Which place is cheaper, El Calafate 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.
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Should you visit San Carlos de Bariloche or El Calafate?
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 El Calafate. 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 El Calafate?
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.
El Calafate
Located in Patagonia, El Calafate has become a popular tourist destination in Argentina because of its beautiful setting on the stunningly blue Lago Argentina. The town sits on the southern border of the lake in the southwestern part of the Santa Cruz Province. It's about 320 kilometers from Rio Gallegos.
The rise in popularity of Patagonia as a tourist destination has truly put this small town on the map. You'll find no shortage of trekkers in the town and it makes an excellent base to explore different parts of the Los Glaciares National Park. Popular places to visit include Perito Moreno Glacier, Cerro Chalten, and Cerro Torre.
El Calafate has a cold semi-arid climate. The summers are cool to warm and very dry while the winters are cold and damp. Lago Argentino has a significant influence over the town's climate. The shallow bay where the town is located is usually frozen during the winter months.
Check out our ultimate guide to Hiking in Patagonia.
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 Photography Tours in Argentina.
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San Carlos de Bariloche Prices
Argentina PricesEl Calafate Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Carlos de Bariloche $86El Calafate $58
The average daily cost (per person) in San Carlos de Bariloche is $86, while the average daily cost in El Calafate is $58. 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 El Calafate in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Carlos de Bariloche $70El Calafate $36
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Carlos de Bariloche $140El Calafate $72
Compare Hotels in San Carlos de Bariloche and El Calafate
Looking for a hotel in San Carlos de Bariloche or El Calafate? 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.
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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Carlos de Bariloche $2.75El Calafate $4.17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Carlos de Bariloche
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Carlos de Bariloche:
- Transfer from the Airport to Bariloche: $35
- Shared Transfer Airport Bariloche Downtown: $25
- Shared One Way Transfer from Bariloche Airport to Hotel: $15
- Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to Bariloche Airport: $20
- Private Transfer from the Airport to Bariloche Center: $75
- Private Transfer from Tom Wesley to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $59
- Private Transfer from Playa Bonita to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $49
- Private Transfer from Lago Moreno to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $49
- Private Transfer from Hotel Llao Llao to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $142
- Private Transfer from El Casco Art Hotel to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $59
- Private Transfer from Downtown Bariloche to the Airport: $72
- Private Transfer from Camping los Rápidos to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $97
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Calafate
Also for El Calafate, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Calafate: Airport Transfer: $12
- Transfer from your hotel to El Calafate airport: $15
- Shared Transfer from El Calafate Airport to Hotel or v.v.: $16
- Airport Transfer Calafate Regular Bus or Private Car: $20
- Shared Transfer Airport - Hotel in El Calafate: $24
- Private Transfer to El Calafate Airport (FTE): $25
- Private Transfer from El Calafate Hotels to the Airport: $29
- Transfers Between Airport and Hotels: $32
- One Way Transfer from Airport-Hotel downtown(Calafate) vice versa: $32
- Private Transfer Hotel-Bus Station or Bus Station-Hotel (Calafate): $35
- El Calafate Airport (FTE) Private Transfer to El Calafate City: $40
- Transfer from Hotels to Airport: $45
Is it cheaper to fly into San Carlos de Bariloche or El Calafate?
Prices for flights to both El Calafate 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
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Food Meals for one daySan Carlos de Bariloche $6.07El Calafate $6.65
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: TRE Experience – “Three-Course Dinner. Catena Zapata”: $135
- Bariloche: El Mallín. Dinner with Tango Show: $185
- Bariloche: Winter Night – Evening Activities in the Snow with Dinner and Show: $275
- Bariloche Nordic Night: Quad Bike Ride and Dinner on Cerro Otto: $410
- Bariloche: Snowmobile Ride with 4-Course Dinner: $425
- Bariloche: Snow Adventure and 4-Course Dinner: $425
- Bariloche: Evening Snowmobile Ride with Dinner at La Cueva Catedral: $428
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in El Calafate
For El Calafate, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Argentine Dinner with Live Music Folklore -Estancia 25 de Mayo: $55
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Dinner & Show with Transfer: $88
- Country Afternoon with Dinner Show - Estancia 25 de Mayo: $92
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Tour with Dinner & Transfer: $138
- Estancia 25 de Mayo in El Calafate - PM visit with dinner: $165
- Lakes and Caves Tour with Dinner and Wine Included: $181
- Lakes and Caves Tour with Dinner: $197
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Experience with Dinner and Horseback Riding: $225
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Carlos de Bariloche $33El Calafate $52
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: $90
- Bariloche : Adventure to Cerro Tronador and Glacier Black Blizzard: $140
- Bariloche Chocolate Sightseeing Tour: Patagonian Flavors Walking Tour: $60
- Bariloche Flavours Tasting Walking Tour: $95
- Bariloche Football Experience with Locals & Traditional BBQ: $60
- Bariloche Horseback Riding & Traditional Argentine Barbecue Tour: $215
- Bariloche Tour Route of the 7 Lakes to San Martin de los Andes: $110
- Bariloche: Andean Region Tour to El Bolsón & Lago Puelo: $70
- Bariloche: Beer Experience 'Discover the World of Craft Beer': $150
- Bariloche: Boat Tour to Victoria Island and Arrayanes Forest: $140
- Bariloche: Brazo Tristeza Boat Tour and Forest Hike: $82
- Bariloche: Canopy Tour on Cerro Lopez: $90
Tours and Activities in El Calafate
For El Calafate, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- El Calafate History Museum Tour: $15
- Self-Guided History Museum Tour: $15
- Yeti Ice Bar: An Icy Adventure in the Heart of El Calafate: $33
- Guided Tour of the National Park + Perito Moreno Glacier + Boat Cruise (optional): $48
- Calafate: Perito Moreno Glacier Guided Full-Day Tour: $52
- Full Day Guided Tour Perito Moreno National Park and Glacier: $60
- Perito Moreno Glacier Guided Expedition with optional Cruise: $60
- Bus ticket to Puerto Natales, Chile: $62
- Perito Moreno Glacier Walkway Tour: $66
- Perito Moreno Glacier & Optional Boat Cruise: $69
- Perito Moreno Glacier Guided Tour: $69
- Perito Moreno Glacier Full Day Tour with Optional Boat Safari: $76
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Carlos de Bariloche $8.71El Calafate $8.28
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Carlos de Bariloche and El Calafate, we can see that San Carlos de Bariloche is more expensive. And not only is El Calafate much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to El Calafate would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Calafate 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 El Calafate.
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 El Calafate Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Carlos de Bariloche or El Calafate?
San Carlos de Bariloche has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of El Calafate. When comparing the sizes of San Carlos de Bariloche and El Calafate, 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.