Which place is cheaper, San Carlos de Bariloche 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 San Carlos de Bariloche?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ushuaia or San Carlos de Bariloche? 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 San Carlos de Bariloche?
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.
San Carlos de Bariloche
Set in the foothills of the Andes Mountains in Argentina, San Carlos de Bariloche is the biggest city in the Lake District. Bariloche is popular for skiing and snowboarding in the winter and trekking, swimming, fishing and horseback riding in the summertime.
No matter the time of year, there is something for everyone in Bariloche. Skiing season begins from June to October while fishing season is from November to April. Summer is from December to March, but visiting during low seasons (Spring in October to December and Autumn in late-April to mid-June) also has its benefits when it comes to saving cash and avoiding crowds.
Check out our ultimate guide to Hiking in Patagonia.
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 PricesSan Carlos de Bariloche Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayUshuaia $0.00San Carlos de Bariloche $87
The average daily cost (per person) in Ushuaia is $0.00, while the average daily cost in San Carlos de Bariloche is $87. 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 San Carlos de Bariloche in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personUshuaia -San Carlos de Bariloche $71
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomUshuaia $0.00San Carlos de Bariloche $142
Compare Hotels in Ushuaia and San Carlos de Bariloche
Looking for a hotel in Ushuaia or San Carlos de Bariloche? 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 San Carlos de Bariloche Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ushuaia -San Carlos de Bariloche $2.79
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ushuaia
Also for Ushuaia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Ushuaia Airport: $5.00
- Shared Transfer from Ushuaia Airport to Downtown Hotel or vv: $8.00
- Ushuaia Airport Arrival Transfer: $9.00
- Ushuaia Airport Departure Transfer: $9.00
- Airport Transfer: $10
- Ushuaia Airport Shared Transfer: $12
- Ushuaia Airport Shared Transfer: $13
- Private Transfer to Ushuaia Airport (USH): $14
- Transfer from your accommodation to Ushuaia airport: $15
- Transfer from Ushuaia airport to your accomodation: $15
- Private Transfer Ushuaia Airport ⇄ Hotel or Tourist Port: $15
- Private Transfer from Ushuaia Airport (USH): $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Carlos de Bariloche
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Carlos de Bariloche:
- Adventure in Piedras Blancas: Sledding Day with Transfers: $190
- Bariloche: Snow Day at Piedras Blancas Winter Park+Transfer: $180
- Sledge Experience at Piedras Blancas Snow Resort with Transfers: $178
- Private Transfer from Hotel Tronador to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $175
- Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Cascada Los Alerces: $175
- Private Transfer from Cascada Los Alerces to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $175
- Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Pampa Linda: $175
- Bariloche Airport BRC to Cerro Catedral RoundTrip Transfer: $163
- Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Ruca Malen: $146
- Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Lago Correntoso: $146
- Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Villa La Angostura: $146
- BARILOCHE: PRIVATE TRANSFER FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE CITY CENTER: $145
Is it cheaper to fly into Ushuaia or San Carlos de Bariloche?
Prices for flights to both San Carlos de Bariloche 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 -San Carlos de Bariloche $6.16
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Carlos de Bariloche
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Carlos de Bariloche.
- Bariloche: TRE Experience – “Three-Course Dinner. Catena Zapata”: $135
- Bariloche: El Mallín. Dinner with Tango Show: $185
- Bariloche: Winter Night – Evening Activities in the Snow with Dinner and Show: $275
- Bariloche Nordic Night: Quad Bike Ride and Dinner on Cerro Otto: $410
- Bariloche: Snow Adventure and 4-Course Dinner: $425
- Bariloche: Snowmobile Ride with 4-Course Dinner: $425
- Bariloche: Evening Snowmobile Ride with Dinner at La Cueva Catedral: $428
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ushuaia -San Carlos de Bariloche $33
Tours and Activities in Ushuaia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ushuaia.
- CITY TOUR USHUAIA+ MARTIAL GLACIER RESERVE VISIT: $18
- Guided Tour of the City of Ushuaia: $23
- City Tour Ushuaia: $30
- Double-Decker Sightseeing Tour: $35
- City Tour the End of the World: $43
- City Tour A panoramic trip through the End of the World: $45
- Tickets for the End of the World Train in Ushuaia: $46
- USHUAIA | City Tour + Martial Glacier Reserve: $46
- Full Day Tierra del Fuego National Park Guided Tour: $49
- End of the World Train Ticket: $50
- Tierra del Fuego National Park Tour w/Train Ride: $50
- Ushuaia - After-Ski Tour – Snow Party at Cerro Austral: $53
Tours and Activities in San Carlos de Bariloche
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Carlos de Bariloche are as follows:
- 4-Hour Guided Tour of the Small Circuit: $90
- Bariloche Chocolate Sightseeing Tour: Patagonian Flavors Walking Tour: $60
- Bariloche Craft Beer Sensory Experience: $245
- Bariloche Football Experience with Locals & Traditional BBQ: $60
- Bariloche Horseback Riding & Traditional Argentine Barbecue Tour: $232
- Bariloche San Martin de los Andes and Seven Lakes Road Tour: $150
- Bariloche Tour Route of the 7 Lakes to San Martin de los Andes: $90
- Bariloche: Andean Region Tour to El Bolsón & Lago Puelo: $70
- Bariloche: Beer Experience 'Discover the World of Craft Beer': $150
- Bariloche: Boat Tour to Victoria Island and Arrayanes Forest: $140
- Bariloche: Brazo Tristeza Boat Tour and Forest Hike: $82
- Bariloche: Canopy Tour on Cerro Lopez: $90
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayUshuaia -San Carlos de Bariloche $8.83
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 San Carlos de Bariloche
Also in San Carlos de Bariloche, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bariloche: Patagonian Experience wine tasting: $95
- Patagonian WineHouse in Bariloche: Cheese and Wine Tasting: $99
- Bariloche: Wine Tasting Winehouse Experience: $110
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ushuaia and San Carlos de Bariloche, we can see that San Carlos de Bariloche 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 San Carlos de Bariloche would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Carlos de Bariloche 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 San Carlos de Bariloche Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ushuaia or San Carlos de Bariloche?
San Carlos de Bariloche has a larger population, and is about 64% larger than the population of Ushuaia. When comparing the sizes of Ushuaia and San Carlos de Bariloche, 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.