Which place is cheaper, La Paz or Salento?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Salento or La Paz?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Salento or La Paz? 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: Salento or La Paz?
Salento
Founded in 1850, Salento is one of the oldest towns in Quindio. This colonial Colombian town has retained much of its old world charm, with its colorful buildings, large square and, of course, the obligatory church. Because the main route between Cali and Bogota which used to pass through Salento was diverted, the town didn't develop as quickly as others in the Quindio region. This gave Salento the opportunity to evolve into a thriving community of craftsmen and artisans as well as remaining one of the region's most prolific coffee producers. Salento is located 24 km northeast of the departmental capital Armenia. However, unlike its colorful neighbor, Armenia itself has very little to offer tourists. Salento attracts those wishing to learn about the coffee regions and for those who simply admire breathtaking scenery, and especially the stunning Cocora Valley.
La Paz
La Paz, the administrative capital of Bolivia, has a breathtaking setting. The city is the highest national capital in the world, with an altitude ranging from about 4,058 m (13,313 ft) above sea level in El Alto, where the airport is located, to 3,100 m (10,170 ft) in the lower residential area. The dynamic and chaotic city was built in a canyon created by the Choqueyapu River. La Paz is now a fusion of architectural styles, cultures and beliefs, welcoming everyday new boutique hotels, modern shops, delicious restaurants and reinventing standing establishments. However, generally speaking, Bolivia remains more a backpacker hit than a mainstream tourist destination.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Colombia, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, The Best Luxury Tours to Bolivia, and The Best Budget Tours to Bolivia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySalento $33La Paz $44
The average daily cost (per person) in Salento is $33, while the average daily cost in La Paz is $44. 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 Salento and La Paz in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSalento $11La Paz $16
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSalento $22La Paz $32
Compare Hotels in Salento and La Paz
Looking for a hotel in Salento or La Paz? 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: Salento Hotel Prices and La Paz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Salento $14La Paz $9.45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salento
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Salento:
- Pereira Airport Private Transfer Service: $55
Typical Local Transportation Prices in La Paz
Some typical examples of transportation costs in La Paz are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$0.58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Paz
Also for La Paz, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Airport to Hotels Service 24/7: $21
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from La Paz City - La Paz Airport (LPB): $21
- Airport Transfer In_ Day: $25
- Airport Transfer Out_day: $25
- Bus Station Transfer In_day: $25
- One-Way Private Transfer from La Paz Hotels to Airport : $27
- Transfer in Private Minivan from La Paz Airport (LPB) - La Paz City: $27
- Private Transfer La Paz Airport LPB to La Paz City by MiniVan/Bus: $28
- Private transfer 24/7 El Alto Airport - Hotels La Paz: $28
- Airport to City Center Hotel Private Transfer: $29
- Private Departure Transfer: La Paz Hotels to El Alto International Airport: $37
- Roundtrip Transfer Private Vehicle La Paz Airport (LPB) - La Paz City: $43
Is it cheaper to fly into Salento or La Paz?
Prices for flights to both La Paz and Salento 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 daySalento $9.56La Paz $17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Salento
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Salento.
- Cooking Stories - Cocinando Historias: $46
Typical Food Prices in La Paz
For La Paz, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Fruit$0.72
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Paz
For La Paz, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- La Paz Food Tour + Cable Car Cultural City tour: $45
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Salento $12La Paz $16
Tours and Activities in Salento
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Salento are as follows:
- Book a Private Tourist Guide through the Coffee Region: $140
- Cocoa and Coffee Farm Tours from Pereira or Armenia: $187
- Cocora Valley and Salento Hike Tour: $79
- Cocora Valley and Salento Horseback Riding Day Tour: $137
- Cocora Valley, Salento and Coffee Farm Day Tour : $124
- Cocora, Salento and Filandia Tour: $100
- Coffe Experience: Daily departure from Salento: $90
- Coffee Farm and Salento Walking Tour with Lunch: $87
- Coffee Tour and Salento Walking Tour with lunch: $95
- Coffee tour in the heart of the coffee region: $28
- Filandia and Salento Coffee Towns Tour: $62
- Filandia and Salento Coffee Towns Tour: $105
Tours and Activities in La Paz
For La Paz, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Walking city tour La Paz: $2.66
- La Paz Half-Day Walking Tour: $3.00
- Be a Local - La Paz Walking Tour: $8.00
- City Walking Tour in La Paz: $8.00
- City Tour plus Cable Car La Paz: $10
- La Paz Walking City tour plus Cable cars: $10
- Live Virtual City Tour - La Paz : $10
- Private Sunset Tour in La Paz: $10
- City Highlights Walking Tour with Cable Car Ride: $10
- Gastronomic Tour Vivencial Tour de las Caseras: $13
- Private Cable Car City Tour: $18
- Cable Car, Cemetery, Shaman, and El Alto Tour: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySalento $12La Paz $11
Sample the Local Flavors in La Paz
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in La Paz:
- Cultural Pub Crawl La Paz Nightlife Tour : $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Salento and La Paz, we can see that La Paz is more expensive. And not only is Salento much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Salento would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Salento 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 La Paz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Paz than you might in Salento.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Salento Expensive? and Is La Paz Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Salento or La Paz?
La Paz has a larger population, and is about 200 times larger than the population of Salento. When comparing the sizes of Salento and La Paz, 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.