Which place is cheaper, San Miguel de Tucuman or Tilcara?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tilcara or San Miguel de Tucuman?
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 San Miguel de Tucuman can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Tilcara or San Miguel de Tucuman?
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.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Argentina, The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTilcara $8.25San Miguel de Tucuman $11
The average daily cost (per person) in Tilcara is $8.25, while the average daily cost in San Miguel de Tucuman 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 Tilcara and San Miguel de Tucuman in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTilcara $3.25San Miguel de Tucuman $4.85
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTilcara $6.50San Miguel de Tucuman $9.70
Compare Hotels in Tilcara and San Miguel de Tucuman
Looking for a hotel in Tilcara or San Miguel de Tucuman? 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: Tilcara Hotel Prices and San Miguel de Tucuman Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tilcara $2.19San Miguel de Tucuman $3.08
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Tilcara
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Tilcara:
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Taxi Ride$0.01
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Tilcara or San Miguel de Tucuman?
Prices for flights to both San Miguel de Tucuman 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 $3.41San Miguel de Tucuman $4.01
Typical Food Prices in Tilcara
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Tilcara:
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Sandwich$0.01
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Burger$0.01
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Fruit$0.01
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Sandwich$0.01
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
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tilcara $1.95San Miguel de Tucuman $3.30
Tours and Activities in Tilcara
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tilcara.
- Bike Adventure through Juella with lunch: $35
- Full-Day Tour to Laguna de los Pozuelos from Tilcara: $162
- Private Full Day Tour to Salinas de Grandes and Barrancas: $130
- Purmamarca Night Experience: $18
- Serranías del Hornocal + Citytour Humahuaca: $30
- 2 hours cycling tour trough the rural area: $20
- Half day mountain bike tour with lunch: $35
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:
- Discover Tafí del Valle and Quilmes Ruins in a Day Tour: $82
- Entrance ticket to Aerial Park, Zip Line and Palestra: $27
- Rio Hondo Hot Springs Full Day Tour from Tucuman: $82
- Tafi del Valle Half-Day Tour from Tucuman: $68
- Yungas Half-Day Tour from Tucuman: $51
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTilcara $1.07San Miguel de Tucuman $2.07
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tilcara and San Miguel de Tucuman, we can see that San Miguel de Tucuman is more expensive. And not only is Tilcara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Tilcara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tilcara 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 San Miguel de Tucuman would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Miguel de Tucuman than you might in Tilcara.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tilcara Expensive? and Is San Miguel de Tucuman Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tilcara or San Miguel de Tucuman?
San Miguel de Tucuman has a larger population, and is about 140 times larger than the population of Tilcara. When comparing the sizes of Tilcara and San Miguel de Tucuman, 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.