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

Should you visit Salta or Easter Island?

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 Easter Island can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Salta or Easter Island?

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.

Easter Island

Although Easter Island is considered a territory of Chile, it is actually located far out in the Pacific, almost halfway to Tahiti. Easter Island is well known, despite being one of the most isolated islands on Earth, because of the mysterious giant stone busts which date back centuries. There are 887 monumental statues, called moai, that were built by the Rapa Nui people. There remains much mystery around the historic Polynesian culture which created the stones, as well as the specific meaning for them.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, The Best Adventure Tours to Chile, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Easter Island 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 Easter Island is $98. 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 Easter Island in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Salta $31
    Easter Island $44
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Salta $62
    Easter Island $88
Compare Hotels in Salta and Easter Island

Looking for a hotel in Salta or Easter Island? 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 Easter Island


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Salta $3.13
    Easter Island $2.58

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

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Easter Island

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

  • Private Arrival Transfer: Mataveri Airport to Easter Island Hotels: $40

Is it cheaper to fly into Salta or Easter Island?

Prices for flights to both Easter Island 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
    Easter Island $43

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Easter Island

For Easter Island, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Easter Island Dinner Show with Transport : $143
  • Rapa Nui Dinner Show on Easter Island: $145

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Salta $27
    Easter Island $40

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

Typical Entertainment Prices in Easter Island

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Easter Island's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Bike Rental
    $8.38

Tours and Activities in Easter Island

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

  • Half Day Private Tour: Caves and Volcanic Refuges: $150
  • T6-The CULT OF THE BIRD-MAN (non-cruise visitors): $90
  • 2 Day Small Group Tour in Moai Monuments and Historic Pathways: $300
  • 2 Days Highlights Tour in Easter Island Moai and Nature: $210
  • Adventures in Rapa Nui: High quality tourism with Easter Island Your Tour.: $200
  • Easter Island Full-Day Tour: Ahu Tongariki, Rano Raraku and Anakena Beach: $147
  • Easter Island Moai Archaeology Tour: Ahu Akivi, Ahu Tahai and Puna Pauâ Quarry.: $82
  • Moai Full Day Private Tour: $219
  • Poike Volcano Private Hiking Tour with Guide: $280
  • Rapa Nui Stargazing Tour: $140
  • Full Day Hotu Matua Tour from Vaihu to Anakena: $70
  • Full Day Private Tour: Factory of the Moai the stone giants: $219

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Salta $5.50
    Easter Island $5.34

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


Which is Bigger, Salta or Easter Island?

Salta has a larger population, and is about 130 times larger than the population of Easter Island. When comparing the sizes of Salta and Easter Island, 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.