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

Should you visit Ilha Grande or Salta?

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

Should I visit Ilha Grande 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: Ilha Grande or Salta?

Ilha Grande

Ilha Grande is a large, beautiful, island located off the southeast coast of Brazil. The island has few inhabitants, resulting in mostly unadulterated beaches and landscapes. There are over a dozen trails and beaches to explore, some of which have been called the best beaches in Brazil. Due to the limited number of inhabitants, ATMs are sparse on the island, so be sure to have cash with you before getting there.

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 3-Day Tours from Manaus, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Brazil, The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, and The Best Eco Tours in Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, Salta or Ilha Grande?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Ilha Grande is $85, while the average daily cost in Salta is $47. 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 Ilha Grande and Salta in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ilha Grande $37
    Salta $32
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ilha Grande $74
    Salta $64
Compare Hotels in Ilha Grande and Salta

Looking for a hotel in Ilha Grande 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 Ilha Grande


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: Salta Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ilha Grande $18
    Salta $3.28

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ilha Grande

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

  • Transfer from Angra dos Reis to Rio de Janeiro: $51
  • Regular transfer from Isla Grande (Abraão) x Rio de Janeiro: $48
  • From Angra dos Reis: Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $46
  • Departure private transfer from Costa do Sol to Rio GIG Airport: $160

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salta

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

  • Transfer from Salta Airport: $8.99
  • Saver Combo: Cafayate, Cachi, Salt Fields, Transfers and Walking: $179
  • Shared 1-Way or Round Trip SLA Airport Transfer: $8.00
  • Private 1-Way or Round Trip SLA Airport Transfer: $56
  • Cafayate Wine Tour with Tastings and Transfers: $150
  • Salta City Tour & Round Trip Transfers airport - hotel: $109
  • Salta Airport Shuttle Transfer: $17
  • Salta Airport One-Way or Round-Trip Transfers: $45
  • Private Transfer from Salta Airport to Cafayate: $190
  • Private Transfer from Salta Airport: $20
  • Humahuaca, 7-color Hill & round trip transfers airport - hotel in Salta: $167
  • From Salinas and Hornocal 2-Day Tour with Transfer: $99

Is it cheaper to fly into Ilha Grande or Salta?

Prices for flights to both Salta and Ilha Grande 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
    Ilha Grande $37
    Salta $5.66

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ilha Grande $6.72
    Salta $28

Tours and Activities in Ilha Grande

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

  • Angra Dos Reis Daily Tour To Paradise. Boat Trip Lunch And Fruits Included: $85
  • Angra Islands Speedboat Tour from Paraty: $65
  • Angra Paradise Islands Speedboat Tour: $91
  • Angra Super Blue Lagoon Speedboat Tour: $80
  • Angra dos Reis Island Hopping Speedboat Tour from Ilha Grande: $75
  • Boat Adventure in the Paradise Islands of Angra dos Reis: $111
  • Boat Adventure through the Super Blue Lagoon in Angra dos Reis: $111
  • Boat Tour To The Beaches Of Angra Dos Reis: $20
  • Discover Angra Dos Reis Shared Walking Tour: $206
  • Diving Adventures in Angra dos Reis: $242
  • Full-Day Ilha Grande Northern Coast Speedboat Tour: $67
  • Half-Day Ilha Grande Schooner Tour: $46

Tours and Activities in Salta

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

  • 3 Day Tour from Salta to Cachi, Humahuaca and Salinas Grandes: $89
  • Best of Guided City Tour: $46
  • Cachi Full Day Tour with Los Cardones National Park: $42
  • City Tour Salta and San Lorenzo: $32
  • Exclusive day-long private tour of Cafayate vineyards: $277
  • From Salta 3 Day Tour to Cafayate Humahuaca and Salinas Grandes: $89
  • From Cachi and Los Cardones National Park Tour: $30
  • From City Tour and San Lorenzo on a half-day tour: $26
  • From City Tour of the city on a half-day ride: $20
  • From Full-Day Scenic Tour to Cachi: $30
  • From Full-Day Tour to Cafayate, Land of Wines: $29
  • From Full-Day Tour to Humahuaca, Purmamarca and Tilcara: $34

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ilha Grande $11
    Salta $5.75

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: $29
  • Cafayate: Full-day tour of wineries and wine tasting: $29
  • 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 Ilha Grande and Salta, we can see that Ilha Grande 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 Ilha Grande would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ilha Grande 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 Ilha Grande Expensive? and Is Salta Expensive?.