an Estancia. In the stunning Estancia Santa Thelma, about 300km away from El Chalten, you will be able to explore the surroundings by horse, live a unique experience in the middle of the nature and its vast plains occupied by thousands of merino sheep and horses and of course eat a typical meal of the region.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Jungle Trekking Tours in Brazil, The Best Luxury Tours to Brazil, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, and The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRecife $166El Chalten $9.93
The average daily cost (per person) in Recife is $166, while the average daily cost in El Chalten is $9.93. 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 Recife and El Chalten in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRecife $88El Chalten $4.42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRecife $176El Chalten $8.84
Compare Hotels in Recife and El Chalten
Looking for a hotel in Recife or El Chalten? 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: Recife Hotel Prices and El Chalten Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Recife $8.47El Chalten $2.37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Recife
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Recife:
- Shared Transfer from Recife to Cabo de Santo Agostinho: $33
- Instituto Ricardo Brennand with transfers from Recife: $41
- Private Transfer from Olinda to Recife (REC) Airport: $46
- Private Transfer from Recife to Olinda: $46
- Airport to Porto de Galinhas Transfer: $65
- Recife Boat Tour with Transfers: $72
- Airport to Maragogi Hotels Private Transfer: $85
- Departure Transfer from Olinda to Recife Airport: $100
- Private Transfer from Recife to Serrambi Beach: $101
- Private Transfer from Igarassu to Recife (REC) Airport : $101
- Private Transfer from Recife to Carneiros Beach: $114
- Private Transfer from Recife to Tamandare Beach: $114
Is it cheaper to fly into Recife or El Chalten?
Prices for flights to both El Chalten and Recife 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 dayRecife $70El Chalten $3.66
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Recife $11El Chalten $2.66
Tours and Activities in Recife
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Recife are as follows:
- Recife (Historic Centre) Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $7.68
- Olinda Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.86
- City Tour Recife & Olinda: $27
- Colonial North Coast beaches - Full-Day Tour: $35
- Olinda City Tour and Instituto Ricardo Brennand: $94
- City Tour Recife with Catamaran included: $150
Tours and Activities in El Chalten
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for El Chalten are as follows:
- 3 Hours Grilled Lamb Experience in Estancia Bonanza: $55
- Rafting experience on the Rio de las Vueltas in Patagonia: $90
- Rio de las Vueltas Rafting Experience - El Chalten: $90
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRecife -El Chalten $1.22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Recife and El Chalten, we can see that Recife is more expensive. And not only is El Chalten much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to El Chalten would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Chalten 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 Recife would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Recife than you might in El Chalten.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Recife Expensive? and Is El Chalten Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Recife or El Chalten?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit Recife or El Chalten in the Summer?
Both El Chalten and Recife are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities.
In January, Recife is generally around the same temperature as El Chalten. Daily temperatures in Recife average around 26°C (79°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in El Chalten. It's quite rainy in Recife. In January, Recife usually receives around the same amount of rain as El Chalten. Recife gets 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryRecife 26°C (79°F)El Chalten 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Recife or El Chalten in the Autumn?
Both El Chalten and Recife during the autumn are popular places to visit.
Recife is a little warmer than El Chalten in the autumn. The daily temperature in Recife averages around 26°C (79°F) in April, and El Chalten fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
El Chalten gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Recife. Recife usually gets more rain in April than El Chalten. Recife gets 338 mm (13.3 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilRecife 26°C (79°F)El Chalten 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Recife or El Chalten in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Recife and El Chalten.
In the winter, Recife is much warmer than El Chalten. Typically, the winter temperatures in Recife in July average around 24°C (76°F), and El Chalten averages at about 16°C (61°F).
Recife gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Recife usually receives more rain than El Chalten. Recife gets 388 mm (15.3 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulyRecife 24°C (76°F)El Chalten 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Recife or El Chalten in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Recife as well as El Chalten.
In October, Recife is generally a little warmer than El Chalten. Daily temperatures in Recife average around 25°C (77°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in El Chalten. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Recife this time of the year. In the spring, Recife often gets more sunshine than El Chalten. Recife gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while El Chalten receives 205 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in El Chalten. Recife usually gets less rain in October than El Chalten. Recife gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberRecife 25°C (77°F)El Chalten 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for El Chalten and Recife
| Recife | El Chalten | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 257 mm (10.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 338 mm (13.3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| May | 25°C (78°F) | 319 mm (12.5 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 378 mm (14.9 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (76°F) | 388 mm (15.3 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 205 mm (8.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (76°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
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.