Which place is cheaper, Cafayate or San Juan del Sur?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit San Juan del Sur 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 Juan del Sur 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 Juan del Sur or Cafayate?
San Juan del Sur
San Juan del Sur is a popular port destination on the Pacific coast of southwest Nicaragua. The town was once a quaint fishing village but has grown into a tourist town with activities for visitors that include surfing, fishing, and, of course, partying. The town has a population of just over 15,000, most of whom are either fishermen or involved in the tourism industry. There is also a large expat community from the United States, Canada, and Europe.
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 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Buenos Aires, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Juan del Sur $53Cafayate $12
The average daily cost (per person) in San Juan del Sur is $53, while the average daily cost in Cafayate is $12. 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 Juan del Sur and Cafayate in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Juan del Sur $21Cafayate $4.43
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Juan del Sur $42Cafayate $8.86
Compare Hotels in San Juan del Sur and Cafayate
Looking for a hotel in San Juan del Sur 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.
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 Juan del Sur Hotel Prices and Cafayate Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Juan del Sur $18Cafayate $2.40
Is it cheaper to fly into San Juan del Sur or Cafayate?
Prices for flights to both Cafayate and San Juan del Sur 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 Juan del Sur $18Cafayate $4.83
Typical Food Prices in Cafayate
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Cafayate:
-
Dinner (Empanadas)$0.02
-
Sandwich$0.01
-
Pizza$0.02
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Juan del Sur $15Cafayate $5.19
Tours and Activities in San Juan del Sur
Here are a few actual costs in San Juan del Sur for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- ATV Adventure Tour in San Juan del Sur, NICARAGUA: $130
- Horseback Riding Tour in Playa Maderas, San Juan del Sur also in Costa Rica: $90
- Mombacho Volcano Hike and Ziplining Adventure from San Juan del Sur: $159
- SJDS PORT EXCURSION: Zipline and Adventure Park: $103
- San Juan del Sur Shore Excursion: Private Masaya Volcano and Catarina Tour: $118
- atv tour also in Costa Rica: $132
Tours and Activities in Cafayate
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cafayate.
- Tour Quebrada De Las Conchas - Cafayate - Salta: $25
- From Salta: Full-Day Wine and Valley Tour to Cafayate: $62
- Half-Day Wine Road Premium Tour From Cafayate: $68
- From Salta: Cafayate, Humahuaca & Salinas Grandes 3-Day Tour: $106
- From Salta: Cafayate, Salinas Grandes, & Hornocal Tour: $128
- From Salta: Local Landscape, Winery, and Culture Tour: $134
- From Salta: Cafayate, Cachi, & Hornocal 3-Day Tour: $136
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Juan del Sur $13Cafayate $4.88
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Juan del Sur and Cafayate, we can see that San Juan del Sur is more expensive. And not only is Cafayate much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Juan del Sur is in Central America and Cafayate 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 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 Juan del Sur would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Juan del Sur 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 Juan del Sur Expensive? and Is Cafayate Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Juan del Sur or Cafayate?
Cafayate has a larger population, and is about 51% larger than the population of San Juan del Sur. When comparing the sizes of San Juan del Sur 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.
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.