Which place is cheaper, El Calafate or Veracruz?
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 Veracruz or El Calafate?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Veracruz and El Calafate can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Veracruz or El Calafate?
Veracruz
Veracruz is the name of both a state and city in the country of Mexico. Locals often call the city "Puerto" (port) in order to differentiate the city from the state. The general area runs along the Gulf of Mexico and encompasses ruins, old colonial cities, lush green mountains, and delicious seafood.
El Calafate
Located in Patagonia, El Calafate has become a popular tourist destination in Argentina because of its beautiful setting on the stunningly blue Lago Argentina. The town sits on the southern border of the lake in the southwestern part of the Santa Cruz Province. It's about 320 kilometers from Rio Gallegos.
The rise in popularity of Patagonia as a tourist destination has truly put this small town on the map. You'll find no shortage of trekkers in the town and it makes an excellent base to explore different parts of the Los Glaciares National Park. Popular places to visit include Perito Moreno Glacier, Cerro Chalten, and Cerro Torre.
El Calafate has a cold semi-arid climate. The summers are cool to warm and very dry while the winters are cold and damp. Lago Argentino has a significant influence over the town's climate. The shallow bay where the town is located is usually frozen during the winter months.
Check out our ultimate guide to Hiking in Patagonia.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina.
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Veracruz Prices
Mexico PricesEl Calafate Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVeracruz $151El Calafate $58
The average daily cost (per person) in Veracruz is $151, while the average daily cost in El Calafate is $58. 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 Veracruz and El Calafate in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVeracruz $52El Calafate $36
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVeracruz $104El Calafate $72
Compare Hotels in Veracruz and El Calafate
Looking for a hotel in Veracruz or El Calafate? 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: Veracruz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Veracruz $27El Calafate $4.17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Veracruz
Also for Veracruz, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Veracruz Airport to Hotel in Veracruz Port: $44
- Roundtrip Private Transfer from Veracruz Airport (VER): $52
- Private Transfer to Veracruz Airport (VER): $26
- Private Transfer from Veracruz Airport (VER): $26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Calafate
Also for El Calafate, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Glacier Huemul: Private Transfer Service: $640
- Perito Moreno Mini Trek Pro (Optional Transfer): $540
- Perito Moreno Full Day Minitrekking with Transfer & Walkways: $460
- Private transfer from El Calafate Airport to hotel in El Chaltén: $315
- Direct Private Transfer: El Calafate Airport to El Chaltén: $300
- Minitrekking Perito Moreno: Ice hiking tour (optional transfers): $290
- Private Airport Transfer: $270
- FTE Aiport transfer Group 4 to 6 people with luggage: $210
- Kayaking on Lake Argentino with Transfers: $120
- Shared Transfer from El Calafate to El Chaltén: $80
- Bus Transfer to Moreno Glacier from El Calafate: $77
- Perito Moreno Glacier expedition with transfer Included: $62
Is it cheaper to fly into Veracruz or El Calafate?
Prices for flights to both El Calafate and Veracruz 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 dayVeracruz $82El Calafate $6.64
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in El Calafate
For El Calafate, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Argentine Dinner with Live Music Folklore -Estancia 25 de Mayo: $55
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Dinner & Show with Transfer: $88
- Country Afternoon with Dinner Show - Estancia 25 de Mayo: $92
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Tour with Dinner & Transfer: $138
- Estancia 25 de Mayo in El Calafate - PM visit with dinner: $165
- Lakes and Caves Tour with Dinner and Wine Included: $181
- Lakes and Caves Tour with Dinner: $197
- Estancia 25 de Mayo Experience with Dinner and Horseback Riding: $225
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Veracruz $14El Calafate $52
Tours and Activities in Veracruz
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Veracruz.
- 1 day tour of Tlacotalpan and Alvarado from Veracruz: $134
- 3-hour tour to the San Juan de Ulúa Fortress: $29
- Alvarado And Tlacotalpan Tour From Veracruz Or Boca Del Rio: $107
- Aquatico Inbursa Waterpark: Veracruz - Ticket: $26
- Catemaco And Los Tuxtlas Tour From Veracruz Or Boca Del Rio: $105
- City Tour en Veracruz y Acuario: $100
- Full Day Coffee Guided Tour in Coatepec: $104
- Full Day Tour to Alvarado and Tlacotalpan from Veracruz or Boca del Río: $101
- Full Day Tour to Catemaco and Los Tuxtlas with Transportation: $98
- Full Day Tour to La Antigua, Cempoala and Quiahuiztlán: $92
- Full-Day Tour to El Tajin and Vanilla Factory from Veracruz: $138
- Jalcomulco Rapids Adventure from Veracruz or Boca del Río: $149
Tours and Activities in El Calafate
For El Calafate, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- “Todo Glaciares” Scenic Glacier Boat Tour from El Calafate: $235
- 2-Day Tours from Torres del Paine & Perito Moreno: $289
- 4 Days & 3 Nights El Calafate & El Chaltén Magical Adventure: $1,350
- Adventure Horseback Riding on Cerro Frias: $150
- Adventure on Ice: MiniTrekking in the Perito Moreno Glacier: $447
- Blue Safari Experience: Hiking and Navigation on Glaciers: $219
- Calafate : Patagonian Riding and Lunch Experience: $260
- Calafate Panoramic tour: The best balconies of Calafate 4x4: $195
- Calafate: Cerro Huyliche-SouthRoad Adventure 4x4 Full / Trekking / Zip Line: $120
- Calafate: Perito Moreno Glacier Guided Full-Day Tour: $52
- Calafate: SouthRoad Extreme Adventure. UTV Self-Drive: $250
- Chalten full day Trekking - Laguna de los Tres Experience: $400
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVeracruz $16El Calafate $8.26
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Veracruz and El Calafate, we can see that Veracruz is more expensive. And not only is El Calafate much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Veracruz is in North America and El Calafate is in South 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 El Calafate would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Calafate 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 Veracruz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Veracruz than you might in El Calafate.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Veracruz Expensive? and Is El Calafate Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Veracruz or El Calafate?
Veracruz has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of El Calafate. When comparing the sizes of Veracruz and El Calafate, 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.