A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Salta vs. Torres del Paine National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Salta or Torres del Paine National Park?

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 Torres del Paine National Park can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Salta or Torres del Paine National Park?

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.

Torres del Paine National Park

The Torres del Paine National Park is located in the extreme south of Patagonian Chile. Situated in the southern part of the Andes, the National Park is full of stunning mountains, lakes, rock formations, and glaciers, making it a hiker's paradise. The best time to visit is between November and April, which is their spring and summer. Be prepared though, as weather can change dramatically when traveling through the park, no matter the season!

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Torres del Paine National Park or Salta?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Salta Prices
    Argentina Prices
    Torres del Paine National Park Prices
    Chile Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Salta $45
    Torres del Paine National Park $96

The average daily cost (per person) in Salta is $45, while the average daily cost in Torres del Paine National Park is $96. 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 Torres del Paine National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Salta $31
    Torres del Paine National Park $31
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Salta $62
    Torres del Paine National Park $62
Compare Hotels in Salta and Torres del Paine National Park

Looking for a hotel in Salta or Torres del Paine National Park? 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.

Hotels in Salta


Hotels in Torres del Paine National Park


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Salta $3.13
    Torres del Paine National Park $32

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salta

Also for Salta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer from Salta Airport: $7.19
  • Shared Transfer from Downtown Hotels in Salta to Airport: $12
  • Saver Combo: Cafayate, Cachi, Salt Fields, Transfers and Walking: $184
  • Shared 1-Way or Round Trip SLA Airport Transfer: $8.00
  • Private 1-Way or Round Trip SLA Airport Transfer: $56
  • One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $5.50
  • Cafayate Wine Tour with Tastings and Transfers: $150
  • Salta City Tour & Round Trip Transfers airport - hotel: $109
  • Salta Airport Shuttle Transfer: $15
  • Salta Airport One-Way or Round-Trip Transfers: $45
  • Humahuaca, 7-color Hill & round trip transfers airport - hotel in Salta: $167
  • From Salinas and Hornocal 2-Day Tour with Transfer: $99

Is it cheaper to fly into Salta or Torres del Paine National Park?

Prices for flights to both Torres del Paine National Park 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Salta $5.41
    Torres del Paine National Park $42

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Salta $27
    Torres del Paine National Park $31

Tours and Activities in Salta

For Salta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Full-Day Tour to Salinas Grandes and Purmamarca From Salta: $38
  • 2-Day Tour to Cachi and Los Cardones National Park: $57
  • 3 Day Tour from Salta to Cachi, Humahuaca and Salinas Grandes: $88
  • Adventure in the North: Pack of 4 Excursions + Hornocal: $132
  • Best of Guided City Tour: $43
  • Cachi Full Day Tour with Los Cardones National Park: $34
  • Exclusive day-long private tour of Cafayate vineyards: $278
  • From Salta 3 Day Tour to Cafayate Humahuaca and Salinas Grandes: $88
  • From Cachi and Los Cardones National Park Tour: $30
  • From City Tour of the city on a half-day ride: $20
  • From Full-Day Scenic Tour to Cachi: $30
  • From Full-Day Tour to Cafayate, Land of Wines: $31

Tours and Activities in Torres del Paine National Park

For Torres del Paine National Park, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Torres del Paine: 3-Hour Scenic Boat Tour to Grey Glacier: $120

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Salta $5.50
    Torres del Paine National Park $5.38

Sample the Local Flavors in Salta

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Salta:

  • Cafayate: Full-day tour of wineries and wine tasting: $29
  • Full-day Cafayate, Lerma Valley, and Wine Tasting from Salta: $30
  • 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


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Salta and Torres del Paine National Park, we can see that Torres del Paine National Park 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 Torres del Paine National Park would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Torres del Paine National Park 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 Torres del Paine National Park Expensive?.