Which place is cheaper, Mendoza 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 Mendoza?
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 Mendoza can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Salta or Mendoza?
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.
Mendoza
Mendoza is a city in western Argentina and more precisely in the desertic Cuyo region. Mendoza is the center of the Argentinian wine industry and is famed around the world for its vineyards and wine production. Spread across the valley of the Rio Mendoza and in the foothills of the Andean mountain range, Mendoza is also near the Aconcagua, the highest mountain outside of the Himalayas. The bustling and scenic city of wide, leafy avenues, atmospheric plazas and cosmopolitan cafes spoils visitors with unique natural attractions and historical landmarks. If you can, visit Mendoza during the harvest festival at the end of February. There are many events and festivals in Mendoza and they are usually free. Each has a different theme, and they usually have a stage with singing and dancing and booths that sell food around a plaza. Seventy percent of Argentina's wines are produced here, and Mendoza is especially known for its world-famous malbecs.
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 PricesMendoza Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySalta $44Mendoza $56
The average daily cost (per person) in Salta is $44, while the average daily cost in Mendoza is $56. 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 Mendoza in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSalta $31Mendoza $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSalta $62Mendoza $84
Compare Hotels in Salta and Mendoza
Looking for a hotel in Salta or Mendoza? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Salta $3.11Mendoza $4.15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salta
Also for Salta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Salta Airport: $8.99
- Saver Combo: Cafayate, Cachi, Salt Fields, Transfers and Walking: $179
- Shared 1-Way or Round Trip SLA Airport Transfer: $10
- Private 1-Way or Round Trip SLA Airport Transfer: $37
- Cafayate Wine Tour with Tastings and Transfers: $180
- Salta City Tour & Round Trip Transfers airport - hotel: $109
- Salta Airport Shuttle Transfer: $15
- Salta Airport One-Way or Round-Trip Transfers: $60
- Private Transfer from Salta Airport to Cafayate: $190
- Private Transfer from Salta Airport: $20
- Humahuaca, 7-color Hill & round trip transfers airport - hotel in Salta: $167
- From Salinas and Hornocal 2-Day Tour with Transfer: $99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mendoza
Also for Mendoza, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Ushuaia: Transfer Ida & Volta para Cerro Castor desde hotel: $25
- Transportation around Mendoza or others states!!! Trips.. transfers: $35
- Termas Cacheuta Water Park with transfer: $50
- Sunset Electronic Music Party at Las Palapas with Transfers: $220
- Pulenta Estate Wine Tasting+Lunch at Ruca Malen. Private Transfer: $260
- Private Wine, Empanadas and Choripán Tour with Transfers: $120
- Private Transfers in Mendoza and Lujan de Cuyo: $45
- Private Transfers Airport Hotel in Mendoza: $11
- Private Transfer in Mendoza I Personal Driver: $30
- Private Transfer Mendoza Airport MDZ to Lujan de Cuyo or Maipu: $38
- Private Transfer Lujan de Cuyo or Maipu to Mendoza Airport MDZ: $38
- Private One Way Transfer from Mendoza Airport to Hotel: $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Salta or Mendoza?
Prices for flights to both Mendoza 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 $5.37Mendoza $5.80
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mendoza
For Mendoza, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Mendoza Meals Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $95
- Mendoza Meals Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $99
- 3h Cooking Class in Mendoza with 7 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $110
- Original Asado Cooking Class at a Local's Home: $114
- 4-Hour Argentine Cooking Class at Grazie Mille Winery: $125
- Cooking Class with 7 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $150
- City Tour with Dinner at a Local Restaurant: $164
- Full-Day Small-Group Mendoza Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $194
- Horseback Riding at Sunset and Dinner in Mendoza: $205
- Horseback Riding at Sunset and Dinner at an Estancia in Mendoza: $210
- Tango Show with Dinner at Hualta Winery Hotel: $220
- Casa Vigil (the enemy) + Dinner + Guided tour: $250
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Salta $27Mendoza $23
Tours and Activities in Salta
For Salta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2-Day Tour to Cachi and Los Cardones National Park: $57
- 3 Day Tour from Salta to Cachi, Humahuaca and Salinas Grandes: $92
- Adventure in the Great Salt Flats in the White Desert: $55
- Best of Guided City Tour: $51
- Cachi Full Day Tour with Los Cardones National Park: $42
- Cachi and Salinas Grandes: 2-Day Tour – Hills and Incredible Landscapes: $104
- Cachi: Scenic Route and Local Experience from Salta: $29
- City Tour Salta and San Lorenzo: $32
- City Tour Salta and San Lorenzo: $33
- Colorful mountains and endless salt: Salinas + Purmamarca tour: $33
- Exclusive day-long private tour of Cafayate vineyards: $278
- Experience an authentic Salta peña with local musicians: $49
Tours and Activities in Mendoza
For Mendoza, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2 Wineries & Olive Oil Experience with Lunch. Private Transport: $130
- 3 Wineries & Olive Oil Experience with Private Transport: $100
- 3 Winery Tour with Lunch and Blend Set: $150
- 3-hour Mendoza Tasting Tour with 34 Traditional Argentine Flavors: $95
- 3-hour Mendoza Tasting Tour: 34 Authentic Argentine Flavors: $86
- 4WD Adventure in Explore the Villavicencio Reserve: $132
- Aconcagua & Puente del Inca Full Day Tour from Mendoza with Lunch: $110
- Adrenaline Canopy Tour on the Mendoza River: $173
- Adventure & Flavor: Breakfast, Rafting & Asado in Mendoza: $220
- Adventure Day in Potrerillos, Rafting, Canopy or Trekking: $242
- Adventure Park - Unforgettable Challenge!: $39
- Adventure and Relaxation in Mendoza Rafting and Cacheuta Springs: $237
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySalta $5.46Mendoza $5.90
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: $147
Sample the Local Flavors in Mendoza
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Mendoza:
- Walking & Wine Tasting Tour & San Martin Park Gate: $17
- Burlesque Cabaret Show with Wine: $20
- Wine, Distillery & Chocolate Tour with Tastings: $39
- Mendoza Wine Tasting at Bodega Ciclo Andino with Snacks: $39
- Half-Day Wine Tour with Tastings: $41
- Classic Wine Tasting: $44
- La Histórica Winery Tour and Wine Tasting: $48
- Premium Wine Tasting: $66
- Winery tours in Mendoza, wine tasting and lunches: $90
- El Enemigo and Casa Vigil Wine Tour: $93
- Wine Tour, Paired Lunch and Olive Oil Tasting from Mendoza: $95
- Classic Wine Tour on a Budget. Lunch. Private Driver: $120
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Salta and Mendoza, we can see that Mendoza 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 Mendoza would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mendoza 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 Mendoza Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Salta or Mendoza?
Mendoza has a larger population, and is about 71% larger than the population of Salta. When comparing the sizes of Salta and Mendoza, 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.