Which place is cheaper, San Carlos de Bariloche or Guatemala City?
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 Guatemala City or San Carlos de Bariloche?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Guatemala City or San Carlos de Bariloche? 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: Guatemala City or San Carlos de Bariloche?
Guatemala City
Referred to by the locals as "Guate," Guatemala City is the largest and most modern city in Guatemala, as well as its capital. While the atmosphere of the place is big, dirty, and dangerous with city fumes and skyscrapers, it is the hub of the country. It is the place where travelers first step foot into Guatemala and, though it is a place of modern chaos, it does have some of the best galleries and museums as well as a selection of bars, cafes, and restaurants.
San Carlos de Bariloche
Set in the foothills of the Andes Mountains in Argentina, San Carlos de Bariloche is the biggest city in the Lake District. Bariloche is popular for skiing and snowboarding in the winter and trekking, swimming, fishing and horseback riding in the summertime.
No matter the time of year, there is something for everyone in Bariloche. Skiing season begins from June to October while fishing season is from November to April. Summer is from December to March, but visiting during low seasons (Spring in October to December and Autumn in late-April to mid-June) also has its benefits when it comes to saving cash and avoiding crowds.
Check out our ultimate guide to Hiking in Patagonia.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Guatemala, The Best Adventure Tours to Guatemala, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Argentina.
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Guatemala City Prices
Guatemala PricesSan Carlos de Bariloche Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuatemala City $56San Carlos de Bariloche $86
The average daily cost (per person) in Guatemala City is $56, while the average daily cost in San Carlos de Bariloche is $86. 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 Guatemala City and San Carlos de Bariloche in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuatemala City $24San Carlos de Bariloche $70
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuatemala City $48San Carlos de Bariloche $140
Compare Hotels in Guatemala City and San Carlos de Bariloche
Looking for a hotel in Guatemala City or San Carlos de Bariloche? 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: Guatemala City Hotel Prices and San Carlos de Bariloche Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guatemala City $6.25San Carlos de Bariloche $2.77
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Guatemala City Airport to Antigua: $16
- Private Ground Transfer Airport - Antigua Guatemala: $25
- Private Airport Transfer to Antigua Guatemala: $25
- Private Airport Transfer La Aurora airport to Guatemala: $26
- Private Airport Transfer from Guatemala to La Aurora airport: $26
- Private Transfer from La Aurora International Airport to Antigua: $28
- Airport Transfer to Antigua Guatemala: $33
- Private Arrival Transfer: La Aurora International Airport to Antigua Hotel: $35
- Guatemala Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Antigua Guatemala: $56
- Private transfer Guatemala airport to Antigua.: $60
- Private transfer from Airport to Panajachel: $65
- Private Transfer From La Aurora AirPort to Panajachel Atitlan : $67
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Carlos de Bariloche
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Carlos de Bariloche:
- Bariloche: BRC Airport to City Centre|Hotel Private Transfer: $14
- Bariloche: 1-Way or Round-Trip BRC Airport Transfer: $19
- Airport transfer - downtown hotel car up to 3 people: $23
- Bariloche Airport Arrival Shuttle Transfer: $25
- Shared Transfer Airport Bariloche Downtown : $25
- Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to Bariloche Airport: $29
- Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Tambo Viejo: $39
- Private Transfer from Downtown Bariloche to the Airport: $43
- Bariloche Airport Round Trip Shuttle Transfer: $44
- Private Transfer Bariloche Center Cerro Catedral or vice versa: $48
- Private Transfer from Playa Bonita to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $50
- Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Lago Moreno: $50
Is it cheaper to fly into Guatemala City or San Carlos de Bariloche?
Prices for flights to both San Carlos de Bariloche and Guatemala City 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 dayGuatemala City $27San Carlos de Bariloche $6.11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guatemala City
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guatemala City.
- PRIVATE MAYAN COOKING CLASS WITH CHEF EN Guatemala City: $65
- Small-Group Cooking Class in Antigua from Guatemala City: $120
- Pacaya Volcano Vistas + Enjoy Pizza Surrounded by The Volcano: $175
- Antigua Market, Cooking Class and Choco Museum from Guatemala City: $188
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Carlos de Bariloche
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Carlos de Bariloche.
- Bariloche: Snowmobile ride with dinner 4 steps: $537
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Guatemala City $1.22San Carlos de Bariloche $33
Tours and Activities in Guatemala City
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Guatemala City are as follows:
- Half Day Guatemala City Tour: $27
- 2-Hour Culture and Historical Tour From Guatemala: $29
- Half Day Antigua Guatemala Tour: $30
- Guatemala city Walking Tour and public bus: $30
- Walking Tour of Guatemala City's Historical Center: $35
- Graffiti Walking Tour in 4 Grados Norte Guatemala City : $35
- Private Tour: Antigua Guatemala Walking Tour from Antigua Guatemala: $35
- Guatemala city walking tour on afternoon 14.00, 2 persons and up: $39
- Private Tour in the Historic Center of Guatemala City: $45
- City walking tour Guatemala City and Relieff Map: $47
- Private Night City Photo Tour in Guatemala: $50
- Historical and natural bike tour in Guatemala City: $50
Tours and Activities in San Carlos de Bariloche
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Carlos de Bariloche are as follows:
- Circuito Chico Sightseeing Tour with Local Guide: $25
- Bariloche: Cerro Catedral Tour: $36
- Bariloche: Circuito Chico, iconic postcards of Bariloche in a single tour: $36
- Bariloche: German Immigration and History Walking Tour: $41
- German Footprint & Nazi presence - Walking Tour in Bariloche: $41
- Indigenous People of Patagonia History Tour: $41
- Bariloche: Cerro Catedral guided tour: $43
- Bariloche Chocolate Tour: Patagonian Flavors on Foot: $52
- Small Circuit Tour: Mt Campanario and Llao Llao Peninsula: $55
- Cerro Lopez Zipline Adventure from Bariloche: $56
- Pablo Bernasconi's Art Gallery Guided Tour: $60
- Canopy Half-Day Tour in Bariloche: $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuatemala City $6.93San Carlos de Bariloche $8.76
Sample the Local Flavors in Guatemala City
Also in Guatemala City, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Guatemala City Legends Tour + Craft Beers at El Cadejo Brewery: $105
Sample the Local Flavors in San Carlos de Bariloche
Also in San Carlos de Bariloche, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bariloche: Patagonian Experience wine tasting: $95
- Bariloche: Wine Tasting Winehouse Experience: $110
- Patagonian WineHouse in Bariloche: Cheese and Wine Tasting: $125
- Bariloche: Bar Crawl. Patagonian Bar Crawl: $160
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guatemala City and San Carlos de Bariloche, we can see that San Carlos de Bariloche is more expensive. And not only is Guatemala City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Guatemala City is in Central America and San Carlos de Bariloche 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 Guatemala City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guatemala City 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 Carlos de Bariloche would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Carlos de Bariloche than you might in Guatemala City.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Guatemala City Expensive? and Is San Carlos de Bariloche Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Guatemala City or San Carlos de Bariloche?
Guatemala City has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of San Carlos de Bariloche. When comparing the sizes of Guatemala City and San Carlos de Bariloche, 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.