Which place is cheaper, San Carlos de Bariloche or Tulum?
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 Tulum or San Carlos de Bariloche?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Tulum and San Carlos de Bariloche 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: Tulum or San Carlos de Bariloche?
Tulum
When you think of ancient ruins you probably picture dusty archaeological digs surrounded by sand and professors in khaki shorts. What if I told you there is a way to see ancient ruins and visit a tropical beach? That's exactly what you find in Tulum, Mexico.
Built near the end of Mayan era, the ruins of Tulum served as a port before the arrival of the Spanish. It may have been called Zama, meaning City of Dawn, given that these ruins face the sunrise. Because of Tulum's access to both land and sea routes, this spot was an important hub for the trade industry. It may have had another claim to fame, too. According to some murals and other works around the site, it seems this spot was an important site for the worship of the Diving or Descending God. Today, the area is the third most visited archaeological site in all of Mexico with daily tour buses dropping off visitors.
This area is usually packed with people looking to get a glimpse of the seaside ruins. To avoid crowds and capture the best view of the day, try to arrive as early as possible.
San Carlos de Bariloche
Set in the foothills of the Andes Mountains in Argentina, San Carlos de Bariloche is the biggest city in the Lake District. Bariloche is popular for skiing and snowboarding in the winter and trekking, swimming, fishing and horseback riding in the summertime.
No matter the time of year, there is something for everyone in Bariloche. Skiing season begins from June to October while fishing season is from November to April. Summer is from December to March, but visiting during low seasons (Spring in October to December and Autumn in late-April to mid-June) also has its benefits when it comes to saving cash and avoiding crowds.
Check out our ultimate guide to Hiking in Patagonia.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, The Best Historical Tours in Mexico, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Argentina.
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Tulum Prices
Mexico PricesSan Carlos de Bariloche Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTulum $141San Carlos de Bariloche $90
The average daily cost (per person) in Tulum is $141, while the average daily cost in San Carlos de Bariloche is $90. 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 Tulum and San Carlos de Bariloche in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTulum $57San Carlos de Bariloche $74
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTulum $114San Carlos de Bariloche $148
Compare Hotels in Tulum and San Carlos de Bariloche
Looking for a hotel in Tulum or San Carlos de Bariloche? 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: Tulum Hotel Prices and San Carlos de Bariloche Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tulum $27San Carlos de Bariloche $2.90
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Tulum are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tulum
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tulum:
- Transfer from Hotel and Airbnb to Tulum Airport: $63
- Tulum Airport Private Transfer to Hotels and Airbnbs: $73
- Xcaret to Tulum - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $83
- Private Transfer from Tulum to Bacalar with Optional Stop: $93
- Private Transfers from Tulum Airport to Akumal: $96
- Private Transfers from Tulum Airport to Playa del Carmen: $98
- Tulum to Xcaret - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $114
- Tulum to Playa del Carmen - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $120
- Private Transfer Cancun International Airport CUN to Tulum City: $125
- Tulum to Cancún Airport (CUN) - Private Departure Transfer: $133
- Private one way transfer to Tulum from Tulum airport: $140
- Private transfer from Tulum Airport to Tulum: $140
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Carlos de Bariloche
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Carlos de Bariloche:
- Bariloche: BRC Airport to City Centre|Hotel Private Transfer: $14
- Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to Bariloche Airport: $15
- Bariloche: 1-Way or Round-Trip BRC Airport Transfer: $19
- Shared Transfer Airport Bariloche Downtown: $25
- Bariloche Airport Arrival Shuttle Transfer: $29
- Private Transfer between Bariloche Airport and Centre: $33
- Transfer from the Airport to Bariloche: $35
- Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Tambo Viejo: $39
- Private Transfer from Hotel Catedral to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $50
- Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Playa Bonita: $50
- Private Transfer from Downtown Bariloche to the Airport: $58
- Private Transfer from El Casco Art Hotel to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $59
Is it cheaper to fly into Tulum or San Carlos de Bariloche?
Prices for flights to both San Carlos de Bariloche and Tulum 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 dayTulum $57San Carlos de Bariloche $6.39
Typical Food Prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of dining costs in Tulum are as follows:
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Lunch$2.88
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tulum
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tulum.
- Salsa Class,Mezcalita Workshop & Mexican Dinner: $89
- Tulum Local Walking Food Tour: $93
- Tortilla & Taco Cooking Class – Mexican Cuisine from scratch: $95
- Yucatecan cooking class with a local chef in Tulum: $95
- Mexican Cooking from Scratch in a Local Home in Tulum: $101
- Mexican Cooking class experience in Tulum: $139
- Private Authentic Mayan Cooking Class with Tulum Hotel Transfers: $280
- Private transfer for 5 hours (go dinner,cenotes, shopping and more): $299
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Carlos de Bariloche
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Carlos de Bariloche.
- Bariloche: Snowmobile ride with dinner 4 steps: $537
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tulum $30San Carlos de Bariloche $34
Tours and Activities in Tulum
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tulum are as follows:
- Tulum Mayan Ruins GPS Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $9.99
- Coba Ruins Self-Guided Walking Tour with Audio Guide: $9.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - The Return Home: $11
- Self Guided Audio Walking Tour of Tulum: $15
- Cenotes Casa Tortuga Admission Ticket: $15
- ATV Tour from Tulum or Riviera with Ziplines and Cenote Swim Day: $25
- Entrance tickets to swim in 4 Cenotes in Casa Tortuga Park: $27
- Snorkel 2 reef point, 1 hour 20 minutes tour: $30
- 4 Sacred Cenotes Adventure with Rappel and Mayan Ceremony: $30
- Experience at Cenote Zemway in Tulum: $33
- Tulum Wild Adventure Tour with ATV, Ziplining and Cenote: $35
- Tulum Taco Tour: $36
Tours and Activities in San Carlos de Bariloche
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Carlos de Bariloche are as follows:
- Bariloche: Cerro Catedral Tour: $36
- Bariloche: Circuito Chico, iconic postcards of Bariloche in a single tour: $36
- Circuito Chico Sightseeing Tour with Local Guide: $38
- Indigenous People of Patagonia History Tour: $41
- Bariloche: German Immigration and History Walking Tour: $41
- German Footprint & Nazi presence - Walking Tour in Bariloche: $41
- Bariloche: Cerro Catedral guided tour: $43
- Bariloche Chocolate Tour: Patagonian Flavors on Foot: $52
- Small Circuit Tour: Mt Campanario and Llao Llao Peninsula: $55
- Half Day Small Circuit Tour in San Carlos de Bariloche: $60
- Pablo Bernasconi's Art Gallery Guided Tour: $60
- Canopy Half-Day Tour in Bariloche: $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTulum $24San Carlos de Bariloche $9.17
Sample the Local Flavors in San Carlos de Bariloche
Also in San Carlos de Bariloche, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bariloche: Patagonian Experience wine tasting: $95
- Bariloche: Wine Tasting Winehouse Experience: $110
- Bariloche: Bar Crawl. Patagonian Bar Crawl: $160
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tulum and San Carlos de Bariloche, we can see that Tulum is more expensive. And not only is San Carlos de Bariloche much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tulum is in North America and San Carlos de Bariloche 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 San Carlos de Bariloche would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Carlos de Bariloche 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 Tulum would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tulum than you might in San Carlos de Bariloche.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tulum Expensive? and Is San Carlos de Bariloche Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tulum or San Carlos de Bariloche?
San Carlos de Bariloche has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Tulum. When comparing the sizes of Tulum and San Carlos de Bariloche, 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.