A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Punta del Este vs. San Miguel de Tucuman for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Punta del Este or San Miguel de Tucuman?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Punta del Este or San Miguel de Tucuman, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Punta del Este or San Miguel de Tucuman?

Punta del Este

Punta del Este with its many beaches, elegant seaside homes, yacht harbor, high-rise apartment buildings, pricey hotels, ardent night scene and glitzy restaurants is a chic beach resort town in Uruguay. Many tourists come from Brazil and Argentina, on the other side of the Rio de la Plata, to get some nice sun and lay on the beach for a weekend getaway. Punta del Este is more expensive than other areas in Uruguay and has been called the Monaco of South America. Tourist season varies wildly from totally deserted in the winter to very crowded in the summer.

San Miguel de Tucuman

The capital of the Tucuman Province in Argentina, San Miguel de Tucuman is the largest city in the country's northwest. The city is probably most well known as the sight where the Declaration of Independence from Spain took place on July 9, 1816. The location of this event, a colonial-style house called "Casa Historica" or "Casita de Tucuman", remains an important landmark in the city.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Tours for Seniors to Argentina, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, San Miguel de Tucuman or Punta del Este?

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

  • Punta del Este Prices
    Uruguay Prices
    San Miguel de Tucuman Prices
    Argentina Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Punta del Este $116
    San Miguel de Tucuman $50

The average daily cost (per person) in Punta del Este is $116, while the average daily cost in San Miguel de Tucuman is $50. 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 Punta del Este and San Miguel de Tucuman in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Punta del Este $53
    San Miguel de Tucuman $37
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Punta del Este $106
    San Miguel de Tucuman $74
Compare Hotels in Punta del Este and San Miguel de Tucuman

Looking for a hotel in Punta del Este or San Miguel de Tucuman? 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 Punta del Este


Hotels in San Miguel de Tucuman


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: Punta del Este Hotel Prices and San Miguel de Tucuman Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Punta del Este $21
    San Miguel de Tucuman $2.38

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta del Este

Also for Punta del Este, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Punta del Este Airport Private Transfer: $60
  • Private Transfer to Punta del Este Airport: $60
  • Private Transfer from Punta Del Este Port to Montevideo hotels: $275
  • Private Transfer from Punta Del Este Cruise Port to Montevideo: $168
  • Private Transfer from Montevideo to Punta Del Este Cruise Port: $168
  • Private Transfer - Punta Del Este Port to Carrasco Airport (MVD): $116
  • Private Transfer - Carrasco Airport (MVD) to Punta Del Este Port: $116
  • PDP Airport Private Transfer to Punta del Este City Center: $83

Is it cheaper to fly into Punta del Este or San Miguel de Tucuman?

Prices for flights to both San Miguel de Tucuman and Punta del Este 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
    Punta del Este $51
    San Miguel de Tucuman $5.36

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Punta del Este $10
    San Miguel de Tucuman $25

Tours and Activities in Punta del Este

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta del Este.

  • Best private Have It Your Way Tour in Punta Del Este.: $261
  • Bike Tour Peninsula - Punta del Este: $65
  • Candelaria Church and Punta del Este Old Town Private Tour: $122
  • Discover why we Love the Colonia Wine Experience: $200
  • Discovering Half-Day City Tour: $47
  • Exclusive Private Tour for cruise passengers in Punta del Este: $250
  • Full Experience Tasting Menu Viña Edén: $165
  • Full-day guided tour of Punta del Este: $43
  • Guided Tour of the Winery Viña Edén: $19
  • Half Day Tour in Punta del Este and Jose Ignacio: $170
  • Jewish History Punta del Este Old Town Private Walking Tour: $150
  • Museo Ralli Private Guided Tour in Punta del Este : $122

Tours and Activities in San Miguel de Tucuman

For San Miguel de Tucuman, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Discover Tafí del Valle and Quilmes Ruins in a Day Tour: $110
  • Entrance ticket to Aerial Park, Zip Line and Palestra: $27
  • Rio Hondo Hot Springs Full Day Tour from Tucuman: $110
  • Yungas Half-Day Tour from Tucuman: $71

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Punta del Este $7.43
    San Miguel de Tucuman $7.99

Sample the Local Flavors in Punta del Este

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Punta del Este:

  • Wine Tasting: $42
  • Wine Lovers - Fun Wine Tasting outside Punta del Este!: $199


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Punta del Este and San Miguel de Tucuman, we can see that Punta del Este is more expensive. And not only is San Miguel de Tucuman much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Miguel de Tucuman would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Miguel de Tucuman 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 Punta del Este would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Punta del Este than you might in San Miguel de Tucuman.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Punta del Este Expensive? and Is San Miguel de Tucuman Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Punta del Este or San Miguel de Tucuman?

San Miguel de Tucuman has a larger population, and is about 110 times larger than the population of Punta del Este. When comparing the sizes of Punta del Este and San Miguel de Tucuman, 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.