Which place is cheaper, Mendoza or Tilcara?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Tilcara or Mendoza?
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 Tilcara and Mendoza can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Tilcara or Mendoza?
Tilcara
Tilcara signifies shooting star in Quechua. At 2465m of altitude, the little town of Tilcara is one of the most animated place of the area of the quebrada de humahuaca. Many South American backpackers and tourists from all around the world come to visit Tilcara and its pucara, the forteresse built by the Incas at the top of the hill, providing a stunning walk around the town. Tilcara hosts many festivals for different occasions such as the celebration of the Pachamama in August, the semana santa (Holy Week) in April, and the Enero Tilcareno, held in January as its name indicates, which is probably the busiest month of the year for the little town. If you enjoy concerts, parades and folklorique parties then definitely try to visit Tilcara during a festival month and avoid them if you prefer a calm and more relaxed holiday. There are many available activities around Tilcara including horseback riding, VTT, and you could also even try a ride in a caravan pulled by llamas.
Mendoza
Mendoza is a city in western Argentina and more precisely in the desertic Cuyo region. Mendoza is the center of the Argentinian wine industry and is famed around the world for its vineyards and wine production. Spread across the valley of the Rio Mendoza and in the foothills of the Andean mountain range, Mendoza is also near the Aconcagua, the highest mountain outside of the Himalayas. The bustling and scenic city of wide, leafy avenues, atmospheric plazas and cosmopolitan cafes spoils visitors with unique natural attractions and historical landmarks. If you can, visit Mendoza during the harvest festival at the end of February. There are many events and festivals in Mendoza and they are usually free. Each has a different theme, and they usually have a stage with singing and dancing and booths that sell food around a plaza. Seventy percent of Argentina's wines are produced here, and Mendoza is especially known for its world-famous malbecs.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Photography Tours in Argentina, The Best Camping Tours in Argentina, The Best Luxury Tours to Argentina, and The Best Budget Tours to Argentina.
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Tilcara Prices
Argentina PricesMendoza Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTilcara $77Mendoza $56
The average daily cost (per person) in Tilcara is $77, while the average daily cost in Mendoza is $56. 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 Tilcara and Mendoza in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTilcara $63Mendoza $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTilcara $126Mendoza $84
Compare Hotels in Tilcara and Mendoza
Looking for a hotel in Tilcara or Mendoza? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tilcara $3.07Mendoza $4.15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tilcara
Also for Tilcara, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Quebrada de Humahuaca Solar Train: Ticket and Transfer: $170
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mendoza
Also for Mendoza, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Helicopter Flight with Lunch and Transfer: $560
- Viña Cobos Lunch, Wine & Private Transfer: $520
- Round Trip Private Transfer to the Uco Valley: $393
- Clos of the 7 Experience. Winery Visits, Lunch & Private Transfer: $280
- Pulenta Estate Wine Tasting+Lunch at Ruca Malen. Private Transfer: $260
- Huarpe Winery Experience & Lunch at Lagarde. Private Transfer: $240
- Tasting Experience and Roast in Sottano Winery– Private Transfer: $230
- Los Toneles Winery Lunch with Private Transfer: $220
- Cerro Bayo Guided Trek with Hotel Transfers: $220
- Sunset Electronic Music Party at Las Palapas with Transfers: $220
- Asado Argentino Lunch & Visit 2 Wineries with Private Transfer: $190
- Premium Spa Day at Cacheuta Hot Springs with Transfers: $183
Is it cheaper to fly into Tilcara or Mendoza?
Prices for flights to both Mendoza and Tilcara 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 dayTilcara $7.36Mendoza $5.80
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tilcara
For Tilcara, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Northern Argentine cooking experience: $70
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mendoza
For Mendoza, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 4-Hour Argentine Cooking Class at Grazie Mille Winery: $91
- Mendoza Meals Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $95
- 3h Cooking Class in Mendoza with 7 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $99
- Original Asado Cooking Class at a Local's Home: $114
- Sunset Horseback Riding Tour in Lunlunta with Dinner Included: $120
- Cooking Class with 7 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $150
- City Tour with Dinner at a Local Restaurant: $164
- Full-Day Small-Group Mendoza Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $193
- Horseback Riding at Sunset and Dinner in Mendoza: $205
- Horseback Riding at Sunset and Dinner at an Estancia in Mendoza: $210
- Tango Show with Dinner at Hualta Winery Hotel: $220
- Casa Vigil (the enemy) + Dinner + Guided tour: $250
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tilcara $22Mendoza $23
Tours and Activities in Tilcara
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tilcara.
- Bike Adventure through Juella with lunch: $70
- From Salta: Tour to Humahuaca + Hornocal "Route of Colors and Heights": $128
- Full-Day Tour to Laguna de los Pozuelos from Tilcara: $255
- Purmamarca Night Experience: $37
- Salinas Grandes and Humahuaca Solar Train Tour from Purmamarca: $90
- 2 hours cycling tour trough the rural area: $40
Tours and Activities in Mendoza
For Mendoza, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2 Wineries & Olive Oil Experience with Lunch. Private Transport: $130
- 3 Wineries & Olive Oil Experience with Private Transport: $100
- 3 Winery Tour with Lunch and Blend Set: $150
- 3-hour Mendoza Tasting Tour with 34 Traditional Argentine Flavors: $95
- 3-hour Mendoza Tasting Tour: 34 Authentic Argentine Flavors: $86
- 4WD Adventure in Explore the Villavicencio Reserve: $132
- 4X4 tour Villavicencio Puente del Inca: $70
- Adrenaline Canopy Tour on the Mendoza River: $173
- Adventure & Flavor: Breakfast, Rafting & Asado in Mendoza: $220
- Adventure and Relaxation in Mendoza Rafting and Cacheuta Springs: $237
- Andes High Mountain Tour in Mendoza: $148
- Andes High Mountain full day Tour: $64
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTilcara $4.84Mendoza $5.90
Sample the Local Flavors in Mendoza
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Mendoza:
- Walking & Wine Tasting Tour & San Martin Park Gate: $17
- Burlesque Cabaret Show with Wine: $20
- Antigal Winery Tour with Wine Tasting & Choice of Experiences: $31
- Maipu Wine Tour: 3 Wineries and Olive Oil Factory: $37
- Wine, Distillery & Chocolate Tour with Tastings: $39
- Mendoza Wine Tasting at Bodega Ciclo Andino with Snacks: $39
- Half-Day Wine Tour with Tastings: $41
- Classic Wine Tasting: $44
- La Histórica Winery Tour and Wine Tasting: $48
- Premium Wine Tasting: $66
- Argentina's Most Celebrated Wines: 100 Point Wine Tasting: $79
- Winery tours in Mendoza, wine tasting and lunches: $90
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tilcara and Mendoza, we can see that Tilcara is more expensive. And not only is Mendoza much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mendoza would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mendoza 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 Tilcara would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tilcara than you might in Mendoza.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tilcara Expensive? and Is Mendoza Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tilcara or Mendoza?
Mendoza has a larger population, and is about 160 times larger than the population of Tilcara. When comparing the sizes of Tilcara and Mendoza, 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.