A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Salta vs. Castro for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Salta or Castro?

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 Salta and Castro can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Salta or Castro?

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.

Castro

The capital of Chiloe, modern and dynamic, has succeeded in keeping its authenticity even though it now has many gigantic supermarkets, hotels and other touristic infrastructures. It is located on the island's eastern coast, halfway between Ancud in the north and Quellon in the south, and is a convenient base for exploring the stunning sites in the region of Chiloe Island. The tourist information is located on the town square in front of the church.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, The Best 2-Week Tours in Chile, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Castro or Salta?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Salta is $45, while the average daily cost in Castro is $114. 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 Salta and Castro in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Salta $31
    Castro $37
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Salta $62
    Castro $74
Compare Hotels in Salta and Castro

Looking for a hotel in Salta or Castro? 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.

Hotels in Salta


Hotels in Castro


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: Salta Hotel Prices and Castro Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Salta $3.13
    Castro $20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salta

Also for Salta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Combo: Cafayate, Cachi and Humahuaca, transfers and walking tour: $177
  • Combo: Cafayate Tour + Cachi + Transfers + Free Walking Tour: $117
  • From Cafayate and Hornocal 2-Day Tour with Transfer: $88
  • From Salinas and Hornocal 2-Day Tour with Transfer: $99
  • Humahuaca, 7-color Hill & round trip transfers airport - hotel in Salta: $167
  • Salta Airport One-Way or Round-Trip Transfers: $45
  • Salta Airport Shuttle Transfer: $15
  • Salta City Tour & Round Trip Transfers airport - hotel: $109
  • Cafayate Wine Tour with Tastings and Transfers: $150
  • One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $5.50
  • Private 1-Way or Round Trip SLA Airport Transfer: $56
  • Shared 1-Way or Round Trip SLA Airport Transfer: $8.00

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Castro

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Castro:

  • Castro Airport Private Transfer in Chiloe: $53

Is it cheaper to fly into Salta or Castro?

Prices for flights to both Castro and Salta 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 day
    Salta $5.41
    Castro $62

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Salta $27
    Castro $21

Tours and Activities in Salta

For Salta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 4-Hour Guided Highlights City Tour: $16
  • Salta Private Tour with a Photojournalist : $18
  • Salta City Half Day Tour: $20
  • From City Tour of the city on a half-day ride: $20
  • Guided City Tour: $26
  • From Full-Day Scenic Tour to Cachi: $30
  • From Cachi and Los Cardones National Park Tour: $30
  • From Full-day tour to Cachi and Los Cardones National Park: $31
  • From Full-Day Tour to Cafayate, Land of Wines: $31
  • Tour to Cafayate from Salta : $31
  • Half-Day City Tour: Salta and San Lorenzo: $32
  • Full-Day Tour Cafayate Calchaqui Valleys with Wine: $32

Tours and Activities in Castro

Here are a few actual costs in Castro for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Bosque Piedra Reserve Tour: $106
  • Castro Sightseeing Tour in Chiloe: $58
  • Chiloé: UNESCO Wooden Churches Full-Day Tour: $176
  • Coastal Nature Adventure in Chiloe: $102
  • Dalcahue and Quinchao Island Full Day Tour in Chiloe: $141
  • Dock of Souls Trekking in Chiloe Private Tour: $202
  • Lemuy Island Tour from Castro: $178
  • Lemuy Island in Chiloe Full Day Private Tour: $185
  • Pier of Light Full Day Tour in Chiloe: $170

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Salta $5.50
    Castro $17

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 Salta and Castro, we can see that Castro 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 Castro would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Castro 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 Salta Expensive? and Is Castro Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Salta or Castro?

Salta has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Castro. When comparing the sizes of Salta and Castro, 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.