Which place is cheaper, El Chalten or Ushuaia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ushuaia or El Chalten?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ushuaia or El Chalten? 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 Chalten?
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 Chalten
El Chalten is probably one of the most beautiful areas of Patagonia, especially at the slightest ray of sunshine and one of your cheapest destination while you are travelling in Patagonia. Indeed, you will spend your days hiking and there are no park fees. There are restaurants, souvenir shops, and outdoor stores but most of them will not accept credit cards so before heading out, get cash in El Calafate or your previous stop. For the beginners, it will be long hikes in a magical setting and for the experts perhaps a week long expedition to the greatest glaciers of the world. To discover the way people live in the pampa, you may also decide to stay at an Estancia. In the stunning Estancia Santa Thelma, about 300km away from El Chalten, you will be able to explore the surroundings by horse, live a unique experience in the middle of the nature and its vast plains occupied by thousands of merino sheep and horses and of course eat a typical meal of the region.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayUshuaia $11El Chalten $9.93
The average daily cost (per person) in Ushuaia is $11, while the average daily cost in El Chalten is $9.93. 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 Chalten in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personUshuaia $5.64El Chalten $4.42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomUshuaia $11El Chalten $8.84
Compare Hotels in Ushuaia and El Chalten
Looking for a hotel in Ushuaia or El Chalten? 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 Chalten Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ushuaia -El Chalten $2.37
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ushuaia
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ushuaia are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$0.03
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ushuaia
Also for Ushuaia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Ushuaia Airport Shared Transfer: $7.25
- Ushuaia Airport Shared Transfer: $7.48
- Shared One-way Airport Transfer: $10
- Ushuaia Airport Arrival Transfer: $10
- Ushuaia Airport Departure Transfer: $10
- Transfer from the airport to the hotel in shared service: $19
- Ushuaia Airport(USH) to Ushuaia hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
- Ushuaia city to Ushuaia Airport(USH) - Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Private Transfer from Ushuaia Airport (USH) to Ushuaia Port : $25
- Private Transfer from Ushuaia Port to Ushuaia Airport (USH): $25
- Transfer Cerro Castor (Round Trip): $25
- Private Transfer Hotel-Bus Station or Bus Station-Hotel (Ushuaia): $27
Is it cheaper to fly into Ushuaia or El Chalten?
Prices for flights to both El Chalten 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 $2.18El Chalten $3.66
Typical Food Prices in Ushuaia
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ushuaia:
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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: $94
- Ushuaia at night: A Snow and Fire dinner, sledding and adventure: $280
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ushuaia $13El Chalten $2.66
Tours and Activities in Ushuaia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ushuaia.
- Panoramic City Train Tour: $10
- Exploring Double Decker Bus Tour: $22
- Double-Decker Sightseeing Tour: $24
- Ushuaia City Tour: $26
- Ushuaia City Half-Day Tour: $31
- An Hour Tour in the City of Ushuaia: $32
- City Tour of Ushuaia: $42
- End of the World Train Ticket: $45
- Beagle Channel & Sea Wolves Island Catamaran Cruise: $45
- Half-Day Tierra del Fuego National Park (NOT CRUISE): $59
- Escondido & Fagnano Lake Tour: $60
- Tour to Tierra del Fuego National Park from Ushuaia: $62
Tours and Activities in El Chalten
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for El Chalten are as follows:
- 3 Hours Grilled Lamb Experience in Estancia Bonanza: $55
- Rafting experience on the Rio de las Vueltas in Patagonia: $90
- Rio de las Vueltas Rafting Experience - El Chalten: $90
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayUshuaia -El Chalten $1.22
Typical Alcohol Prices in Ushuaia
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Ushuaia are as follows:
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Wine$0.05
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Beer$0.01
When comparing the travel costs between Ushuaia and El Chalten, 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 Chalten Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Ushuaia or El Chalten?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit Ushuaia or El Chalten in the Summer?
Both El Chalten and Ushuaia during the summer are popular places to visit.
Ushuaia is much colder than El Chalten in the summer. The daily temperature in Ushuaia averages around 10°C (50°F) in January, and El Chalten fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
El Chalten gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Ushuaia usually gets less rain in January than El Chalten. Ushuaia gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryUshuaia 10°C (50°F)El Chalten 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Ushuaia or El Chalten in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Ushuaia and El Chalten.
In the autumn, Ushuaia is much colder than El Chalten. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Ushuaia in April average around 6°C (43°F), and El Chalten averages at about 21°C (70°F).
El Chalten receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Ushuaia usually receives less rain than El Chalten. Ushuaia gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilUshuaia 6°C (43°F)El Chalten 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Ushuaia or El Chalten in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Ushuaia as well as El Chalten.
The weather in Ushuaia can be very cold. In July, Ushuaia is generally much colder than El Chalten. Daily temperatures in Ushuaia average around 2°C (36°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
Ushuaia usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as El Chalten. Ushuaia gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulyUshuaia 2°C (36°F)El Chalten 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Ushuaia or El Chalten in the Spring?
Both El Chalten and Ushuaia are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
Ushuaia is much colder than El Chalten in the spring. The daily temperature in Ushuaia averages around 6°C (43°F) in October, and El Chalten fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
It's quite sunny in El Chalten. Ushuaia usually receives less sunshine than El Chalten during spring. Ushuaia gets 156 hours of sunny skies, while El Chalten receives 205 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in El Chalten. In October, Ushuaia usually receives less rain than El Chalten. Ushuaia gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberUshuaia 6°C (43°F)El Chalten 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for El Chalten and Ushuaia
| Ushuaia | El Chalten | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Feb | 10°C (50°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Apr | 6°C (43°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| May | 3°C (37°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jun | 1°C (34°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 2°C (36°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 2°C (36°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 4°C (39°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 6°C (43°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Nov | 8°C (46°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (48°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
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.