Which place is cheaper, Ushuaia or Santa Elena?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Santa Elena or Ushuaia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Santa Elena and Ushuaia. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Santa Elena or Ushuaia?
Santa Elena
Santa Elena is a cute town, and the closest to the Monteverde Cloud Forest. It's one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica, and is a great place to experience the cloud forest and see some of country's unique wildlife.
In the Monteverde Cloud Forest you have a good chance of seeing rare quetzals which are the national bird of Costa Rica. Other common animals include white-faced capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, orange-kneed tarantulas, any of 8-9 species of hummingbirds, and sloth.
Santa Elena is about 1,400 meters above sea level and has a humid and damp environment. The average yearly temperature is 64 degrees Fahrenheit and the average rainfall is 3,000 millimetres. Humidity can be anywhere between 74% and 97%.
Ushuaia
Ushuaia is a city on the Tierra del Fuego island of Argentina on the Beagle Strait. The city is considered to be one of the southernmost cities in the world and is often used as a base for cruises to Antarctica. Ushuaia's close proximity to Antarctica and their amazing hiking trails have made it a popular tourist destination over the past few decades.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica, The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, and The Best Eco Tours in Argentina.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySanta Elena $92Ushuaia $11
The average daily cost (per person) in Santa Elena is $92, while the average daily cost in Ushuaia is $11. 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 Santa Elena and Ushuaia in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanta Elena $55Ushuaia $5.64
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanta Elena $110Ushuaia $11
Compare Hotels in Santa Elena and Ushuaia
Looking for a hotel in Santa Elena or Ushuaia? 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: Ushuaia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santa Elena $11Ushuaia -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Elena
Also for Santa Elena, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde - Liberia: $276
- One-Way Private Transfer: Monteverde to Quepos and Manuel Antonio: $276
- Private Transfer From Monteverde To La Fortuna From 1 to 6 passengers: $270
- Private Transfer Lake crossing from Monteverde To Arenal From 1 to 6 passengers: $249
- Direct transfer from Monteverde to San Jose, English Speaking Driver: $179
- Peñas Blancas to Liberia Airport (LIR) Departure Private Transfer: $38
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ushuaia
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ushuaia are as follows:
-
Taxi Ride$0.03
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ushuaia
Also for Ushuaia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Airport and Hotel Transfer in Ushuaia: $139
- Private Embarkation Debarkation Transfer: $129
- Private Transfer Airport-Hotel-Airport (Ushuaia): $120
- Escondido and Fagnano Lakes with transfer: $97
- Transfer from/to the airport: $89
- Ushuaia Airport (USH) to Ushuaia - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $63
- Private Transfer Airport-Port or Port-Airport (Ushuaia): $55
- Ushuaia Airport(USH) to Ushuaia city - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $46
- Shared Transfer Airport-Hotel-Airport (Ushuaia): $37
- Transfer Ushuaia Airport - Hotel in Ushuaia - Ushuaia Airport : $35
- Ushuaia to Ushuaia Airport (USH) - Departure Private Transfer: $32
- Private Transfer from Ushuaia Airport(USH) to Ushuaia Cruise Port: $28
Is it cheaper to fly into Santa Elena or Ushuaia?
Prices for flights to both Ushuaia and Santa Elena 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 daySanta Elena $24Ushuaia $2.18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Elena
For Santa Elena, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Night Walk in Monteverde with Dinner Included: $55
Typical Food Prices in Ushuaia
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ushuaia:
-
Lunch for Two$0.06
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ushuaia
For Ushuaia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- The Martial Glacier at Night with Dinner Included: $94
- Ushuaia at night: A Snow and Fire dinner, sledding and adventure: $280
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santa Elena $30Ushuaia $13
Tours and Activities in Santa Elena
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santa Elena.
- Cloud Forest hanging bridges with a local naturalist tour guide: $70
- Curi-cancha Bird-Watching tour semi private : $50
- Day & Night Nature Tour in Monteverde Combo tour : $190
- Wildlife Tour in Curicancha : $25
- 100% Adventure Park Combo: Zipline, Superman, and Mega Tarzan Tour in Monteverde: $57
- 3 hours of the Longest and Highest Extreme Zip line Experience in Monteverde: $80
- 5-Hour Birdwatching and Photography Tour in Monteverde: $100
- Adventure Day - Outdoor activities for Family and Friends Special Package.: $29
- Adventure Park High Ropes Course : $69
- Authentic experience of Coffee, Cane and Caco inside the forest: $37
- Bird Watching Experience in Monteverde: $90
- Bird-Watching private tour : $100
Tours and Activities in Ushuaia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ushuaia.
- 2-day tour: Tierra del Fuego National Park + Fagnano and Escondido Lakes: $115
- 2-day tour:Tierra del Fuego NP + Beagle Channel Navigation + Fagnano & Escondido: $190
- 3-Hour Navigation Tour in the Beagle Channel with Isla de Lobos: $75
- 3-Hour Tour Sailing through the Beagle Channel: $105
- 4×4 Off Road Tour to Escondido and Khami Lakes: $122
- 4-Hour National Park - USHUAIA (Shared tour): $75
- 4WD Off-Road Lakes Adventure in Tierra del Fuego: $156
- 5-Hour Nat Park + City tour - USHUAIA (Private Tour): $195
- 5.5-Hour National park w/ hiking Shore excursion - USHUAIA (Private Tour): $280
- 5hrs of Trekking Experience in Martial Glacier: $95
- 7-Hour Lakes Escondido & Fagnano - USHUAIA (Shared tour): $105
- Adventure 360º in Quads with Lunch: $160
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySanta Elena $6.22Ushuaia -
Typical Alcohol Prices in Ushuaia
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Ushuaia are as follows:
-
Wine$0.05
-
Beer$0.01
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santa Elena and Ushuaia, we can see that Santa Elena is more expensive. And not only is Ushuaia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Santa Elena is in Central America and Ushuaia is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Ushuaia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ushuaia 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 Elena would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santa Elena than you might in Ushuaia.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santa Elena Expensive? and Is Ushuaia Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Santa Elena or Ushuaia?
Ushuaia has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Santa Elena experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Santa Elena or Ushuaia in the Summer?
Both Ushuaia and Santa Elena are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Santa Elena throughout the year.
In the summer, Santa Elena is much warmer than Ushuaia. Typically, the summer temperatures in Santa Elena in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Ushuaia averages at about 10°C (50°F)in January.
Santa Elena usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Ushuaia during summer. Santa Elena gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Ushuaia receives 169 hours of full sun in the summer.
It's quite rainy in Santa Elena. In July, Santa Elena usually receives more rain than Ushuaiain January. Santa Elena gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Ushuaia receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
-
Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuarySanta Elena 28°C (82°F)Ushuaia 10°C (50°F)
Should I visit Santa Elena or Ushuaia in the Autumn?
Both Ushuaia and Santa Elena during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Santa Elena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In October, Santa Elena is generally much warmer than Ushuaiain April. Daily temperatures in Santa Elena average around 27°C (81°F), and Ushuaia fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).
In the autumn, Santa Elena often gets more sunshine than Ushuaiain April. Santa Elena gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ushuaia receives 74 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Santa Elena. Santa Elena usually gets more rain in October than Ushuaiain April. Santa Elena gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Ushuaia receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilSanta Elena 27°C (81°F)Ushuaia 6°C (43°F)
Should I visit Santa Elena or Ushuaia in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Santa Elena and Ushuaia. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Santa Elena year-round.
Ushuaia can be very cold during winter. Santa Elena is much warmer than Ushuaia in the winter. The daily temperature in Santa Elena averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Ushuaia fluctuates around 2°C (36°F)in July.
In Santa Elena, it's very sunny this time of the year. Santa Elena usually receives more sunshine than Ushuaia during winter. Santa Elena gets 264 hours of sunny skies, while Ushuaia receives 61 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Santa Elena usually receives less rain than Ushuaiain July. Santa Elena gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Ushuaia receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
-
Winter Average Temperatures January and JulySanta Elena 27°C (81°F)Ushuaia 2°C (36°F)
Should I visit Santa Elena or Ushuaia in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Santa Elena as well as Ushuaia. Santa Elena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the spring, Santa Elena is much warmer than Ushuaia. Typically, the spring temperatures in Santa Elena in April average around 29°C (85°F), and Ushuaia averages at about 6°C (43°F)in October.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Santa Elena this time of the year. In the spring, Santa Elena often gets more sunshine than Ushuaiain October. Santa Elena gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ushuaia receives 156 hours of full sun.
Santa Elena usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Ushuaiain October. Santa Elena gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Ushuaia receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberSanta Elena 29°C (85°F)Ushuaia 6°C (43°F)
Typical Weather for Ushuaia and Santa Elena
| Santa Elena | Ushuaia | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
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.