Which place is cheaper, El Calafate or San Cristobal de Las Casas?
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 Cristobal de Las Casas or El Calafate?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Cristobal de Las Casas or El Calafate? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: San Cristobal de Las Casas or El Calafate?
San Cristobal de Las Casas
Far away from the luxuries of Cancun and Cabo, Mexico's San Cristobal de las Casas is a stunning colonial city located in the southern state of Chiapas. Due to its strategic location, the town is commonly used as a transfer point for travelers looking to cross the border between Guatemala and Mexico. San Cristobal also has an immensely strong appeal among budget-minded travelers as it's one of Mexico's most affordable cities.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Mexico City, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina.
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San Cristobal de Las Casas Prices
Mexico PricesEl Calafate Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $113El Calafate $61
The average daily cost (per person) in San Cristobal de Las Casas is $113, while the average daily cost in El Calafate is $61. 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 Cristobal de Las Casas and El Calafate in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Cristobal de Las Casas $45El Calafate $38
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Cristobal de Las Casas $90El Calafate $76
Compare Hotels in San Cristobal de Las Casas and El Calafate
Looking for a hotel in San Cristobal de Las Casas 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: San Cristobal de Las Casas Hotel Prices and El Calafate Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Cristobal de Las Casas $31El Calafate $4.39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Cristobal de Las Casas
Also for San Cristobal de Las Casas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer Hotel in San Cristobal de las Casas to TGZ Airport: $103
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Calafate
Also for El Calafate, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Transfer from El Calafate to El Chaltén: $80
- Shared Transfer from El Calafate Airport to downtown Hotel: $11
- Roundtrip transfers to Perito Moreno Glacier: $165
- Private Transfer: Calafate Airport to City Center: $59
- Private Transfer from El Calafate Hotels to the Airport: $45
- Private Transfer Hotel-Bus Station or Bus Station-Hotel (Calafate): $35
- Private Airport Transfer in Calafate: $45
- Perito Moreno Glacier expedition with transfer Included: $62
- Perito Moreno Full Day Minitrekking with Transfer & Walkways: $460
- One Way Transfer from Airport-Hotel downtown(Calafate) vice versa: $13
- Minitrekking Perito Moreno: Ice hiking tour (optional transfers): $255
- FTE Aiport transfer Group 4 to 6 people with luggage: $116
Is it cheaper to fly into San Cristobal de Las Casas or El Calafate?
Prices for flights to both El Calafate and San Cristobal de Las Casas 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 Cristobal de Las Casas $39El Calafate $6.99
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: $72
- Country Afternoon with Dinner Show - Estancia 25 de Mayo: $92
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Tour with Dinner & Transfer: $98
- Stargazing Tour with Dinner and Transfers: $120
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Country Afternoon with Dinner Show and Riding: $129
- Lakes and Caves Tour with Dinner and Wine Included: $183
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Experience with Dinner and Horseback Riding: $225
- Lakes and Caves Tour with Dinner: $255
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Cristobal de Las Casas $14El Calafate $54
Tours and Activities in San Cristobal de Las Casas
For San Cristobal de Las Casas, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Adventure to the Sumidero Canyon Viewpoints and Chiapa de Corzo: $54
- Bike Tour Chiapas Indigenous Peoples: $62
- Blue Water Misol-ha and Palenque Tour from San Cristobal.: $80
- Canyoning El Chorreadero Cave- Adventure Chiapas: $166
- Experiences Xanil Culture and Nature: $112
- Food Walking Tour San Cristobal de las Casas: $76
- From San Cristobal Tour to Agua Azul, Misol Ha and Palenque: $90
- Full Day Tour of Montebello Lakes and El Chiflon Waterfall: $60
- Full-Day Sumidero Canyon Tour with Boat Cruise from San Cristóbal de las Casas: $84
- Indigenous Communities Tour of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantán: $46
- Palenque Archaelogical Site, Agua Azul and Misolha Waterfalls Combo Tour: $105
- Private Tour in San Cristobal de las Casas: $54
Tours and Activities in El Calafate
For El Calafate, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- “Todo Glaciares” Scenic Glacier Boat Tour from El Calafate: $235
- 4 Days & 3 Nights El Calafate & El Chaltén Magical Adventure: $1,350
- Adventure Horseback Riding on Cerro Frias: $150
- CAÑADON EXPERIENCE - TREKKING & STAY - PRIVATE VEHICLE: $1,500
- Calafate Panoramic tour: The best balconies of Calafate 4x4: $210
- Calafate: Perito Moreno Glacier Boat Tour: $207
- Cerro Frías Experience FWD Tour: $174
- DARWIN EXPERIENCE KAYAK & ADVENTURE: $240
- Darwin Experience - kayaks & adventure: $250
- Day Tour to the Perito Moreno Glacier from El Calafate: $88
- EL CALAFATE Native experience lakes and caverns: $214
- El Calafate City Sightseeing Tour Including Walichu Caves: $105
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $29El Calafate $8.71
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Cristobal de Las Casas and El Calafate, we can see that San Cristobal de Las Casas is more expensive. And not only is El Calafate much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Cristobal de Las Casas is in North America and El Calafate 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 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 Cristobal de Las Casas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Cristobal de Las Casas 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 Cristobal de Las Casas Expensive? and Is El Calafate Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Cristobal de Las Casas or El Calafate?
San Cristobal de Las Casas has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of El Calafate. When comparing the sizes of San Cristobal de Las Casas 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.