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.
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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 3-Week Tours in Argentina, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Buenos Aires, The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina.
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Ushuaia Prices
Argentina PricesCafayate Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayUshuaia $0.00Cafayate $54
The average daily cost (per person) in Ushuaia is $0.00, while the average daily cost in Cafayate is $54. 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
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personUshuaia -Cafayate $35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomUshuaia $0.00Cafayate $70
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.
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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ushuaia -Cafayate $5.10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ushuaia
Also for Ushuaia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Unmissable 4 Excursions + Cerro Castor Transfer: $445
- Tierra del Fuego National park taxi Transfer: $299
- Antarctic Experience W/Snowmobile Ride & Transfer: $294
- Ushuaia in 4 days: Unmissable excursions and transfers included: $270
- National Park + End of the World Train + Beagle Channel Cruise + Transfer in/out: $226
- Full-Day Penguin Boat Excursion & Transfers Included: $215
- Ushuaia Combo: Tierra del Fuego National Park & Round Trip Transfers to airport: $135
- Escondido and Fagnano Lakes with transfer: $103
- Tierra del Fuego National Park Tour & Transfers: $77
- Transfer Ushuaia Airport - Hotel in Ushuaia - Ushuaia Airport: $67
- Private Transfer to Cerro Castor from Ushuaia: $60
- Ushuaia - Lunch with Patagonian Lamb + Transfer: $60
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
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Food Meals for one dayUshuaia -Cafayate $6.51
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ushuaia
For Ushuaia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Martial Glacier Night Hike with Dinner & Wine: $100
- Ushuaia - Secrets of Tierra del Fuego - History + Quad + Dinner: $140
- Beaver Sighting with Dinner off Lake Fagnano: $185
- Discovering Lakes Escondido and Fagnano with sunset dinner: $210
- Ushuaia-Premier Pass (Motorcycle + Snowmobile + Skiing + Tubes + Snowshoes + Quad + Lunch + Pizza): $290
- Fire and Snow Night Tour with Dinner: $307
- Snow Adventure with Dinner & Transfers: $315
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ushuaia -Cafayate $40
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: $175
- 4WD Adventure at Fagnano Lake from Ushuaia: $239
- 4WD Off-Road Lakes Adventure in Tierra del Fuego: $173
- 4x4 Lake Fagnano Adventure from Ushuaia: $229
- 5-Hour National Park + City tour - USHUAIA (Private Tour): $245
- 5.5-Hour Nat Park w/ Hiking *Shore Excursion* USHUAIA (Shared tour for cruises): $150
- 7-Hour Lakes Escondido & Fagnano - USHUAIA (Shared tour): $105
- Adventure through Lagos 4X4 in Ushuaia: $198
- Almanza Port Tour with Lunch: $210
- An Hour Tour in the City of Ushuaia: $71
- Beagle Canal Tour with Small Group Hiking: $97
- Beagle Channel Wildlife Cruise & Les Éclaireurs Lighthouse: $131
Tours and Activities in Cafayate
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cafayate.
- Foz do Iguaçu: Iguazu Falls Argentina Side Guided Tour: $301
- From Salta: Cafayate, Salinas Grandes, & Hornocal Tour: $128
- From Salta: The Calchaqui Valley Winery Tour in Cafayate: $46
- Hot Air Balloon Experience - Cafayate Salta: $250
- Scenic Horseback Adventure to El Toldito All Levels Welcome: $139
- Unveiling Premium Wine Road Adventure: $116
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayUshuaia -Cafayate $19
Sample the Local Flavors in Ushuaia
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Ushuaia:
- City tour and Wine tasting: $125
Sample the Local Flavors in Cafayate
Also in Cafayate, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Half-day Wine Tour: $100
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.
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.