Which place is cheaper, La Serena or Salvador?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Salvador or La Serena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Salvador or La Serena, 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 La Serena?
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.
La Serena
La Serena is a charming town in Northern Chile. It is Chile's second-oldest city and the thriving capital of Region IV. With its beautiful architecture, its long golden shoreline, dignified stone churches, tree-shaded avenues and pretty plazas, La Serena has everything you could ask for!
Chileans on holidays flood in the city in January and February, though it is fairly peaceful outside the summer rush. Some of the city's architecture is from the colonial era, but most is actually neocolonial thanks to president Gabriel Gonzalez Videla, born in La Serena, and her 'Plan Serena' of the late 1940s.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Brazil, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Chile, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySalvador $44La Serena $87
The average daily cost (per person) in Salvador is $44, while the average daily cost in La Serena is $87. 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 La Serena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSalvador $24La Serena $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSalvador $48La Serena $84
Compare Hotels in Salvador and La Serena
Looking for a hotel in Salvador or La Serena? 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 La Serena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Salvador $6.02La Serena $20
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: Airport, Hotels, Maritime Terminals, Bus Station.: $23
- Transfers between Salvador and Barra Grande Maraú: $284
- Transfer: Salvador to/from Praia do Forte/Guarajuba: $61
- Transfer: Salvador to/from Boipeba Island: $128
- Transfer to Iberostar Selection Praia do Forte or Bahia: $43
- Transfer in Salvador: $140
- Transfer from Salvador Airport to North Coast of Bahia: $101
- Transfer between Salvador Airport and Costa do Sauipe: $94
- Transfer Vila Galé Mares (Guarajuba) - Executive Van - Private: $120
- Transfer Vila Galé Marés (Guarajuba) - Private: $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Salvador or La Serena?
Prices for flights to both La Serena 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 $13La Serena $27
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.
- Bahia Noite - Folkloric Show and Dinner, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil: $68
- 7-Recipe Boozy Cooking Class in Salvador: $75
- 7-Recipe Boozy Cooking Class in Salvador: $75
- Folk Show - Bahia Night (Dinner Included) by Salvador Receptivo: $110
- Private Bahian Cooking Class - An Amazing Experience!: $113
- 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 $5.67La Serena $24
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": $102
- Bike Rentals and Bike Tours: $141
- Cachoeira Countryside Flavor Private Tour from Salvador: $160
- Candomblé Cerimony Tour: $61
- Candomble Religion Mysteries Private Tour in Salvador: $80
- City Tour in Salvador Discover the first capital of Brazil - BR: $130
- City Tour in Salvador Discover the first capital of Brazil - En: $140
- Costa de Camaçari Beach and Praia Tour: $130
- Cruise Ship Special Private Tour Salvador da Bahia Historic Old Town Bonfim and Barra: $151
- Culinary Traditions Tour: $180
- Easy Diving - Lord Beach Snorkeling - Leaving Forte Beach by Emytour: $33
Tours and Activities in La Serena
For La Serena, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Full Day History and Flavors Tour in the Elqui Valley: $50
- La Serena and Coquimbo City Tour (SIB): $66
- La Serena and Coquimbo Guided City Tour: $76
- Full day Tour to Elqui Valley : $80
- Elqui Valley Full Day Tour: magical towns, pisco and mountains: $85
- Elqui Valley Tour from La Serena: $120
- La Serena & Coquimbo City Tour - Short excursion for cruise ships: $128
- Tour to the internationally renowned Pangue Observatory: $139
- Tour to Valle del Encanto Archeology, Petroglyphs, Flora, Fauna and Springs: $140
- Dama Island or Chañaral Navigation Tour Humboldt Penguin Reserve: $140
- Elqui Valley: Pisco Tour, Wine, Beer: $174
- Elqui Valley and Vicuña Private Tour Including Lunch: $183
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySalvador $5.38La Serena $22
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: $109
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Salvador and La Serena, we can see that La Serena 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 La Serena would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Serena 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 La Serena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Salvador or La Serena?
Salvador has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of La Serena. When comparing the sizes of Salvador and La Serena, 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 La Serena?
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 La Serena in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Salvador as well as La Serena.
In the summer, Salvador is a little warmer than La Serena. Typically, the summer temperatures in Salvador in January average around 27°C (81°F), and La Serena averages at about 18°C (64°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in La Serena. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Salvador this time of the year. In the summer, Salvador often gets around the same amount of sunshine as La Serena. Salvador gets 246 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 247 hours of full sun.
Salvador receives a lot of rain in the summer. Salvador usually gets more rain in January than La Serena. Salvador gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuarySalvador 27°C (81°F)La Serena 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Salvador or La Serena in the Autumn?
Both La Serena and Salvador are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
In April, Salvador is generally much warmer than La Serena. Daily temperatures in Salvador average around 26°C (80°F), and La Serena fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
Salvador usually receives more sunshine than La Serena during autumn. Salvador gets 190 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 159 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Salvador. In April, Salvador usually receives more rain than La Serena. Salvador gets 310 mm (12.2 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilSalvador 26°C (80°F)La Serena 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Salvador or La Serena in the Winter?
Both La Serena and Salvador during the winter are popular places to visit.
Salvador is much warmer than La Serena in the winter. The daily temperature in Salvador averages around 24°C (75°F) in July, and La Serena fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
In the winter, Salvador often gets more sunshine than La Serena. Salvador gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 160 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Salvador. Salvador usually gets more rain in July than La Serena. Salvador gets 175 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulySalvador 24°C (75°F)La Serena 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Salvador or La Serena in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Salvador and La Serena.
In the spring, Salvador is much warmer than La Serena. Typically, the spring temperatures in Salvador in October average around 26°C (78°F), and La Serena averages at about 14°C (57°F).
In Salvador, it's very sunny this time of the year. Salvador usually receives more sunshine than La Serena during spring. Salvador gets 228 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 190 hours of full sun in the spring.
Salvador gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Salvador usually receives more rain than La Serena. Salvador gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberSalvador 26°C (78°F)La Serena 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for La Serena and Salvador
| Salvador | La Serena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 310 mm (12.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 360 mm (14.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (76°F) | 244 mm (9.6 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (75°F) | 175 mm (6.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 127 mm (5 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (77°F) | 102 mm (4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (78°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (80°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 3 mm (0.1 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.