Which place is cheaper, Salta or Cuenca?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Cuenca or Salta?
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 Cuenca and Salta. 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: Cuenca or Salta?
Cuenca
Cuenca is a vibrant colonial city in southern Ecuador, the third largest in the country, and the capital of Azuay Province. Cuenca is considered as Ecuador's most important and beautiful colonial city after Quito. Dating from the 16th century, Cuenca's historic center, a Unesco World Heritage Site with its trademark skyline of massive rotundas and soaring steeples, is a magical sight in which you will feel like you are moving back in time. Cuenca is the center of many craft traditions, including ceramics, metalwork and the internationally famous panama hat. The nearby villages also offer many other handicrafts. Tourists enjoy wandering the ancient streets discovering picturesque alleys and hidden corners, where nuns march along cobblestone streets and kids in Catholic-school uniforms skip past historic churches. Fascinating historic monuments and fabulous views are found at every turn. Cuenca also has outstanding art museums and festivals. For a rewarding cultural experience, visit during Easter to attend the Festival of Religious Music.
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 Wildlife Tours to Ecuador, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ecuador, The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, and The Best Eco Tours in Argentina.
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Cuenca Prices
Ecuador PricesSalta Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCuenca $53Salta $45
The average daily cost (per person) in Cuenca is $53, while the average daily cost in Salta is $45. 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 Cuenca and Salta in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCuenca $13Salta $31
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCuenca $26Salta $62
Compare Hotels in Cuenca and Salta
Looking for a hotel in Cuenca 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: Cuenca Hotel Prices and Salta Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cuenca $11Salta $3.13
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cuenca
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cuenca:
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Taxi Ride$2.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cuenca
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cuenca:
- Cuenca to/from Guayaquil Private Transfer: $80
- Cuenca Airport Transfer: $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salta
Also for Salta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Combo: Cafayate, Cachi and Humahuaca, transfers and walking tour: $177
- Combo: Cafayate Tour + Cachi + Transfers + Free Walking Tour: $117
- From Cafayate and Hornocal 2-Day Tour with Transfer: $88
- From Salinas and Hornocal 2-Day Tour with Transfer: $99
- Humahuaca, 7-color Hill & round trip transfers airport - hotel in Salta: $167
- Salta Airport One-Way or Round-Trip Transfers: $45
- Salta Airport Shuttle Transfer: $15
- Salta City Tour & Round Trip Transfers airport - hotel: $109
- Cafayate Wine Tour with Tastings and Transfers: $150
- One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $5.50
- Private 1-Way or Round Trip SLA Airport Transfer: $56
- Shared 1-Way or Round Trip SLA Airport Transfer: $8.00
Is it cheaper to fly into Cuenca or Salta?
Prices for flights to both Salta and Cuenca 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 dayCuenca $26Salta $5.41
Typical Food Prices in Cuenca
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cuenca:
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Lunch$10
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Snacks$5.00
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Empanada$1.50
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Hot Dog$1.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cuenca
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cuenca.
- Street food Tour in Cuenca,Ecuador: $33
- Cooking Class & Market Tour in Cuenca: $55
- Experience Ecuador: Join an Andean Cooking Class in Cuenca: $85
- Private Cooking Class: $125
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cuenca $16Salta $27
Tours and Activities in Cuenca
Here are a few actual costs in Cuenca for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cuenca-Ec- Highlights City Tour : $16
- Amazing Cajas National Park Tour from Cuenca: $47
- Azuay Cuenca Ecuador Tour: $1,300
- Biking Cuenca City Tour: $50
- Birdwatching Tour Cajas Park and Tamarindo Tropical Forest area from Cuenca: $130
- Birdwatching Tour in Cajas National Park from Cuenca: $100
- Birdwatching Tour, Via Gualaceo to the Eastern slope from Cuenca: $130
- Cajas National Park FULL-DAY Tour from Cuenca: $55
- Cajas National Park Half Day Tour from Cuenca: $39
- Cajas National Park Small-Group tour from Cuenca: $48
- Cajas National Park and Cuenca City private Tour: $110
- Complete excursion Ingapirca & Gualaceo Chordeleg Tour Archaeological Artisanal: $60
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: $16
- Salta Private Tour with a Photojournalist : $18
- Salta City Half Day Tour: $20
- From City Tour of the city on a half-day ride: $20
- Guided City Tour: $26
- From Full-Day Scenic Tour to Cachi: $30
- From Cachi and Los Cardones National Park Tour: $30
- From Full-day tour to Cachi and Los Cardones National Park: $31
- From Full-Day Tour to Cafayate, Land of Wines: $31
- Tour to Cafayate from Salta : $31
- Half-Day City Tour: Salta and San Lorenzo: $32
- Full-Day Tour Cafayate Calchaqui Valleys with Wine: $32
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCuenca $14Salta $5.50
Sample the Local Flavors in Salta
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Salta:
- Cafayate: Full-day tour of wineries and wine tasting: $29
- Full-day Cafayate, Lerma Valley, and Wine Tasting from Salta: $30
- From Full-Day Tour to Cafayate with Wine Tasting: $30
- From Cafayate Day Trip with Wine Tasting: $40
- Half Day Wine Tasting in Salta: $147
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cuenca and Salta, we can see that Cuenca 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 Cuenca would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cuenca 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 Cuenca Expensive? and Is Salta Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cuenca or Salta?
Salta has a larger population, and is about 85% larger than the population of Cuenca. When comparing the sizes of Cuenca 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.