Which place is cheaper, Arequipa or Bogota?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bogota or Arequipa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Bogota or Arequipa, 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: Bogota or Arequipa?
Bogota
Sprawling across a high altitude in the Columbian Andes region, Bogota is the capital city of Columbia. It is a mix of the old and new with century-old plazas and churches shadowed by towering skyscrapers, museums representing the history, art, and culture of the region, as well as a mix of distinct neighborhoods from quaint and historic to trendy and contemporary.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Colombia, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru, and The Best Cultural Tours in Peru.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBogota $53Arequipa $47
The average daily cost (per person) in Bogota is $53, while the average daily cost in Arequipa is $47. 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 Bogota and Arequipa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBogota $26Arequipa $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBogota $52Arequipa $46
Compare Hotels in Bogota and Arequipa
Looking for a hotel in Bogota 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: Bogota Hotel Prices and Arequipa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bogota $8.77Arequipa $6.02
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bogota
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Bogota are as follows:
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Taxi from Airport$7.56
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Taxi Ride$0.39
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2 Bus Passes$0.89
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bogota
Also for Bogota, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Andres Carne de Res Chia • Premium Private Transfer: $39
- Arrival Private Transfer Bogota Airport BOG to Bogota City in a Luxury Van: $134
- Arrival Private Transfer from Bogota Airport BOG to Bogota City by Minibus: $124
- Arrival Private Transfer from Bogota Airport BOG to Bogota City by Minivan: $89
- Bogotá Private Luxury Transfer - Airport Pick Up or Drop Off - SUV Mercedes Benz: $97
- Bogotá to or from Villa de Leyva Private Transfer: $80
- Bogota Airport BOG to Downtown Hotels Round Trip Private Transfer: $48
- Departure Private Transfer Bogota City to Bogota Airport BOG in Business Car: $118
- Departure Private Transfer Bogota City to Bogota Airport BOG in Luxury Van: $134
- Downtown to Bogota Airport (BOG) Departure Private Transfer: $24
- El Dorado International Airport (BOG) - Private Round trip transfer Bogota: $80
- Layover Bogotá Private Tour + Transfer in & Out (4 Hrs.) : $149
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arequipa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arequipa are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$1.36
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Bus Ride$0.43
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Taxi Ride$0.95
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arequipa
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Arequipa:
- transfer Airport - Hotel: $21
- Transfer Between Arequipa's Airport and Hotels: $35
- Sihanouk Ville Airport Pickup or Transfer Private Car: $32
- Private Transfer from Alfredo Rodríguez Ballón Airport to Hotel: $20
- Private Transfer From Arequipa to Puno, English Speaking Driver: $260
- Koh Lanta any hotel to Krabi airport Private transfer: $71
- From 2-Day Colca Canyon Tour with Transfer to Puno: $98
- From 2-Day Colca Canyon Tour with Transfer to Puno: $103
- Colca Canyon Sightseeing Tour 2D1N and Transfer to Puno: $120
- Colca Canyon 2 days from Arequipa with final transfer to Puno: $110
- Colca Canyon + Transfer To Puno: $103
- Airport private transfer to/from the city center: $26
Is it cheaper to fly into Bogota or Arequipa?
Prices for flights to both Arequipa and Bogota 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 dayBogota $14Arequipa $14
Typical Food Prices in Bogota
For Bogota, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Breakfast$1.57
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Hot Dog$0.92
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bogota
For Bogota, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Peruvian cooking workshop: $26
- Bogotá Bites: Guided Street Food Tour with Tastings: $45
- Viejo Bogota Food Tour with 13+ Tastings: $49
- Food Tour in La Candelaria Bogotá: $55
- Bogota Food Tour • Private Car • Fruits Cacao Lunch Coffee Beer: $59
- Bogotá Food Tour - La Candelaria: $61
- Private Colombian Cooking Class and Market Tour In Bogota: $90
- Dinner and party at Andres Carne de Res DC: $100
Typical Food Prices in Arequipa
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Arequipa:
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Coke$0.41
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Lunch$2.85
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Ice Cream$1.09
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Fruit$0.81
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Ice Cream$0.95
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: $34
- Peruvian Cooking Class: $48
- Peruvian Cooking Class in arequipa: $50
- Guided Food Tour in Arequipa City: $69
- 3-hour guided food tour / 5 iconic restaurants of Arequipa: $72
- Arequipa Ancestral Cuisine and City and Food Tour: $79
- A 3-hour Guided Food Tour with 4 Iconic Restaurants of Arequipa: $79
- Arequipa Food Tour: Ancestral Cuisine & City Tour: $85
- Peruvian cooking experience, pisco sour and visit local market: $95
- Peruvian cooking class + PiscoSour class + visit the local market: $95
- Peruse The Market With A Cooking Class Before Dinner: $97
- Arequipa Food Tour Experience: $115
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bogota $13Arequipa $18
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bogota
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Bogota's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Beer$1.31
Tours and Activities in Bogota
For Bogota, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - El Dorado Expedition, Part II: $6.99
- Tour of the Colombian Armed Conflict: war, drug trafficking and peace: $13
- Graffiti Tour: a fascinating walk through a street art City: $13
- Shared Tour of the Historic Candelaria in Bogotá: $13
- Graffiti Tour in La Candelaria Bogotá: $13
- Walking Tour in La Candelaria Bogotá: $14
- Full Day Tour to the Colonial Town of Villa de Leyva: $15
- Walking tour La Candelaria bogotá: $15
- Cycling tour in Simon Bolivar Park and Virgilio Barco Library: $17
- Historical Tour Bogotá: $18
- Alternative tour of Bogotá: gastronomic and cultural: $18
- Bike Tour through Bogotá: $19
Typical Entertainment Prices in Arequipa
Here are a few typical costs in Arequipa for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Monastery Entry$2.71
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Salsa Class$2.71
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Movie Ticket$2.96
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Hot Springs$2.71
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 Shared Tour to Colca Canyon: $45
- 2 Days of Natural Experience in the Colca Canyon: $140
- 2-Day Group Tour to Colca Canyon from Arequipa: $230
- 2-Day Hiking Tour to the Colca Canyon: $100
- 2-Day Misti Volcano Tour: $117
- 2-Day Tour to the Magical Colca Canyon: $68
- 2-Day || Adventure From Arequipa to Chachani Volcano ||: $143
- 2-day tour to the Colca Valley and the Cruz del Condor: $99
- 3 Hour Congata Rover Biking Ride Tour in Arequipa: $45
- 3-Day Cotahuasi Canyon Tour: $350
- 3-day tour of the Valley of the Volcanoes: $350
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBogota $14Arequipa $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Bogota
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bogota:
- Thursday Bar Crawl in Bogotá: $25
- Friday Night Bar Crawl in Bogotá : $25
Typical Alcohol Prices in Arequipa
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Arequipa are as follows:
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Beer$2.44
Sample the Local Flavors in Arequipa
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Arequipa:
- Pub Crawl Tour in Arequipa with VIP Access.: $25
- From Pisco and wine tour through the Majes Valley: $50
- Pub Crawl Tour in Arequipa with Drinks and VIP Access.: $60
When comparing the travel costs between Bogota and Arequipa, we can see that Bogota is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bogota Expensive? and Is Arequipa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bogota or Arequipa?
Bogota has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Arequipa. When comparing the sizes of Bogota 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.
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.