Which place is cheaper, El Calafate or San Miguel de Tucuman?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit San Miguel de Tucuman or El Calafate?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between San Miguel de Tucuman and El Calafate can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: San Miguel de Tucuman or El Calafate?
San Miguel de Tucuman
The capital of the Tucuman Province in Argentina, San Miguel de Tucuman is the largest city in the country's northwest. The city is probably most well known as the sight where the Declaration of Independence from Spain took place on July 9, 1816. The location of this event, a colonial-style house called "Casa Historica" or "Casita de Tucuman", remains an important landmark in the city.
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 Photography Tours in Argentina, The Best Luxury Tours to Argentina, The Best Budget Tours to Argentina, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Argentina.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Miguel de Tucuman $11El Calafate $10
The average daily cost (per person) in San Miguel de Tucuman is $11, while the average daily cost in El Calafate is $10. 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 Miguel de Tucuman and El Calafate in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Miguel de Tucuman $4.85El Calafate $3.42
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Miguel de Tucuman $9.70El Calafate $6.84
Compare Hotels in San Miguel de Tucuman and El Calafate
Looking for a hotel in San Miguel de Tucuman 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 Miguel de Tucuman Hotel Prices and El Calafate Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Miguel de Tucuman $3.08El Calafate $3.53
Typical Local Transportation Prices in San Miguel de Tucuman
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in San Miguel de Tucuman:
-
Taxi Ride$0.01
Typical Local Transportation Prices in El Calafate
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in El Calafate:
-
Taxi$1.39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Calafate
Also for El Calafate, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from the airport to your hotel in El Calafate: $12
- Shared transfer to El Calafate -El Chaltén: $75
- Shared Transfer from El Calafate Airport to downtown Hotel: $15
- Shared Transfer Airport-Hotel-Airport (Calafate): $32
- Roundtrip transfer in Private Car from Calafate Airport (FTE)- Calafate City: $49
- Private Transfer Hotel-Bus Station or Bus Station-Hotel (Calafate): $35
- Excursion to the Perito Moreno Glacier, with guide and transfer to / from the hotel: $60
- Transfers Between Airport and Hotels: $12
- Private Airport Transfer: $64
- Perito Moreno Glacier Mini Trek with Transfer: $456
- Laguna de Los Tres Transfer & Self-Guided Hike: $101
Is it cheaper to fly into San Miguel de Tucuman or El Calafate?
Prices for flights to both El Calafate and San Miguel de Tucuman 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 Miguel de Tucuman $4.01El Calafate $3.71
Typical Food Prices in San Miguel de Tucuman
For San Miguel de Tucuman, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Sandwich$0.01
Typical Food Prices in El Calafate
For El Calafate, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Dessert$0.01
-
Dinner$1.81
-
Dinner$1.07
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: $48
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Tour with Dinner & Transfer: $126
- Lakes and Caves Tour with Dinner: $143
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Experience with Dinner from Calafate: $155
- Estancia 25 de Mayo in El Calafate - PM visit with dinner: $186
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Miguel de Tucuman $3.30El Calafate $3.71
Tours and Activities in San Miguel de Tucuman
For San Miguel de Tucuman, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Discover Tafí del Valle and Quilmes Ruins in a Day Tour: $82
- Entrance ticket to Aerial Park, Zip Line and Palestra: $27
- Rio Hondo Hot Springs Full Day Tour from Tucuman: $82
- Tafi del Valle Half-Day Tour from Tucuman: $68
- Yungas Half-Day Tour from Tucuman: $51
Typical Entertainment Prices in El Calafate
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for El Calafate's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
Glacerium Museum$1.39
Tours and Activities in El Calafate
For El Calafate, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Argentine Cuisine Experience in El Calafate: $65
- CALAFATE: Panoramic tour: The best balconies of Calafate: $190
- Cañadón Experience: $189
- Calafate City Tour with Walichu Caves: $78
- Chalten Full Day Trekking Experience - Laguna de los Tres: $180
- Darwin Experience: $274
- Darwin Experience - kayaks & adventure: $230
- El Calafate Balconies Experience - Tour in FWD vehicle: $164
- El Calafate Balconies Experience - Tour in FWD vehicle: $192
- El Calafate Balconies Experience: 3-Hour 4WD Tour: $117
- El Calafate Balcony in 4WD Experience: $169
- El Calafate Balcony in 4WD Experience with Optional Quads: $169
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Miguel de Tucuman $2.07El Calafate $1.86
Typical Alcohol Prices in El Calafate
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in El Calafate:
-
Beer$0.01
-
Alcohol$0.37
When comparing the travel costs between San Miguel de Tucuman and El Calafate, we can see that San Miguel de Tucuman is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Miguel de Tucuman Expensive? and Is El Calafate Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Miguel de Tucuman or El Calafate?
San Miguel de Tucuman has a larger population, and is about 100 times larger than the population of El Calafate. When comparing the sizes of San Miguel de Tucuman 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.