A Travel Price Comparison for Argentina Ushuaia vs. Cafayate for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Ushuaia or Cafayate?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Ushuaia or Cafayate? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Ushuaia or Cafayate?

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.

Cafayate

Cafayate is located in the province of Salta, in the central zone of the Valles Calchaquies. The small town has about 12,000 residents and is 1,329 kilometers from Buenos Aires.

People head to the small town of Cafayate to explore its vineyards and unique rock formations. It has become an important tourist destination in the area and there is a large golf course under construction just outside of town.

Cafayate is an important wine production center. The wines in the area thrive from the low humidity mild weather of the valleys. The town receives less than 250 millimeters of precipitation a year.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Argentina, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, Cafayate or Ushuaia?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Ushuaia is $0.00, while the average daily cost in Cafayate is $67. 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 Ushuaia and Cafayate in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ushuaia -
    Cafayate $43
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ushuaia $0.00
    Cafayate $86
Compare Hotels in Ushuaia and Cafayate

Looking for a hotel in Ushuaia or Cafayate? 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.

Hotels in Ushuaia


Hotels in Cafayate


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 and Cafayate Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ushuaia -
    Cafayate $6.34

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ushuaia

Also for Ushuaia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Cerro Castor (Visitor Pass + Transfer) + Antarctic Experience: $210
  • National Park, Train and Navigation. Airport transfer included: $204
  • Private Transfer Airport-Hotel-Airport (Ushuaia): $160
  • Ushuaia Combo: Tierra del Fuego National Park & Round Trip Transfers to airport: $137
  • Navigation to Beagle Channel and Sea Lions Island with Transfers: $116
  • Ushuaia Guided Visit to the National Park with Transfer: $90
  • Transfer Ushuaia Airport - Hotel in Ushuaia - Ushuaia Airport : $67
  • Private Embarkation Debarkation Transfer: $60
  • Ushuaia Airport (USH) to Ushuaia - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $49
  • Ushuaia Airport(USH) to Ushuaia city - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $47
  • Round trip transfer to Cerro Castor: $39
  • Transfer to Cerro Castor ski center: $39

Is it cheaper to fly into Ushuaia or Cafayate?

Prices for flights to both Cafayate and Ushuaia 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 day
    Ushuaia -
    Cafayate $8.08

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ushuaia

For Ushuaia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Adventure and Snow Moto + Buffet Lunch or Pizza Rodizio + Transfer: $96
  • 4WD Off Road Beaver Watching with Dinner in Shelter: $170
  • Ushuaia City Tour: Vespertine Tour with Dinner: $189
  • Snowmobile+Rockets+Huskies+Skiing+Lunch or Pizza Rodizio: $195
  • Moto+Quadricycle+Ski+Buoys+Lunch or Pizza Rodizio: $206
  • Tierra del Fuego National Park PM - with Dinner included: $210
  • Discovering Lakes Escondido and Fagnano with sunset dinner: $210
  • Puerto Almanza and Punta Paraná Tour with Dinner: $210
  • Tierra del Fuego National Park: vespertine tour with dinner: $210
  • Snow and Fire with Dinner in Firepit, Sledge Ride and Snowmobile: $250
  • Motorcycle+Rockets+Huskies+Skiing+Buoys+Lunch or Pizza Rodizio: $268
  • Ushuaia at night: A Snow and Fire dinner, sledding and adventure: $298

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ushuaia -
    Cafayate $50

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: $190
  • 3-Hour Tour Sailing through the Beagle Channel: $105
  • 4×4 Off Road Tour to Escondido and Khami Lakes: $200
  • 4W4 Adventure in Lagos Full Day with Roast : $170
  • 5-Hour National Park + City tour - USHUAIA (Private Tour): $205
  • 5.5-Hour Nat Park w/ Hiking *Shore Excursion* USHUAIA (Shared tour for cruises): $150
  • 5hrs of Trekking Experience in Martial Glacier: $115
  • 7-Hour Lakes Escondido & Fagnano - USHUAIA (Shared tour): $165
  • Albino's Eye Glacier Full-Day Trekking Tour from Ushuaia: $286
  • Almanza Port Tour with Lunch: $100
  • An Hour Tour in the City of Ushuaia: $71
  • Assisted Bicycle Experience in Urban Landscapes: $110

Tours and Activities in Cafayate

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cafayate.

  • From Salta: Cafayate, Cachi, & Hornocal 3-Day Tour: $136
  • From Salta: Cafayate, Humahuaca & Salinas Grandes 3-Day Tour: $106
  • From Salta: Cafayate, Salinas Grandes, & Hornocal Tour: $128
  • From Salta: Full-Day Wine and Valley Tour to Cafayate: $45
  • From Salta: Local Landscape, Winery, and Culture Tour: $130
  • Unveiling Premium Wine Road Adventure: $106

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ushuaia -
    Cafayate $24

Sample the Local Flavors in Ushuaia

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Ushuaia:

  • Photo tour and Wine Tasting in Ushuaia City: $115
  • City tour and Wine tasting: $115


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ushuaia and Cafayate, we can see that Cafayate is more expensive. And not only is Ushuaia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Cafayate would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cafayate 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 Ushuaia Expensive? and Is Cafayate Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Ushuaia or Cafayate?

Ushuaia has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Cafayate. When comparing the sizes of Ushuaia and Cafayate, 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.