Should you visit Puerto Iguazu or Salta?
Should I visit Puerto Iguazu or Salta? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Puerto Iguazu
Puerto Iguazu is located in the northeastern part of Argentina at the border with Paraguay and Brazil. It is a tourist city and travel destination because of its close proximity to Iguazu Falls, which is only 18 kilometers away. Much of the city's infrastructure has grown to maintain the tourist crowds that come to see the falls. The town itself has a population of slightly over 80,000.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Salta or Puerto Iguazu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Iguazu is $49, while the average daily cost in Salta is $58. 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 Puerto Iguazu and Salta in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $40 in Puerto Iguazu For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $42 in Salta For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Local Transportation
To get around in Puerto Iguazu, the average visitor spends $15 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.
To get around in Salta, the average visitor spends $24 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.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Iguazu
Also for Puerto Iguazu, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer:
$4.98
-
Puerto Iguazu Airport Shuttle Transfer:
$30
-
Iguazu: Transfer from Argentina Side:
$95
-
Iguazu Falls: Day Tour including transfers and guided tour:
$245
-
Iguazu Falls Pass: Transfers in/out + Visit to Iguazu Falls Argentininan Side:
$110
-
Iguazu Airport Private Transfer:
$63
Typical Local Transportation prices in Salta
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Salta are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salta
Also for Salta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Shared Departure Transfer: Salta Hotels to Martín Miguel de Güemes International Airport:
$27
-
Shared Arrival Transfer: Martín Miguel de Güemes International Airport to Salta:
$19
-
Shared 1-Way or Round Trip SLA Airport Transfer:
$6.85
-
One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer:
$5.50
-
Salta City Tour & Round Trip Transfers airport - hotel:
$62
-
Salta Airport Shuttle Transfer:
$9.97
-
Salta Airport Private Transfer:
$50
-
Private Airport Transfer: Salta to Martin Miguel de Guemes Int. Airport (SLA):
$30
-
Private Airport Transfer: Martin Miguel de Guemes Int. Airport (SLA) to Salta:
$30
-
Humahuaca, 7-color Hill & round trip transfers airport - hotel in Salta:
$127
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Iguazu or Salta?
Prices for flights to both Salta and Puerto Iguazu 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
The average traveler spends about $18 per day in Puerto Iguazu for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
While meal prices in Salta can vary, the average travelers spends about $20 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Salta should cost around $8.00 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Salta is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Puerto Iguazu $18
Salta $20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Puerto Iguazu
For Puerto Iguazu, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
El Quincho Del Tio Querido - Dinner And Show:
$27
-
Foz do Iguaçu Folkloric Show with Dinner from Puerto Iguazú:
$30
-
Skip the Line: Dinner Tango Show in Iguazu Falls Ticket:
$59
-
Folkloric Show with Dinner at Rafain Churrascaria:
$63
-
Rafain Steakhouse Show - Dinner and Show Included:
$69
-
Dinner Tango Show in Iguazú Falls:
$85
-
Creative Cooking Class and Dinner with Wine in Iguazu:
$87
-
Tio Querido Dinner and Folk Show in Puerto Iguazú:
$90
-
Skip the Line: Dinner Samba Show Ticket in Rafain (brazilian side):
$99
-
Full day Iguazu Falls Argentinian side + Tango Show (no dinner):
$110
-
Full day Iguazu Falls Argentinian Side + Dinner Tango Show:
$125
-
Visit to Iguazu Falls Brazilian Side + Dinner Samba Show in Rafain:
$134
Typical Food prices in Salta
For Salta, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Emplanadas
$0.04
-
Ice Cream
$0.05
-
Lunch
$5.03
-
Coffee
$1.04
Entertainment
In Puerto Iguazu, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $16 per person, per day.
In Salta, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $20 per person, per day.
Tours and Activities in Puerto Iguazu
For Puerto Iguazu, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
2-Night Iguassu Falls Sightseeing Tour:
$150
-
2-Night Iguazu Rainforest Experience at Yacutinga Lodge:
$608
-
2-day Iguazu Falls Argentinian Side + City Tour with 3 frontiers landmark:
$115
-
3-Day Iguazu Falls Adventure: Brazil and Argentina:
$363
-
3-Day Iguazu Falls Exploring Tour:
$172
-
3-Day Iguazu Falls Self Guided Exploring Tour:
$213
-
3-Day Tour: Exploring Iguazu Falls in Private Service:
$544
-
3-Days Iguazu Falls Tour of the Argentinian and Brazilian Side:
$491
-
3-Days Private Experience at Iguazu:
$790
-
4-Day Tour to Iguazu Falls by Air from Buenos Aires:
$1,058
-
5-Day Adventure Trip in Iguazu:
$538
-
6-Day Iguazu Falls & Ibera Marshlands Luxury Tour:
$1,800
Typical Entertainment prices in Salta
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Salta's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
Gondola Ride
$0.13
-
Pool
$0.43
-
Wine and Cheese night
$31
Tours and Activities in Salta
For Salta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
2-Day Calchaquí Valley Tour to Cachi and Cafayate:
$318
-
2-day tour: Humahuaca Canyon + Cachi and Calchaquies Valleys:
$165
-
2-day tour: Humahuaca Canyon + Cafayate Wine Country:
$165
-
3-Days Salta, Purmamarca & Salinas Grandes Private Experience:
$625
-
3-day Overland Adventure in Tolar Grande, Salta:
$1,240
-
4 x 4 Safari Tour to Puna, Salt Falts and Purmamarca from Salta:
$120
-
4-Days Discovering Amazing Salta - Nature & Adventure:
$645
-
4-Days Tour of Salta Cafayate and Humahuaca:
$808
-
5-Day Adventure Trip in Salta:
$527
-
6-Day Tour in Salta, Purmamarca, Humahuaca, Tolar Grande & Salt flats!:
$1,813
-
6-day Tour in Salta y Jujuy - Best of The Northwest:
$1,095
-
7-Day Tour in Salta, the Calchaqui Valley and Cafayate and San Pedro de Atacama:
$1,292
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Puerto Iguazu spend on average $7.73 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typically, people visiting Salta spend on average $8.18 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typical Alcohol prices in Salta
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Salta are as follows:
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:
$24
-
Luxury Colome wine tour:
$806
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Iguazu and Salta, we can see that Salta is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Iguazu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Puerto Iguazu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Iguazu 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 Salta would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Salta than you might in Puerto Iguazu.
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