Which place is cheaper, San Carlos de Bariloche or San Ignacio?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit San Ignacio or San Carlos de Bariloche?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Ignacio or San Carlos de Bariloche, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: San Ignacio or San Carlos de Bariloche?
San Ignacio
So you want a tropical getaway, but also don't want to lay around with nothing to do. You want an adventure! You want relaxation and exploration.
You want to visit the small town of San Ignacio, Belize.
This section of the Cayo region is really more of a jungle than a typical Belize beach getaway. Located close the ancient Mayan ruins on the western and inland side of Belize, this town is most popular for its many outdoor adventures including hiking, climbing, and caving!
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Belize, The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Argentina.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Ignacio $72San Carlos de Bariloche $7.40
The average daily cost (per person) in San Ignacio is $72, while the average daily cost in San Carlos de Bariloche is $7.40. 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 Ignacio and San Carlos de Bariloche in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Ignacio $19San Carlos de Bariloche $2.68
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Ignacio $38San Carlos de Bariloche $5.36
Compare Hotels in San Ignacio and San Carlos de Bariloche
Looking for a hotel in San Ignacio or San Carlos de Bariloche? 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 Ignacio Hotel Prices and San Carlos de Bariloche Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Ignacio $3.11San Carlos de Bariloche $2.28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Ignacio
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Ignacio:
- From Van Transfer To Flores Peten in Guatemala: $20
- San Ignacio Hotel to Belize City Transfer: $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Carlos de Bariloche
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Carlos de Bariloche:
- Bariloche Airport (BRC) to Cerro Catedral - Arrival Transfer: $27
- Bariloche Airport Arrival Private Transfer: $106
- Bariloche Airport Arrival Shuttle Transfer: $36
- Bariloche Airport BRC to Cerro Catedral RoundTrip Transfer: $55
- Bariloche Airport Departure Private Transfer: $106
- Bariloche Airport Departure Shuttle Transfer: $36
- Bariloche Airport Round Trip PrivateTransfer: $147
- Bariloche: 1-Way or Round-Trip BRC Airport Transfer: $9.00
- Bariloche: One-Way Private Transfer from Airport: $35
- One Way Transfer from Bariloche Airport to or from Llao Llao: $60
- Private Transfer Bariloche or Villa La Angostura to Bariloche Airport BRC by van: $70
- Private Transfer Bariloche or Villa La Angostura to Bariloche Airport by Minibus: $83
Is it cheaper to fly into San Ignacio or San Carlos de Bariloche?
Prices for flights to both San Carlos de Bariloche and San Ignacio 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 daySan Ignacio $21San Carlos de Bariloche $2.78
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Ignacio
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Ignacio.
- Xunantunich & Food Tour with local chocolate experience: $150
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 Ignacio $100San Carlos de Bariloche $3.05
Tours and Activities in San Ignacio
Here are a few actual costs in San Ignacio for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Xunantunich Maya Site with Local Tour guide: $65
- Xunantunich & Adventure Horse Ride: $75
- Xunantunich Mayan Ruins Tour from San Ignacio: $75
- Half-Day Cave Canoeing Adventure: $75
- From Xunantunich Mayan Tour & Optional Combos: $75
- Cave Canoeing with Local Tour Guide: $80
- Cave Tubing with local tour Guide and Belizean Lunch: $90
- Farm Ride plus Xunantunich tour: $90
- Belize Cave Tubing Adventure from San Ignacio: $90
- Xunantunich horseback riding tour: $100
- Full-Day Mountain Pine Ridge Tour from San Ignacio with Lunch: $100
- Private Tour:Xunantunich Mayan Ruin from San Ignacio: $103
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
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Ignacio $17San Carlos de Bariloche $1.83
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 Ignacio and San Carlos de Bariloche, we can see that San Ignacio is more expensive. And not only is San Carlos de Bariloche much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Ignacio is in Central America and San Carlos de Bariloche 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 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 San Ignacio would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Ignacio 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 Ignacio Expensive? and Is San Carlos de Bariloche Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Ignacio or San Carlos de Bariloche?
San Carlos de Bariloche has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of San Ignacio. When comparing the sizes of San Ignacio and San Carlos de Bariloche, 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.