A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers San Miguel de Tucuman vs. Santa Cruz de la Sierra for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit San Miguel de Tucuman or Santa Cruz de la Sierra?

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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: San Miguel de Tucuman or Santa Cruz de la Sierra?

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.

Santa Cruz de la Sierra

Santa Cruz de la Sierra, or simply Santa Cruz, is a larger city in the middle of Bolivia. It is also one of the most wealthy cities in the country. The city is also one of the fastest growing in the world. It is famous for its nightlife and it makes an excellent base for exploring many of the tourist attractions in the nearby areas.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Photography Tours in Argentina, The Best Luxury Tours to Argentina, The Best Tours Under $1000 in Bolivia, and The Best Luxury Tours to Bolivia.


Which place is cheaper, Santa Cruz de la Sierra 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra is $54. 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    San Miguel de Tucuman $4.85
    Santa Cruz de la Sierra $22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    San Miguel de Tucuman $9.70
    Santa Cruz de la Sierra $44
Compare Hotels in San Miguel de Tucuman and Santa Cruz de la Sierra

Looking for a hotel in San Miguel de Tucuman or Santa Cruz de la Sierra? 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra


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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    San Miguel de Tucuman $3.08
    Santa Cruz de la Sierra $9.90
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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santa Cruz de la Sierra:


  • Taxi Ride
    $4.34
  • Mini Bus
    $0.58

Is it cheaper to fly into San Miguel de Tucuman or Santa Cruz de la Sierra?

Prices for flights to both Santa Cruz de la Sierra 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
    Santa Cruz de la Sierra $20
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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Santa Cruz de la Sierra:


  • Snacks
    $3.18
  • Chips
    $0.29
  • Banana
    $0.14
  • Cookies
    $1.30

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    San Miguel de Tucuman $3.30
    Santa Cruz de la Sierra $19

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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    San Miguel de Tucuman $2.07
    Santa Cruz de la Sierra $14

Typical Alcohol Prices in Santa Cruz de la Sierra

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Santa Cruz de la Sierra from other travelers:


  • Beer
    $1.59


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Miguel de Tucuman and Santa Cruz de la Sierra, we can see that Santa Cruz de la Sierra 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santa Cruz de la Sierra 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, San Miguel de Tucuman or Santa Cruz de la Sierra?

Santa Cruz de la Sierra has a larger population, and is about 75% larger than the population of San Miguel de Tucuman. When comparing the sizes of San Miguel de Tucuman and Santa Cruz de la Sierra, 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.