Is San Pedro de Atacama Expensive?

Is San Pedro de Atacama expensive to visit?

While San Pedro de Atacama is a popular place for travelers, it is also somewhat affordable and less expensive to visit. The average daily cost is $66, which is one of the many reasons for its popularity with tourists. When compared to other destinations in South America, many visitors find it to be a moderately priced destination. It's in the top 50% of places in South America for its travel costs, and our cost analysis found it to be comparable to Florianopolis and Quito.



Atacama, Chile

How expensive is San Pedro de Atacama?

Travelers spend an average of $66 per day when visiting San Pedro de Atacama (U.S. Dollars). This is according to our calculations which come from the expenses of previous visitors. While this is an average cost, prices can vary by travel style, the length of your trip, and other factors. You can stay fairly close to this average if you stay at moderately priced hotels, eat at affordable restaurants, and take public transportation when possible. See more travel costs for San Pedro de Atacama here.

How expensive is a weekend trip (three days) to San Pedro de Atacama?

Based on the travel expenses of others, a weekend trip to San Pedro de Atacama costs around $197 on average, per person. This includes food, sightseeing, local transportation, accommodation, and nightlife. For two people, a weekend trip costs $394.

How expensive is a one week (7-day) trip to San Pedro de Atacama?

Based on our calculations from previous travelers, a one week trip to San Pedro de Atacama will cost around $459 per person. This amount includes sightseeing activities, hotels, restaurants, local transportation, and other travel expenses. For two people, a one week trip would cost $918.

Is it expensive to backpack in San Pedro de Atacama?

With more than 30 hostels in the area, San Pedro de Atacama is a popular backpacker destination for travelers looking to stay on a tight budget and have a fun time along the way. Here, hostels cost an average of $15 per night for a dorm bed, with private rooms being more expensive. (See hostel prices in San Pedro de Atacama here.) It's also common to see a wide range in prices, as the cheapest hostels here cost $0, but the most expensive can be more than $30 per night.

Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in San Pedro de Atacama.

  • $7 for a dorm bed at Hostal Rural
  • $13 for a dorm bed at Backpackers San Pedro
  • $17 for a dorm bed at Aji Verde Hostel San Pedro de Atacama

Are hotels expensive in San Pedro de Atacama?

When we look at our analysis of hotel prices in San Pedro de Atacama, we find them to be somewhat lower in price in comparison to the rest of the world. The average nightly cost for a hotel room here is approximately $103. The area boasts about 1 five-star hotels with an average rate of $981 per night. For those seeking a balance between comfort and affordability, three-star hotels offer an average rate of $119 per night, while two-star hotels provide an even more budget-friendly option at $71 per night.


Hotels by star rating in San Pedro de Atacama
Rating Number of Hotels Average Hotel Price
5 stars 1 $981
4 stars 4 $315
3 stars 19 $119
2 stars 24 $71
1 star 6 $62

Tocopilla 411, San Pedro de Atacama
Overall Rating 9.4
Ayllu de Yaye, San Pedro de Atacama
Overall Rating 8.8

How expensive are sightseeing activities in San Pedro de Atacama?

In San Pedro de Atacama, the cost of activities and things to do can vary by the type of activity, its length, and the location. To provide an estimate of what to expect during your visit, below are several popular activities that are common in the area. On average, previous travelers have spent around $20 per day on sightseeing and entertainment, which is less than the country's average of $25.

  • Bike Tour in San Pedro de Atacama: $80
  • Day Tour to Piedras Rojas and Altiplanic and Chaxa Lagoons: $140
  • Half-Day Tour to the Valley of the Moon: $79
  • Lagoons in Atacama Salt Flat - Half Day - Typical Tour - San Pedro de Atacama: $116
  • 2 Tours Valley of the Moon and Hidden Lagoons: $120
  • Rainbow Valley Tour, Yerbas Buenas Petroglyphs - Half Day Tour: $125
  • 4 Tours in the Atacama Desert: $200
  • Private Tour: Valley of the Moon in San Pedro de Atacama: $300

Is food expensive in San Pedro de Atacama?

In San Pedro de Atacama, the cost of food can vary by the type of restaurant and food options available. To save money, eat at less expensive restaurants, try street food, or cook your own meals when possible. On average, previous travelers have spent around $23 per day on food, which is less than the country's average of $36.

  • San Pedro de Atacama: Private Dinner Under the Stars: $300
  • Local haute cuisine tasting menu dinner: $135
  • Tasting menu dinner of local haute cuisine: $135

Is transportation expensive in San Pedro de Atacama?

Exploring local transportation in San Pedro de Atacama shows that the price can vary greatly by the type of transportation used. On average, previous travelers have spent $9 per person per day, which is less than the country's average of $14. If you want to save money, use public transit as it's much cheaper than taxis or private drivers.

More for San Pedro de Atacama

If you're planning a trip to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, check out these other informative travel guides.



We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.



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