A Travel Price Comparison for Argentina San Carlos de Bariloche vs. Cafayate for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit San Carlos de Bariloche or Cafayate?

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 Cafayate. 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 Cafayate?

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.

Cafayate

Cafayate is located in the province of Salta, in the central zone of the Valles Calchaquies. The small town has about 12,000 residents and is 1,329 kilometers from Buenos Aires.

People head to the small town of Cafayate to explore its vineyards and unique rock formations. It has become an important tourist destination in the area and there is a large golf course under construction just outside of town.

Cafayate is an important wine production center. The wines in the area thrive from the low humidity mild weather of the valleys. The town receives less than 250 millimeters of precipitation a year.

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


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

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

  • San Carlos de Bariloche Prices
    Argentina Prices
    Cafayate Prices
    Argentina Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    San Carlos de Bariloche $107
    Cafayate $66

The average daily cost (per person) in San Carlos de Bariloche is $107, while the average daily cost in Cafayate is $66. 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 Cafayate in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    San Carlos de Bariloche $88
    Cafayate $43
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    San Carlos de Bariloche $176
    Cafayate $86
Compare Hotels in San Carlos de Bariloche and Cafayate

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


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 Cafayate Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    San Carlos de Bariloche $3.45
    Cafayate $6.30

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Carlos de Bariloche

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

  • Private Transfer from Bariloche Airport to Villa La Angostura: $271
  • Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Pampa Linda: $180
  • Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Cascada Los Alerces: $180
  • Bariloche Airport BRC to Cerro Catedral RoundTrip Transfer: $168
  • Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Lago Correntoso: $150
  • Adventure in Piedras Blancas: Sledding Day with Transfers : $150
  • Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Villa La Angostura: $150
  • Private Transfer Bariloche Airport to Bariloche or Villa La Angostura by minibus: $149
  • Bariloche Airport Round Trip PrivateTransfer: $149
  • BARILOCHE: PRIVATE TRANSFER FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE CITY CENTER: $145
  • Private Transfer from Hotel Llao Llao to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $145
  • Private Transfer Bariloche or Villa La Angostura to Bariloche Airport BRC by van: $124

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

Prices for flights to both Cafayate 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 $7.60
    Cafayate $8.03

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: Nighttime activities in the snow plus dinner and show: $286
  • Bariloche: Night snowmobile ride with dinner at La Cueva Catedral: $430
  • Bariloche Nordic Night: ATV ride and dinner at Cerro Otto: $430
  • Bariloche: Snowmobile ride with dinner 4 steps: $430

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    San Carlos de Bariloche $41
    Cafayate $50

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:

  • 4-Hour Guided Tour of the Small Circuit: $60
  • Adventure to Cerro Tronador and Black Ventisquero from Bariloche: $140
  • Bariloche Chocolate Tour: Patagonian Flavors on Foot: $52
  • Bariloche Craft Beer Sensory Experience: $285
  • Bariloche Horseback Riding & Traditional Argentine Barbecue Tour: $204
  • Bariloche San Martin de los Andes and Seven Lakes Road Tour: $120
  • Bariloche Tour Route of the 7 Lakes to San Martin de los Andes : $80
  • Bariloche: 4-Hour Cerro Catedral Base Tour: $26
  • Bariloche: Beer Tour through 3 breweries: $220
  • Bariloche: Cerro Catedral Tour: $36
  • Bariloche: Cerro Catedral guided tour: $43
  • Bariloche: Cerro Tronador and Ventisquero Negro Glacier Tour: $69

Tours and Activities in Cafayate

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

  • From Salta: Full-Day Wine and Valley Tour to Cafayate: $45
  • From Salta: Cafayate, Humahuaca & Salinas Grandes 3-Day Tour: $106
  • Unveiling Premium Wine Road Adventure: $127
  • From Salta: Cafayate, Salinas Grandes, & Hornocal Tour: $128
  • From Salta: Local Landscape, Winery, and Culture Tour: $130
  • From Salta: Cafayate, Cachi, & Hornocal 3-Day Tour: $136

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    San Carlos de Bariloche $11
    Cafayate $23

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: $80
  • Bariloche: Wine Tasting Winehouse Experience: $100
  • Bariloche: Bar Crawl. Patagonian Bar Crawl: $160


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Carlos de Bariloche and Cafayate, we can see that San Carlos de Bariloche is more expensive. And not only is Cafayate much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cafayate would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cafayate 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 San Carlos de Bariloche would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Carlos de Bariloche than you might in Cafayate.

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 Cafayate Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, San Carlos de Bariloche or Cafayate?

San Carlos de Bariloche has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Cafayate. When comparing the sizes of San Carlos de Bariloche and Cafayate, 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.