Which place is cheaper, Salta or Ushuaia?
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 Ushuaia or Salta?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ushuaia or Salta? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Ushuaia or Salta?
Ushuaia
Ushuaia is a city on the Tierra del Fuego island of Argentina on the Beagle Strait. The city is considered to be one of the southernmost cities in the world and is often used as a base for cruises to Antarctica. Ushuaia's close proximity to Antarctica and their amazing hiking trails have made it a popular tourist destination over the past few decades.
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 3-Week Tours in Argentina, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Buenos Aires, The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina.
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Ushuaia Prices
Argentina PricesSalta Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayUshuaia $0.00Salta $45
The average daily cost (per person) in Ushuaia is $0.00, while the average daily cost in Salta is $45. 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 Ushuaia and Salta in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personUshuaia -Salta $31
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomUshuaia $0.00Salta $62
Compare Hotels in Ushuaia and Salta
Looking for a hotel in Ushuaia 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: Ushuaia Hotel Prices and Salta Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ushuaia -Salta $3.16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ushuaia
Also for Ushuaia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfers to Cerro Castor: $25
- Tierra del Fuego National park taxi Transfer: $299
- Tierra del Fuego National Park Tour & Transfers: $77
- Escondido and Fagnano Lakes with transfer: $103
- Antarctic Experience W/Snowmobile Ride & Transfer: $294
- Airport Transfer: $10
- Ushuaia to Ushuaia Airport (USH) - Departure Private Transfer: $24
- Ushuaia in 4 days: Unmissable excursions and transfers included: $270
- Ushuaia Combo: Tierra del Fuego National Park & Round Trip Transfers to airport: $135
- Ushuaia Airport Shared Transfer: $12
- Ushuaia Airport Shared Transfer: $13
- Ushuaia Airport Departure Transfer: $9.00
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: $286
- Private Transfer from Salta Airport to Cafayate: $190
- Cafayate Wine Tour with Tastings and Transfers: $180
- Saver Combo: Cafayate, Cachi, Salt Fields, Transfers and Walking: $179
- Combo: Cafayate, Cachi and Humahuaca, transfers and walking tour: $172
- Humahuaca, 7-color Hill & round trip transfers airport - hotel in Salta: $167
- Combo: Cafayate Tour + Cachi + Transfers + Free Walking Tour: $110
- 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
- Salta Airport One-Way or Round-Trip Transfers: $60
- Private 1-Way or Round Trip SLA Airport Transfer: $37
Is it cheaper to fly into Ushuaia or Salta?
Prices for flights to both Salta and Ushuaia 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 dayUshuaia -Salta $5.45
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ushuaia
For Ushuaia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Martial Glacier Night Hike with Dinner & Wine: $100
- Ushuaia - Secrets of Tierra del Fuego - History + Quad + Dinner: $140
- Beaver Sighting with Dinner off Lake Fagnano: $185
- Discovering Lakes Escondido and Fagnano with sunset dinner: $210
- Ushuaia-Premier Pass (Motorcycle + Snowmobile + Skiing + Tubes + Snowshoes + Quad + Lunch + Pizza): $290
- Fire and Snow Night Tour with Dinner: $307
- Snow Adventure with Dinner & Transfers: $315
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ushuaia -Salta $27
Tours and Activities in Ushuaia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ushuaia.
- 2-day tour: Tierra del Fuego National Park + Fagnano and Escondido Lakes: $175
- 4WD Adventure at Fagnano Lake from Ushuaia: $239
- 4WD Off-Road Lakes Adventure in Tierra del Fuego: $173
- 4x4 Lake Fagnano Adventure from Ushuaia: $229
- 5-Hour National Park + City tour - USHUAIA (Private Tour): $245
- 5.5-Hour Nat Park w/ Hiking *Shore Excursion* USHUAIA (Shared tour for cruises): $150
- 7-Hour Lakes Escondido & Fagnano - USHUAIA (Shared tour): $105
- Adventure through Lagos 4X4 in Ushuaia: $198
- Almanza Port Tour with Lunch: $210
- An Hour Tour in the City of Ushuaia: $71
- Beagle Canal Tour with Small Group Hiking: $97
- Beagle Channel Wildlife Cruise & Les Éclaireurs Lighthouse: $131
Tours and Activities in Salta
For Salta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2-Day Tour to Cachi and Los Cardones National Park: $57
- 3 Day Tour from Salta to Cachi, Humahuaca and Salinas Grandes: $89
- Best of Guided City Tour: $46
- Cachi Full Day Tour with Los Cardones National Park: $42
- Cachi and Salinas Grandes: 2-Day Tour – Hills and Incredible Landscapes: $104
- Cachi: Scenic Route and Local Experience from Salta: $29
- Cafayate, Vineyards and Calchaquies Valleys Tour from Salta: $47
- City Tour Salta and San Lorenzo: $33
- City Tour Salta and San Lorenzo: $32
- Colorful mountains and endless salt: Salinas + Purmamarca tour: $33
- Exclusive day-long private tour of Cafayate vineyards: $274
- Experience an authentic Salta peña with local musicians: $49
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayUshuaia -Salta $5.54
Sample the Local Flavors in Ushuaia
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Ushuaia:
- City tour and Wine tasting: $125
Sample the Local Flavors in Salta
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Salta:
- Full-day Cafayate, Lerma Valley, and Wine Tasting from Salta: $29
- Cafayate: Full-day winery tour and wine tasting: $29
- From Full-Day Tour to Cafayate with Wine Tasting: $30
- From Cafayate Day Trip with Wine Tasting: $40
- Half Day Wine Tasting in Salta: $145
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ushuaia and Salta, we can see that Salta is more expensive. And not only is Ushuaia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ushuaia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ushuaia 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 Salta would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Salta than you might in Ushuaia.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ushuaia Expensive? and Is Salta Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ushuaia or Salta?
Salta has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Ushuaia. When comparing the sizes of Ushuaia 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.