A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Recife vs. San Carlos de Bariloche for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Recife or San Carlos de Bariloche?

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 San Carlos de Bariloche 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 San Carlos de Bariloche?

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.

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 Luxury Tours to Brazil, The Best Budget Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, San Carlos de Bariloche or Recife?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Recife Prices
    Brazil Prices
    San Carlos de Bariloche Prices
    Argentina Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Recife $209
    San Carlos de Bariloche $86

The average daily cost (per person) in Recife is $209, while the average daily cost in San Carlos de Bariloche is $86. 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 San Carlos de Bariloche in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Recife $84
    San Carlos de Bariloche $70
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Recife $168
    San Carlos de Bariloche $140
Compare Hotels in Recife and San Carlos de Bariloche

Looking for a hotel in Recife 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.

Hotels in Recife


Hotels in San Carlos de Bariloche


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 San Carlos de Bariloche Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Recife $8.13
    San Carlos de Bariloche $2.77

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Recife

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Recife:

  • Private Transfer from Olinda to Recife (REC) Airport: $50
  • Departure Transfer from Olinda to Recife Airport: $100
  • Private Transfer from Igarassu to Recife (REC) Airport : $111

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Carlos de Bariloche

Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Carlos de Bariloche:

  • Bariloche: BRC Airport to City Centre|Hotel Private Transfer: $14
  • Bariloche: 1-Way or Round-Trip BRC Airport Transfer: $19
  • Airport transfer - downtown hotel car up to 3 people: $23
  • Bariloche Airport Arrival Shuttle Transfer: $25
  • Shared Transfer Airport Bariloche Downtown : $25
  • Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to Bariloche Airport: $29
  • Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Tambo Viejo: $39
  • Private Transfer from Downtown Bariloche to the Airport: $43
  • Bariloche Airport Round Trip Shuttle Transfer: $44
  • Private Transfer Bariloche Center Cerro Catedral or vice versa: $48
  • Private Transfer from Playa Bonita to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $50
  • Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Lago Moreno: $50

Is it cheaper to fly into Recife or San Carlos de Bariloche?

Prices for flights to both San Carlos de Bariloche 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 $117
    San Carlos de Bariloche $6.11

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: Snowmobile ride with dinner 4 steps: $537

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Recife $11
    San Carlos de Bariloche $33

Tours and Activities in Recife

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

  • Olinda Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.48

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:

  • Circuito Chico Sightseeing Tour with Local Guide: $25
  • Bariloche: Cerro Catedral Tour: $36
  • Bariloche: Circuito Chico, iconic postcards of Bariloche in a single tour: $36
  • Bariloche: German Immigration and History Walking Tour: $41
  • German Footprint & Nazi presence - Walking Tour in Bariloche: $41
  • Indigenous People of Patagonia History Tour: $41
  • Bariloche: Cerro Catedral guided tour: $43
  • Bariloche Chocolate Tour: Patagonian Flavors on Foot: $52
  • Small Circuit Tour: Mt Campanario and Llao Llao Peninsula: $55
  • Cerro Lopez Zipline Adventure from Bariloche: $56
  • Pablo Bernasconi's Art Gallery Guided Tour: $60
  • Canopy Half-Day Tour in Bariloche: $60

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Recife -
    San Carlos de Bariloche $8.76

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: $95
  • Bariloche: Wine Tasting Winehouse Experience: $110
  • Patagonian WineHouse in Bariloche: Cheese and Wine Tasting: $125
  • Bariloche: Bar Crawl. Patagonian Bar Crawl: $160


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Recife Expensive? and Is San Carlos de Bariloche Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Recife or San Carlos de Bariloche?

Recife has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of San Carlos de Bariloche. When comparing the sizes of Recife 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.