Which place is cheaper, Santa Cruz de la Sierra or Ushuaia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Ushuaia or Santa Cruz de la Sierra?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ushuaia or Santa Cruz de la Sierra? 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra?
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.
Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Santa Cruz de la Sierra, or simply Santa Cruz, is a larger city in the middle of Bolivia. It is also one of the most wealthy cities in the country. The city is also one of the fastest growing in the world. It is famous for its nightlife and it makes an excellent base for exploring many of the tourist attractions in the nearby areas.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, The Best Tours Under $1000 in Bolivia, and The Best Luxury Tours to Bolivia.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayUshuaia $11Santa Cruz de la Sierra $54
The average daily cost (per person) in Ushuaia is $11, while the average daily cost in Santa Cruz de la Sierra is $54. 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personUshuaia $5.64Santa Cruz de la Sierra $22
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomUshuaia $11Santa Cruz de la Sierra $44
Compare Hotels in Ushuaia and Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Looking for a hotel in Ushuaia or Santa Cruz de la Sierra? 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ushuaia -Santa Cruz de la Sierra $9.90
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:
- Private Airport and Hotel Transfer in Ushuaia: $139
- Private Embarkation Debarkation Transfer: $129
- Private Transfer Airport-Hotel-Airport (Ushuaia): $120
- Private Transfer Airport-Port or Port-Airport (Ushuaia): $55
- Private Transfer Hotel-Bus Station or Bus Station-Hotel (Ushuaia): $27
- Private Transfer from Ushuaia Airport (USH) to Ushuaia Port : $25
- Private Transfer from Ushuaia Airport(USH) to Ushuaia Cruise Port: $28
- Private Transfer from Ushuaia Cruise Port to Ushuaia Airport(USH): $28
- Private Transfer from Ushuaia Port to Ushuaia Airport (USH): $25
- Shared Transfer Airport-Hotel-Airport (Ushuaia): $37
- Transfer Cerro Castor (Round Trip): $25
- Transfer Ushuaia Airport - Hotel in Ushuaia - Ushuaia Airport : $35
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santa Cruz de la Sierra:
-
Taxi Ride$4.34
-
Mini Bus$0.58
Is it cheaper to fly into Ushuaia or Santa Cruz de la Sierra?
Prices for flights to both Santa Cruz de la Sierra 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 $2.18Santa Cruz de la Sierra $20
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:
- Ushuaia at night: A Snow and Fire dinner, sledding and adventure: $280
Typical Food Prices in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Santa Cruz de la Sierra:
-
Snacks$3.18
-
Chips$0.29
-
Banana$0.14
-
Cookies$1.30
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ushuaia $13Santa Cruz de la Sierra $19
Tours and Activities in Ushuaia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ushuaia.
- Panoramic City Train Tour: $10
- Guided Tour of the City of Ushuaia: $20
- 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
- Beagle Channel & Sea Wolves Island Catamaran Cruise: $45
- End of the World Train Ticket: $45
- Half-Day Tierra del Fuego National Park (NOT CRUISE): $59
- Escondido & Fagnano Lake Tour: $60
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayUshuaia -Santa Cruz de la Sierra $14
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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Santa Cruz de la Sierra from other travelers:
-
Beer$1.59
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ushuaia and Santa Cruz de la Sierra, we can see that Santa Cruz de la Sierra 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santa Cruz de la Sierra 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ushuaia or Santa Cruz de la Sierra?
Santa Cruz de la Sierra has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Ushuaia. When comparing the sizes of Ushuaia and Santa Cruz de la Sierra, 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.