A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers San Miguel de Tucuman vs. La Paz for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit San Miguel de Tucuman or La Paz?

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 La Paz can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: San Miguel de Tucuman or La Paz?

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.

La Paz

La Paz, the administrative capital of Bolivia, has a breathtaking setting. The city is the highest national capital in the world, with an altitude ranging from about 4,058 m (13,313 ft) above sea level in El Alto, where the airport is located, to 3,100 m (10,170 ft) in the lower residential area. The dynamic and chaotic city was built in a canyon created by the Choqueyapu River. La Paz is now a fusion of architectural styles, cultures and beliefs, welcoming everyday new boutique hotels, modern shops, delicious restaurants and reinventing standing establishments. However, generally speaking, Bolivia remains more a backpacker hit than a mainstream tourist destination.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Photography Tours in Argentina, The Best Luxury Tours to Argentina, The Best Luxury Tours to Bolivia, and The Best Budget Tours to Bolivia.


Which place is cheaper, La Paz or San Miguel de Tucuman?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in San Miguel de Tucuman is $11, while the average daily cost in La Paz is $44. 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 La Paz in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    San Miguel de Tucuman $4.85
    La Paz $16
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    San Miguel de Tucuman $9.70
    La Paz $32
Compare Hotels in San Miguel de Tucuman and La Paz

Looking for a hotel in San Miguel de Tucuman or La Paz? 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.

Hotels in San Miguel de Tucuman


Hotels in La Paz


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 La Paz Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    San Miguel de Tucuman $3.08
    La Paz $9.45
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 La Paz

Some typical examples of transportation costs in La Paz are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $0.58

Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Paz

Also for La Paz, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer in Private Vehicle from La Paz City - La Paz Airport (LPB): $21
  • Transfer in Private Minivan from La Paz Airport (LPB) - La Paz City: $27
  • Roundtrip Transfer Private Vehicle La Paz Airport (LPB) - La Paz City: $43
  • Roundtrip Transfer Private Minivan La Paz Airport (LPB) - La Paz City: $55
  • Private transfer 24/7 El Alto Airport - Hotels La Paz: $28
  • Private Transfer from your Hotel to Airport in La Paz City : $54
  • Private Transfer from La Paz to Uyuni.: $295
  • Private Transfer from Airport to your Hotel in La Paz City : $77
  • Private Transfer from Airport to your Hotel in La Paz City : $54
  • Private Transfer La Paz Airport LPB to La Paz City by MiniVan/Bus: $28
  • Private Transfer From your Hotel to Bus Station in La Paz City : $68
  • Private Transfer From Hotel to Bus Station in La Paz City : $52

Is it cheaper to fly into San Miguel de Tucuman or La Paz?

Prices for flights to both La Paz 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 day
    San Miguel de Tucuman $4.01
    La Paz $17
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 La Paz

For La Paz, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Fruit
    $0.72

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Paz

For La Paz, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • La Paz Food Tour + Cable Car Cultural City tour: $45

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    San Miguel de Tucuman $3.30
    La Paz $16

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

Tours and Activities in La Paz

For La Paz, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • From Private Tour to Tiwanaku Ruins and Puma Punku.: $173
  • La Paz, City Tour and Valley of the Moon - Half day: $268
  • 2-Day Private Lake Titicaca and Sun Island Tour from La Paz: $520
  • 2-day Private Guided Tour in Uyuni and La Paz: $240
  • 3 Day Death Road + Uyuni Salt Flats Tour From La Paz City: $280
  • Be a Local - La Paz Walking Tour: $8.00
  • Bicycle Tour on Death Road: $77
  • Bike Tour to the Death Road: $85
  • Cable Car, Cementery, Shaman and El Alto Adventure in La Paz: $20
  • Chacaltaya 5,435m & Valle De Luna. 2 For 1 Special Tour.: $30
  • City Tour plus Cable Car La Paz: $10
  • City Tour with Drone!: $204

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    San Miguel de Tucuman $2.07
    La Paz $11

Sample the Local Flavors in La Paz

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in La Paz:

  • Cultural Pub Crawl La Paz Nightlife Tour : $50


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Miguel de Tucuman and La Paz, we can see that La Paz is more expensive. And not only is San Miguel de Tucuman much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Miguel de Tucuman would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Miguel de Tucuman 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 La Paz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Paz than you might in San Miguel de Tucuman.

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 La Paz Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, San Miguel de Tucuman or La Paz?

La Paz has a larger population, and is about 4% larger than the population of San Miguel de Tucuman. When comparing the sizes of San Miguel de Tucuman and La Paz, 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.