Which place is cheaper, Puerto Madryn or Salto?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Salto or Puerto Madryn?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Salto or Puerto Madryn, 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 Puerto Madryn?
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.
Puerto Madryn
Puerto Madryn is mostly known as the gateway to Peninsula Valdes, welcoming tourists who come for whale watching. The Peninsula Valdes is a nature reserve designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site; 97 km long and 63 km wide, it is connected to the continent by an isthmus of 35 km from which we can see both gulfs, San Jose at north and the Nuevo at south.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best 2-Week Tours in Argentina, and The Best 3-Week Tours in Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySalto $71Puerto Madryn $14
The average daily cost (per person) in Salto is $71, while the average daily cost in Puerto Madryn is $14. 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 Puerto Madryn in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSalto $30Puerto Madryn $5.25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSalto $60Puerto Madryn $11
Compare Hotels in Salto and Puerto Madryn
Looking for a hotel in Salto or Puerto Madryn? 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 Puerto Madryn Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Salto $22Puerto Madryn $3.28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Madryn
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Madryn:
- From Punta Tombo Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $131
- Trelew Airport Shuttle Transfer To Puerto Madryn : $47
Is it cheaper to fly into Salto or Puerto Madryn?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Madryn 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 $25Puerto Madryn $5.69
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Salto $18Puerto Madryn $5.77
Typical Entertainment Prices in Puerto Madryn
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Puerto Madryn are as follows:
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Whale Watching for Two$0.35
Tours and Activities in Puerto Madryn
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Madryn are as follows:
- Kayaking adventure in Puerto Madryn: $60
- Excursion to Punta Loma and Puerto Madryn for Cruisers: $60
- From City and Punta Loma Tour: $70
- Shore Excursion: Punta Loma+City Tour, for cruise passengers: $70
- Punta Loma Shore Excursion with City tour: $75
- Punta Loma Excursion for Cruise Passengers: $75
- Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience - optional Whale Watching : $87
- Punta Tombo Tour, the Penguin Experience: $90
- Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience: $90
- Shore Excursion Punta Loma Sea Lions Reserve Including Puerto Madryn City Tour : $95
- 4 x 4 experience around Puerto Madryn: $100
- Wonderful Punta Tombo Penguin Rookery Tour : $100
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySalto $13Puerto Madryn $3.13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Salto and Puerto Madryn, we can see that Salto is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Madryn much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Puerto Madryn would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Madryn 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 Salto would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Salto than you might in Puerto Madryn.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Salto Expensive? and Is Puerto Madryn Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Salto or Puerto Madryn?
Salto has a larger population, and is about 55% larger than the population of Puerto Madryn. When comparing the sizes of Salto and Puerto Madryn, 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.
When is the best time to visit Salto or Puerto Madryn?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit Salto or Puerto Madryn in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Salto and Puerto Madryn.
Salto is a little warmer than Puerto Madryn in the summer. The daily temperature in Salto averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).
Salto gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Salto usually receives more rain than Puerto Madryn. Salto gets 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuarySalto 25°C (77°F)Puerto Madryn 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Salto or Puerto Madryn in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Salto as well as Puerto Madryn.
In the autumn, Salto is a little warmer than Puerto Madryn. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Salto in April average around 19°C (65°F), and Puerto Madryn averages at about 14°C (58°F).
Salto receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Salto usually gets more rain in April than Puerto Madryn. Salto gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilSalto 19°C (65°F)Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Salto or Puerto Madryn in the Winter?
Both Puerto Madryn and Salto are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.
In July, Salto is generally much warmer than Puerto Madryn. Daily temperatures in Salto average around 12°C (54°F), and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).
It's quite sunny in Puerto Madryn. Salto usually receives less sunshine than Puerto Madryn during winter. Salto gets 158 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Madryn receives 209 hours of full sun in the winter.
In July, Salto usually receives more rain than Puerto Madryn. Salto gets 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulySalto 12°C (54°F)Puerto Madryn 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Salto or Puerto Madryn in the Spring?
Both Puerto Madryn and Salto during the spring are popular places to visit.
Salto is a little warmer than Puerto Madryn in the spring. The daily temperature in Salto averages around 18°C (64°F) in October, and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Salto. Salto usually gets more rain in October than Puerto Madryn. Salto gets 117 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberSalto 18°C (64°F)Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Puerto Madryn and Salto
| Salto | Puerto Madryn | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 127 mm (5 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Mar | 22°C (71°F) | 155 mm (6.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 19°C (65°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Jun | 12°C (54°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Jul | 12°C (54°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 13°C (56°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Sep | 15°C (59°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) | 11°C (53°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (69°F) | 127 mm (5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (74°F) | 119 mm (4.7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
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.