A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Florianopolis vs. Salta for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Florianopolis or Salta?

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

Should I visit Florianopolis or Salta? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Florianopolis or Salta?

Florianopolis

With a population of almost 500,000, Florianopolis is the capital city of the state of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil. The city is split between mainland Brazil and Santa Catarina Island.

Florianopolis has grown in popularity with tourists recently because of its wonderful scenery, beautiful beaches, and fascinating culture. Many Brazilians have also moved here, leaving behind the big cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

Florianopolis has a warm humid subtropical climate. There are summer, winter, spring and fall seasons. Frosts are rare but do occur occasionally. Highs during the warmest months are usually in the high 70s Fahrenheit. Rain is evenly distributed throughout the year and there is no distinct dry season.

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 Brazil, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Brazil, The Best Photography Tours in Argentina, and The Best Luxury Tours to Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, Salta or Florianopolis?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Florianopolis is $62, 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 Florianopolis and Salta in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Florianopolis $26
    Salta $3.47
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Florianopolis $52
    Salta $6.94
Compare Hotels in Florianopolis and Salta

Looking for a hotel in Florianopolis 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.

Hotels in Florianopolis


Hotels in Salta


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: Florianopolis Hotel Prices and Salta Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Florianopolis $13
    Salta $4.00

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Florianopolis

Also for Florianopolis, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer Florianópolis Airport / Costão do Santinho: $76
  • Shared transfer from Florianópolis airport to Balneário Camboriú: $35
  • Roundtrip transfer from Florianópolis Airport to Bombinhas: $168
  • Private Transfer from Florianópolis Airport to Bombinhas: $97
  • Private Transfer from FLN Airport to the City Balneario Camboriú : $83
  • Private Transfer Florianopolis Airport to Bal. Camboriu: $96
  • Private Transfer Florianópolis Airport to City Center: $31
  • One Way Transfer : Florianopolis Airport to or from Florianopolis: $64
  • Hercilio Luz Airport - North Island Transfer: $14
  • Florianópolis Airport Transfer anywhere on the island by Floripa Nativa: $39

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Salta

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Salta are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $0.01

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salta

Also for Salta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Yungas : full day with gauchos - transfer inc. from Salta: $240
  • Train to the Clouds Experience with Transfers from Salta Hotels: $265
  • One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $5.50
  • Salta Airport One-Way or Round-Trip Transfers: $20
  • Round Trip Shared Transfer Salta Airport/Downtown Hotel: $13
  • From Salinas and Hornocal 2-Day Tour with Transfer: $99
  • From Cafayate and Hornocal 2-Day Tour with Transfer: $88
  • 3-Day:Cafayate, Cachi, Salinas Grandes Including Transfer In/Out : $217

Is it cheaper to fly into Florianopolis or Salta?

Prices for flights to both Salta and Florianopolis 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
    Florianopolis $22
    Salta $3.27
Typical Food Prices in Florianopolis

For Florianopolis, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • A Quick Snack
    $0.44

Typical Food Prices in Salta

For Salta, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Emplanadas
    $0.01
  • Ice Cream
    $0.01
  • Lunch
    $0.67
  • Coffee
    $0.14

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Florianopolis $26
    Salta $3.40
Typical Entertainment Prices in Florianopolis

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Florianopolis's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Internet
    $0.59

Tours and Activities in Florianopolis

For Florianopolis, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Balneário Camboriú City Tour from Florianópolis: $35
  • Bike Tour in Florianopolis - Sunset, Photography and History: $69
  • Blumenau City Tour - departing from Florianópolis: $37
  • Blumenau City Tour from Florianópolis: $38
  • Bombinhas Beach and 4 Islands Tour: $22
  • Florianópolis Full Day City Tour: $25
  • Floripa City Tour by Bus - Whole Island - The Most Complete City Tour: $31
  • Historic Center Walking Tour in Florianopolis with Local Bar Hop: $14
  • Lagoinha do Leste Hiking and Photography Adventure : $41
  • Mountain biking experiences in Florianópolis: $57
  • Private Day Tour: Florianópolis Island with Professional Pictures: $154
  • Private South Island Beaches and Lagoons Tour: $43

Typical Entertainment Prices in Salta

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Salta's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Gondola Ride
    $0.02
  • Pool
    $0.06
  • 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:

  • From City Tour and San Lorenzo on a half-day tour: $18
  • Full-Day Tour to Salinas Grandes and Purmamarca From Salta: $41
  • 2-Day Tour to Cachi and Los Cardones National Park: $57
  • Best of Guided City Tour: $27
  • Bungee Jumping Adrenaline Experience on Cabra Corral Dam: $107
  • Cachi Full Day Tour from Salta: $58
  • Cafayate, Vineyards and Calchaquies Valleys Tour from Salta: $57
  • Exclusive day-long private tour of Cafayate vineyards: $274
  • From Cachi and Los Cardones National Park Tour: $34
  • From City Tour of the city on a half-day ride: $18
  • From Full-Day Scenic Tour to Cachi: $33
  • From Full-Day Tour to Cafayate, Land of Wines: $34

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Florianopolis $8.68
    Salta $1.37
Typical Alcohol Prices in Florianopolis

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Florianopolis from other travelers:


  • Beer
    $0.59

Typical Alcohol Prices in Salta

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Salta are as follows:


  • Beer
    $0.01
  • 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: $121
  • Full-Day Private Calchaquí Valley & Cafayate Wine Tour from Salta: $200


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Florianopolis and Salta, we can see that Florianopolis 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 Florianopolis would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Florianopolis 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 Florianopolis Expensive? and Is Salta Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Florianopolis or Salta?

Salta has a larger population, and is about 24% larger than the population of Florianopolis. When comparing the sizes of Florianopolis 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.