Which place is cheaper, Lake Titicaca (Puno) or Salta?
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 Salta or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Salta or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
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.
Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Lake Titicaca, which directly translates to "puma stone" in Quechua, is located high in the Andes Mountains straddling Peru and Bolivia, with about 60% of the lake in Peru and 40% in Bolivia. Among the lake are three main islands, the most popular of which are the Uros Islands, also known as the floating islands, where the Uros people live on totora reeds that grow in the lake.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, The Best Photography Tours in Peru, and The Best Jungle Trekking Tours in Peru.
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Salta Prices
Argentina PricesLake Titicaca (Puno) Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySalta $45Lake Titicaca (Puno) $70
The average daily cost (per person) in Salta is $45, while the average daily cost in Lake Titicaca (Puno) is $70. 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSalta $31Lake Titicaca (Puno) $28
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSalta $62Lake Titicaca (Puno) $56
Compare Hotels in Salta and Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Looking for a hotel in Salta or Lake Titicaca (Puno)? 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: Salta Hotel Prices and Lake Titicaca (Puno) Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Salta $3.13Lake Titicaca (Puno) $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salta
Also for Salta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $5.50
- Transfer from Salta Airport: $7.19
- Shared 1-Way or Round Trip SLA Airport Transfer: $8.00
- Shared Transfer from Downtown Hotels in Salta to Airport: $12
- Salta Airport Shuttle Transfer: $15
- Salta Airport One-Way or Round-Trip Transfers: $45
- Private 1-Way or Round Trip SLA Airport Transfer: $56
- From Cafayate and Hornocal 2-Day Tour with Transfer: $88
- From Salinas and Hornocal 2-Day Tour with Transfer: $99
- Salta City Tour & Round Trip Transfers airport - hotel: $109
- Combo: Cafayate Tour + Cachi + Transfers + Free Walking Tour: $117
- Cafayate Wine Tour with Tastings and Transfers: $150
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno):
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Taxi$0.86
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno):
- Puno Arrival Transfer from bus or railway Station: $14
- Private transfer from Juliaca Airport to Puno or Viceversa: $47
- Private transfer airport-puno-viceverse: $60
- Private Transfer from Puno to Inca Manco Capac (JUL) Airport: $97
- Private Transfer from Puno to Frontera Kasani: $222
- Private Transfer from Puno to Desaguadero: $212
- Private Transfer from Puerto de Puno to Hotel Puno: $23
- Private Transfer from Juliaca Airport to Puno or Viceversa: $50
- Private Transfer from Juliaca Airport to Puno Plaza de Armas: $40
- Private Transfer from Inca Manco Capac (JUL) Airport to Puno: $97
- Private Transfer From Puno to Chivay, English Speaking Driver: $229
- Juliaca Airport Shared Transfer to/from Puno: $20
Is it cheaper to fly into Salta or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
Prices for flights to both Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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
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Food Meals for one daySalta $5.41Lake Titicaca (Puno) $28
Typical Food Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:
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Tamales$1.58
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Salta $27Lake Titicaca (Puno) $31
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 Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:
- 2 Day Lake Titicaca Tour From Puno: $150
- 2 Day Tour to Uros, Amantani and Taquile from Puno: $69
- 2 Days and 1 Night Tour from Puno to Colca Canyon and Arequipa: $210
- 2 Days and One Night Tour on the Aymara Route and Churches in Juli: $90
- 2-Day Amantani Homestay Including Kayak Experience: $233
- 3-Hour Uros Floating Islands Tour from Puno: $13
- 3h Boat Tour to Uros Island from Puno: $40
- Aymara's route 1 day tour in Puno: Inca Uyo, Aramu Muru, Molloco: $90
- Chullpas de Sillustani Inca Cemetery Tour by Tourist Bus: $26
- Cultural Tour to Uros Floating Island: $60
- Full Day Guided Tour of the Aymara Route from Puno: $40
- Full Day Lake Titicaca Tour to Uros and Taquile Islands: $52
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySalta $5.50Lake Titicaca (Puno) $14
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 Lake Titicaca (Puno), we can see that Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Salta or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
Salta has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Lake Titicaca (Puno). When comparing the sizes of Salta and Lake Titicaca (Puno), 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.