Which place is cheaper, Cancun or Salto?
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 Salto or Cancun?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Salto or Cancun, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Salto or Cancun?
Salto
Salto is in the citrus growing region of Northern Interior Uruguay, on the east bank of the Rio Uruguay. It is closely connected to the neighboring Argentinian city of Concordia that lies across the river on the western bank. Salto is Uruguay's second-largest city and the most northerly crossing point to Argentina. Salto is a very picturesque city that has a relaxing feel the entire year. However, people mostly come here for the nearby hot springs and the recreation area above the enormous Salto Grande hydroelectric dam.
Cancun
In the northeast corner of the Mexican Caribbean, Cancun is one of Mexico's most popular destinations. The area that is now Cancun was actually selected specifically by the Mexican government for development as a tourist destination. The area was chosen because it has fourteen miles of beautiful white beaches, nearby Mayan ruins, and turquoise blue water with nearby snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities. Prior to its development as a tourist destination, there were few inhabitants in the area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun.
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Salto Prices
Uruguay PricesCancun Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySalto $85Cancun $162
The average daily cost (per person) in Salto is $85, while the average daily cost in Cancun is $162. 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 Salto and Cancun in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSalto $29Cancun $94
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSalto $58Cancun $188
Compare Hotels in Salto and Cancun
Looking for a hotel in Salto or Cancun? 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: Salto Hotel Prices and Cancun Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Salto $21Cancun $17
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cancun
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cancun:
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Taxi Around Town$1.61
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Airport Shuttle (for 2)$13
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Ferry to Isla de Mujeres (for 2)$16
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Local Bus (for 2)$1.96
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cancun
Also for Cancun, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer (Can-cun, Playa del Carmen & Tulum): $112
- Airport Transfer Cancun: $60
- Airport Transfer to Tulum: $160
- Airport Transfers to Costa Mujeres - Private van (ROUND TRIP) FLAT RATE: $227
- Airport Transfers to Puerto Juarez - Private van (ROUND TRIP) FLAT RATE: $177
- Airport Transfers to Puerto Morelos - Private van (ROUND TRIP) FLAT RATE: $154
- Akumal One Way Or Roundtrip Private Transfer: $139
- Arrival Private Transfer Cancun Airport CUN to Cancun by Minivan or Minibus: $29
- Atv Cancun (cenote, Ziplines, Lunch And Transfer Included): $49
- Best SpeedBoat and Snorkeling tour with Transfer from Cancun: $29
- Buggy Trip in Cozumel Island with transfer from Riviera Maya: $207
- Cancún Airport (CUN) Cancun hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $75
Is it cheaper to fly into Salto or Cancun?
Prices for flights to both Cancun and Salto 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 daySalto $41Cancun $48
Typical Food Prices in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Street Food Tour in Cancun with a Local Guide: $61
- Cancun Street Food Tour with Food Stalls, Local Market and Murals: $64
- Cancun Street Food Tour – Local Market & Downtown Experience: $69
- Tortilla Trails Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $69
- Cancun Food Tour - Taco Attack: Street Food & Tequila Tasting: $69
- Cancun Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $78
- Cancun Taco & Mexican Food Tour with Tequila Tasting: $79
- Cancun Hands-On Mexican Cooking Class: $79
- Pirate Night! Dinner, Fun and Show at Cancun Couples Special: $80
- Cancun Private Mural Art and Food Tour: $81
- Puerto Morelos Walking Food Tour: $82
- Cancun Walking Food Tour: Local Food, Markets, and Street Art.: $82
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Salto $17Cancun $34
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cancun
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cancun's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Seasick Pills$0.58
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Whale Shark Tour (for 2)$98
Tours and Activities in Cancun
For Cancun, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 7 Days Self Guided AI Audio Tours to Cancun and Yucatan: $12
- Speedboat jungle tour and snorkel: $15
- Discover Isla Mujeres tour with snorkel, buffet and open bar: $15
- Shared Speedboat and Snorkeling Adventure in Cancun: $15
- Isla Mujeres Catamaran Snorkeling and Open Bar Adventure: $16
- Speedboat and Snorkeling Adventure in Cancun: $16
- Tour to Isla Mujeres with Snorkeling: $17
- Full-Day Catamaran Tour to Isla Mujeres from Cancun with Lunch: $17
- Cancun Clearboat Tour express tour for photos!: $17
- Mayan Culture and Speedboat Adventure in Cancun: $18
- Speedboat and Snorkeling Adventure in Cancun: $18
- Isla Mujeres Catamaran Tour with Snorkeling Spinnaker and Lunch: $18
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySalto $13Cancun $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Cancun
Also in Cancun, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- A bespoke wine tastings crafted for unforgettable moments: $86
- Bar Crawl Madness Tour in Cancun: $115
- Brewery Tour Craft Beer Tasting Cancun Mexico: $130
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Salto and Cancun, we can see that Cancun is more expensive. And not only is Salto much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Salto is in South America and Cancun is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Salto would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Salto 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 Cancun would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cancun than you might in Salto.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Salto Expensive? and Is Cancun Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Salto or Cancun?
Cancun has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Salto. When comparing the sizes of Salto and Cancun, 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.