Which place is cheaper, Salta or Manaus?
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 Manaus or Salta?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Manaus 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: Manaus or Salta?
Manaus
Manaus is a Brazilian city, capital of the state of Amazonas, and is located on the Rio Negro a few miles before it meets the Rio Solimões to form the Amazon River. The city is a major departure point for those visiting the Amazon Rainforest, though there are a few sights worth seeing within the city itself as well.
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 Contiki Tours to Brazil, The Best G Adventures Tours to Brazil, The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, and The Best Eco Tours in Argentina.
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Manaus Prices
Brazil PricesSalta Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayManaus $66Salta $45
The average daily cost (per person) in Manaus is $66, 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 Manaus and Salta in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personManaus $41Salta $31
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomManaus $82Salta $62
Compare Hotels in Manaus and Salta
Looking for a hotel in Manaus 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: Manaus Hotel Prices and Salta Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Manaus $7.63Salta $3.13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Manaus
Also for Manaus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer service from Iberostar (Port) to Manaus Airport: $23
- Transfer from Manaus Airport to Manaus City: $45
- Shared Round-Trip Transfer: Eduardo Gomes International Airport: $64
- Serviço de Transfer Privado 24h Aeroporto - Hotel em Manaus: $25
- Private Transfer Group 24h Hotel to Airport in Manaus: $112
- Privado Transfer Aeroporto to Hotel Anavilhanas Jungle Lodge: $171
- Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $71
- Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $109
- Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus - Arrival Private Transfer: $36
- Manaus to Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) - Departure Private Transfer: $36
- Manaus private Airport transfer: $60
- Manaus Airport(MAO) to Manaus hotels- Round-Trip Private Transfer: $57
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salta
Also for Salta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Salta Airport: $7.19
- Shared Transfer from Downtown Hotels in Salta to Airport: $12
- Saver Combo: Cafayate, Cachi, Salt Fields, Transfers and Walking: $184
- Shared 1-Way or Round Trip SLA Airport Transfer: $8.00
- Private 1-Way or Round Trip SLA Airport Transfer: $56
- One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $5.50
- Cafayate Wine Tour with Tastings and Transfers: $150
- Salta City Tour & Round Trip Transfers airport - hotel: $109
- Salta Airport Shuttle Transfer: $15
- Salta Airport One-Way or Round-Trip Transfers: $45
- 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 Manaus or Salta?
Prices for flights to both Salta and Manaus 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 dayManaus $21Salta $5.41
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Manaus
For Manaus, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Folklore Amazonian Dinner Show: $42
- Food Tour: $60
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Manaus -Salta $27
Tours and Activities in Manaus
For Manaus, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Adventure: 4-hour hike in the Amazon rainforest: $150
- Amazon Experience: Indigenous culture and nature phenomenon: $78
- Amazon Experience: meet a native village and swim with porpoises: $77
- Amazon Jungle Experience with Overnight: $300
- Amazon Jungle: 3- or 4-Day Tour at Ipanema River Guest House: $180
- Amazon Negro River Half-Day Expedition Tour: $55
- Amazon Private Safari by Tuhiri Eco Tour - Leaving Manaus: $199
- Amazon Rainforest Tour, Trails, Jungle, Caves and Waterfalls: $165
- Amazon River Safari Boat Tour- Full Day Group Tour: $70
- Amazonas: 2, 3, or 4-Day Tour: $220
- City Tour Plus Amazon River Tour: $100
- City Tour in Manaus at Teatro Amazonas and Praça da Matriz: $55
Tours and Activities in Salta
For Salta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Full-Day Tour to Salinas Grandes and Purmamarca From Salta: $38
- 2-Day Tour to Cachi and Los Cardones National Park: $57
- 3 Day Tour from Salta to Cachi, Humahuaca and Salinas Grandes: $88
- Adventure in the North: Pack of 4 Excursions + Hornocal: $132
- Best of Guided City Tour: $43
- Cachi Full Day Tour with Los Cardones National Park: $34
- Exclusive day-long private tour of Cafayate vineyards: $278
- From Salta 3 Day Tour to Cafayate Humahuaca and Salinas Grandes: $88
- From Cachi and Los Cardones National Park Tour: $30
- 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: $31
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayManaus $2.72Salta $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 Manaus and Salta, we can see that Manaus 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 Manaus would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Manaus 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 Manaus Expensive? and Is Salta Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Manaus or Salta?
Manaus has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Salta. When comparing the sizes of Manaus 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.