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

Should you visit San Carlos de Bariloche or Bonaire?

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 San Carlos de Bariloche and Bonaire. 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: San Carlos de Bariloche or Bonaire?

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.

Bonaire

An island municipality of the Netherlands, Bonaire resides in the Caribbean, east of Central America and north of Venezuela. It is a part of the ABC Islands together with Aruba and CuraƧao, and is best known as a tropical vacation destination with many great dive spots, beaches, lagoons, and wildlife.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Argentina.


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

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

The average daily cost (per person) in San Carlos de Bariloche is $7.40, while the average daily cost in Bonaire is $256. 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 San Carlos de Bariloche and Bonaire in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    San Carlos de Bariloche $2.68
    Bonaire $155
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    San Carlos de Bariloche $5.36
    Bonaire $310
Compare Hotels in San Carlos de Bariloche and Bonaire

Looking for a hotel in San Carlos de Bariloche or Bonaire? 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 San Carlos de Bariloche


Hotels in Bonaire


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: San Carlos de Bariloche Hotel Prices and Bonaire Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    San Carlos de Bariloche $2.28
    Bonaire $65

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Carlos de Bariloche

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

  • Bariloche: 1-Way or Round-Trip BRC Airport Transfer: $9.00
  • Private transfer Bariloche Airpot- Hotels: $13
  • Transfers in Bariloche: $22
  • Transfer from the Airport to Bariloche: $26
  • Shared Transfer One Way - Bariloche Airport to Hotel or v.v.: $26
  • Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to Bariloche Airport: $26
  • Bariloche Airport (BRC) to Cerro Catedral - Arrival Transfer: $27
  • Bariloche: One-Way Private Transfer from Airport: $35
  • Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Tambo Viejo: $36
  • Bariloche Airport Arrival Shuttle Transfer: $36
  • Bariloche Airport Departure Shuttle Transfer: $36
  • Private Transfer from Lago Moreno to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $46

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bonaire

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bonaire:

  • Private Transfers from Bonaire airport to any address on Bonaire: $43
  • Airport Transfer Return Included: $44
  • Private Transfer from Kralendijk Cruise Port to Kralendijk city : $59
  • Private Transfer from Kralendijk Port to Bonaire Airport (BON): $59
  • Private Transfer from Kralendijk City to Kralendijk Cruise Port: $59

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

Prices for flights to both Bonaire and San Carlos de Bariloche 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
    San Carlos de Bariloche $2.78
    Bonaire $59
Typical Food Prices in San Carlos de Bariloche

Some typical examples of dining costs in San Carlos de Bariloche are as follows:


  • Pastries
    $0.01
  • Empanadas
    $0.03

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    San Carlos de Bariloche $3.05
    Bonaire $40

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:

  • Bariloche: 4-Hour Cerro Catedral Base Tour: $15
  • Classic Bariloche: Half-Day Sightseeing Excursion: $26
  • Bariloche: Half Day Small Circuit Tour - Mt Campanario and Llao Llao Peninsula: $28
  • German Footprint & Nazi presence - Walking Tour in Bariloche: $29
  • German Footprint Tour: $29
  • Indigenous People of Patagonia History Tour: $29
  • From Bariloche: Half-Day Circuito Chico Sightseeing Tour: $38
  • Small Circuit Tour: Mt Campanario and Llao Llao Peninsula: $39
  • Bariloche: Full-Day El Bolsón and Puelo Lake Tour: $42
  • Half-Day Tour to Circuito Chico and Cerro Catedral with Transportation: $56
  • President Peron in Bariloche - Historic Tour: $60
  • Pablo Bernasconi's Art Gallery Guided Tour: $60

Tours and Activities in Bonaire

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

  • Semi Submarine Boat Experience to Klein Bonaire: $33
  • Walking Tours & Private Tours on Bonaire: $36
  • 4 Hours Open Air Party Bus Tour with Beach Stop in Caribbean: $39
  • Half-Day Bonaire Island Tour with Hotel Pickup and Drop-off: $46
  • Bonaire Essentials Island Tour: $49
  • Sunset Adventure: $55
  • Yacht tour with local guide & snorkeling activities: $57
  • Highlights of Bonaire & Cultural Experience: $59
  • Clearbottom Mangrove Kayak & Snorkel tour: $59
  • Explore North & South Tour: $65
  • Small-Group Guided North & South Tour of Bonaire with Pick Up: $65
  • Donkey Sanctuary Tour with a Local Guide : $68

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    San Carlos de Bariloche $1.83
    Bonaire $33
Typical Alcohol Prices in San Carlos de Bariloche

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in San Carlos de Bariloche from other travelers:


  • Beer
    $0.01


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Carlos de Bariloche and Bonaire, we can see that Bonaire is more expensive. And not only is San Carlos de Bariloche much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Carlos de Bariloche is in South America and Bonaire is in Caribbean Islands, 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 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 Bonaire would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bonaire 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 San Carlos de Bariloche Expensive? and Is Bonaire Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, San Carlos de Bariloche or Bonaire?

San Carlos de Bariloche has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Bonaire. When comparing the sizes of San Carlos de Bariloche and Bonaire, 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.