Which place is cheaper, Santa Marta or Puerto Iguazu?
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 Puerto Iguazu or Santa Marta?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Puerto Iguazu or Santa Marta? 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: Puerto Iguazu or Santa Marta?
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.
Santa Marta
Santa Marta is a city in the Magdalena Department of Colombia's Costa Norte. Over the last decade, security has steadily been replacing the shadow of the Colombia's violent past. One destination in Colombia's northeast region is now attracting more international visitors: the coastal Caribbean area of Santa Marta. Established in 1525 by the Spanish as a base of conquest, Santa Marta sits at the foot of the world's highest coastal mountain range, the towering Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. It is South America's oldest European-founded town and the second most important colonial city on Colombia's Caribbean coast. While many travelers complain about Santa Marta's horrible traffic and unsightly urban sprawl, the city holds a numerous amounts of great hotels, bars and restaurants and holds a few fantastic destinations nearby to which you can go during the daytime.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Colombia, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Colombia.
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Puerto Iguazu Prices
Argentina PricesSanta Marta Prices
Colombia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Iguazu $56Santa Marta $49
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Iguazu is $56, while the average daily cost in Santa Marta is $49. 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 Puerto Iguazu and Santa Marta in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Iguazu $40Santa Marta $17
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Iguazu $80Santa Marta $34
Compare Hotels in Puerto Iguazu and Santa Marta
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Iguazu or Santa Marta? 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: Santa Marta Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Iguazu $3.03Santa Marta $6.53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Iguazu
Also for Puerto Iguazu, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Wanda Mines Guided Tour with Transfer / From Iguassu Falls: $56
- One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $8.00
- One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $14
- Falls Package Both Sides with Transfers: $160
- Puerto Iguazu Airport Shuttle Transfer: $17
- Puerto Iguazú: Jungle Fly Adventure with Transfers: $166
- Puerto Iguazú Round-Trip Airport Transfer: $25
- Puerto Iguazú Combo: Iguazu Falls 2 Day Tours + transfers: $85
- Private Transfer to or from Puerto Iguazu Airport IGR: $40
- Private Transfer from Puerto Iguazu Airport to Foz do Iguaçu: $83
- Iguazu Falls Saver Package! Both sides excursions & transfers: $79
- Iguazu Falls Argentina Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Hotels: $22
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Santa Marta
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santa Marta:
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Gas$6.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Marta
Also for Santa Marta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer to Playa Cinto & Playa Cristal: $82
- Transfer from Simon Bolivar Airport in Santa Marta to Hotels: $24
- Playa Cristal Beach Day with Boat Transfer: $94
- Calderon Beach Club Day Pass with Lunch & Transfer: $120
- Santa Marta to or from Tayrona Park Private Transfer: $37
- Santa Marta to or from Tayrona Park Private Transfer: $44
- Santa Marta to or from Palomino Private Transfer: $55
- Santa Marta to or from Palomino Private Transfer: $49
- Santa Marta to or from Minca Private Transfer: $39
- Santa Marta to or from Cartagena Private Transfer: $149
- Santa Marta to or from Barranquilla Private Transfer: $70
- Santa Marta Private Transfer: SMR Airport to/from Hotel or Airbnb: $28
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Iguazu or Santa Marta?
Prices for flights to both Santa Marta 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
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Food Meals for one dayPuerto Iguazu $6.21Santa Marta $21
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:
- Puerto Iguazú: Madero Tango Show with Optional Dinner: $34
- Argentine Experience: Immersive Dinner & Wine Pairing in Iguazú: $70
- ASADOR: Argentine Asado Cooking Class: $70
- Iguazu Falls: The Argentine Experience Interactive Dinner: $75
- Dinner Show Rafain Steakhouse Gran Meliá Hotel Exclusive - Private Tour: $120
- Dinner Show Rafain Steakhouse from Puerto Iguazú Hotels Private Tour: $130
- Dinner Tango Show in Iguazú Falls - no transfers -: $152
- Experience Guamini Mision Dinner and Tango Show Gran Meliá Iguazú Exclusive: $155
- Rafain Steakhouse Dinner & Show: $232
- Foz do Iguaçu: Argentinean Cooking Class: $244
- Puerto Iguazú: Romantic Dinner at Pristine Iguazú Camp: $306
- Puerto Iguazú: Pristine Day Iguazú Nature and Food Tour: $332
Typical Food Prices in Santa Marta
For Santa Marta, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Breakfast$3.90
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Marta
For Santa Marta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Santa Marta Street Food Tour: 7 Tastings with a Local Guide: $39
- Food Tour in Santa Marta Old City Half-Day: $65
- Santa Marta Walking Food Tour: $65
- Food Tour in Santa Marta Old City: $69
- SamarioCaribeño Chef's Table Cooking Lesson and Breakfast: $87
- Flavors of Colombia - Santa Marta Street Food Tour: $114
- Fast Food Tour In Santa Marta More Than Just Food: $191
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Iguazu $33Santa Marta $17
Tours and Activities in Puerto Iguazu
For Puerto Iguazu, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2Day Iguazu Tour HELICOPTER Ride & Airfare from Buenos Aires: $1,290
- 3-Day Iguazu Falls Exploring Tour From Argentina and Brazil: $255
- Argentine Falls Package with Great Adventure and Brazilian Falls: $260
- Argentinean Falls with Gran Aventura Boat Tour: $261
- Bike Tour Iguazú Adventure and Nature in the Missionary Jungle: $90
- Bird Park & Iguassu Brazilian Side From Puerto Iguazú Hotels - Private Tour: $145
- Brazilian Side of Iguassu Falls and Itaipu Dam Full-Day Sightseeing Tour from Puerto Iguazú: $108
- Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Tour from Puerto Iguazu: $49
- Brazilian Side of the Falls - All Tickets Included: $77
- City Tour Puerto Iguazú Gran Meliá Iguazú Exclusivo: $135
- City Tour Puerto Iguazu Belmond Hotel das Cataratas: $135
- City Tour in Iguassu from Puerto Iguazú Hotels Private Tour: $90
Tours and Activities in Santa Marta
For Santa Marta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- "Gabo Márquez" Tour - Aracataca and Cienaga: $205
- 2 days 1 night tour - in Trompito, I meet indigenous community Kogui Uldezhaxa.: $206
- 2-Day Cultural Tour to Gotsezhy from Santa Marta: $198
- 3-Day Private Tour of Taorayiná Ecolodge and Nature Reserve: $200
- A Pearl In The Caribbean-walking tour in English: $18
- Adventures in Santa Marta private beaches by Paddle or kayak: $52
- Ancestral Thought Tour: $180
- Ancestral Thought Tour (Indigenous life in Kogui people) Santa Marta: $220
- BE RELAX TOUR - Bahia Concha: $22
- BE TROPICAL TOUR - Buritaca & Playa Los Angeles: $51
- Bike Tour Taganga - Playa Grande: $69
- Bunkuany Tayrona Tour.: $140
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Iguazu $7.75Santa Marta $8.32
Typical Alcohol Prices in Santa Marta
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Santa Marta from other travelers:
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Beer$0.72
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Beer$2.93
Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Marta
Also in Santa Marta, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Friday Night Bar Crawl in Santa Marta, Colombia: $30
- Thursday Night Bar Crawl in Santa Marta, Colombia: $30
- Saturday Night Bar Crawl in Santa Marta, Colombia: $30
When comparing the travel costs between Puerto Iguazu and Santa Marta, we can see that Puerto Iguazu is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Puerto Iguazu Expensive? and Is Santa Marta Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Puerto Iguazu or Santa Marta?
Santa Marta has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Puerto Iguazu. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Iguazu and Santa Marta, 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.