Which place is cheaper, Tamarindo or Ushuaia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ushuaia or Tamarindo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ushuaia or Tamarindo? 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 Tamarindo?
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.
Tamarindo
Tamarindo is a small beach town in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica on the Pacific Coast. This town is usually sought out by surfers, fishers, couples, and families. There are delicious restaurants, beautiful beaches, and friendly Tico's and Tica's (local Costa Rican nicknames) everywhere.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, The Best Luxury Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayUshuaia $11Tamarindo $121
The average daily cost (per person) in Ushuaia is $11, while the average daily cost in Tamarindo is $121. 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 Tamarindo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personUshuaia $5.64Tamarindo $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomUshuaia $11Tamarindo $100
Compare Hotels in Ushuaia and Tamarindo
Looking for a hotel in Ushuaia or Tamarindo? 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 Tamarindo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ushuaia -Tamarindo $69
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tamarindo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tamarindo:
- Transfer to La Fortuna de Arenal: $307
- Round Trip Transfer Liberia Airport (LIR) to JW Marriott Guanacaste: $280
- Round Trip Transfer Liberia Airport (LIR) to Westin Conchal Hotel: $270
- Private Round Trip Transfer: From Liberia Airport To Reserva Conchal: $270
- Round Trip Shuttle Transfer From Liberia Airport To Four Seasons Papagayo: $265
- Round Trip Transfer From Liberia Airport To Secrets Papagayo: $250
- Round Trip Transfer Liberia Airport (LIR) to Andaz Papagayo Resort: $201
- Private Liberia airport transfer: $200
- Round Trip Transfer Liberia Airport (LIR) to Four Seasons Resort: $200
- Transfer To/From Liberia Airport To/ From JW Marriott Guanacaste: $195
- Private Round Trip Transfer: From Liberia Airport To Secrets Papagayo: $188
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To JW Marriott Guanacaste: $185
Is it cheaper to fly into Ushuaia or Tamarindo?
Prices for flights to both Tamarindo 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 $2.18Tamarindo $32
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tamarindo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tamarindo.
- Online Class on Zoom: Cooking Costa Rica Homemade Food: $35
- Traditional Cooking Class In Tamarindo: $95
- Traditional Cooking Class In Tamarindo: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ushuaia $13Tamarindo $17
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 Tamarindo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tamarindo are as follows:
- ATV adventure from Riu, Secrets and papagayo: $90
- Ecologic farming Sloth tour Hiking & Chocolate -Coffee tour: $260
- Premium Tour: Rincón de la Vieja Volcano Adventure Combo Tour: $220
- Premium Tour: Rincón de la Vieja Volcano and Waterfall Hiking: $170
- Premium Tour:Sloths and Río Celeste y Cortez Waterfalls (Tenorio Volcano Park): $220
- Private ATV or Buggy Tour from Riu Hotels: $85
- Wildlife Tour at Palo Verde National Park: $199
- 1,5 Hours Private Horseback Riding Tour in Playa Conchal: $80
- 2-Hour Guided Tour by ATV near Playa Conchal: $130
- 3-in-1 Rincon de la Vieja National Park Nature Day Tour: $300
- 5-Hour Guided Sunset Boat Tour in Tamarindo Costa Rica: $95
- 5-in-1 Rincon de la Vieja National Park Adventure Day Tour: $300
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayUshuaia -Tamarindo $14
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Tamarindo
Also in Tamarindo, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Tamarindo Bar Crawl Experience: $25
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ushuaia and Tamarindo, we can see that Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo is in Central 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 Tamarindo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Ushuaia or Tamarindo?
Ushuaia has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Tamarindo experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Ushuaia or Tamarindo in the Summer?
Both Tamarindo and Ushuaia during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tamarindo year-round.
In the summer, Ushuaia is much colder than Tamarindo. Typically, the summer temperatures in Ushuaia in January average around 10°C (50°F), and Tamarindo averages at about 28°C (82°F)in July.
In the summer, Ushuaia often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Tamarindoin July. Ushuaia gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tamarindo receives 164 hours of full sun.
Tamarindo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Ushuaia usually gets less rain in January than Tamarindoin July. Ushuaia gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyUshuaia 10°C (50°F)Tamarindo 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Ushuaia or Tamarindo in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Ushuaia and Tamarindo. Tamarindo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Ushuaia is generally much colder than Tamarindoin October. Daily temperatures in Ushuaia average around 6°C (43°F), and Tamarindo fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
Ushuaia usually receives less sunshine than Tamarindo during autumn. Ushuaia gets 74 hours of sunny skies, while Tamarindo receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Tamarindo receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Ushuaia usually receives less rain than Tamarindoin October. Ushuaia gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberUshuaia 6°C (43°F)Tamarindo 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Ushuaia or Tamarindo in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Ushuaia as well as Tamarindo. The warm climate attracts visitors to Tamarindo throughout the year.
Ushuaia can be very cold during winter. Ushuaia is much colder than Tamarindo in the winter. The daily temperature in Ushuaia averages around 2°C (36°F) in July, and Tamarindo fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in January.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tamarindo. In the winter, Ushuaia often gets less sunshine than Tamarindoin January. Ushuaia gets 61 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tamarindo receives 264 hours of full sun.
Ushuaia usually gets more rain in July than Tamarindoin January. Ushuaia gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryUshuaia 2°C (36°F)Tamarindo 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Ushuaia or Tamarindo in the Spring?
Both Tamarindo and Ushuaia are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Tamarindo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the spring, Ushuaia is much colder than Tamarindo. Typically, the spring temperatures in Ushuaia in October average around 6°C (43°F), and Tamarindo averages at about 29°C (85°F)in April.
It's quite sunny in Tamarindo. Ushuaia usually receives less sunshine than Tamarindo during spring. Ushuaia gets 156 hours of sunny skies, while Tamarindo receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In October, Ushuaia usually receives around the same amount of rain as Tamarindoin April. Ushuaia gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilUshuaia 6°C (43°F)Tamarindo 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Tamarindo and Ushuaia
| Ushuaia | Tamarindo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 10°C (50°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 6°C (43°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 3°C (37°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 1°C (34°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 2°C (36°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 2°C (36°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 4°C (39°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 6°C (43°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 8°C (46°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (48°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 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.