Which place is cheaper, Salta or Guayaquil?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Guayaquil or Salta?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Guayaquil or Salta, 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: Guayaquil or Salta?
Guayaquil
Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city and seaport. From a tourist perspective, the city acts primarily as a transportation gateway to the country and the Galapagos Islands. While the city can be skipped altogether, should you have a free day to spend here, there are a few noteworthy things to do, as well as some terrific dining and nightlife options. Guayaquil’s main tourist attraction is Las Penas, a hill with old, colorfully painted buildings at the north end of the Malecon, where you can walk the 400 steps to the lighthouse at the top for good views of the city. The neighborhood is filled with cafes, bars, restaurants, and art galleries and is relatively safe. Other important sights include the Malecon 2000, a massive urban development project that has brought new life to the riverside in the city center and the Parque Seminario, filled with fountains, trees and iguanas, located at 10 de Agosto Ave and Chile Ave.
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 G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador, The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, and The Best Eco Tours in Argentina.
-
Guayaquil Prices
Ecuador PricesSalta Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuayaquil $116Salta $45
The average daily cost (per person) in Guayaquil is $116, 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 Guayaquil and Salta in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuayaquil $32Salta $31
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuayaquil $64Salta $62
Compare Hotels in Guayaquil and Salta
Looking for a hotel in Guayaquil 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: Guayaquil Hotel Prices and Salta Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guayaquil $15Salta $3.13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salta
Also for Salta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Salta Airport: $7.19
- Shared Transfer from Downtown Hotels in Salta to Airport: $12
- Saver Combo: Cafayate, Cachi, Salt Fields, Transfers and Walking: $184
- Shared 1-Way or Round Trip SLA Airport Transfer: $8.00
- Private 1-Way or Round Trip SLA Airport Transfer: $56
- One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $5.50
- Cafayate Wine Tour with Tastings and Transfers: $150
- Salta City Tour & Round Trip Transfers airport - hotel: $109
- Salta Airport Shuttle Transfer: $15
- Salta Airport One-Way or Round-Trip Transfers: $45
- Humahuaca, 7-color Hill & round trip transfers airport - hotel in Salta: $167
- From Salinas and Hornocal 2-Day Tour with Transfer: $99
Is it cheaper to fly into Guayaquil or Salta?
Prices for flights to both Salta and Guayaquil 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
-
Food Meals for one dayGuayaquil $50Salta $5.41
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Guayaquil $21Salta $27
Tours and Activities in Salta
For Salta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Full-Day Tour to Salinas Grandes and Purmamarca From Salta: $38
- 2-Day Tour to Cachi and Los Cardones National Park: $57
- 3 Day Tour from Salta to Cachi, Humahuaca and Salinas Grandes: $88
- Adventure in the North: Pack of 4 Excursions + Hornocal: $132
- Best of Guided City Tour: $43
- Cachi Full Day Tour with Los Cardones National Park: $34
- Exclusive day-long private tour of Cafayate vineyards: $278
- From Salta 3 Day Tour to Cafayate Humahuaca and Salinas Grandes: $88
- From Cachi and Los Cardones National Park Tour: $30
- From City Tour of the city on a half-day ride: $20
- From Full-Day Scenic Tour to Cachi: $30
- From Full-Day Tour to Cafayate, Land of Wines: $31
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuayaquil $17Salta $5.50
Sample the Local Flavors in Salta
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Salta:
- Cafayate: Full-day tour of wineries and wine tasting: $29
- Full-day Cafayate, Lerma Valley, and Wine Tasting from Salta: $30
- From Full-Day Tour to Cafayate with Wine Tasting: $30
- From Cafayate Day Trip with Wine Tasting: $40
- Half Day Wine Tasting in Salta: $147
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guayaquil and Salta, we can see that Guayaquil 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 Guayaquil would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Guayaquil 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 Guayaquil Expensive? and Is Salta Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Guayaquil or Salta?
Guayaquil has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Salta. When comparing the sizes of Guayaquil 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.