Which place is cheaper, El Chalten or Salta?
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 Salta or El Chalten?
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 Salta and El Chalten can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Salta or El Chalten?
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.
El Chalten
El Chalten is probably one of the most beautiful areas of Patagonia, especially at the slightest ray of sunshine and one of your cheapest destination while you are travelling in Patagonia. Indeed, you will spend your days hiking and there are no park fees. There are restaurants, souvenir shops, and outdoor stores but most of them will not accept credit cards so before heading out, get cash in El Calafate or your previous stop. For the beginners, it will be long hikes in a magical setting and for the experts perhaps a week long expedition to the greatest glaciers of the world. To discover the way people live in the pampa, you may also decide to stay at an Estancia. In the stunning Estancia Santa Thelma, about 300km away from El Chalten, you will be able to explore the surroundings by horse, live a unique experience in the middle of the nature and its vast plains occupied by thousands of merino sheep and horses and of course eat a typical meal of the region.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Argentina, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Argentina.
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Salta Prices
Argentina PricesEl Chalten Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySalta $45El Chalten $65
The average daily cost (per person) in Salta is $45, while the average daily cost in El Chalten is $65. 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 Salta and El Chalten in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSalta $31El Chalten $51
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSalta $62El Chalten $102
Compare Hotels in Salta and El Chalten
Looking for a hotel in Salta or El Chalten? 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: Salta Hotel Prices and El Chalten Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Salta $3.16El Chalten $2.46
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salta
Also for Salta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Salta Airport: $8.99
- Shared 1-Way or Round Trip SLA Airport Transfer: $10
- Salta Airport Shuttle Transfer: $17
- Private Transfer from Salta Airport: $20
- Private 1-Way or Round Trip SLA Airport Transfer: $37
- Salta Airport One-Way or Round-Trip Transfers: $60
- From Cafayate and Hornocal 2-Day Tour with Transfer: $88
- From Salinas and Hornocal 2-Day Tour with Transfer: $99
- Salta City Tour & Round Trip Transfers airport - hotel: $109
- Combo: Cafayate Tour + Cachi + Transfers + Free Walking Tour: $110
- Humahuaca, 7-color Hill & round trip transfers airport - hotel in Salta: $167
- Combo: Cafayate, Cachi and Humahuaca, transfers and walking tour: $172
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Chalten
Some specific examples of transportation prices in El Chalten:
- Private Transfers in El Chaltén and PN Los Glaciares: $80
- Private Transfer from El Calafate Airport to El Chaltén: $300
Is it cheaper to fly into Salta or El Chalten?
Prices for flights to both El Chalten and Salta 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 daySalta $5.45El Chalten $6.52
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Salta $27El Chalten $27
Tours and Activities in Salta
For Salta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Salta sightseeing tour: $12
- Salta City Half Day Tour: $20
- From City Tour of the city on a half-day ride: $20
- 4-Hour Guided Highlights City Tour: $24
- Cultural Experience – Alpaca and Leather Workshop + Traditional Mate: $25
- From City Tour and San Lorenzo on a half-day tour: $26
- From Full-Day Tour to Cafayate, Land of Wines: $29
- Cachi: Scenic Route and Local Experience from Salta: $29
- From Full-Day Scenic Tour to Cachi: $30
- Salta Tour Discover colonial treasures and natural beauty: $30
- From Cachi and Los Cardones National Park Tour: $31
- Tour to Cafayate from Salta: $31
Tours and Activities in El Chalten
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for El Chalten are as follows:
- 3 Hours Grilled Lamb Experience in Estancia Bonanza: $220
- Charms of Mendoza Private Tour 3 Wineries with Paired Lunch: $355
- El Calafate: Viedma Glacier Cruise + El Chaltén: $272
- Rafting experience on the Rio de las Vueltas in Patagonia: $120
- Rio de las Vueltas Rafting Experience - El Chalten: $120
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySalta $5.54El Chalten $5.84
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: $29
- Cafayate: Full-day winery tour and wine tasting: $29
- From Full-Day Tour to Cafayate with Wine Tasting: $30
- From Cafayate Day Trip with Wine Tasting: $40
- Half Day Wine Tasting in Salta: $145
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Salta and El Chalten, we can see that El Chalten 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 El Chalten would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in El Chalten 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 Salta Expensive? and Is El Chalten Expensive?.
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.