Which place is cheaper, San Carlos de Bariloche or Pereira?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Pereira or San Carlos de Bariloche?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Pereira and San Carlos de Bariloche. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Pereira or San Carlos de Bariloche?
Pereira
Situated in a small valley in the western Andes, Pereira is the capital city of Risaralda, Colombia. The city is surrounded by coffee producing agriculture and sits in the middle of a triangle of cities including Bogota, Medillin and Cali, each of which is about a three to five hour drive away.
The city itself is very much student oriented, as there are many universities around town and at least one quarter of the population is made up of students. There is also a very European vibe to the city and you will find the area beautiful with many parks and museums.
Pereira's economy is based on government, agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, trade, commerce, and tourism. Agricultural products include sugarcane, cacao, rubber, cereals, coffee, and livestock. Apparel is the main manufacturing product, along with aluminium goods, motorcycles and telecommunications technology.
Pereira is found in a warm moorland area with an average temperature of around 72 degrees. The temperatures remain relatively consistent throughout the year with highs in the high 70s Fahrenheit to low 80s Fahrenheit. Low temperatures are usually in the low 60s Fahrenheit. Rain is heaviest during the months of April and May as well as October and November.
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 Colombia, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Argentina.
-
Pereira Prices
Colombia PricesSan Carlos de Bariloche Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPereira $81San Carlos de Bariloche $86
The average daily cost (per person) in Pereira is $81, 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 Pereira and San Carlos de Bariloche in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPereira $26San Carlos de Bariloche $70
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPereira $52San Carlos de Bariloche $140
Compare Hotels in Pereira and San Carlos de Bariloche
Looking for a hotel in Pereira 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: Pereira Hotel Prices and San Carlos de Bariloche Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pereira $20San Carlos de Bariloche $2.77
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pereira
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Pereira are as follows:
-
Short Taxi Ride$1.18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pereira
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pereira:
- Arrival or Departure Transfer Matecaña International Airport: $11
- Manizales Arrival or Departure Transfer La Nubia Airport: $20
- Manizales Arrival or Departure Transfer: Matecaña Intl Airport: $41
- Arrival or Departure Transfer El Éden International Airport: $42
- One way transfer Pereira to Santa Rosa Hot Springs: $88
- PEREIRA/ARMENIA: FULLDAY TRANSFER SALENTO+ FILANDIA + COCORA VALLEY: $144
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Carlos de Bariloche
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Carlos de Bariloche:
- Adventure in Piedras Blancas: Sledding Day with Transfers : $150
- Airport transfer - downtown hotel car up to 3 people: $23
- BARILOCHE: PRIVATE TRANSFER FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE CITY CENTER: $145
- Bariloche Airport (BRC) to Cerro Catedral - Arrival Transfer: $83
- Bariloche Airport Arrival Private Transfer: $74
- Bariloche Airport Arrival Shuttle Transfer: $25
- Bariloche Airport BRC to Cerro Catedral RoundTrip Transfer: $167
- Bariloche Airport Departure Private Transfer: $74
- Bariloche Airport Round Trip PrivateTransfer: $149
- Bariloche Airport Round Trip Shuttle Transfer: $44
- Bariloche: 1-Way or Round-Trip BRC Airport Transfer: $19
- Bariloche: BRC Airport to City Centre|Hotel Private Transfer: $14
Is it cheaper to fly into Pereira or San Carlos de Bariloche?
Prices for flights to both San Carlos de Bariloche and Pereira 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 dayPereira $40San Carlos de Bariloche $6.11
Typical Food Prices in Pereira
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Pereira:
-
Hamburger$1.66
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
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pereira $18San Carlos de Bariloche $33
Tours and Activities in Pereira
Here are a few actual costs in Pereira for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- PRIVATE TOUR OF MAIN SQUARES, HISTORICAL SITES + LOOKOUT POINT: $56
- Tour to hot springs of Santa Rosa from Pereira, Armenia or Salento: $84
- Eco-Park Recinto del Pensamiento Tour: $84
- Manizales City Tour with Cable Car and Chipre Viewpoint : $87
- Coffee Farm and Salento Walking Tour: $89
- Private Tour to the Coffee Park from Pereira or Armenia: $115
- Tour Santa Rosa hot springs from Pereira, Armenia or Salento: $116
- Private Tour to Salento and Cocora Valley from Pereira or Armenia: $131
- Tour to San Vicente hot springs from Pereira, Armenia or Salento: $132
- Coffee Farm and Santa Rosa Hot Springs Tour from Pereira or Armenia: $149
- Salento and Cócora Tour plus Coffee Farm from Pereira or Armenia: $158
- Salento, Cocora and Filandia Tour from Pereira or Armenia: $160
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
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayPereira $14San Carlos de Bariloche $8.76
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 comparing the travel costs between Pereira and San Carlos de Bariloche, we can see that San Carlos de Bariloche is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pereira Expensive? and Is San Carlos de Bariloche Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Pereira or San Carlos de Bariloche?
Pereira has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of San Carlos de Bariloche. When comparing the sizes of Pereira 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.