Which place is cheaper, El Calafate or Ushuaia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Ushuaia or El Calafate?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ushuaia or El Calafate? 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 El Calafate?
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.
El Calafate
Located in Patagonia, El Calafate has become a popular tourist destination in Argentina because of its beautiful setting on the stunningly blue Lago Argentina. The town sits on the southern border of the lake in the southwestern part of the Santa Cruz Province. It's about 320 kilometers from Rio Gallegos.
The rise in popularity of Patagonia as a tourist destination has truly put this small town on the map. You'll find no shortage of trekkers in the town and it makes an excellent base to explore different parts of the Los Glaciares National Park. Popular places to visit include Perito Moreno Glacier, Cerro Chalten, and Cerro Torre.
El Calafate has a cold semi-arid climate. The summers are cool to warm and very dry while the winters are cold and damp. Lago Argentino has a significant influence over the town's climate. The shallow bay where the town is located is usually frozen during the winter months.
Check out our ultimate guide to Hiking in Patagonia.
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.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayUshuaia $11El Calafate $9.55
The average daily cost (per person) in Ushuaia is $11, while the average daily cost in El Calafate is $9.55. 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 El Calafate in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personUshuaia $5.34El Calafate $3.24
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomUshuaia $11El Calafate $6.48
Compare Hotels in Ushuaia and El Calafate
Looking for a hotel in Ushuaia or El Calafate? 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 El Calafate Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ushuaia -El Calafate $3.34
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ushuaia
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ushuaia are as follows:
-
Taxi Ride$0.03
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ushuaia
Also for Ushuaia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared One-way Airport Transfer: $12
- Ushuaia to Ushuaia Airport (USH) - Departure Private Transfer: $32
- Ushuaia city to Ushuaia Airport(USH) - Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Ushuaia Airport(USH) to Ushuaia hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
- Ushuaia Airport(USH) to Ushuaia city - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $47
- Ushuaia Airport Shared Transfer: $8.80
- Ushuaia Airport Shared Transfer: $8.57
- Ushuaia Airport Departure Transfer: $12
- Ushuaia Airport Arrival Transfer: $12
- Ushuaia Airport (USH) to Ushuaia - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $64
- Transfer to Cerro Castor ski center: $25
- Transfer from/to the airport: $129
Typical Local Transportation Prices in El Calafate
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in El Calafate:
-
Taxi$1.32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Calafate
Also for El Calafate, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Perito Moreno Full Day Minitrekking with Transfer & Walkways: $410
- Perito Moreno Glacier Mini Trek with Transfer: $304
- Laguna de Los Tres Transfer & Self-Guided Hike: $168
- Round trip transfer to Moreno Glacier: $150
- Perito Moreno Glacier Expedition: In & Out Transfer Included: $142
- Shared transfer to El Calafate -El Chaltén: $75
- Excursion to the Perito Moreno Glacier, with guide and transfer to / from the hotel: $60
- Private Airport Transfer in Calafate: $50
- Roundtrip transfer in Private Car from Calafate Airport (FTE)- Calafate City: $49
- Private Transfer Hotel-Bus Station or Bus Station-Hotel (Calafate): $35
- Shared Transfer Airport-Hotel-Airport (Calafate): $32
- Airport Transfer - Downtown: $26
Is it cheaper to fly into Ushuaia or El Calafate?
Prices for flights to both El Calafate 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 dayUshuaia $2.07El Calafate $3.51
Typical Food Prices in Ushuaia
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ushuaia:
-
Lunch for Two$0.06
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ushuaia
For Ushuaia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- The Martial Glacier at Night with Dinner Included: $118
- Tierra del Fuego National Park PM - with Dinner included: $210
- Ushuaia at night: A Snow and Fire dinner, sledding and adventure: $290
Typical Food Prices in El Calafate
For El Calafate, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Dessert$0.01
-
Dinner$1.71
-
Dinner$1.01
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in El Calafate
For El Calafate, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Argentine Dinner with Live Music Folklore -Estancia 25 de Mayo: $48
- Country Afternoon with Dinner Show - Estancia 25 de Mayo: $100
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Experience with Dinner from Calafate: $155
- Estancia 25 de Mayo in El Calafate - PM visit with dinner: $186
- Lakes and Caves Tour with Dinner: $204
- Lakes and Caves Tour with Dinner: $212
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ushuaia $12El Calafate $3.51
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: $165
- 3-Hour Navigation Tour in the Beagle Channel with Isla de Lobos: $75
- 3-Hour Tour Sailing through the Beagle Channel: $105
- 4×4 Off Road Tour to Escondido and Khami Lakes: $122
- 4-Hour National Park - USHUAIA (Shared tour): $75
- 5-Hour Nat Park + City tour - USHUAIA (Private Tour): $195
- 5-hour adventure in Panorama Blanco: $179
- 5.5-Hour Nat Park w/ Hiking *Shore Excursion* USHUAIA (Shared tour for cruises): $130
- 5hrs of Trekking Experience in Martial Glacier: $115
- Adventure 360º in Quads with Lunch: $219
- Assisted Bicycle Experience at Estancia Tunnel: $225
- Assisted Bicycle Experience in Urban Landscapes: $120
Typical Entertainment Prices in El Calafate
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for El Calafate's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
Glacerium Museum$1.32
Tours and Activities in El Calafate
For El Calafate, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Argentine Cuisine Experience in El Calafate: $83
- 4WD Adventure in El Calafate with Optional Hike or Zipline: $112
- Adventure Horseback Riding on Cerro Frias: $140
- Blue Safari Experience: Hiking and Navigation on Glaciers: $180
- Calafate 4-Day Tour: Glaciers, Premium Navigation & Safari: $925
- Calafate City Tour with Walichu Caves: $85
- Calafate Panoramic tour: The best balconies of Calafate 4x4: $220
- Calafate: Kayak through Perito Moreno and Walkways Tour: $430
- Chalten Full Day Trekking Experience - Laguna de los Tres: $180
- Chalten full day Trekking - Laguna de los Tres Experience: $210
- Darwin Experience: $208
- Darwin Experience - kayaks & adventure: $230
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayUshuaia -El Calafate $1.76
Typical Alcohol Prices in Ushuaia
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Ushuaia are as follows:
-
Wine$0.05
-
Beer$0.01
Typical Alcohol Prices in El Calafate
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in El Calafate:
-
Beer$0.01
-
Alcohol$0.35
When comparing the travel costs between Ushuaia and El Calafate, we can see that Ushuaia is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ushuaia Expensive? and Is El Calafate Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ushuaia or El Calafate?
Ushuaia has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of El Calafate. When comparing the sizes of Ushuaia and El Calafate, 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.