Should you visit San Carlos de Bariloche or El Calafate?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare 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. So, let's dig into it.
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.
Which city is cheaper, El Calafate 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 $52, while the average daily cost in El Calafate is $71. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for San Carlos de Bariloche and El Calafate in more detail.
Accommodation
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $38 for a double occupancy room in San Carlos de Bariloche.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $48 in El Calafate For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
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Accommodation
Hotel or hostel for one person
San Carlos de Bariloche $19
El Calafate $24
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Accommodation
Typical double-occupancy room
San Carlos de Bariloche
$38
El Calafate
$48
Food
The average traveler spends about $20 per day in San Carlos de Bariloche for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
Food in El Calafate costs travelers about $26 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
Typical Food prices in San Carlos de Bariloche
Some typical examples of dining costs in San Carlos de Bariloche are as follows:
-
Pastries
$0.12
-
Empanadas
$0.28
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.
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Night hiking in the woods with headlamps & Candlelit dinner:
$70
-
Half-Day Bariloche Highlights with Cooking Class & Beer Tasting -Private Service:
$274
Typical Food prices in El Calafate
For El Calafate, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Dessert
$0.10
-
Dinner
$16
-
Dinner
$9.39
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:
-
Visit to Estancia Alice El Galpon, Dinner and Folkloric Show:
$120
-
Gaucho, Dinner and Folklore Full-Day Tour:
$165
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around San Carlos de Bariloche is $16 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
El Calafate's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $25 per person, per day on transportation in El Calafate.
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Local Transportation
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
San Carlos de Bariloche $16
El Calafate $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Carlos de Bariloche
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Carlos de Bariloche:
-
Shared Round-Trip Transfer: Bariloche Hotels to Cerro Catedral Ski Resort:
$38
-
Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to Bariloche Airport:
$26
-
Shared Arrival Transfer: Bariloche Airport to Hotel:
$15
-
San Carlos de Bariloche Airport Roundtrip Transfer:
$48
-
Private transfer: Bariloche Airport (BRC) to San Carlos de Bariloche:
$149
-
Private Transfer: San Carlos de Bariloche to Bariloche Airport (BRC):
$133
-
Private Transfer from Tom Wesley to Bariloche (BRC) Airport:
$62
-
Private Transfer from Puerto Pañuelo to Bariloche (BRC) Airport:
$83
-
Private Transfer from Playa Bonita to Bariloche (BRC) Airport:
$52
-
Private Transfer from Lago Moreno to Bariloche (BRC) Airport:
$52
-
Private Transfer from Hotel Llao Llao to Bariloche (BRC) Airport:
$83
-
Private Transfer from Hotel Catedral to Bariloche (BRC) Airport:
$52
Typical Local Transportation prices in El Calafate
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in El Calafate:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Calafate
Also for El Calafate, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
From Calafate: Round-trip transfer to Perito Moreno Glacier:
$27
-
Shared Transfer Airport-Hotel-Airport (Calafate):
$32
-
Private Transfer Hotel-Bus Station or Bus Station-Hotel (Calafate):
$35
-
Bus Transfer from El Calafate to El Chalten:
$50
-
El Calafate Airport Private Transfer:
$57
-
Shared transfer to El Calafate -El Chaltén:
$75
-
Private Transfer Airport-Hotel-Airport (Calafate):
$90
-
Kayak in Perito Moreno Glacier without transfers:
$336
-
Kayak in Perito Moreno Glacier with transfers:
$461
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.
Entertainment
San Carlos de Bariloche's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $22 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in El Calafate can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $26 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
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Entertainment
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
San Carlos de Bariloche $22
El Calafate $26
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:
-
"Brazo Tristeza" Lake Experience - Shared Service:
$158
-
1.5-Hour Lago Gutierrez Paddle Boarding Tour from Bariloche:
$80
-
4-Day Bariloche & Lake district Classic Tour:
$659
-
4-day Bariloche Adventure - Trekking Cerro Llao Llao & Kayaking Lago Mascardi:
$903
-
5-Day Adventure Trip in Bariloche:
$995
-
6-Days Unique Experience Lake Crossing & Mountains Region!:
$1,150
-
7-Day Bariloche & Mendoza Adventure: Trekking, Kayaking, Horseback riding & Wine:
$1,326
-
Bariloche 3 tours Classic package:
$250
-
Bariloche 3 tours with adrenaline:
$280
-
Bariloche 3 tours with adventure:
$290
-
Bariloche Circuito Grande Sightseeing Tour:
$96
-
Bariloche Civic Center Walking Tour:
$5.00
Typical Entertainment prices in El Calafate
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for El Calafate's activities, tours, and tickets:
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:
$11
-
Bamboo Bike self drive tour El Calafate surroundings:
$15
-
Perito Moreno Glacier Tour with Optional Boat Ride:
$38
-
Bus ticket to Puerto Natales, Chile:
$44
-
Perito Moreno Glacier & Optional Boat Cruise:
$44
-
City Tour in El Calafate with Walichu Caves:
$48
-
Tour to Punta Walichu and Glaciarium:
$48
-
Bus Ticket from El Chalten to El Calafate:
$50
-
El Calafate City Sightseeing Tour Including Walichu Caves:
$53
-
Bus ticket from El Calafate (Argentina) to Puerto Natales (Chile):
$56
-
Los Glaciares National Park and Perito Moreno Glacier Tour:
$61
-
El Calafate Sightseeing Tour with Walichu Caves:
$68
Alcohol
The average person spends about $13 on alcoholic beverages in San Carlos de Bariloche per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Typically, people visiting El Calafate spend on average $13 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
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:
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:
-
City Tour, Nature Hiking & visit to a Local Microbrewery in Bariloche:
$281
Typical Alcohol prices in El Calafate
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in El Calafate:
Sample the Local Flavors in El Calafate
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in El Calafate:
-
Calafate Wine Tour | City Tour Peatonal Maridado con Vinos:
$38
-
Calafate Wine Tour:
$48
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Carlos de Bariloche and El Calafate, we can see that El Calafate 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 El Calafate would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in El Calafate than you might in San Carlos de Bariloche.
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