Which place is cheaper, Punta Arenas or Salto?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Salto or Punta Arenas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Salto or Punta Arenas, 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 Punta Arenas?
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.
Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas is in the far south of Chile and has a long history of maritime commerce, oil extraction, and sheep farming. It's the most populated city on the Strait of Magellan and has all the facilities you might need as a traveler, including banks, markets, drugstores and equipment shops. With a population of about 130,000, the city is a comfortable place to spend time. It serves as a base for Antarctic expeditions, although many expeditions also start in Ushuaia, Argentina, and Christchurch New Zealand.
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 Santiago, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySalto $71Punta Arenas $63
The average daily cost (per person) in Salto is $71, while the average daily cost in Punta Arenas is $63. 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 Punta Arenas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSalto $30Punta Arenas $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSalto $60Punta Arenas $64
Compare Hotels in Salto and Punta Arenas
Looking for a hotel in Salto or Punta Arenas? 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 Punta Arenas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Salto $22Punta Arenas $1.80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Arenas
Also for Punta Arenas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Punta Arenas Airport to/from Punta Arenas: $33
- Private Transfer from Punta Arenas Port to Punta Arenas hotels: $64
- Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ) to Punta Arenas - Arrival Transfer: $49
- Transfer from Punta Arenas (city or airport) to Puerto Natales: $267
Is it cheaper to fly into Salto or Punta Arenas?
Prices for flights to both Punta Arenas 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 $25Punta Arenas $21
Typical Food Prices in Punta Arenas
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Punta Arenas:
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Donut$1.05
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Dinner$25
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Salto $18Punta Arenas $6.44
Tours and Activities in Punta Arenas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta Arenas.
- City Sightseeing and Monuments Guided Tour: $52
- Regular city cruise tour: $65
- Fort Bulnes cruises: $70
- Bike Tour in Punta Arenas, 100% local tour.: $70
- Punta Arenas Sightseeing Tour: $72
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $138
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $145
- Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas: $153
- Punta Arenas Private City Tour Shore Excursion: $155
- Magallanes Reserva and City Tour. Private Shore Excursion.: $158
- Full day Torres del Paine from Punta Arenas ,Regular tours: $180
- Mountain Bike Adventure in Punta Arenas: $192
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySalto $13Punta Arenas $4.86
Typical Alcohol Prices in Punta Arenas
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Punta Arenas:
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Alcohol$7.34
When comparing the travel costs between Salto and Punta Arenas, we can see that Salto is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Salto Expensive? and Is Punta Arenas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Salto or Punta Arenas?
Punta Arenas has a larger population, and is about 18% larger than the population of Salto. When comparing the sizes of Salto and Punta Arenas, 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 Punta Arenas?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit Salto or Punta Arenas in the Summer?
Both Punta Arenas and Salto during the summer are popular places to visit.
Salto is much warmer than Punta Arenas in the summer. The daily temperature in Salto averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
In Punta Arenas, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Salto. In the summer, Salto often gets more sunshine than Punta Arenas. Salto gets 262 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Punta Arenas receives 208 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Salto. Salto usually gets more rain in January than Punta Arenas. Salto gets 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuarySalto 25°C (77°F)Punta Arenas 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Salto or Punta Arenas in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Salto and Punta Arenas.
In the autumn, Salto is much warmer than Punta Arenas. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Salto in April average around 19°C (65°F), and Punta Arenas averages at about 7°C (44°F).
Salto usually receives more sunshine than Punta Arenas during autumn. Salto gets 182 hours of sunny skies, while Punta Arenas receives 119 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Salto gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Salto usually receives more rain than Punta Arenas. Salto gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilSalto 19°C (65°F)Punta Arenas 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Salto or Punta Arenas in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Salto as well as Punta Arenas.
It's quite cold in Punta Arenas in the winter. In July, Salto is generally much warmer than Punta Arenas. Daily temperatures in Salto average around 12°C (54°F), and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 1°C (35°F).
In the winter, Salto often gets more sunshine than Punta Arenas. Salto gets 158 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Punta Arenas receives 70 hours of full sun.
Salto usually gets more rain in July than Punta Arenas. Salto gets 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulySalto 12°C (54°F)Punta Arenas 1°C (35°F)
Should I visit Salto or Punta Arenas in the Spring?
Both Punta Arenas and Salto are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
Salto is much warmer than Punta Arenas in the spring. The daily temperature in Salto averages around 18°C (64°F) in October, and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Salto. Salto usually receives more sunshine than Punta Arenas during spring. Salto gets 243 hours of sunny skies, while Punta Arenas receives 183 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Salto. In October, Salto usually receives more rain than Punta Arenas. Salto gets 117 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberSalto 18°C (64°F)Punta Arenas 7°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Punta Arenas and Salto
| Salto | Punta Arenas | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 127 mm (5 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Mar | 22°C (71°F) | 155 mm (6.1 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 19°C (65°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jun | 12°C (54°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jul | 12°C (54°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 1°C (35°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 13°C (56°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 15°C (59°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (69°F) | 127 mm (5 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (74°F) | 119 mm (4.7 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 29 mm (1.1 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.