A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Ushuaia vs. La Paz for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Ushuaia or La Paz?

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

Should I visit Ushuaia or La Paz? 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 La Paz?

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.

La Paz

La Paz is the capital of Baja California Sur, Mexico. It has a population of about 215,000 people and is a significant commercial center for the region. The city has a good economy and a high standard of living when compared to much of Mexico. Much of the economy is focused on eco-tourism and there are many protected marine environments in the area.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, The Best Budget Tours to Mexico, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Mexico.


Which place is cheaper, La Paz or Ushuaia?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Ushuaia is $11, while the average daily cost in La Paz is $118. 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 La Paz in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ushuaia $5.64
    La Paz $52
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ushuaia $11
    La Paz $104
Compare Hotels in Ushuaia and La Paz

Looking for a hotel in Ushuaia or La Paz? 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 La Paz


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 La Paz Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ushuaia -
    La Paz $22
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:

  • 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

Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Paz

Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Paz:

  • La Paz Airport: Private Roundtrip Transfer to La Ventan: $259
  • Private Transfer from La Paz to Cabo San Lucas: $240
  • La Paz Int. Airport (LAP): Private Transfer to La Paz hotels: $174
  • La Paz Airport to Costa Baja Private Roundtrip Transfer: $89
  • Roundtrip Transfer to La Paz International Airport: $73

Is it cheaper to fly into Ushuaia or La Paz?

Prices for flights to both La Paz 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 $2.18
    La Paz $38
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: $94
  • Ushuaia at night: A Snow and Fire dinner, sledding and adventure: $280

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Paz

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Paz.

  • 4 Hours of Guided La Paz Street Food Tour: $81

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ushuaia $13
    La Paz $13

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 La Paz

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Paz are as follows:

  • 1 Day Espiritu Santo Island Wonders, Sea Lions and Paddleboard Adventure : $249
  • 3 Hour La Paz Whale Shark Snorkeling Experience: $244
  • Adventure to Espiritu Santo Island: Snorkel with Sea Lions and Beach: $131
  • Balandra & San Rafaelito: Sightseeing & Snorkelling: $135
  • Balandra Beach and City Tour: $128
  • Balandra Snorkel & Sea Lion Adventure: $135
  • Can-Am X3 Turbo Adventure: Cabo Desert Trails & Beach Ride: $291
  • City Tour & Beaches from La Paz: $91
  • Cruise Date Delight! Swim with Sea Lions! Apr-02: $186
  • Espíritu Santo Island snorkel and sightseeing tour on Small Group: $167
  • Espiritu Santo Island Day Tour: $170
  • Espiritu Santo Island Snorkel & Sea Lion Adventure: $145

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ushuaia -
    La Paz $12
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


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


Which is Bigger, Ushuaia or La Paz?

La Paz has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Ushuaia. When comparing the sizes of Ushuaia and La Paz, 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.


When is the best time to visit Ushuaia or La Paz?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Ushuaia is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but La Paz has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Ushuaia or La Paz in the Summer?

Both La Paz and Ushuaia during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, most visitors come to La Paz for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Ushuaia is much colder than La Paz. Typically, the summer temperatures in Ushuaia in January average around 10°C (50°F), and La Paz averages at about 30°C (86°F)in July.

In La Paz, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Ushuaia often gets less sunshine than La Pazin July. Ushuaia gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Paz receives 287 hours of full sun.

Ushuaia usually gets more rain in January than La Pazin July. Ushuaia gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while La Paz receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures January and July
    Ushuaia 10°C (50°F) 
    La Paz 30°C (86°F)

Should I visit Ushuaia or La Paz in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Ushuaia and La Paz. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to La Paz because of the shopping scene.

In April, Ushuaia is generally much colder than La Pazin October. Daily temperatures in Ushuaia average around 6°C (43°F), and La Paz fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in La Paz this time of the year. Ushuaia usually receives less sunshine than La Paz during autumn. Ushuaia gets 74 hours of sunny skies, while La Paz receives 272 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In April, Ushuaia usually receives more rain than La Pazin October. Ushuaia gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while La Paz receives 13 mm (0.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures April and October
    Ushuaia 6°C (43°F) 
    La Paz 27°C (80°F)

Should I visit Ushuaia or La Paz in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Ushuaia as well as La Paz. Additionally, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to La Paz this time of year.

The weather in Ushuaia can be very cold. Ushuaia is much colder than La Paz in the winter. The daily temperature in Ushuaia averages around 2°C (36°F) in July, and La Paz fluctuates around 18°C (65°F)in January.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in La Paz. In the winter, Ushuaia often gets less sunshine than La Pazin January. Ushuaia gets 61 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Paz receives 200 hours of full sun.

Ushuaia usually gets more rain in July than La Pazin January. Ushuaia gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while La Paz receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures July and January
    Ushuaia 2°C (36°F) 
    La Paz 18°C (65°F)

Should I visit Ushuaia or La Paz in the Spring?

Both La Paz and Ushuaia are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to La Paz for the beaches.

In the spring, Ushuaia is much colder than La Paz. Typically, the spring temperatures in Ushuaia in October average around 6°C (43°F), and La Paz averages at about 23°C (73°F)in April.

It's quite sunny in La Paz. Ushuaia usually receives less sunshine than La Paz during spring. Ushuaia gets 156 hours of sunny skies, while La Paz receives 292 hours of full sun in the spring.

In October, Ushuaia usually receives more rain than La Pazin April. Ushuaia gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while La Paz receives 1 mm (0 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures October and April
    Ushuaia 6°C (43°F) 
    La Paz 23°C (73°F)

Typical Weather for La Paz and Ushuaia

Ushuaia La Paz
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 10°C (50°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 18°C (65°F) 11 mm (0.4 in)
Feb 10°C (50°F) 30 mm (1.2 in) 19°C (66°F) 5 mm (0.2 in)
Mar 8°C (46°F) 30 mm (1.2 in) 20°C (69°F) 2 mm (0.1 in)
Apr 6°C (43°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 23°C (73°F) 1 mm (0 in)
May 3°C (37°F) 30 mm (1.2 in) 25°C (77°F) 1 mm (0 in)
Jun 1°C (34°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 27°C (81°F) 1 mm (0 in)
Jul 2°C (36°F) 30 mm (1.2 in) 30°C (86°F) 14 mm (0.6 in)
Aug 2°C (36°F) 30 mm (1.2 in) 30°C (87°F) 43 mm (1.7 in)
Sep 4°C (39°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) 30°C (85°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Oct 6°C (43°F) 30 mm (1.2 in) 27°C (80°F) 13 mm (0.5 in)
Nov 8°C (46°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) 23°C (73°F) 5 mm (0.2 in)
Dec 9°C (48°F) 30 mm (1.2 in) 20°C (67°F) 21 mm (0.8 in)