Should you visit Mar del Plata or Salvador?
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 Salvador can help you decide which place is right for you.
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.
Salvador
Salvador de Bahia was the first capital of Brazil, founded by the Portuguese in 1549. Also known as "Brazil's capital of happiness," Salvador is famous for its plentiful and spirited street festivals. The third most populous city in Brazil, Salvador is also well-known for its Afro-Brazilian culture and Portuguese colonial architecture.
Which city is cheaper, Salvador or Mar del Plata?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Mar del Plata is $62, while the average daily cost in Salvador is $34. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Mar del Plata and Salvador in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $44 in Mar del Plata For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
A hotel room in Salvador is about $38 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Food
In Mar del Plata travelers spend around $27 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
In Salvador travelers spend around $10 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Mar del Plata $27
Salvador $10
Typical Food prices in Salvador
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Salvador:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Salvador
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Salvador.
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Pelourinho By Night - Dinner & Show:
$70
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Pelourinho By Night With Folkloric Show and Dinner:
$80
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Private Tour to Cultural Show and Dinner in Salvador:
$80
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Private Cooking Experience in Salvador:
$100
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Salvador by Night: Cultural Dinner and Show:
$110
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Bahia By Night: Dinner and Folkloric show:
$114
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Cooking Class with a Local and Spice Gift:
$125
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Bahia By Night Dinner and Dance Show Ticket:
$135
Local Transportation
To get around in Mar del Plata, the average visitor spends $18 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $4.70 per day to get around in Salvador.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Salvador
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Salvador:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salvador
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Salvador:
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Private One Way Airport Transfer - Morro de São Paulo:
$366
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Ivan Bahia, Private Transfer Lençois (Chapada Diamantina) to / from Salvador BA:
$280
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Transfer Salvador to Barra Grande Round Trip:
$200
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Private Transfer from Salvador to Boipeba Round Trip:
$170
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Private Transfer to/from Salvador Airport to/from Praia do Forte:
$140
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Private Transfer from/to Salvador Airport From/to Grand Palladium Imbassai:
$115
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Grand Palladium Imbassai Private Transfer 4 to 12 Pax:
$114
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Iberostar Praia do Forte or Bahia Private Transfer 4 to 12 Pax:
$107
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Praia do Forte Private Transfer From Salvador:
$103
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Morro de SĂŁo Paulo Shared Transfer From/To Salvador:
$100
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Round Trip Transfer Salvador Airport to Hotels:
$95
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Transfer From Salvador to Morro de SĂŁo Paulo Round Trip Semi Terrestre:
$95
Is it cheaper to fly into Mar del Plata or Salvador?
Prices for flights to both Salvador 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.
Entertainment
In Mar del Plata, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $16 per person, per day.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $4.43 per person, per day in Salvador. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Tours and Activities in Salvador
Here are a few actual costs in Salvador for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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4-Days Experience at Salvador de Bahia, Savour the cultural fusion - Brasil:
$690
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8h City Tour of Salvador da Bahia:
$80
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African historical walking tour 03 hours:
$90
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Beaches North Coast 2 tours with overnight hotel Coconut Coast experience:
$509
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Best Value Full Day Sightseeing Tour Salvador the first Capital of Brazil:
$104
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Cachoeira Countryside Flavor Private Tour from Salvador:
$110
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Candomble Religion Mysteries Private Tour in Salvador:
$80
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Candomblé Ceremony Private Tour from Salvador:
$70
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Chapada Diamantina Adventure:
$2,898
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Costa de Camaçari 3 days 2 night, beach, tour, hotel, meals, guide:
$477
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Cruise Ship Special Private Tour Salvador da Bahia Historic Old Town Bonfim and Barra:
$136
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Discover the Ancient Deities of Brazil's Candomblé (Online Experience):
$15
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Mar del Plata, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $13.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Salvador may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $5.92 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Typical Alcohol prices in Salvador
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Salvador:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mar del Plata and Salvador, we can see that Mar del Plata is more expensive. And not only is Salvador much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Salvador would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Salvador 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 Salvador.
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