Which place is cheaper, Arica or Asuncion?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Asuncion or Arica?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Asuncion or Arica, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Asuncion or Arica?
Asuncion
Asuncion is a vastly underrated city. It is the capital but also the administrative economic and cultural center of Paraguay. It is located in the south central part of the country, near the border with Argentina and it is one of the oldest cities in South America, with people living here since almost 500 years. The city has a beautiful and simple center, with a few unique colonial and beaux arts buildings, international cuisine, shady plazas and friendly people. Its handful of historic buildings around the Plaza de los Heroes, Plaza Uruguaya and Manzana de la Ribera, two or three small museums, old bars and cafes, but also smart suburbs, ritzy shopping malls and fashionable nightclubs will keep you entertained for a day or two. It is a very charming city for travellers and apart from the sights, the city boasts a good tourist infrastructure with hotels and restaurants.
Arica
A mixture of coastline, desert and high Andean plateau, Arica is a seaside resort town, known for its surfing beaches located at the tip of Northern Chile. Arica boasts that it is "the land of the eternal spring," but its temperate climate and beaches are not the only reason to visit this small city. Arica's tourism is still principally geared toward domestic visitors and those from southern Peru and La Paz, who flock to its beaches mid-December through February. It is very easy to spend a few days in Arica in the sand, or seeing the sights in town, at a slow pace but the city also offers plenty of fun activities and exciting day trips.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Chile, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAsuncion $68Arica $79
The average daily cost (per person) in Asuncion is $68, while the average daily cost in Arica is $79. 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 Asuncion and Arica in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAsuncion $22Arica $35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAsuncion $44Arica $70
Compare Hotels in Asuncion and Arica
Looking for a hotel in Asuncion or Arica? 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: Asuncion Hotel Prices and Arica Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Asuncion $8.82Arica $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Asuncion
Also for Asuncion, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer in private minivan from Asuncion Airport (ASU) - Asuncion City: $29
- Transfer in private minivan Asuncion City - Silvio Pettirosi Airport (ASU): $29
- Transfer in private car from Asuncion City - Asuncion Airport (ASU): $20
- Transfer in Private Car from Asuncion Airport (ASU) - Asuncion City: $21
- RoundTrip Transfer in Private Minivan Asuncion Airport (ASU) - Asuncion City: $59
- RoundTrip Private Transfer Asuncion Airport (ASU) - Asuncion City: $52
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arica
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arica are as follows:
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Short Taxi Ride$2.10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arica
Also for Arica, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Arica Hotels to Arica Cruise Port: $24
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica city hotels: $22
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Hotels: $24
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Airport (ARI): $27
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Airport (ARI): $30
- Private Transfer from Arica City hotels to Arica Cruise Port: $22
- Private Transfer from Arica Airport (ARI) to Arica Cruise Port : $27
- Private Transfer from Arica Airport (ARI) to Arica Cruise Port: $30
- Arica Airport Private Transfer: $85
Is it cheaper to fly into Asuncion or Arica?
Prices for flights to both Arica and Asuncion 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 dayAsuncion $17Arica $28
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Asuncion $16Arica $20
Tours and Activities in Asuncion
For Asuncion, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Asunción Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $35
- Asuncion Birding Tour: $70
- Birding and Nature Chaco Tour: $140
- Crystal Fall - day tour in a reduced group: $120
- Day Tour “Cerrito”: $231
- Day tour “Circuito San Bernardino”: $214
- Day tour “Circuito Sapucai”: $221
- Day tour “Pai Pukú”: $230
- Day tour to “National Park Ybycuí”: $265
- Full day Paraguay River Nature and Wildlife Boat Tour: $207
- Golden Triangle Tour: $110
- Half-Day Yparacai Lake Tour from Asuncion with Pick Up: $185
Tours and Activities in Arica
For Arica, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Archaeological Tour: $32
- Archeological Sightseeing tour in Arica: $103
- Arica Private Sightseeing Tour : $134
- Half day Panoramic City Tour: $49
- Private Tour to Tacna from Arica: $256
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAsuncion $10Arica $19
Typical Alcohol Prices in Asuncion
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Asuncion are as follows:
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Beer$1.22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Asuncion and Arica, we can see that Arica is more expensive. And not only is Asuncion much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Asuncion would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Asuncion 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 Arica would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arica than you might in Asuncion.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Asuncion Expensive? and Is Arica Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Asuncion or Arica?
Asuncion has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Arica. When comparing the sizes of Asuncion and Arica, 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.