Which place is cheaper, Santa Cruz de la Sierra or Salvador?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Salvador or Santa Cruz de la Sierra?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Salvador or Santa Cruz de la Sierra, 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra?
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.
Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Santa Cruz de la Sierra, or simply Santa Cruz, is a larger city in the middle of Bolivia. It is also one of the most wealthy cities in the country. The city is also one of the fastest growing in the world. It is famous for its nightlife and it makes an excellent base for exploring many of the tourist attractions in the nearby areas.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Brazil, The Best 10-Day Tours in Brazil, The Best Tours Under $1000 in Bolivia, and The Best Luxury Tours to Bolivia.
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Salvador Prices
Brazil PricesSanta Cruz de la Sierra Prices
Bolivia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySalvador $55Santa Cruz de la Sierra $40
The average daily cost (per person) in Salvador is $55, while the average daily cost in Santa Cruz de la Sierra is $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 Salvador and Santa Cruz de la Sierra in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSalvador $25Santa Cruz de la Sierra $13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSalvador $50Santa Cruz de la Sierra $26
Compare Hotels in Salvador and Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Looking for a hotel in Salvador or Santa Cruz de la Sierra? 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Salvador $6.20Santa Cruz de la Sierra $5.82
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$1.21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salvador
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Salvador:
- Airport Transfer x Salvador Hotel - Sedan 1 to 4 people: $45
- Airport Transfer-Grand Palladium Imbassai 1 to 4 people by Salvador Receptivo: $95
- Airport Transfer-Grand Palladium Imbassai 5 to 10 people by Salvador Receptivo: $145
- Arrival or Departure Shared Transfer from Airport to hotels in Salvador: $15
- Catamaran Direct or Semi Transfer Salvador to Morro de São Paulo: $72
- Costa de Sauipe Transfer - Private Executive Van: $134
- Hotel Vila Galé Mares - Transfers In / Out: $76
- Iberostar Selection Praia do Forte, In/Out Transfers: $133
- Iberostar Waves Bahia, Transfers Go and Go: $99
- One-Way Private Transfer to Boipeba Island: $170
- Praia do Forte Private Transfer by 12-Seat Minivan: $230
- Praia do Forte to Salvador Airport SSA-Departure Private Transfer: $52
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santa Cruz de la Sierra:
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Taxi Ride$2.55
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Mini Bus$0.34
Is it cheaper to fly into Salvador or Santa Cruz de la Sierra?
Prices for flights to both Santa Cruz de la Sierra 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 $23Santa Cruz de la Sierra $20
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$1.41
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Salvador
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Salvador.
- Eat and drink before you fly: Cooking class near Salvador airport: $50
- Enjoy before flying: Cooking class near Salvador airport: $50
- Cooking class in Salvador, fun hands on experience with caips: $63
- 4h Cooking Class in Salvador with 9 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $65
- 4h Cooking Class in 9 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $68
- Savour Salvador Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $75
- Traditional Moqueca Cooking Class: $75
- Bahia Bites Salvador Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $79
- Bahia Bites Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $80
- Brazilian Cooking Class with Unlimited Caipirinhas: $89
- Folk Show - Bahia Night (Dinner Included) by Salvador Receptivo: $105
- Salvador by Night: Cultural Show and Dinner: $124
Typical Food Prices in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Santa Cruz de la Sierra:
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Snacks$1.87
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Chips$0.17
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Banana$0.08
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Cookies$0.76
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Salvador $5.85Santa Cruz de la Sierra $11
Tours and Activities in Salvador
Here are a few actual costs in Salvador for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Salvador Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $4.74
- Self-Guided Podcast Tour Guardians of the Bay: $5.45
- City Tour Salvador Panoramic: $19
- Historic City Tour - Half Day in Salvador: $19
- City Tour Salvador Historica: $19
- City Tour in Salvador - Half Day: $19
- Authentic Bars Tour in Santo Antônio Beyond the Carmo!: $19
- Beyond a Night Tour: An Autentic Bar Experience in Salvador: $22
- Full Day Tour to Frades Islands + Itaparica: $23
- Walking tour historic Pelourinho: $23
- Historic City Tour in Salvador: $24
- Salvador Historical City Center Tour: $25
Tours and Activities in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Here are a few actual costs in Santa Cruz de la Sierra for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Walking tour - A journey through the History of Santa Cruz: $11
- Private Tour of Santa Cruz: We visit the city center, Porongo, markets, and the river: $40
- Lomas de Arena Sandboarding Sightseeing Tour: $42
- Santa Cruz: Wildlife Sanctuary and Preservation Park Tour: $85
- Santa Cruz: Buena Vista Coffee Tour with Biopark Visit: $99
- Amboro Day Tour: Garden of Delights: $129
- Day Tour /El Fuerte & Samaipata: $129
- From Santa Cruz: Jesuit Missions and Hot Springs Tour: $399
- Santa Cruz: 2-day tour of the Che Guevara route in Bolivia: $513
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySalvador $5.55Santa Cruz de la Sierra $8.03
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$1.41
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Drinks$2.82
Typical Alcohol Prices in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Santa Cruz de la Sierra from other travelers:
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Beer$0.93
Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Also in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bolivia: Bolivian Wine Tasting with Charcuterie Board: $49
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Salvador and Santa Cruz de la Sierra, we can see that Salvador is more expensive. And not only is Santa Cruz de la Sierra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Santa Cruz de la Sierra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Cruz de la Sierra 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Salvador Expensive? and Is Santa Cruz de la Sierra Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Salvador or Santa Cruz de la Sierra?
Salvador has a larger population, and is about 99% larger than the population of Santa Cruz de la Sierra. When comparing the sizes of Salvador and Santa Cruz de la Sierra, 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.
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.