Which place is cheaper, Salta or Mar del Plata?
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 Mar del Plata 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 Mar del Plata and Salta can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Mar del Plata or Salta?
Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata is found only 404 km southeast of the city of Buenos Aires, on the Atlantic coast. Today Mar Del Plata is Argentina‘s most well known beach resort. It has successfully married the two worlds of beach and city into a fun, cosmopolitan urban center with the presence of highly developed tourist infrastructure. Founded in 1874, Mar del Plata was at first mainly an industrial and commercial center before becoming a vacation destination for Argentinians. For a peaceful trip and intimate oceanfront promenades, avoid visiting Mar del Plata during summer time, as the gorgeous arced coastline will be crawling with visitors. But the city is more than just beaches. It also offers some culture, lively nightlife, and great food.
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 Luxury Tours to Argentina, The Best Budget Tours to Argentina, The Best Tours for Seniors to Argentina, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Argentina.
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Mar del Plata Prices
Argentina PricesSalta Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMar del Plata $71Salta $56
The average daily cost (per person) in Mar del Plata is $71, while the average daily cost in Salta is $56. 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 Mar del Plata and Salta in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMar del Plata $54Salta $39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMar del Plata $108Salta $78
Compare Hotels in Mar del Plata and Salta
Looking for a hotel in Mar del Plata 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: Mar del Plata Hotel Prices and Salta Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mar del Plata $3.89Salta $3.92
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salta
Also for Salta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Train to the Clouds Experience with Transfers from Salta Hotels: $253
- Saver Combo: Cafayate, Cachi, Salt Fields, Transfers and Walking: $184
- Combo: Cafayate, Cachi and Humahuaca, transfers and walking tour: $177
- Humahuaca, 7-color Hill & round trip transfers airport - hotel in Salta: $167
- Combo: Cafayate Tour + Cachi + Transfers + Free Walking Tour: $117
- Salta City Tour & Round Trip Transfers airport - hotel: $109
- From Salinas and Hornocal 2-Day Tour with Transfer: $99
- From Cafayate and Hornocal 2-Day Tour with Transfer: $88
- Private 1-Way or Round Trip SLA Airport Transfer: $56
- Salta Airport One-Way or Round-Trip Transfers: $45
- Shared 1-Way or Round Trip SLA Airport Transfer: $8.00
- One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $5.50
Is it cheaper to fly into Mar del Plata or Salta?
Prices for flights to both Salta and Mar del Plata 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 dayMar del Plata $8.59Salta $6.77
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mar del Plata $26Salta $34
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: $26
- Full-Day Tour to Salinas Grandes and Purmamarca From Salta: $35
- 2-Day Tour to Cachi and Los Cardones National Park: $57
- 3 Day Tour from Salta to Cachi, Humahuaca and Salinas Grandes: $88
- 4-Day Tour of Salta Cafayate and Humahuaca: $693
- Adventure in the North: Pack of 4 Excursions + Hornocal: $137
- Best of Guided City Tour: $30
- Cachi Full Day Tour with Los Cardones National Park: $34
- Cafayate, Vineyards and Calchaquies Valleys Tour from Salta: $40
- From Salta 3 Day Tour to Cafayate Humahuaca and Salinas Grandes: $88
- From Cachi and Los Cardones National Park Tour: $28
- From City Tour of the city on a half-day ride: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMar del Plata $9.70Salta $6.88
Sample the Local Flavors in Salta
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Salta:
- From Full-Day Tour to Cafayate with Wine Tasting: $30
- Full-day Cafayate, Lerma Valley, and Wine Tasting from Salta: $32
- Cafayate: Full-day tour of wineries and wine tasting: $39
- From Cafayate Day Trip with Wine Tasting: $40
- Half Day Wine Tasting in Salta: $149
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mar del Plata and Salta, we can see that Mar del Plata 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 Mar del Plata would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mar del Plata 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 Mar del Plata Expensive? and Is Salta Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mar del Plata or Salta?
Mar del Plata has a larger population, and is about 8% larger than the population of Salta. When comparing the sizes of Mar del Plata 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.