Which place is cheaper, El Calafate or San Miguel de Tucuman?
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 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 Camping Tours in Argentina, The Best Luxury Tours to Argentina, The Best Budget Tours to Argentina, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Argentina.
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San Miguel de Tucuman Prices
Argentina PricesEl Calafate Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Miguel de Tucuman $69El Calafate $80
The average daily cost (per person) in San Miguel de Tucuman is $69, while the average daily cost in El Calafate is $80. 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
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Miguel de Tucuman $51El Calafate $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Miguel de Tucuman $102El Calafate $100
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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Miguel de Tucuman $3.25El Calafate $5.74
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Calafate
Also for El Calafate, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer to Perito Moreno Glacier from El Calafate: $72
- Todo Glaciares Boat Tour. Transfers from El Calafate available: $205
- Shared Transfer from El Calafate Airport to downtown Hotel: $11
- Private Transfer: Calafate Airport to City Center: $59
- Private Transfer Hotel-Bus Station or Bus Station-Hotel (Calafate): $35
- Private Airport Transfer in Calafate: $45
- Point-to-Point Transfers from Airport to Calafate City: $33
- Perito Moreno Glacier Expedition with Transfer & Guide inc.: $98
- Perito Moreno Full Day Minitrekking with Transfer & Walkways: $480
- GLACIERS GOURMET Perito Moreno Navigation Full service & Transfer: $257
- FTE Aiport transfer Group 4 to 6 people with luggage: $125
- Excursion to the Perito Moreno Glacier, with guide and transfer to / from the hotel: $79
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
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Food Meals for one daySan Miguel de Tucuman $7.33El Calafate $9.14
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:
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Tour with Dinner & Transfer: $117
- Lakes and Caves Tour with Dinner and Wine Included: $174
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Experience with Dinner from Calafate: $190
- Lakes and Caves Tour with Dinner: $191
- Estancia 25 de Mayo in El Calafate - PM visit with dinner: $240
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Miguel de Tucuman $35El Calafate $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: $122
- Entrance ticket to Aerial Park, Zip Line and Palestra: $27
- Rio Hondo Hot Springs Full Day Tour from Tucuman: $122
- Yungas Half-Day Tour from Tucuman: $78
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: $110
- 4 Days & 3 Nights El Calafate & El Chaltén Magical Adventure: $1,350
- Adventure Horseback Riding on Cerro Frias: $160
- Blue Safari Experience: Hiking and Navigation on Glaciers: $280
- CAÑADON EXPERIENCE - TREKKING & STAY - PRIVATE VEHICLE: $1,400
- CALAFATE: Panoramic tour: The best balconies of Calafate: $185
- Calafate Panoramic tour: The best balconies of Calafate 4x4: $199
- Calafate: Perito Moreno Glacier Boat Tour: $235
- DARWIN EXPERIENCE KAYAK & ADVENTURE: $216
- Darwin Experience: $245
- Discover La Leona Petrified Forest: Guided Hiking Tour: $211
- EL CALAFATE Native experience lakes and caverns: $197
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Miguel de Tucuman $11El Calafate $11
When comparing the travel costs between San Miguel de Tucuman and El Calafate, we can see that El Calafate 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.