Which place is cheaper, Florianopolis or Salvador?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Salvador or Florianopolis?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Salvador or Florianopolis, 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: Salvador or Florianopolis?
Salvador
Salvador de Bahia was the first capital of Brazil, founded by the Portuguese in 1549. Also known as "Brazil's capital of happiness," Salvador is famous for its plentiful and spirited street festivals. The third most populous city in Brazil, Salvador is also well-known for its Afro-Brazilian culture and Portuguese colonial architecture.
Florianopolis
With a population of almost 500,000, Florianopolis is the capital city of the state of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil. The city is split between mainland Brazil and Santa Catarina Island.
Florianopolis has grown in popularity with tourists recently because of its wonderful scenery, beautiful beaches, and fascinating culture. Many Brazilians have also moved here, leaving behind the big cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
Florianopolis has a warm humid subtropical climate. There are summer, winter, spring and fall seasons. Frosts are rare but do occur occasionally. Highs during the warmest months are usually in the high 70s Fahrenheit. Rain is evenly distributed throughout the year and there is no distinct dry season.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Brazil, The Best Jungle Trekking Tours in Brazil, and The Best Luxury Tours to Brazil.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySalvador $44Florianopolis $62
The average daily cost (per person) in Salvador is $44, while the average daily cost in Florianopolis is $62. 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 Salvador and Florianopolis in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSalvador $24Florianopolis $26
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSalvador $48Florianopolis $52
Compare Hotels in Salvador and Florianopolis
Looking for a hotel in Salvador or Florianopolis? 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: Salvador Hotel Prices and Florianopolis Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Salvador $6.02Florianopolis $13
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Salvador
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Salvador:
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Bus from Airport$1.17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salvador
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Salvador:
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Salvador HTL-APT(SSA): $66
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Salvador APT-HTL(SSA): $66
- Transfers between Salvador and Barra Grande Maraú: $280
- Transfer: Salvador to/from Praia do Forte/Guarajuba: $60
- Transfer: Salvador to/from Boipeba Island: $126
- Transfer to Iberostar Selection Praia do Forte or Bahia: $42
- Transfer in Salvador: $137
- Transfer from Salvador Airport to North Coast of Bahia: $98
- Transfer between Salvador Airport and Costa do Sauipe: $92
- Transfer Vila Galé Mares (Guarajuba) - Executive Van - Private: $118
- Transfer Vila Galé Marés (Guarajuba) - Private: $39
- Transfer Salvador to Barra Grande Round Trip: $300
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Florianopolis
Also for Florianopolis, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Florianópolis Airport Transfer anywhere on the island by Floripa Nativa: $39
- Hercilio Luz Airport - North Island Transfer: $14
- One Way Transfer : Florianopolis Airport to or from Florianopolis: $64
- Private Transfer Florianópolis Airport to City Center: $31
- Private Transfer Florianopolis Airport to Bal. Camboriu: $96
- Private Transfer from FLN Airport to the City Balneario Camboriú : $83
- Private Transfer from Florianópolis Airport to Bombinhas: $97
- Roundtrip transfer from Florianópolis Airport to Bombinhas: $168
- Shared transfer from Florianópolis airport to Balneário Camboriú: $35
- Transfer Florianópolis Airport / Costão do Santinho: $76
Is it cheaper to fly into Salvador or Florianopolis?
Prices for flights to both Florianopolis and Salvador 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 daySalvador $13Florianopolis $22
Typical Food Prices in Salvador
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Salvador:
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Dinner for 2$1.37
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Salvador
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Salvador.
- 7-Recipe Boozy Cooking Class in Salvador: $75
- 7-Recipe Boozy Cooking Class in Salvador: $75
- Private Bahian Cooking Class - An Amazing Experience!: $113
- Salvador by Night: Cultural Dinner and Show: $130
- Private Cooking Experience with local in Salvador: $130
- Cultural Folkloric Show and Dinner in Salvador: $140
- Baiana Cooking Class with Market Visit & Lunch: $150
- Bahia By Night: Dinner and Folkloric show: $195
Typical Food Prices in Florianopolis
For Florianopolis, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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A Quick Snack$0.44
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Salvador $5.67Florianopolis $26
Tours and Activities in Salvador
Here are a few actual costs in Salvador for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Afro-Brazilian Roots city Tour in Salvador with lunch at Favela: $150
- Afro-Brazilian Roots Private City Tour in Salvador": $100
- Bahia 500 Years Historic Tour, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil: $25
- Bike Rentals and Bike Tours: $141
- Cachoeira Countryside Flavor Private Tour from Salvador: $160
- Candomblé Cerimony Tour: $60
- Candomble Religion Mysteries Private Tour in Salvador: $80
- City Tour in Salvador Discover the first capital of Brazil - En: $137
- Costa de Camaçari Beach and Praia Tour: $129
- Cruise Ship Special Private Tour Salvador da Bahia Historic Old Town Bonfim and Barra: $151
- Easy Diving - Lord Beach Snorkeling - Leaving Forte Beach by Emytour: $33
- Fort Beach Tour and Tamar Project: $108
Typical Entertainment Prices in Florianopolis
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Florianopolis's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Internet$0.59
Tours and Activities in Florianopolis
For Florianopolis, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Walking Tour Historic Center of Florianópolis: $12
- Historic Center Walking Tour in Florianopolis with Local Bar Hop: $14
- Bombinhas Beach and 4 Islands Tour: $22
- Shared Shuttle between Florianópolis Airport and Hotel with optional City Tour: $23
- Florianópolis Full Day City Tour: $25
- Rafting Adventure in Apuama - Rio Cubatão in Greater Florianópolis: $29
- Floripa City Tour by Bus - Whole Island - The Most Complete City Tour: $31
- Balneário Camboriú City Tour from Florianópolis: $35
- Tour Balneario Camboriu and Laranjeiras Beach TELEFERICO INCLUDED: $36
- Blumenau City Tour - departing from Florianópolis: $37
- Blumenau City Tour from Florianópolis: $38
- Lagoinha do Leste Hiking and Photography Adventure : $41
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySalvador $5.38Florianopolis $8.68
Typical Alcohol Prices in Salvador
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Salvador:
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Beers for 2$1.37
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Drinks$2.74
Sample the Local Flavors in Salvador
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Salvador:
- Tropical Night Samba Drinks Pub crawl in Salvador: $105
Typical Alcohol Prices in Florianopolis
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Florianopolis from other travelers:
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Beer$0.59
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Salvador and Florianopolis, we can see that Florianopolis is more expensive. And not only is Salvador much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Salvador would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Salvador 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 Florianopolis would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Florianopolis than you might in Salvador.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Salvador Expensive? and Is Florianopolis Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Salvador or Florianopolis?
Salvador has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Florianopolis. When comparing the sizes of Salvador and Florianopolis, 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 Salvador or Florianopolis?
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 Salvador or Florianopolis in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Salvador as well as Florianopolis.
In January, Salvador is generally around the same temperature as Florianopolis. Daily temperatures in Salvador average around 27°C (81°F), and Florianopolis fluctuates around 25°C (76°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Salvador this time of the year. In the summer, Salvador often gets more sunshine than Florianopolis. Salvador gets 246 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Florianopolis receives 198 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Florianopolis. Salvador receives a lot of rain in the summer. Salvador usually gets less rain in January than Florianopolis. Salvador gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Florianopolis receives 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuarySalvador 27°C (81°F)Florianopolis 25°C (76°F)
Should I visit Salvador or Florianopolis in the Autumn?
Both Florianopolis and Salvador are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
Salvador is a little warmer than Florianopolis in the autumn. The daily temperature in Salvador averages around 26°C (80°F) in April, and Florianopolis fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).
Salvador usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Florianopolis during autumn. Salvador gets 190 hours of sunny skies, while Florianopolis receives 179 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Salvador. In April, Salvador usually receives more rain than Florianopolis. Salvador gets 310 mm (12.2 in) of rain, while Florianopolis receives 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilSalvador 26°C (80°F)Florianopolis 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Salvador or Florianopolis in the Winter?
Both Florianopolis and Salvador during the winter are popular places to visit.
In the winter, Salvador is a little warmer than Florianopolis. Typically, the winter temperatures in Salvador in July average around 24°C (75°F), and Florianopolis averages at about 17°C (62°F).
In the winter, Salvador often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Florianopolis. Salvador gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Florianopolis receives 170 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Salvador. Salvador usually gets more rain in July than Florianopolis. Salvador gets 175 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Florianopolis receives 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulySalvador 24°C (75°F)Florianopolis 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Salvador or Florianopolis in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Salvador and Florianopolis.
In October, Salvador is generally a little warmer than Florianopolis. Daily temperatures in Salvador average around 26°C (78°F), and Florianopolis fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).
In Salvador, it's very sunny this time of the year. Salvador usually receives more sunshine than Florianopolis during spring. Salvador gets 228 hours of sunny skies, while Florianopolis receives 159 hours of full sun in the spring.
Florianopolis receives a lot of rain in the spring. Salvador gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Salvador usually receives around the same amount of rain as Florianopolis. Salvador gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Florianopolis receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberSalvador 26°C (78°F)Florianopolis 20°C (68°F)
Typical Weather for Florianopolis and Salvador
| Salvador | Florianopolis | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 310 mm (12.2 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 360 mm (14.2 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (76°F) | 244 mm (9.6 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (75°F) | 175 mm (6.9 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 127 mm (5 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 95 mm (3.8 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (77°F) | 102 mm (4 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (78°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (80°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 137 mm (5.4 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.