A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Arequipa vs. Crete for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Arequipa or Crete?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Arequipa or Crete? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Arequipa or Crete?

Arequipa

Sitting in the middle of the Misti, Chachani and PichuPichu volcanoes of Peru is the enchanting city of Arequipa. With 468 years of history, the city is full of Spanish colonial architecture. Known to locals as the "white city," the city center, Plaza de Armas, is quite the sight with buildings of sillar white stone made from the rocks of the surrounding volcanoes.

Crete

The largest and most populous island of Greece, Crete has become a frequent vacation destination for many visitors. The terrain of the place is quite varied - very mountainous stretching east to west, with lush valleys, fertile plateaus, gorges, and famous caves like Idaion, the birthplace of the Greek god Zeus. The surrounding smaller islands and beaches are key attractions as well.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru, The Best Cultural Tours in Peru, The Best Contiki Tours to Greece, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Greece.


Which place is cheaper, Crete or Arequipa?

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 Arequipa is $62, while the average daily cost in Crete is $168. 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 Arequipa and Crete in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Arequipa $25
    Crete $64
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Arequipa $50
    Crete $128
Compare Hotels in Arequipa and Crete

Looking for a hotel in Arequipa or Crete? 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 Arequipa


Hotels in Crete


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: Arequipa Hotel Prices and Crete Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Arequipa $6.53
    Crete $55
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arequipa

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arequipa are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.47
  • Bus Ride
    $0.47
  • Taxi Ride
    $1.03

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arequipa

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Arequipa:

  • 2 Days Colca Canyon Tour with Transfer to Puno: $110
  • 3 Day Trek Including Transfer to Puno / Colca Canyon: $214
  • Arequipa Airport (AQP) Private Transfer to Arequipa City: $23
  • Arequipa Airport Departure Transfer: $22
  • Arequipa Airport Private Transfer: $38
  • Colca Canyon + Transfer To Puno: $103
  • Colca Canyon 2-Day Tour with Lodge Stay and Transfer to Puno: $267
  • Colca Canyon Day Trip with Transfer to Puno: $65
  • Colca Canyon full day tour with transfer to Puno: $80
  • Full Day Tour to Colca including Transfer to Puno: $60
  • Koh Lanta any hotel to Krabi airport Private transfer: $80
  • Private Transfer From Arequipa To Puno With a 2 Hour Stop: $261

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Crete

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Crete:

  • Acqua Plus Water Park Admission with Optional Transfer: $34
  • Acqua Plus Water Park Admission with Optional Transfer: $34
  • Balos Lagoon with Transfer from Rethymnon: $83
  • Beginner's SSI Intro dive w/2 Dives & transfer: $165
  • Chania Magic City Tour and Kournas Lake with Transfers and Snack: $80
  • Crete : Samaria Easy way Gorge from Sfakia with Private Transfer: $245
  • Crete Private Taxi Transfer from Heraklion to Bali: $103
  • Crete Private Taxi and Transfer Georgioupoli to Heraklion: $173
  • Crete Private Taxi and Transfer from Chania Airport to Rethymno: $259
  • Crete Private Taxi and Transfer from Chania to Sfakia: $142
  • Crete Private Taxi and Transfer from Heraklion to Elounda: $133
  • Crete Private Taxi and Transfer from Heraklion to Malia: $87

Is it cheaper to fly into Arequipa or Crete?

Prices for flights to both Crete and Arequipa 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
    Arequipa $26
    Crete $68
Typical Food Prices in Arequipa

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Arequipa:


  • Coke
    $0.44
  • Lunch
    $3.09
  • Ice Cream
    $1.18
  • Fruit
    $0.88
  • Ice Cream
    $1.03

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arequipa

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Arequipa.

  • Cooking Class at La Plantation: $36
  • Peruvian Cooking Class in arequipa: $50
  • Peruvian Cooking Class: $63
  • Arequipa : Food Tour and History (3 Restaurants and Market): $69
  • Arequipa Food Tour: Ancestral Cuisine & City Tour: $79
  • A 3-hour Guided Food Tour with 4 Iconic Restaurants of Arequipa: $79
  • Arequipa Food Tour Experience: $115
  • Food Tour Gastronomic Guided: $119

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Crete

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Crete.

  • Traditional Cretan Night: Live Show and Dinner: $33
  • Traditional Dance Show and Buffet Dinner with Wine: $34
  • Troy Dinner-Show: $41
  • Olive Oil Factory Tour, Dinner & Traditional Dancing: $66
  • Plate smashing | Greek Night with Dancing & Buffet Dinner: $68
  • Heraklion: Finikia Horse Riding Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $81
  • Rethymno Old Town Walking Food Tour Local Market Visit Tastings: $88
  • Amazing Sunset Jeep Safari Route with Dinner: $92
  • Half Day Sunset Tour in Rethymno with Dinner and Wine: $99
  • Maravel Garden Experience Herbal Tour with Yoga and Dinner: $100
  • 12:00 Beer & Food Tour Chania Old Town - Crete - shore excursion: $100
  • Sightseeing Day Trip with Cooking Lesson and Lunch: $102

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Arequipa $20
    Crete $29
Typical Entertainment Prices in Arequipa

Here are a few typical costs in Arequipa for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Monastery Entry
    $2.94
  • Salsa Class
    $2.94
  • Movie Ticket
    $3.21
  • Hot Springs
    $2.94

Tours and Activities in Arequipa

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

  • Route of the Sillar 4-Hour Tour: $10
  • Arequipa Walking Tour city center and drinks experience: $10
  • Arequipa Tasting Tour: $13
  • Tour to La Ruta del Sillar and Culesbrillas in Arequipa: $15
  • Chili River White Water Rafting Adventure with Pickup: $18
  • Countryside Tour Arequipa: $18
  • Sillar Route and Culebrillas Tour Culture and Nature in Arequipa: $19
  • Arequipa Rafting adventure on the Chili river with pick-up: $20
  • City Tour Arequipa: $20
  • Koh Rong Tour: A Snorkeling, Fishing, Sunset, Plankton: $20
  • Añashuayco Quarries and Sillar Route Tour from Arequipa: $25
  • Sillar Route and Culebrillas Gorge Tour from Arequipa: $25

Tours and Activities in Crete

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

  • Chania Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $9.42
  • CRETAquarium Entrance Ticket in Crete: $18
  • Heraklion Archaeological Museum Ticket & Audio Guide: $19
  • Full Day Tour Gramvousa Balos Bay from Georgioupolis with Guide: $20
  • Chersonissos: Mini-Train City Highlights Tour: $21
  • Heraklion: Heraklion Market & CretAquarium *SKIP The Line: $22
  • Heraklion: Palace of Knossos 3D Virtual Audio Tour by Tablet: $22
  • Heraklion Market and CretAquarium Guided Tour: $22
  • Heraklion: Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Tour: $23
  • Heraklion: Hop-on Hop-off Open Top Bus Sightseeing Tour: $23
  • Heraklion City Tour-Market-Creta Aquarium: $28
  • Spinalonga Kritsa Olive Factory Tour From Heraklion: $29

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Arequipa $17
    Crete $26
Typical Alcohol Prices in Arequipa

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Arequipa are as follows:


  • Beer
    $2.65

Sample the Local Flavors in Crete

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Crete:

  • Crete Countryside Escape Farm Visits and Wine Tasting: $51
  • Wine Tasting: Meet the Cretan Vineyard at West Chania: $59
  • Evening -Wine Tasting and Olive Oil Factory: $118
  • E-Bike Tour - Knossos Olive Oil Farm to Winery Wine Tasting: $128
  • PRIVATE Walking Tour with Lunch and Wine Tasting by a Sommelier: $189
  • The Gourmet Wine Tour of Heraklion area: $195
  • Heraklion SUV Private Guided Wine Tour with Lunch: $207
  • Gastronomy tour and wine tasting in traditional villages: $212
  • Knossos, Olive Grove, Winery - Distillery with Tastings & Lunch: $218
  • Private Wine Tour: $270
  • Private Wine Tour at Peza Valley - 2 Wineries and Lunch at Peza: $274
  • Private Wine Tour with Tastings at Peza Valley (Lunch Included): $295


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Arequipa and Crete, we can see that Crete is more expensive. And not only is Arequipa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Arequipa is in South America and Crete is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Arequipa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Arequipa 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 Crete would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Crete than you might in Arequipa.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Arequipa Expensive? and Is Crete Expensive?.


Which has a larger population, Arequipa or Crete?

Arequipa has a larger population, and is about 40% larger than the population of Crete. When comparing the sizes of Arequipa and Crete, 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.