Which place is cheaper, El Calafate or Santa Marta?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Santa Marta or El Calafate?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Santa Marta and El Calafate can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Santa Marta or El Calafate?
Santa Marta
Santa Marta is a city in the Magdalena Department of Colombia's Costa Norte. Over the last decade, security has steadily been replacing the shadow of the Colombia's violent past. One destination in Colombia's northeast region is now attracting more international visitors: the coastal Caribbean area of Santa Marta. Established in 1525 by the Spanish as a base of conquest, Santa Marta sits at the foot of the world's highest coastal mountain range, the towering Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. It is South America's oldest European-founded town and the second most important colonial city on Colombia's Caribbean coast. While many travelers complain about Santa Marta's horrible traffic and unsightly urban sprawl, the city holds a numerous amounts of great hotels, bars and restaurants and holds a few fantastic destinations nearby to which you can go during the daytime.
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 Eco Tours in Colombia, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Colombia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, and The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySanta Marta $32El Calafate $10
The average daily cost (per person) in Santa Marta is $32, while the average daily cost in El Calafate is $10. 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 Marta and El Calafate in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanta Marta $14El Calafate $3.42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanta Marta $28El Calafate $6.84
Compare Hotels in Santa Marta and El Calafate
Looking for a hotel in Santa Marta 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: Santa Marta Hotel Prices and El Calafate Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santa Marta $5.27El Calafate $3.53
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Santa Marta
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santa Marta:
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Gas$5.24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Marta
Also for Santa Marta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfers to Palomino, Tayrona Park, Buritaca Guachaca from Santa Marta: $23
- Transfers SANTA MARTA AIRPORT TO HOTEL IN SANTA MARTA: $31
- Transfer in private minivan from Santa Marta city to Santa Marta Airport (SMR): $21
- Transfer in private minivan from Santa Marta Airport (SMR) to Santa Marta city: $21
- Transfer in Private Car from Santa Marta city to Santa Marta Airport (SMR): $14
- Transfer in Private Car from Santa Marta Airport (SMR) to Santa Marta city: $14
- Tayrona / Santa Marta Transfer: $85
- Santa Marta to or from Tayrona Park Private Transfer: $35
- Santa Marta to or from Tayrona Park Private Transfer: $40
- Santa Marta to or from Barranquilla Private Transfer: $67
- Santa Marta Airport to Santa Marta - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $63
- Santa Marta Airport to Santa Marta - Arrival Private Transfer: $32
Typical Local Transportation Prices in El Calafate
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in El Calafate:
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Taxi$1.39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Calafate
Also for El Calafate, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from the airport to your hotel in El Calafate: $14
- Shared transfer to El Calafate -El Chaltén: $75
- Shared Transfer from El Calafate Airport to downtown Hotel: $15
- Shared Transfer Airport-Hotel-Airport (Calafate): $32
- Roundtrip transfer in Private Car from Calafate Airport (FTE)- Calafate City: $49
- Round trip transfer to Moreno Glacier: $50
- Private Transfer Hotel-Bus Station or Bus Station-Hotel (Calafate): $35
- Excursion to the Perito Moreno Glacier, with guide and transfer to / from the hotel: $60
- Transfers Between Airport and Hotels: $12
- Private Airport Transfer: $64
- Perito Moreno Glacier Mini Trek with Transfer: $456
- Laguna de Los Tres Transfer & Self-Guided Hike: $101
Is it cheaper to fly into Santa Marta or El Calafate?
Prices for flights to both El Calafate and Santa Marta 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 daySanta Marta $10El Calafate $3.71
Typical Food Prices in Santa Marta
For Santa Marta, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Breakfast$3.14
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Marta
For Santa Marta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Santa Marta Walking Food Tour: $40
- Food Tour in Santa Marta Old City Half-Day : $66
- Santa Marta Street Food Tour: $75
- Food Tour in Santa Marta Old City: $75
Typical Food Prices in El Calafate
For El Calafate, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dessert$0.01
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Dinner$1.81
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Dinner$1.07
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:
- Argentine Dinner with Live Music Folklore -Estancia 25 de Mayo: $48
- Country Afternoon with Dinner Show - Estancia 25 de Mayo: $100
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Tour with Dinner & Transfer: $126
- Lakes and Caves Tour with Dinner: $138
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Experience with Dinner from Calafate: $155
- Estancia 25 de Mayo in El Calafate - PM visit with dinner: $186
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santa Marta $14El Calafate $3.71
Tours and Activities in Santa Marta
For Santa Marta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- "Chocoserrano" Chocolate Tour 1 day -- Santa Marta: $115
- "Gabo Márquez" Tour - Aracataca and Cienaga: $205
- 2 days 1 night tour - in Trompito, I meet indigenous community Kogui Uldezhaxa.: $189
- 2-Day Cultural Tour to Gotsezhy from Santa Marta: $198
- 2-Day Tour to Ancestral Heritage from Santa Marta: $190
- 3-Day Private Tour of Taorayiná Ecolodge and Nature Reserve: $200
- 4 Days Adventure; Medellin to Santa Marta- Beach of the Dead: $374
- 4 Days Adventure; Medellin to Santa Marta- Beach of the Dead: $334
- Amazing full day tour to Minca with a private guide: $178
- Ancestral Thought Tour: $180
- Ancestral Thought Tour (Indigenous life in Kogui people) Santa Marta: $192
- Ancestral Thought Tour two days and one night: $200
Typical Entertainment Prices in El Calafate
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for El Calafate's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Glacerium Museum$1.39
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: $65
- CALAFATE: Panoramic tour: The best balconies of Calafate: $190
- Cañadón Experience: $189
- Calafate City Tour with Walichu Caves: $78
- Chalten Full Day Trekking Experience - Laguna de los Tres: $180
- Darwin Experience - kayaks & adventure: $230
- Discover La Leona Petrified Forest: Guided Hiking Tour: $190
- El Calafate Balconies Experience - Tour in FWD vehicle: $192
- El Calafate Balconies Experience - Tour in FWD vehicle: $164
- El Calafate Balconies Experience: 3-Hour 4WD Tour: $117
- El Calafate Balcony in 4WD Experience: $169
- El Calafate Balcony in 4WD Experience with Optional Quads: $121
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySanta Marta $6.71El Calafate $1.86
Typical Alcohol Prices in Santa Marta
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Santa Marta from other travelers:
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Beer$0.58
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Beer$2.36
Typical Alcohol Prices in El Calafate
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in El Calafate:
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Beer$0.01
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Alcohol$0.37
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santa Marta and El Calafate, we can see that Santa Marta is more expensive. And not only is El Calafate much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to El Calafate would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Calafate 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 Marta would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santa Marta than you might in El Calafate.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santa Marta Expensive? and Is El Calafate Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santa Marta or El Calafate?
Santa Marta has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of El Calafate. When comparing the sizes of Santa Marta 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.