A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Rotterdam vs. Buenos Aires, Argentina for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Rotterdam or Buenos Aires, Argentina?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Rotterdam and Buenos Aires, Argentina. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Rotterdam or Buenos Aires, Argentina?

Rotterdam

Rotterdam is the second largest city in the Netherlands and has the largest port in Europe. It's famously known as a city of architecture. In a few square kilometers of the city center you can get a complete overview of twentieth century architecture within Rotterdam.

Rotterdam is a very diverse, international, and hard working city. Nearly half of the city's population is not native to the Netherlands or have at least one parent from outside the country. Muslim's make up a significant portion of the population. Other area's represented include Cape Verde and the Dutch Antilles.

There's an air of optimism that permeates the entire city. There are frequent events, festivals and performances, making Rotterdam an enjoyable place to spend some time. Water is also an integral part of the city design.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires, federal capital of Argentina, also known as "The City of Tango", is best known for its energetic and unpredictable character. Like a restless child, Buenos Aires is a dynamic and modern city full of surprises. While its French-style palaces, rooftop restaurants, wide avenues and green plazas resemble European-style architecture, Buenos Aires preserves its musical, literary and culinary traditions. You can't miss dining in front of a Tango show, walking around the colourful streets of La Boca and visiting the renowned Recoleta Cemetery, designed by Argentina's most important architects and home to hundreds of illustrious corpses.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best River Cruises from Amsterdam, The Best Bicycle Tours in Netherlands, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Buenos Aires, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires.


Which place is cheaper, Buenos Aires, Argentina or Rotterdam?

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

  • Rotterdam Prices
    Netherlands Prices
    Buenos Aires, Argentina Prices
    Argentina Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Rotterdam 191
    Buenos Aires, Argentina 50

The average daily cost (per person) in Rotterdam is €191, while the average daily cost in Buenos Aires, Argentina is €50. 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 Rotterdam and Buenos Aires, Argentina in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Rotterdam 82
    Buenos Aires, Argentina 35
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Rotterdam 164
    Buenos Aires, Argentina 70
Compare Hotels in Rotterdam and Buenos Aires, Argentina

Looking for a hotel in Rotterdam or Buenos Aires, Argentina? 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 Rotterdam


Hotels in Buenos Aires, Argentina


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: Rotterdam Hotel Prices and Buenos Aires, Argentina Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Rotterdam 26
    Buenos Aires, Argentina 1.86

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rotterdam

Also for Rotterdam, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Madurodam: Train + tram transferring to/from Rotterdam: $10
  • Private Direct Transfer From Rotterdam to Vlissingen cruise port: $228
  • Private Minivan Transfer from Rotterdam: $272
  • Private Rotterdam Cruise Port Departure Transfer to AMS Schiphol Airport: $187
  • Private Rotterdam Cruise Port Departure Transfer to Amsterdam: $187
  • Private Transfer From Cruise Port Rotterdam to Schiphol Airport: $169
  • Private Transfer from Cruise Port Rotterdam to Amsterdam: $169
  • Private Transfer from Rotterdam Airport (RTM) to IJmuiden Port: $133
  • Private Transfer from Rotterdam Airport (RTM) to Rotterdam Port: $88
  • Private Transfer from Rotterdam City to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport: $225
  • Private Transfer from Rotterdam Cruise Port to Amsterdam hotels: $182
  • Private Transfer from Rotterdam Cruise Port to Rotterdam hotels: $88

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Buenos Aires, Argentina:

  • 8hr Buenos Aires City Tour and Airport Transfer Combo: $298
  • Rojo Tango Show Including Private Transfers: $260
  • Private City Tour & Transfer to the International Airport: $250
  • Gaucho Day: Areco Town & Estancia with Private Transfer: $249
  • Private Transfer Aeroparque J. Newbery Airport In Buenos Aires: $245
  • Private Transfer Cruise Port In Buenos Aires: $233
  • Executive Van Transfer: Ezeiza Airport (EZE) – Buenos Aires: $210
  • Querandi Tango show Vip with private transfer: $210
  • Transfer Airports-Cruise Port: $190
  • Private Transfer From EZE Airport To Cap: $188
  • Madero Tango Show Including Private Transfers From Port & Hotels In Buenos Aires: $179
  • Buenos Aires Airport Transfers: Buenos Aires to Airport EZE in Luxury Car: $165

Is it cheaper to fly into Rotterdam or Buenos Aires, Argentina?

Prices for flights to both Buenos Aires, Argentina and Rotterdam 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
    Rotterdam 89
    Buenos Aires, Argentina 6.71

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rotterdam

For Rotterdam, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Pizza Cruise: $46
  • Rotterdam Food Tour: Taste The Alternative Side Of The City: $79
  • Guided Food Tour: $80
  • Historic Delfshaven: Lunch or Dinner with a Private Chef: $87
  • Food Tour by Bike: $104
  • Guided Walking Food Tour: $104
  • Rotterdam Walking Food Tour with 7 Delicious Tastings: $105
  • Biking Rotterdam Food Tour with Local Guide: $117
  • Private Walking Food Tour of Rotterdam: $130
  • Rotterdam Private 2-Hour Food Tour with Tastings: $175

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

  • Piazzolla Tango Show with Optional Dinner in Buenos Aires: $35
  • BA: Premium Empanadas Cooking Class in Palermo: $39
  • Esquina Homero Manzi Tango Show Ticket Including Optional Dinner in Buenos Aires: $39
  • Tango Porteño Show with Optional Dinner in Buenos Aires: $40
  • BA: Premium Empanadas Cooking Class & Wine Tasting in Palermo: $43
  • BA: Premium Empanadas & Alfajores Cooking Experience in Palermo: $43
  • Tango Porteño Show in Buenos Aires (with optional dinner): $43
  • Early Tango Dinner Show with Optional Traditional Bus Transfer: $46
  • El Aljibe Tango Show in Buenos Aires with Optional Dinner: $47
  • El Viejo Almacen Tango Show with Optional Dinner and Transfers: $47
  • Tango Dinner Show Homero Manzi menu Sur: $49
  • BA: Empanadas and Alfajores Cooking Experience in Palermo: $49

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Rotterdam 31
    Buenos Aires, Argentina 27

Tours and Activities in Rotterdam

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Rotterdam.

  • Rotterdam 2-Hour Walking Tour | Discover The City With A Local: $3.54
  • Breda Fun Puzzle Quest: True Lord Self-Guided Tour: $5.91
  • Rotterdam Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $5.95
  • Rotterdam Highlights & Spies: Exploration Game & Tour: $8.27
  • Risen from Ruins Self Guided Tour of Rotterdam: $8.99
  • Windmills and Dutch Ingenuity: A Kinderdijk Audio Walking Tour: $8.99
  • Delfshaven Self-Guided Tour: A Guide to Rotterdam’s Old Town: $9.99
  • Team Up for a Playful Tour of Rotterdam: $12
  • Self-Guided Walking Tour of Gouda: Canals, Colonies, and Cheese: $12
  • Art, History and Architecture Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
  • Rotterdam's Highlights and History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
  • From River to Metropolis: A Rotterdam City Self Guided Audio Tour: $12

Tours and Activities in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Here are a few actual costs in Buenos Aires, Argentina for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Único tour sobre la Historia del Tango (sin mitos): $60
  • "SAILING TOUR: Tango and Choripan (typical Argentine food): $300
  • 2 Hour Tour in Buenos Aires Parisina: $43
  • 3 Hours Ultimate Buenos Aires Bar Tour: $34
  • 5 Hour Private Driving and Walking Tour of Buenos Aires: $185
  • 5hs Small Group City Tour of Buenos Aires (Optional Street Food): $54
  • @argentinahighlights City LGBTQ tour: $150
  • Adventure in Parque de la Costa: $95
  • Architectural tour of Buenos Aires: $35
  • Argentina Polo Experience by La Guapeada Polo: $267
  • Argentine Asado by Maru. Private experience in Buenos Aires: $140
  • Argentine Football Graffiti of Messi and Maradona Tour: $120

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Rotterdam 19
    Buenos Aires, Argentina 8.19

Sample the Local Flavors in Rotterdam

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rotterdam:

  • Beer Brewery 'Noordt' Beer Tasting: $9.31
  • Brewery Noordt Tour Including Two Beers: $20
  • Stadshaven Brewery Tour with Beer Tastings: $26
  • The Ultimate Rotterdam Bar Crawl Experience: $41
  • Ludwig's Original Pub Crawl with VIP Club Entry: $52
  • Ludwig's Private Pub Crawl with VIP Club Entry: $576

Sample the Local Flavors in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Also in Buenos Aires, Argentina, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Exclusive Malbec Wine Tasting in Buenos Aires: $42
  • Argentine Wine Tasting in Caminito with Appetizers Included: $45
  • BA: Small Group Wine Tasting and Blending in Palermo: $54
  • Malbec Wine Tasting at Boutique Hotel in Palermo: $59
  • Wine Tasting at Encuentro Nativo a Historic Tenement in Caminito: $60
  • Buenos Aires Small-Group Wine Tasting: $60
  • Tango Lesson and Wine Tasting in Buenos Aires, Argentina: $65
  • Wine Tasting in Palermo, City of Buenos Aires.: $65
  • Premium Wine Tasting in Buenos Aires: $85
  • Wine Tasting Boutique in Buenos Aires: $94
  • Private Malbec Wine Tasting Experience in Buenos Aires: $95
  • Private argentinian wine tasting in downtown: $97


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rotterdam and Buenos Aires, Argentina, we can see that Rotterdam is more expensive. And not only is Buenos Aires, Argentina much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Rotterdam is in Europe and Buenos Aires, Argentina is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Buenos Aires, Argentina would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Buenos Aires, Argentina 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 Rotterdam would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rotterdam than you might in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Rotterdam Expensive? and Is Buenos Aires, Argentina Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Rotterdam or Buenos Aires, Argentina?

Buenos Aires, Argentina has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Rotterdam. When comparing the sizes of Rotterdam and Buenos Aires, Argentina, 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 Rotterdam or Buenos Aires, Argentina?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Buenos Aires, Argentina is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Rotterdam has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Rotterdam or Buenos Aires, Argentina in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Rotterdam as well as Buenos Aires, Argentina. Most visitors come to Rotterdam for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Rotterdam is generally cooler than Buenos Aires, Argentinain January. Daily temperatures in Rotterdam average around 17°C (62°F), and Buenos Aires, Argentina fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Buenos Aires, Argentina. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Rotterdam this time of the year. In the summer, Rotterdam often gets less sunshine than Buenos Aires, Argentinain January. Rotterdam gets 202 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Buenos Aires, Argentina receives 279 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Rotterdam usually gets less rain in July than Buenos Aires, Argentinain January. Rotterdam gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Buenos Aires, Argentina receives 118 mm (4.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July and January
    Rotterdam 17°C (62°F) 
    Buenos Aires, Argentina 25°C (77°F)

Should I visit Rotterdam or Buenos Aires, Argentina in the Autumn?

Both Buenos Aires, Argentina and Rotterdam are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Rotterdam because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

Rotterdam is much colder than Buenos Aires, Argentina in the autumn. The daily temperature in Rotterdam averages around 11°C (51°F) in October, and Buenos Aires, Argentina fluctuates around 18°C (65°F)in April.

It's quite sunny in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Rotterdam usually receives less sunshine than Buenos Aires, Argentina during autumn. Rotterdam gets 105 hours of sunny skies, while Buenos Aires, Argentina receives 220 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In October, Rotterdam usually receives less rain than Buenos Aires, Argentinain April. Rotterdam gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Buenos Aires, Argentina receives 104 mm (4.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October and April
    Rotterdam 11°C (51°F) 
    Buenos Aires, Argentina 18°C (65°F)

Should I visit Rotterdam or Buenos Aires, Argentina in the Winter?

Both Buenos Aires, Argentina and Rotterdam during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Rotterdam this time of year.

It's quite cold in Rotterdam in the winter. In the winter, Rotterdam is much colder than Buenos Aires, Argentina. Typically, the winter temperatures in Rotterdam in January average around 2°C (36°F), and Buenos Aires, Argentina averages at about 12°C (53°F)in July.

In the winter, Rotterdam often gets less sunshine than Buenos Aires, Argentinain July. Rotterdam gets 47 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Buenos Aires, Argentina receives 143 hours of full sun.

Rotterdam usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Buenos Aires, Argentinain July. Rotterdam gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Buenos Aires, Argentina receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January and July
    Rotterdam 2°C (36°F) 
    Buenos Aires, Argentina 12°C (53°F)

Should I visit Rotterdam or Buenos Aires, Argentina in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Rotterdam and Buenos Aires, Argentina. Many travelers come to Rotterdam for the activities around the city.

In April, Rotterdam is generally much colder than Buenos Aires, Argentinain October. Daily temperatures in Rotterdam average around 8°C (46°F), and Buenos Aires, Argentina fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Buenos Aires, Argentina this time of the year. Rotterdam usually receives less sunshine than Buenos Aires, Argentina during spring. Rotterdam gets 158 hours of sunny skies, while Buenos Aires, Argentina receives 227 hours of full sun in the spring.

Buenos Aires, Argentina receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Rotterdam usually receives less rain than Buenos Aires, Argentinain October. Rotterdam gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Buenos Aires, Argentina receives 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April and October
    Rotterdam 8°C (46°F) 
    Buenos Aires, Argentina 18°C (64°F)

Typical Weather for Buenos Aires, Argentina and Rotterdam

Rotterdam Buenos Aires, Argentina
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 2°C (36°F) 66 mm (2.6 in) 25°C (77°F) 118 mm (4.6 in)
Feb 3°C (37°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) 24°C (75°F) 117 mm (4.6 in)
Mar 5°C (41°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 22°C (71°F) 142 mm (5.6 in)
Apr 8°C (46°F) 52 mm (2 in) 18°C (65°F) 104 mm (4.1 in)
May 12°C (54°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 15°C (59°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Jun 15°C (59°F) 68 mm (2.7 in) 12°C (53°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Jul 17°C (62°F) 75 mm (3 in) 12°C (53°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)
Aug 17°C (62°F) 71 mm (2.8 in) 13°C (55°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)
Sep 14°C (57°F) 67 mm (2.6 in) 15°C (59°F) 75 mm (3 in)
Oct 11°C (51°F) 72 mm (2.8 in) 18°C (64°F) 125 mm (4.9 in)
Nov 6°C (43°F) 81 mm (3.2 in) 21°C (69°F) 117 mm (4.6 in)
Dec 3°C (38°F) 80 mm (3.1 in) 23°C (74°F) 104 mm (4.1 in)