Which place is cheaper, Lake Titicaca (Puno) or San Miguel de Tucuman?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Miguel de Tucuman or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: San Miguel de Tucuman or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
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.
Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Lake Titicaca, which directly translates to "puma stone" in Quechua, is located high in the Andes Mountains straddling Peru and Bolivia, with about 60% of the lake in Peru and 40% in Bolivia. Among the lake are three main islands, the most popular of which are the Uros Islands, also known as the floating islands, where the Uros people live on totora reeds that grow in the lake.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Photography Tours in Argentina, The Best Luxury Tours to Argentina, The Best Photography Tours in Peru, and The Best Jungle Trekking Tours in Peru.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Miguel de Tucuman $11Lake Titicaca (Puno) $55
The average daily cost (per person) in San Miguel de Tucuman is $11, while the average daily cost in Lake Titicaca (Puno) is $55. 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Miguel de Tucuman $4.85Lake Titicaca (Puno) $26
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Miguel de Tucuman $9.70Lake Titicaca (Puno) $52
Compare Hotels in San Miguel de Tucuman and Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Looking for a hotel in San Miguel de Tucuman or Lake Titicaca (Puno)? 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Miguel de Tucuman $3.08Lake Titicaca (Puno) $11
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:
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Taxi Ride$0.01
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno):
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Taxi$0.81
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno):
- Puno Airport Shared Transfer: $20
- Puno Airport Private Transfer: $44
- Private Transfer from Puno to Desaguadero: $192
- Private Transfer from Puerto de Puno to Hotel Puno: $21
- Private Transfer from Hotel Puno to Puerto de Puno: $21
- Private Transfer From Puno to Oruro with English Speaking Driver: $240
- Private Transfer From Puno to Oruro With a Stop in Lake Titicaca: $283
- Private Transfer From Puno to Chivay, English Speaking Driver: $207
- Private Transfer From Puno to Chivay With a 2 Hour Stop: $294
- Direct Private Transfer From Puno to Cusco, English Local Speaking Driver: $204
Is it cheaper to fly into San Miguel de Tucuman or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
Prices for flights to both Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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 $4.01Lake Titicaca (Puno) $15
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:
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Sandwich$0.01
Typical Food Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:
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Tamales$1.49
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Miguel de Tucuman $3.30Lake Titicaca (Puno) $29
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:
- Entrance ticket to Aerial Park, Zip Line and Palestra: $27
- Yungas Half-Day Tour from Tucuman: $51
- Tafi del Valle Half-Day Tour from Tucuman: $68
- Rio Hondo Hot Springs Full Day Tour from Tucuman: $82
- Discover Tafí del Valle and Quilmes Ruins in a Day Tour: $82
Tours and Activities in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:
- Live Experience Titicaca Lake PUNO: $70
- 2 Day Tour to Uros, Amantani and Taquile from Puno: $65
- 2-Day Lake Titicaca Tour with Stay in a Local Family Home: $109
- 2-Day Tour Lake Titicaca: Uros, Amantani & Taquile Islands: $98
- 2-Day Tour Uros Islands with Stay in a Local Family House from Puno: $109
- 2-Day Tour to Uros, Amantani and Taquile From Puno: $85
- 2-Hour Crop Circles Private Tour on Lake Titicaca from Puno: $130
- 2-day Tour: Puno To Chivay And Canyon Of Colca: $195
- 3 Days Tour to Ruta del Sol in Puno: $120
- 3 Hour Guided Kayaking Tour in Lake Titicaca: $50
- 3h Boat Tour to Uros Island from Puno: $38
- Bus Ticket from Puno to Cusco with Stop.: $108
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Miguel de Tucuman $2.07Lake Titicaca (Puno) $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Miguel de Tucuman and Lake Titicaca (Puno), we can see that Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Miguel de Tucuman or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
San Miguel de Tucuman has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Lake Titicaca (Puno). When comparing the sizes of San Miguel de Tucuman and Lake Titicaca (Puno), 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.