Which place is cheaper, Salta or Cajamarca?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cajamarca or Salta?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Cajamarca and Salta can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Cajamarca or Salta?
Cajamarca
Located in the northern highlands of Peru, Cajamarca is a town of about 100,000 people. The city's mild weather and fertile soil is ideal for agriculture, which is a major industry in the area. The city is also well known for its cheeses and dairy products. Cajamarca is the site of the Battle of Cajamarca which led to the execution of the Inca emperor Atahualpa and the end of the infamous Inca empire. Today, the area is appealing to visitors in part because of its lovely churches, nice hot springs, and interesting Inca Baths.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru, The Best Cultural Tours in Peru, The Best Photography Tours in Argentina, and The Best Luxury Tours to Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCajamarca $69Salta $9.62
The average daily cost (per person) in Cajamarca is $69, while the average daily cost in Salta is $9.62. 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 Cajamarca and Salta in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCajamarca $24Salta $3.47
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCajamarca $48Salta $6.94
Compare Hotels in Cajamarca and Salta
Looking for a hotel in Cajamarca or Salta? 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: Salta Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cajamarca $17Salta $4.00
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Salta
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Salta are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$0.01
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salta
Also for Salta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared 1-Way or Round Trip SLA Airport Transfer: $5.50
- One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $5.50
- Round Trip Shared Transfer Salta Airport/Downtown Hotel: $13
- Salta Airport One-Way or Round-Trip Transfers: $20
- Salta Airport Private Transfer: $47
- From Cafayate and Hornocal 2-Day Tour with Transfer: $88
- From Salinas and Hornocal 2-Day Tour with Transfer: $99
- Full Day Tour Cafayate + Humahuaca + Transfer in/out: $169
- Yungas : full day with gauchos - transfer inc. from Salta: $189
- Train to the Clouds Experience with Transfers from Salta Hotels: $265
Is it cheaper to fly into Cajamarca or Salta?
Prices for flights to both Salta and Cajamarca 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 dayCajamarca $28Salta $3.27
Typical Food Prices in Salta
For Salta, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Emplanadas$0.01
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Ice Cream$0.01
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Lunch$0.67
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Coffee$0.14
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cajamarca $26Salta $3.40
Tours and Activities in Cajamarca
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cajamarca are as follows:
- 3-Day Guided Cultural Tour of Cajamarca with Transportation: $202
- City Tour: $67
- Sulluscocha Extreme Adventure |Atv, Canopy, Climbing|: $65
- Sulluscocha Extreme Adventure |Atv, Canopy, Climbing|: $65
- || Tour of the Cajamarca Valley - San Nicolás lagoon ||: $40
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$0.02
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Pool$0.06
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Wine and Cheese night$4.15
Tours and Activities in Salta
For Salta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 4-Hour Guided Highlights City Tour: $15
- From City Tour of the city on a half-day ride: $18
- Salta City Half Day Tour: $20
- From City Tour and San Lorenzo on a half-day tour: $20
- Andes Mountain Half or Full Day Trekking Tour: $22
- Best of Guided City Tour: $27
- Guided Half-Day City Tour with Cathedral and Museum: $27
- Half-Day City Tour of Salta: $27
- From Full-day tour to Cachi and Los Cardones National Park: $30
- From Full-Day Tour to Cafayate, Land of Wines: $30
- Full-Day Tour Cafayate Calchaqui Valleys with Wine: $32
- From Full-Day Scenic Tour to Cachi: $33
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCajamarca $16Salta $1.37
Typical Alcohol Prices in Salta
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Salta are as follows:
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Beer$0.01
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Alcohol$0.35
Sample the Local Flavors in Salta
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Salta:
- From Cafayate Day Trip with Wine Tasting: $30
- Full-day Cafayate, Lerma Valley, and Wine Tasting from Salta: $30
- From Full-Day Tour to Cafayate with Wine Tasting: $33
- Half Day Wine Tasting in Salta: $122
- Full-Day Private Calchaquí Valley & Cafayate Wine Tour from Salta: $200
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cajamarca and Salta, we can see that Cajamarca is more expensive. And not only is Salta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Salta would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Salta 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 Cajamarca would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cajamarca than you might in Salta.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cajamarca Expensive? and Is Salta Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cajamarca or Salta?
Salta has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Cajamarca. When comparing the sizes of Cajamarca and Salta, 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.