A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Recife vs. Mar del Plata for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Recife or Mar del Plata?

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 Mar del Plata 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 Mar del Plata?

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.

Mar del Plata

Mar del Plata is found only 404 km southeast of the city of Buenos Aires, on the Atlantic coast. Today Mar Del Plata is Argentina‘s most well known beach resort. It has successfully married the two worlds of beach and city into a fun, cosmopolitan urban center with the presence of highly developed tourist infrastructure. Founded in 1874, Mar del Plata was at first mainly an industrial and commercial center before becoming a vacation destination for Argentinians. For a peaceful trip and intimate oceanfront promenades, avoid visiting Mar del Plata during summer time, as the gorgeous arced coastline will be crawling with visitors. But the city is more than just beaches. It also offers some culture, lively nightlife, and great food.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Brazil, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Brazil, The Best Luxury Tours to Argentina, and The Best Budget Tours to Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, Mar del Plata or Recife?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Recife is $171, while the average daily cost in Mar del Plata is $9.01. 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 Mar del Plata in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Recife $91
    Mar del Plata $3.23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Recife $182
    Mar del Plata $6.46
Compare Hotels in Recife and Mar del Plata

Looking for a hotel in Recife or Mar del Plata? 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 Recife


Hotels in Mar del Plata


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 Mar del Plata Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Recife $8.75
    Mar del Plata $2.56

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Recife

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Recife:

  • Private Transfer from Igarassu to Recife (REC) Airport : $103
  • Departure Transfer from Olinda to Recife Airport: $100
  • Airport to Maragogi Hotels Private Transfer: $85
  • Recife Boat Tour with Transfers: $72
  • Airport to Porto de Galinhas Transfer: $65
  • Private Transfer from Olinda to Recife (REC) Airport: $47

Is it cheaper to fly into Recife or Mar del Plata?

Prices for flights to both Mar del Plata 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Recife $73
    Mar del Plata $3.91

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Recife $12
    Mar del Plata $2.33

Tours and Activities in Recife

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Recife are as follows:

  • City Tour Recife with Catamaran included: $150
  • Colonial North Coast beaches - Full-Day Tour: $36
  • Olinda Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $8.10
  • Recife (Historic Centre) Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $7.91
  • City Tour Recife & Olinda: $27

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Recife -
    Mar del Plata $1.82


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Recife and Mar del Plata, we can see that Recife is more expensive. And not only is Mar del Plata much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mar del Plata would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mar del Plata 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 Mar del Plata.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Recife Expensive? and Is Mar del Plata Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Recife or Mar del Plata?

Recife has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Mar del Plata. When comparing the sizes of Recife and Mar del Plata, 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.


When is the best time to visit Recife or Mar del Plata?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.

Should I visit Recife or Mar del Plata in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Recife as well as Mar del Plata.

In January, Recife is generally a little warmer than Mar del Plata. Daily temperatures in Recife average around 26°C (79°F), and Mar del Plata fluctuates around 20°C (69°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mar del Plata. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Recife this time of the year. In the summer, Recife often gets more sunshine than Mar del Plata. Recife gets 246 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mar del Plata receives 221 hours of full sun.

Recife receives a lot of rain in the summer. Recife usually gets more rain in January than Mar del Plata. Recife gets 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Mar del Plata receives 96 mm (3.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures January
    Recife 26°C (79°F) 
    Mar del Plata 20°C (69°F)

Should I visit Recife or Mar del Plata in the Autumn?

Both Mar del Plata and Recife are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.

Recife is much warmer than Mar del Plata in the autumn. The daily temperature in Recife averages around 26°C (79°F) in April, and Mar del Plata fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).

It's quite rainy in Recife. In April, Recife usually receives more rain than Mar del Plata. Recife gets 338 mm (13.3 in) of rain, while Mar del Plata receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures April
    Recife 26°C (79°F) 
    Mar del Plata 15°C (59°F)

Should I visit Recife or Mar del Plata in the Winter?

Both Mar del Plata and Recife during the winter are popular places to visit.

In the winter, Recife is much warmer than Mar del Plata. Typically, the winter temperatures in Recife in July average around 24°C (76°F), and Mar del Plata averages at about 9°C (47°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Recife. Recife usually gets more rain in July than Mar del Plata. Recife gets 388 mm (15.3 in) of rain, while Mar del Plata receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures July
    Recife 24°C (76°F) 
    Mar del Plata 9°C (47°F)

Should I visit Recife or Mar del Plata in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Recife and Mar del Plata.

In October, Recife is generally much warmer than Mar del Plata. Daily temperatures in Recife average around 25°C (77°F), and Mar del Plata fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

In Recife, it's very sunny this time of the year. Recife usually receives more sunshine than Mar del Plata during spring. Recife gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Mar del Plata receives 175 hours of full sun in the spring.

In October, Recife usually receives less rain than Mar del Plata. Recife gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Mar del Plata receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures October
    Recife 25°C (77°F) 
    Mar del Plata 13°C (56°F)

Typical Weather for Mar del Plata and Recife

Recife Mar del Plata
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 26°C (79°F) 108 mm (4.3 in) 20°C (69°F) 96 mm (3.8 in)
Feb 26°C (80°F) 148 mm (5.8 in) 20°C (68°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Mar 26°C (80°F) 257 mm (10.1 in) 18°C (65°F) 97 mm (3.8 in)
Apr 26°C (79°F) 338 mm (13.3 in) 15°C (59°F) 67 mm (2.6 in)
May 25°C (78°F) 319 mm (12.5 in) 12°C (53°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Jun 25°C (77°F) 378 mm (14.9 in) 9°C (48°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Jul 24°C (76°F) 388 mm (15.3 in) 9°C (47°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Aug 24°C (75°F) 205 mm (8.1 in) 9°C (49°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
Sep 24°C (76°F) 122 mm (4.8 in) 11°C (51°F) 56 mm (2.2 in)
Oct 25°C (77°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 13°C (56°F) 78 mm (3.1 in)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 36 mm (1.4 in) 16°C (61°F) 75 mm (3 in)
Dec 26°C (79°F) 57 mm (2.2 in) 19°C (66°F) 88 mm (3.5 in)