A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Salto vs. San Carlos de Bariloche for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Salto or San Carlos de Bariloche?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Salto or San Carlos de Bariloche, 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 San Carlos de Bariloche?

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.

San Carlos de Bariloche

Set in the foothills of the Andes Mountains in Argentina, San Carlos de Bariloche is the biggest city in the Lake District. Bariloche is popular for skiing and snowboarding in the winter and trekking, swimming, fishing and horseback riding in the summertime.

No matter the time of year, there is something for everyone in Bariloche. Skiing season begins from June to October while fishing season is from November to April. Summer is from December to March, but visiting during low seasons (Spring in October to December and Autumn in late-April to mid-June) also has its benefits when it comes to saving cash and avoiding crowds.

Check out our ultimate guide to Hiking in Patagonia.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, San Carlos de Bariloche or Salto?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Salto is $71, while the average daily cost in San Carlos de Bariloche is $7.40. 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 San Carlos de Bariloche in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Salto $30
    San Carlos de Bariloche $2.68
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Salto $60
    San Carlos de Bariloche $5.36
Compare Hotels in Salto and San Carlos de Bariloche

Looking for a hotel in Salto or San Carlos de Bariloche? 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 Salto


Hotels in San Carlos de Bariloche


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 San Carlos de Bariloche Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Salto $22
    San Carlos de Bariloche $2.28

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Carlos de Bariloche

Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Carlos de Bariloche:

  • Bariloche Airport Arrival Private Transfer: $106
  • Bariloche Airport Arrival Shuttle Transfer: $36
  • Bariloche Airport BRC to Cerro Catedral RoundTrip Transfer: $55
  • Bariloche Airport Departure Private Transfer: $106
  • Bariloche Airport Departure Shuttle Transfer: $36
  • Bariloche Airport Round Trip PrivateTransfer: $147
  • Bariloche Airport Round Trip Shuttle Transfer: $72
  • Bariloche: 1-Way or Round-Trip BRC Airport Transfer: $9.00
  • Bariloche: One-Way Private Transfer from Airport: $35
  • Cerro Catedral to Bariloche Airport (BRC) - Departure Transfer: $27
  • One Way Transfer from Bariloche Airport to or from Llao Llao: $60
  • Private Transfer Bariloche or Villa La Angostura to Bariloche Airport BRC by van: $69

Is it cheaper to fly into Salto or San Carlos de Bariloche?

Prices for flights to both San Carlos de Bariloche 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Salto $25
    San Carlos de Bariloche $2.78

Typical Food Prices in San Carlos de Bariloche

Some typical examples of dining costs in San Carlos de Bariloche are as follows:


  • Pastries
    $0.01
  • Empanadas
    $0.03

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Salto $18
    San Carlos de Bariloche $3.05

Tours and Activities in San Carlos de Bariloche

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Carlos de Bariloche are as follows:

  • Bariloche: 4-Hour Cerro Catedral Base Tour: $15
  • Classic Bariloche: Half-Day Sightseeing Excursion: $26
  • Bariloche: Half Day Small Circuit Tour - Mt Campanario and Llao Llao Peninsula: $28
  • German Footprint Tour: $29
  • Indigenous People of Patagonia History Tour: $29
  • German Footprint & Nazi presence - Walking Tour in Bariloche: $29
  • From Bariloche: Half-Day Circuito Chico Sightseeing Tour: $38
  • Small Circuit Tour: Mt Campanario and Llao Llao Peninsula: $39
  • Bariloche: Full-Day El Bolsón and Puelo Lake Tour: $42
  • Private Tour of Bariloche and Los Balcones Panoramicos: $54
  • Half-Day Tour to Circuito Chico and Cerro Catedral with Transportation: $56
  • 4-Hour Guided Tour of the Small Circuit: $60

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Salto $13
    San Carlos de Bariloche $1.83

Typical Alcohol Prices in San Carlos de Bariloche

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in San Carlos de Bariloche from other travelers:


  • Beer
    $0.01


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Salto and San Carlos de Bariloche, we can see that Salto is more expensive. And not only is San Carlos de Bariloche much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Carlos de Bariloche would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Carlos de Bariloche 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 San Carlos de Bariloche.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Salto Expensive? and Is San Carlos de Bariloche Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Salto or San Carlos de Bariloche?

Salto has a larger population, and is about 5% larger than the population of San Carlos de Bariloche. When comparing the sizes of Salto and San Carlos de Bariloche, 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.