A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cafayate vs. La Paz for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Cafayate or La Paz?

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 Cafayate and La Paz can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Cafayate or La Paz?

Cafayate

Cafayate is located in the province of Salta, in the central zone of the Valles Calchaquies. The small town has about 12,000 residents and is 1,329 kilometers from Buenos Aires.

People head to the small town of Cafayate to explore its vineyards and unique rock formations. It has become an important tourist destination in the area and there is a large golf course under construction just outside of town.

Cafayate is an important wine production center. The wines in the area thrive from the low humidity mild weather of the valleys. The town receives less than 250 millimeters of precipitation a year.

La Paz

La Paz is the capital of Baja California Sur, Mexico. It has a population of about 215,000 people and is a significant commercial center for the region. The city has a good economy and a high standard of living when compared to much of Mexico. Much of the economy is focused on eco-tourism and there are many protected marine environments in the area.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Argentina, The Best Budget Tours to Mexico, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Mexico.


Which place is cheaper, La Paz or Cafayate?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Cafayate is $53, while the average daily cost in La Paz is $132. 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 Cafayate and La Paz in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cafayate $34
    La Paz $47
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cafayate $68
    La Paz $94
Compare Hotels in Cafayate and La Paz

Looking for a hotel in Cafayate or La Paz? 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.

Hotels in Cafayate


Hotels in La Paz


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: Cafayate Hotel Prices and La Paz Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cafayate $5.07
    La Paz $20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Paz

Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Paz:

  • La Paz International Airport (LAP) to La Paz hotels -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $159
  • La Paz hotels to La Paz International Airport (LAP) - Departure Private Transfer: $80

Is it cheaper to fly into Cafayate or La Paz?

Prices for flights to both La Paz and Cafayate 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 day
    Cafayate $6.46
    La Paz $60

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Paz

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Paz.

  • 3 Hours of Guided La Paz Street Food Tour: $77
  • 3 hrs SEAFOOD Tour in La Paz: $103

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cafayate $40
    La Paz $11

Tours and Activities in Cafayate

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cafayate.

  • From Salta: Full-Day Wine and Valley Tour to Cafayate: $45
  • Foz do Iguaçu: Day Tour of the Argentina and Brazil Sides: $96
  • From Salta: Cafayate, Humahuaca & Salinas Grandes 3-Day Tour: $106
  • Unveiling Premium Wine Road Adventure: $127
  • From Salta: Cafayate, Salinas Grandes, & Hornocal Tour: $128
  • From Salta: Local Landscape, Winery, and Culture Tour: $130
  • From Salta: Cafayate, Cachi, & Hornocal 3-Day Tour: $136

Tours and Activities in La Paz

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Paz are as follows:

  • 1 Day Espiritu Santo Island Wonders, Sea Lions and Paddleboard Adventure : $249
  • 3 Hours La Paz Whale Shark First Class Snorkeling Tour: $167
  • Adventure to Espiritu Santo Island: Snorkel with Sea Lions and Beach: $127
  • Birding La Paz Mexico 4hrs.Tour : $160
  • Birding Tour in La Paz Mexico: $177
  • City Tour & Beaches from La Paz: $95
  • Cultural and Culinary Tour of El Triunfo, Baja California Sur: $250
  • Desert Off Road Adventure Tour in La Paz: $261
  • Desert and Dunes ATV Adventure in La Paz BCS Mexico: $195
  • Espíritu Santo and Balandra Beach Combo Tour: Sea Lion Snorkeling: $250
  • Espiritu Santo Island Day Tour: $170
  • Espiritu Santo Island Snorkel & Sea Lion Adventure: $145

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cafayate $19
    La Paz $11


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cafayate and La Paz, we can see that La Paz is more expensive. And not only is Cafayate much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cafayate is in South America and La Paz is in North 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 Cafayate would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cafayate 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 La Paz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Paz than you might in Cafayate.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cafayate Expensive? and Is La Paz Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Cafayate or La Paz?

La Paz has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Cafayate. When comparing the sizes of Cafayate and La Paz, 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.