Salta, Argentina – Cheap Place To Live In South America
Feeding the Pigeons at Plaza 9 de Julio
Salta is heavy on the Argentina to Bolivia tourist circuit and a great place to touch down for a year or so as well.
If you like city life with a small town feel, you will love Salta. Parks and plazas weave throughout the town with numerous shops, restaurants and ways to get yourself into trouble i.e. things to do 
Popular Tourist Attractions in and around Salta
- Ride the Gondola to the top of San Bernardo Mountain (called El Teleférico).
- Sunday artist’s street market (Balcarce street) to hobnob with local artists and check out their work.
- Visit nearby traditional village San Lorenzo (10 minutes by taxi).
- Visit the Quebrada de Humahuaca (5 hours by bus).
- Learn about mummies at the Museo de Arqueologia de Alta Montana.
- Enjoy an evening listening to folkloric music and Peña entertainment (live shows on Balcarce street).
Last but not least (though very expensive) is the most known tourist attraction in Salta – The Train to the Clouds. For more information about this 15 hour adventure traversing 29 bridges, 21 tunnels, 13 viaducts, 2 spirals, and 2 zigzags… visit the Train to the Clouds website.
Salta has a cosmopolitan feel though not the corresponding ramped-up prices such as in capital city Buenos Aires. Even high-end restaurants lining the main plaza – Plaza 9 de Julio – offer regular specials and set meals i.e. “menu del dia“. On offer one day was 13 empanadas (large with chicken) plus a litre of beer or soda for only 22 pesos ($5.40 USD). The video below is of a short walk around Plaza 9 de Julio.
Smaller, local establishments in less touristy areas have daily set menus for 11-18 pesos ($2.70-$4.40 USD) that include soup or salad, main dish (meatloaf, roasted chicken), bread and dessert (cup of jello or other).
The Super Vea is the main supermarket in town, with a wide selection of products and imported goods. To see a list of items with prices and to take a quick video tour of the store, click here: Shopping at the Super Vea in Salta
There is an actual ‘shopping’ (shopping mall in English) in Salta with a McDonald’s and various shops – yet mainly pricey items. Street shopping (rows and rows of shops) is the best way to find a bargain. Photos & Video – Shopping in Salta
Your biggest hurdle in moving to Salta will be to find an inexpensive rental. There are apartments to be had for $250 USD per month but you will need to search in outlying areas and visit Inmobiliarias (real estate offices) for available options. Renting an Apartment or House in Argentina
Highlights
- Local, ‘small town’ feel yet a mid-sized city with plenty to see and do. International tourists pass through regularily offering more character & folks to interact with.
- Proximity to Chile & Bolivia, easy to update your Tourist Visa every three months.
- Many options for shopping and eating out cheaply, especially the ‘menu del dia’ set meal option at lunchtime.
Drawbacks
- Due to its popularity, apartments in central areas are going to be cost-prohibitive on a $800 USD per month budget. You will have to look in outlying areas for low-cost rentals.
- Winters are mild (19 degrees C / 66 F on average) but summertime (December to March) brings heavy rains and frequent thunderstorms.
Photograph by Molly McHugh, all rights reserved.
just wondering if there is anywhere to take Spanish classes for myself and can children be enrolled in regular local schools and how much does it cost? my children are 5,11,13 and we would like to go to Salta(or another safe small city) from mid-april until the end of August. I would also like to find an evangelical church to attend
Hi Charlene, apologies for the delay in responding… traveling and just caught this. I know children can be enrolled in local schools in Argentina… a great way to get this info is looking for expat groups online (I researched Cordoba area a few years back and there was a lot of information on sending your child to school there, school reviews, etc.).
I homeschooled my son when we lived there, here is an article I wrote about options for schooling when living in Argentina: Moving to Argentina and Sending a Child to School.
http://www.transitionsabroad.com/listings/travel/family/articles/sending-a-child-to-school-in-argentina.shtml
I can advise that it will be a farily tough adjustment and if you are going for a short time you may want to homeschool classes online and just participate in local activities – gyms with kid’s classes, pool facilities with lessons, various sports, etc.
I do not follow any organized religion – same as most Argentinians – so don’t know about churches but do know some Christian faiths are practiced to some extent in areas, I would search online for information.
Best of luck, Molly
Also need a furnished appartment or room with 1 large bed and twin beds as my husband will not be spending the entire trip with us
Best advice is to contact hostels online via emails (some do not allow children but is more common to not be a problem) or temporary apt. rentals and reserve two weeks or so for when you arrive so you can relax, visit areas, ask around for referrals, view listings in local papers, etc.
Information on renting in Argentina can be found here: Renting an Apartment or House in Argentina: http://www.southamericaliving.com/argentina-living-abroad-guide-renting-an-apartment-or-house/
Best, Molly
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