Which place is cheaper, San Pedro de Atacama or Ushuaia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ushuaia or San Pedro de Atacama?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ushuaia or San Pedro de Atacama? 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 Pedro de Atacama?
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 Pedro de Atacama
San Pedro de Atacama is a gateway to northern Chile. It is a good jumping off point for exploring the area's impressive landscape, most of which is included in the Los Flamencos National Reserve. It is popular with both Chilean and international tourists, and because of its popularity, it is a relatively expensive destination, with many prices comparable to what you might pay in Santiago.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayUshuaia $11San Pedro de Atacama $60
The average daily cost (per person) in Ushuaia is $11, while the average daily cost in San Pedro de Atacama is $60. 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 Pedro de Atacama in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personUshuaia $5.55San Pedro de Atacama $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomUshuaia $11San Pedro de Atacama $64
Compare Hotels in Ushuaia and San Pedro de Atacama
Looking for a hotel in Ushuaia or San Pedro de Atacama? 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 Pedro de Atacama Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ushuaia -San Pedro de Atacama $9.26
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:
- Shared One-way Airport Transfer: $11
- Escondido and Fagnano Lakes with transfer: $105
- 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 Shared Transfer: $8.99
- Ushuaia Airport Shared Transfer: $8.95
- Ushuaia Airport Departure Transfer: $11
- Ushuaia Airport (USH) to Ushuaia - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $64
- Transfer from/to the airport: $89
- Transfer from the hotel to the airport in shared service: $19
- Transfer from the airport to the hotel in shared service: $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro de Atacama
Also for San Pedro de Atacama, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 3 Perfect Days in Atacama + Transfer: $250
- Private transfer San Pedro de Atacama - calama airport: $200
- Private transfer from San Pedro de Atacama to Calama City: $190
- Direct Transfer Atacama to Uyuni: $128
- Calama Airport Transfer to Atacama / Airport Lodging: $60
- Transfer to the Puritama Hot Springs: $60
- Puritama Thermal Transfer: $46
- Stargazing Experience with Transfer: $36
- Atacama Airport Shuttle Transfer: $34
- Shared Departure Transfer: San Pedro de Atacama Hotels to El Loa Airport: $31
- Transfers to San Pedro de Acatama (shared service): $30
- Calama Airport: Shared Transfer to/from San Pedro de Atacama: $30
Is it cheaper to fly into Ushuaia or San Pedro de Atacama?
Prices for flights to both San Pedro de Atacama 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 $2.15San Pedro de Atacama $14
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
Typical Food Prices in San Pedro de Atacama
For San Pedro de Atacama, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Empanadas$1.27
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Lunch$11
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Dinner$11
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Drink$0.95
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Empanada$5.31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Pedro de Atacama
For San Pedro de Atacama, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Private Dinner Under the Stars: $300
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ushuaia $12San Pedro de Atacama $21
Tours and Activities in Ushuaia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ushuaia.
- 2-day tour:Tierra del Fuego NP + Beagle Channel Navigation + Fagnano & Escondido: $190
- 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
- 5hrs of Trekking Experience in Martial Glacier: $115
- 7-Hour Lakes Escondido & Fagnano - USHUAIA (Shared tour): $105
- An Hour Tour in the City of Ushuaia: $32
- Andean Silence Adventure in the night: $190
- Assisted Bicycle Experience at Estancia Tunnel: $225
- Assisted Bicycle Experience to the Beagle Channel Viewpoint: $235
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Pedro de Atacama
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for San Pedro de Atacama's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Sand Boarding$56
Tours and Activities in San Pedro de Atacama
For San Pedro de Atacama, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Moon Valley Tour, the Best Seller: $49
- 1-Day Tour Altiplanic Lagoons and Piedras Rojas and Laguna Chaxa: $90
- 2 Tours Valley of the Moon and Hidden Lagoons: $120
- 23km downhill bike tour + trekking among giant cacti: $70
- 3 Days and 4 Tours in San Pedro de Atacama: $189
- 3 Main Tours in San Pedo de Atacama: $190
- 3-Day Tour in San Pedro de Atacama: $210
- 4 Tour in 2 Days, in San Pedro de Atacama: $240
- 4 Tours to Discover Atacama (3 days): $219
- 4-Day Tour in San Pedro de Atacama: $275
- 4-Hour Puritama Hot Springs Tour with Pick Up in Atacama: $88
- 6-hour tour to Valle del Arcoíris: $44
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayUshuaia -San Pedro de Atacama $5.00
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
Typical Alcohol Prices in San Pedro de Atacama
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in San Pedro de Atacama:
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Alcohol$25
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ushuaia and San Pedro de Atacama, we can see that San Pedro de Atacama 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 Pedro de Atacama would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Pedro de Atacama 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 Pedro de Atacama Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ushuaia or San Pedro de Atacama?
Ushuaia has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of San Pedro de Atacama. When comparing the sizes of Ushuaia and San Pedro de Atacama, 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.