Which place is cheaper, Salta or Tilcara?
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 Tilcara or Salta?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Tilcara and Salta can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Tilcara or Salta?
Tilcara
Tilcara signifies shooting star in Quechua. At 2465m of altitude, the little town of Tilcara is one of the most animated place of the area of the quebrada de humahuaca. Many South American backpackers and tourists from all around the world come to visit Tilcara and its pucara, the forteresse built by the Incas at the top of the hill, providing a stunning walk around the town. Tilcara hosts many festivals for different occasions such as the celebration of the Pachamama in August, the semana santa (Holy Week) in April, and the Enero Tilcareno, held in January as its name indicates, which is probably the busiest month of the year for the little town. If you enjoy concerts, parades and folklorique parties then definitely try to visit Tilcara during a festival month and avoid them if you prefer a calm and more relaxed holiday. There are many available activities around Tilcara including horseback riding, VTT, and you could also even try a ride in a caravan pulled by llamas.
Salta
Located in the heart of the famous Northwest region of Argentina, at 1200m of elevation and at the foot of the Cerro San Bernardo, Salta is the largest city of the region and perhaps the most beautiful colonial city of Argentina. Founded in 1582 by the Spanish, Salta was an important stop for merchants who followed the usual trade road through Bolivia and Peru. Argentines call this city nestled in the foothills of the Andes and surrounded by mountains, of just over half a million inhabitants, Salta La Linda (Salta the Beautiful) and it's easy to see why. Young and traditional at the same time, Salta and its renowned museums, plaza side cafes and live musica folklorica of its bustling penas, is a sophisticated and lively city day and night.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Argentina, The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Argentina.
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Tilcara Prices
Argentina PricesSalta Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTilcara $97Salta $56
The average daily cost (per person) in Tilcara is $97, while the average daily cost in Salta is $56. 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 Tilcara and Salta in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTilcara $79Salta $39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTilcara $158Salta $78
Compare Hotels in Tilcara and Salta
Looking for a hotel in Tilcara or Salta? 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: Tilcara Hotel Prices and Salta Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tilcara $3.87Salta $3.92
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tilcara
Also for Tilcara, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Solar Train of the Quebrada de Humahuaca: Ticket and Transfer: $170
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salta
Also for Salta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Train to the Clouds Experience with Transfers from Salta Hotels: $253
- Combo: Cafayate, Cachi and Humahuaca, transfers and walking tour: $177
- Salta City Tour & Round Trip Transfers airport - hotel: $109
- From Salinas and Hornocal 2-Day Tour with Transfer: $99
- From Cafayate and Hornocal 2-Day Tour with Transfer: $88
- Private 1-Way or Round Trip SLA Airport Transfer: $56
- Salta Airport One-Way or Round-Trip Transfers: $45
- Shared 1-Way or Round Trip SLA Airport Transfer: $8.00
- One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $5.50
Is it cheaper to fly into Tilcara or Salta?
Prices for flights to both Salta and Tilcara 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 dayTilcara $9.27Salta $6.77
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tilcara
For Tilcara, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Northern Argentine cooking experience: $70
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tilcara $28Salta $34
Tours and Activities in Tilcara
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tilcara.
- Bike Adventure through Juella with lunch: $35
- From Salta: Tour to Humahuaca + Hornocal "Route of Colors and Heights": $128
- Full-Day Tour to Laguna de los Pozuelos from Tilcara: $228
- Purmamarca Night Experience: $30
- 2 hours cycling tour trough the rural area: $20
Tours and Activities in Salta
For Salta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- From City Tour and San Lorenzo on a half-day tour: $25
- Full-Day Tour to Salinas Grandes and Purmamarca From Salta: $35
- 2-Day Tour to Cachi and Los Cardones National Park: $57
- 3 Day Tour from Salta to Cachi, Humahuaca and Salinas Grandes: $87
- 4-Day Tour of Salta Cafayate and Humahuaca: $693
- Adventure in the North: Pack of 4 Excursions + Hornocal: $137
- Best of Guided City Tour: $40
- Cachi Full Day Tour with Los Cardones National Park: $34
- Exclusive day-long private tour of Cafayate vineyards: $281
- From Salta 3 Day Tour to Cafayate Humahuaca and Salinas Grandes: $87
- From Cachi and Los Cardones National Park Tour: $28
- From City Tour of the city on a half-day ride: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTilcara $6.10Salta $6.88
Sample the Local Flavors in Salta
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Salta:
- From Full-Day Tour to Cafayate with Wine Tasting: $30
- Full-day Cafayate, Lerma Valley, and Wine Tasting from Salta: $32
- Cafayate: Full-day tour of wineries and wine tasting: $39
- From Cafayate Day Trip with Wine Tasting: $40
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tilcara and Salta, we can see that Tilcara is more expensive. And not only is Salta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Salta would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Salta 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 Tilcara would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tilcara than you might in Salta.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tilcara Expensive? and Is Salta Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tilcara or Salta?
Salta has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Tilcara. When comparing the sizes of Tilcara and Salta, 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.