Should you visit Auckland or Arequipa?
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 Auckland and Arequipa can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Auckland or Arequipa?
Auckland
Auckland is located on the North Island of New Zealand on an isthmus between the Northland Peninsula and the other parts of the North Island. Auckland is not only a city but also a region. In 2010 New Zealand combined what had previously been four separate cities into one region. These cities include the southern city of Manukau, the western city of Waitakere, the North Shore in the north, and Auckland City. The City of Auckland is the largest city in Polynesia and is very diverse with many expatriates from elsewhere in Polynesia. This diversity becomes most apparent in Auckland's many festivals and sporting events.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to New Zealand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in New Zealand, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru, and The Best Cultural Tours in Peru.
Which place is cheaper, Arequipa or Auckland?
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 Auckland is $169, while the average daily cost in Arequipa is $62. 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 Auckland and Arequipa in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Auckland or Arequipa? 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:
Auckland Hotel Prices and
Arequipa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Auckland
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Auckland:
-
Bus from Airport
$9.41
-
Airport Shuttle
$15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Auckland
Also for Auckland, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Airport Transfer: Auckland Airport AKL to Auckland by Sedan Car:
$88
-
Arrival Private Transfer from Auckland Airport AKL to Auckland in Business Car:
$93
-
Arrival Private Transfer: Auckland Airport AKL to Auckland City by Luxury Van:
$112
-
Arrival Private Transfer: Auckland Airport AKL to Auckland City by Sedan Car:
$88
-
Arrival Transfer: Auckland Airport to Auckland Central City Centre:
$25
-
Auckland Airport (AKL) to Auckland - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$162
-
Auckland Airport (AKL) to North Shore - Arrival Private Transfer:
$108
-
Auckland Airport (AKL) to North Shore-Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$216
-
Auckland Airport Arrival Transfer to North Shore or Henderson:
$127
-
Auckland Airport Luxury Shuttle - Private Transfers:
$173
-
Auckland Airport Premium Private Golf Transfer To Te Arai Links:
$299
-
Auckland Airport Private One-Way or Round-Trip Transfer:
$69
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arequipa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arequipa are as follows:
-
Taxi Ride
$1.48
-
Bus Ride
$0.47
-
Taxi Ride
$1.04
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arequipa
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Arequipa:
-
Private Transfer from Arequipa to Alfredo Rodríguez Ballón (AQP) Airport:
$38
-
Private Transfer from Arequipa Airport to hotels:
$30
-
Private Transfer from Alfredo Rodríguez Ballón Airport to Hotel:
$20
-
Private Transfer From Arequipa to Puno, English Speaking Driver:
$282
-
Private Transfer From Arequipa To Puno With a 2 Hour Stop:
$260
-
Koh Lanta any hotel to Krabi airport Private transfer:
$79
-
Full Day Tour to Colca including Transfer to Puno:
$60
-
Colca Canyon Day Trip with Transfer to Puno:
$65
-
Colca Canyon 2 days from Arequipa with final transfer to Puno:
$85
-
Colca Canyon + Transfer To Puno:
$103
-
Arequipa Bus Station Departure Transfer:
$37
-
Arequipa Bus Station Arrival Transfer:
$37
Is it cheaper to fly into Auckland or Arequipa?
Prices for flights to both Arequipa and Auckland 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
Auckland $45
Arequipa $26
Typical Food Prices in Auckland
For Auckland, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Auckland
For Auckland, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Harbour Sailing Cruise with 3-Course Dinner:
$93
-
Flavours of the City Walking Food Tour:
$101
-
Auckland Harbour Sailboat Cruise Including Three Course Dinner:
$102
-
Auckland Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide:
$116
-
Auckland Downtown Food Tour with 5 Locals Favorite Dishes:
$129
-
Ponsonby Road Food Tour in Auckland:
$140
-
Waiheke Island: Private Sunset Wine Tour & 2 Course Dinner:
$392
-
Māori Evening Dinner and Private Show Experience:
$519
-
From Kiwi Bird Encounter & 3-Course Dinner Tour:
$550
Typical Food Prices in Arequipa
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Arequipa:
-
Coke
$0.44
-
Lunch
$3.11
-
Ice Cream
$1.18
-
Fruit
$0.89
-
Ice Cream
$1.04
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arequipa
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Arequipa.
-
Peruvian Cooking Experience in Arequipa:
$35
-
Cooking Class at La Plantation:
$36
-
Arequipa Nights Food Tour with 15+ Tastings:
$47
-
Peruvian Cooking Class in arequipa:
$50
-
Peruvian Cooking Class:
$63
-
Arequipa Food Tour: Ancestral Cuisine & City Tour:
$79
-
Arequipa : Food Tour and History (3 Restaurants and Market):
$80
-
Arequipa Food Tour Experience:
$115
Entertainment
Typical Entertainment Prices in Auckland
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Auckland's activities, tours, and tickets:
Tours and Activities in Auckland
For Auckland, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
Auckland to Volcanoes: North Island Self-Guided Adventure:
$1.15
-
Auckland War Memorial Museum Entry Ticket:
$9.27
-
Auckland City Self Guided Walking Tour with an APP:
$9.99
-
Maritime Museum Entry Ticket and Guided Tour:
$14
-
Maritime Museum Entry Ticket:
$14
-
A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Auckland's Hidden Stories:
$15
-
Skip the Line: Auckland Museum General Admission Ticket:
$16
-
Vibrosaun Therapy Experience:
$18
-
Waitematā Harbour Cruise with Live Commentary:
$20
-
Scenic Harbour Cruise in Auckland:
$22
-
Auckland Takapuna: Escape Game Adventure:
$23
-
Auckland Sunset Harbour Cruise:
$24
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
$2.96
-
Salsa Class
$2.96
-
Movie Ticket
$3.23
-
Hot Springs
$2.96
Tours and Activities in Arequipa
Here are a few actual costs in Arequipa for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
2 Day - Colca Canyon and Condor Tour from Arequipa, Peru - Group Service:
$288
-
2 Day Tour to Colca Canyon:
$43
-
2 days 1 night Colca Canyon tour ending in Puno:
$145
-
2 days and 1 night tour in the Colca Canyon:
$205
-
2-Day Hiking Tour to the Colca Canyon:
$120
-
3-day Colca Canyon Trek Tour Adventure:
$90
-
3-hour guided tour in Arequipa:
$65
-
8-Hours Tour in Arequipa Laguna de Salinas with Pick-up:
$30
-
Añashuayco Quarries and Sillar Route Tour from Arequipa:
$25
-
Afternoon : Arequipa Walking tour:
$55
-
Arequipa 2 day tour to Colca Canyon and Cruz del Cóndor:
$32
-
Arequipa City Tour and Santa Catalina Monastery:
$102
Alcohol
Sample the Local Flavors in Auckland
Also in Auckland, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Auckland Coastal Brewery Kayak Tour:
$71
-
Waiheke Island: Scenic Island Wine Tour & Local Wine Tasting:
$110
-
Muriwai GANNET Colony & Wine Tasting - Half Day Tour Ex Auckland:
$117
-
Full-Day Wine Tasting Tour in Auckland with 3-Course Vineyard Lunch:
$119
-
Ultimate Auckland Experience Full Day Tour with Brewery Lunch:
$149
-
Waiheke Island: The Essence of Waiheke Wine Tour:
$159
-
Waiheke Island: Wine Tour & Lunch at Award Winning Venue:
$168
-
Piha Waitakere Rainforest Wine Tour from Auckland:
$176
-
From Small Group Kumeu Wine Tour with Lunch:
$180
-
Waiheke Island Gourmet Food and Wine Tour with Platter Lunch:
$183
-
City Tour with Wine Tasting and Black Sand Beach:
$217
-
Auckland City Tour & Kumeu Wine Country Includes Wine Tastings & Lunch:
$239
Typical Alcohol Prices in Arequipa
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Arequipa are as follows:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Auckland and Arequipa, we can see that Auckland is more expensive. And not only is Arequipa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Auckland is in Pacific and Arequipa is in South America, 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 Auckland would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Auckland 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 Auckland Expensive? and Is Arequipa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Auckland or Arequipa?
Arequipa has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Auckland. When comparing the sizes of Auckland and Arequipa, 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.
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