Should you visit Buenos Aires, Argentina or Salta?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Buenos Aires, Argentina and Salta can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Buenos Aires, federal capital of Argentina, also known as "The City of Tango", is best known for its energetic and unpredictable character. Like a restless child, Buenos Aires is a dynamic and modern city full of surprises. While its French-style palaces, rooftop restaurants, wide avenues and green plazas resemble European-style architecture, Buenos Aires preserves its musical, literary and culinary traditions. You can't miss dining in front of a Tango show, walking around the colourful streets of La Boca and visiting the renowned Recoleta Cemetery, designed by Argentina's most important architects and home to hundreds of illustrious corpses.
Salta
Located in the heart of the famous Northwest region of Argentina, at 1200m of elevation and at the foot of the Cerro San Bernardo, Salta is the largest city of the region and perhaps the most beautiful colonial city of Argentina. Founded in 1582 by the Spanish, Salta was an important stop for merchants who followed the usual trade road through Bolivia and Peru. Argentines call this city nestled in the foothills of the Andes and surrounded by mountains, of just over half a million inhabitants, Salta La Linda (Salta the Beautiful) and it's easy to see why. Young and traditional at the same time, Salta and its renowned museums, plaza side cafes and live musica folklorica of its bustling penas, is a sophisticated and lively city day and night.
Which city is cheaper, Salta or Buenos Aires, Argentina?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Average Daily Cost
Per person, per day
Buenos Aires, Argentina
$72
Salta
$68
The average daily cost (per person) in Buenos Aires, Argentina is $72, while the average daily cost in Salta is $68. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Buenos Aires, Argentina and Salta in more detail.
Accommodation
The average price for accommodation for two people in Buenos Aires, Argentina is $58. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $48 in Salta For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
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Accommodation
Hotel or hostel for one person
Buenos Aires, Argentina $29
Salta $24
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Accommodation
Typical double-occupancy room
Buenos Aires, Argentina
$58
Salta
$48
Food
In Buenos Aires, Argentina travelers spend around $23 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
While meal prices in Salta can vary, the average travelers spends about $23 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Salta should cost around $9.20 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Salta is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
Typical Food prices in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Buenos Aires, Argentina:
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Lunch
$0.22
-
Cup of Coffee
$0.13
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Empandas
$0.16
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Espresso
$0.08
-
Dinner (Pizza)
$0.13
-
Ice Cream
$0.12
-
Breakfast at Airport
$0.33
-
Dinner (Sandwiches)
$0.09
-
Sweets
$0.06
-
Hot Dog
$0.07
-
Breakfast (Take-Away)
$0.12
-
Lunch for 2
$1.45
-
Cake and Coffee
$4.67
-
Dinner
$17
-
Powerade
$1.02
-
Lunch
$7.35
-
Dinner
$11
-
Chocolate
$27
Typical Food prices in Salta
For Salta, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Emplanadas
$0.05
-
Ice Cream
$0.06
-
Lunch
$5.92
-
Coffee
$1.22
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Buenos Aires, Argentina is $11 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
To get around in Salta, the average visitor spends $28 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
-
Local Transportation
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
Buenos Aires, Argentina $11
Salta $28
Typical Local Transportation prices in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Buenos Aires, Argentina:
-
Taxi from Airport
$1.17
-
Local Bus
$0.03
-
Metro Ride
$0.02
-
Taxi to airport
$0.31
-
Taxi
$0.82
Typical Local Transportation prices in Salta
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Salta are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salta
Also for Salta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Humahuaca, 7-color Hill & round trip transfers airport - hotel in Salta:
$127
-
Private Airport Transfer: Martin Miguel de Guemes Int. Airport (SLA) to Salta:
$30
-
Private Airport Transfer: Salta to Martin Miguel de Guemes Int. Airport (SLA):
$30
-
Salta Airport Private Transfer:
$50
-
Salta Airport Shuttle Transfer:
$9.97
-
Salta City Tour & Round Trip Transfers airport - hotel:
$62
-
One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer:
$5.50
-
Shared Arrival Transfer: Martín Miguel de Güemes International Airport to Salta:
$19
-
Shared Departure Transfer: Salta Hotels to Martín Miguel de Güemes International Airport:
$27
Is it cheaper to fly into Buenos Aires, Argentina or Salta?
Prices for flights to both Salta and Buenos Aires, Argentina 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.
Entertainment
Buenos Aires, Argentina's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $24 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
In Salta, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $24 per person, per day.
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Entertainment
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
Buenos Aires, Argentina $24
Salta $24
Typical Entertainment prices in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Here are a few typical costs in Buenos Aires, Argentina for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Typical Entertainment prices in Salta
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Salta's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Gondola Ride
$0.15
-
Pool
$0.51
-
Wine and Cheese night
$37
Tours and Activities in Salta
For Salta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Salta City Half Day Tour:
$14
-
citytour salta y alrededores:
$17
-
Salta City Sightseeing Tour:
$21
-
Salta City Tour:
$21
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Half-Day Tour of Salta:
$22
-
4-Hour Walking Tour:
$26
-
Full-Day Tour Cafayate Calchaqui Valleys with Wine:
$27
-
One Day Tour of Cachi and Calchaquí Valleys from Salta:
$28
-
Half Day Salta City Tour:
$33
-
Full-Day Tour to Humahuaca Gorge from Salta:
$33
-
Salta City Half-Day Tour:
$34
-
Full-Day Tour Salinas Grandes, Purmamarca whith trekking and More from Salta:
$35
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Buenos Aires, Argentina may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $13 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Typically, people visiting Salta spend on average $9.62 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typical Alcohol prices in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Buenos Aires, Argentina from other travelers:
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Beer
$0.10
-
Beer (0.66L)
$0.17
-
Cocktail
$0.27
-
Alcohol
$5.87
Typical Alcohol prices in Salta
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Salta are as follows:
Sample the Local Flavors in Salta
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Salta:
-
Full-day Cafayate, Lerma Valley, and Wine Tasting from Salta:
$24
-
From Cafayate Day Trip with Wine Tasting:
$25
-
From Full-Day Tour to Cafayate with Wine Tasting:
$27
-
Luxury Colome wine tour:
$806
When comparing the travel costs between Buenos Aires, Argentina and Salta, we can see that Buenos Aires, Argentina 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.
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