Which place is cheaper, Isla de Ometepe or Salvador?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Salvador or Isla de Ometepe?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Salvador or Isla de Ometepe, 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 Isla de Ometepe?
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.
Isla de Ometepe
Ometepe is a dramatically beautiful island in Lake Nicaragua in the country of Nicaragua. The island is the largest in the lake and is formed by two dramatic twin volcanoes that climb high from the water's surface. The two volcanoes are Concepcion and Maderas, and they are joined by an isthmus to make one island with an area of 276 square kilometers. The island is 31 kilometers long and between 5 and 10 kilometers wide. There are several small settlements on the island as well as a few coffee plantations. It is also one of the top sights in the country and makes for a unique travel destination.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to Brazil, The Best G Adventures Tours to Brazil, The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySalvador $44Isla de Ometepe $34
The average daily cost (per person) in Salvador is $44, while the average daily cost in Isla de Ometepe is $34. 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 Isla de Ometepe in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSalvador $24Isla de Ometepe $13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSalvador $48Isla de Ometepe $26
Compare Hotels in Salvador and Isla de Ometepe
Looking for a hotel in Salvador or Isla de Ometepe? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Salvador $6.02Isla de Ometepe $11
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:
- Shared Transfer from the Airport to Hotels: $16
- Arrival or Departure Shared Transfer from Airport to hotels in Salvador: $16
- Transfers: Airport, Hotels, Maritime Terminals, Bus Station.: $23
- Tourism and Transfer Salvador and Morro de São Paulo: $24
- Transfer Salvador Airport / Hotel Litoral Norte: $24
- Transfer Hotel in Salvador / Salvador Airport: $24
- Transfer Salvador Airport / Hotel in Salvador: $24
- Praia do Forte Shared Transfer From Salvador : $28
- Private Transfer from Salvador to Salvador de Bahia Cruise Port: $29
- Salvador to Salvador de Bahia Airport: Departure Private Transfer: $29
- Salvador Airport (SSA) to Salvador - Arrival Private Transfer: $29
- Private Transfer from Salvador de Bahia Cruise Port to Salvador : $29
Is it cheaper to fly into Salvador or Isla de Ometepe?
Prices for flights to both Isla de Ometepe 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 $13Isla de Ometepe $13
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 Cooking Experience with local in Salvador: $130
- Salvador by Night: Cultural Dinner and Show: $132
- Cultural Folkloric Show and Dinner in Salvador: $140
- Baiana Cooking Class with Market Visit & Lunch: $152
- Bahia By Night: Dinner and Folkloric show: $195
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Salvador $5.67Isla de Ometepe $13
Tours and Activities in Salvador
Here are a few actual costs in Salvador for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Salvador, Vitória & Barra: Scavenger Hunt Self-Guided Tour: $7.65
- Salvador, Pelourinho: Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $7.65
- Salvador Sights Self Guided Tour (Vitória and Barra): $7.84
- Walking tour historic Pelourinho: $13
- Panoramic City Tour - Half Day in Salvador: $19
- Historic City Tour - Half Day in Salvador: $19
- Full Day Tour to Frades Islands + Itaparica: $22
- Regular Tour to Forte Beach - Leaving Salvador by Bahia Top Turismo: $24
- Panoramic Tour, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil: $25
- Salvador Panoramic City Tour: $25
- Historic City Tour in Salvador: $25
- Bahia 500 Years Historic Tour, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil: $25
Tours and Activities in Isla de Ometepe
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Isla de Ometepe are as follows:
- A great tour day for the ISLAND OF OMETEPE.: $80
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySalvador $5.38Isla de Ometepe $8.85
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Salvador and Isla de Ometepe, we can see that Salvador is more expensive. And not only is Isla de Ometepe much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Salvador is in South America and Isla de Ometepe is in Central 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 Isla de Ometepe would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Isla de Ometepe 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 Salvador would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Salvador than you might in Isla de Ometepe.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Salvador Expensive? and Is Isla de Ometepe Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Salvador or Isla de Ometepe?
Salvador has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Isla de Ometepe experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Salvador or Isla de Ometepe in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Salvador and Isla de Ometepe. Isla de Ometepe attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the summer, Salvador is around the same temperature as Isla de Ometepe. Typically, the summer temperatures in Salvador in January average around 27°C (81°F), and Isla de Ometepe averages at about 27°C (81°F)in July.
In Salvador, it's very sunny this time of the year. Salvador usually receives more sunshine than Isla de Ometepe during summer. Salvador gets 246 hours of sunny skies, while Isla de Ometepe receives 175 hours of full sun in the summer.
Isla de Ometepe receives a lot of rain in the summer. Salvador gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Salvador usually receives around the same amount of rain as Isla de Ometepein July. Salvador gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Isla de Ometepe receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulySalvador 27°C (81°F)Isla de Ometepe 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Salvador or Isla de Ometepe in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Salvador as well as Isla de Ometepe. The warm climate attracts visitors to Isla de Ometepe throughout the year.
In April, Salvador is generally around the same temperature as Isla de Ometepein October. Daily temperatures in Salvador average around 26°C (80°F), and Isla de Ometepe fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
In the autumn, Salvador often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Isla de Ometepein October. Salvador gets 190 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Isla de Ometepe receives 195 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Isla de Ometepe. Salvador receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Salvador usually gets more rain in April than Isla de Ometepein October. Salvador gets 310 mm (12.2 in) of rain, while Isla de Ometepe receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberSalvador 26°C (80°F)Isla de Ometepe 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Salvador or Isla de Ometepe in the Winter?
Both Isla de Ometepe and Salvador are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Isla de Ometepe because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Salvador is around the same temperature as Isla de Ometepe in the winter. The daily temperature in Salvador averages around 24°C (75°F) in July, and Isla de Ometepe fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in January.
It's quite sunny in Isla de Ometepe. Salvador usually receives less sunshine than Isla de Ometepe during winter. Salvador gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Isla de Ometepe receives 244 hours of full sun in the winter.
It's quite rainy in Salvador. In July, Salvador usually receives more rain than Isla de Ometepein January. Salvador gets 175 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Isla de Ometepe receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuarySalvador 24°C (75°F)Isla de Ometepe 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Salvador or Isla de Ometepe in the Spring?
Both Isla de Ometepe and Salvador during the spring are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Isla de Ometepe year-round.
In the spring, Salvador is cooler than Isla de Ometepe. Typically, the spring temperatures in Salvador in October average around 26°C (78°F), and Isla de Ometepe averages at about 29°C (84°F)in April.
In Isla de Ometepe, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Salvador. In the spring, Salvador often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Isla de Ometepein April. Salvador gets 228 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Isla de Ometepe receives 242 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Salvador. Salvador usually gets more rain in October than Isla de Ometepein April. Salvador gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Isla de Ometepe receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilSalvador 26°C (78°F)Isla de Ometepe 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Isla de Ometepe and Salvador
| Salvador | Isla de Ometepe | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 310 mm (12.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 360 mm (14.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (76°F) | 244 mm (9.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (75°F) | 175 mm (6.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 127 mm (5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (77°F) | 102 mm (4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (78°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (80°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 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.