Town in Santa Cruz, Argentina
Cost of living in El Calafate
How much a month costs in El Calafate
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $1,250–1,970 ($1.9M–3M).
Prices in El Calafate
Typical 2026 ranges in ARS, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | ARS | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | $22,000–40,000 | $14–26 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | $90,000–200,000 | $59–131 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | $10,000–16,000 | $6.6–10.5 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | $28,000–50,000 | $18–33 |
| Cappuccino | $4,000–6,500 | $2.6–4.3 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | $5,500–9,500 | $3.6–6.2 |
| Getting around | ||
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | $3,000–6,500 | $2.0–4.3 |
| Work and life | ||
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | $10,000–22,000 | $6.6–14.4 |
Value for money: 69/100
A value score of 69/100 means El Calafate gives more quality of life per dollar than 68% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 72/100. It's the 13th most affordable of 14 places we cover in Argentina.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across Argentina
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
| Place | Comfortable month | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Quebrada de Humahuaca | $788–1,250 | 93/100 |
| Salta | $788–1,310 | 91/100 |
| Córdoba | $788–1,310 | 88/100 |
| Cafayate | $854–1,380 | 89/100 |
| Puerto Iguazú | $854–1,440 | 88/100 |
| Mar del Plata | $854–1,440 | 85/100 |
| Mendoza | $919–1,440 | 86/100 |
| Puerto Madryn | $919–1,510 | 84/100 |
| Rosario | $985–1,580 | 75/100 |
| Bariloche | $1,050–1,710 | 75/100 |
| Buenos Aires | $1,180–1,840 | 64/100 |
| El Chaltén | $1,180–1,900 | 71/100 |
| El Calafate | $1,250–1,970 | 69/100 |
| Ushuaia | $1,250–1,970 | 61/100 |
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in El Calafate?
About $657–985 on a lean budget, $1,250–1,970 for a comfortable month and $2,630–4,600 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much does food cost in El Calafate?
A local meal is $10,000–16,000 ($6.6–10.5); a mid-range restaurant is $28,000–50,000 ($18–33) per person.
Is Argentina expensive?
Prices in Argentina are about 46% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about El Calafate
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- Parque Nacional Los Glaciares
- El Calafate Tourism
- Aeropuertos Argentina
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.