A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Buenos Aires, Argentina vs. Arica for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Buenos Aires, Argentina or Arica?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Buenos Aires, Argentina and Arica can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Buenos Aires, Argentina or Arica?

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires, federal capital of Argentina, also known as "The City of Tango", is best known for its energetic and unpredictable character. Like a restless child, Buenos Aires is a dynamic and modern city full of surprises. While its French-style palaces, rooftop restaurants, wide avenues and green plazas resemble European-style architecture, Buenos Aires preserves its musical, literary and culinary traditions. You can't miss dining in front of a Tango show, walking around the colourful streets of La Boca and visiting the renowned Recoleta Cemetery, designed by Argentina's most important architects and home to hundreds of illustrious corpses.

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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Buenos Aires, The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires, The Best 10-Day Tours in Chile, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Arica or Buenos Aires, Argentina?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Buenos Aires, Argentina Prices
    Argentina Prices
    Arica Prices
    Chile Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Buenos Aires, Argentina $59
    Arica $107

The average daily cost (per person) in Buenos Aires, Argentina is $59, while the average daily cost in Arica is $107. 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 Buenos Aires, Argentina and Arica in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Buenos Aires, Argentina $42
    Arica $38
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Buenos Aires, Argentina $84
    Arica $76
Compare Hotels in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Arica

Looking for a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina 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.

Hotels in Buenos Aires, Argentina


Hotels in Arica


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: Buenos Aires, Argentina Hotel Prices and Arica Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Buenos Aires, Argentina $2.20
    Arica $19

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Buenos Aires, Argentina:

  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Buenos Aires HTL-APT (EZE): $109
  • Transfer from Buenos Aires Port to Buenos Aires Int Airport (EZE): $72
  • Transfer from Buenos Aires International Airport (EZE) to Cruise Terminal: $137
  • Transfer from Buenos Aires Int Airport (EZE) to Buenos Aires Port: $72
  • Transfer Van 6 pax Airport Pistarini Buenos Aires to Hotel Port: $145
  • Transfer VIP airport EZEIZA (EZE) Buenos Aires: $67
  • Transfer Buenos Aires International Airport (EZE) to Downtown Hotel: $116
  • Transfer Airports-Cruise Port: $190
  • Ticket Museum and Stadium Express Boca Juniors With Transfers: $75
  • Temaiken Biopark Tour with Transfer Included: $95
  • Tango Show in Tango Porteño - no transfers -: $47
  • Small group local Tango milonga with lesson and transfers: $96

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arica

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


  • Short Taxi Ride
    $2.25

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arica

Also for Arica, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Arica Airport Private Transfer: $109
  • Private Transfer from Arica Airport (ARI) to Arica Cruise Port: $82
  • Private Transfer from Arica Airport (ARI) to Arica Cruise Port: $75
  • Private Transfer from Arica City hotels to Arica Cruise Port: $63
  • Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Airport (ARI): $75
  • Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Airport (ARI): $82
  • Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Hotels: $69
  • Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica city hotels: $63
  • Private Transfer from Arica Hotels to Arica Cruise Port: $69

Is it cheaper to fly into Buenos Aires, Argentina or Arica?

Prices for flights to both Arica and Buenos Aires, Argentina 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
    Buenos Aires, Argentina $7.95
    Arica $52

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

  • Piazzolla Tango Show with Optional Dinner in Buenos Aires: $35
  • Esquina Homero Manzi Tango Show Ticket Including Optional Dinner in Buenos Aires: $39
  • BA: Premium Empanadas Cooking Class in Palermo: $39
  • Tango Porteño Show with Optional Dinner in Buenos Aires: $40
  • Tango Porteño Show in Buenos Aires (with optional dinner): $43
  • BA: Premium Empanadas Cooking Class & Wine Tasting in Palermo: $43
  • BA: Premium Empanadas & Alfajores Cooking Experience in Palermo: $43
  • Early Tango Dinner Show with Optional Traditional Bus Transfer: $46
  • El Viejo Almacen Tango Show with Optional Dinner and Transfers: $47
  • El Aljibe Tango Show in Buenos Aires with Optional Dinner: $47
  • Tango Dinner Show Homero Manzi menu Sur: $49
  • BA: Empanadas and Alfajores Cooking Experience in Palermo: $49

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Buenos Aires, Argentina $32
    Arica $21

Tours and Activities in Buenos Aires, Argentina

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

  • Único tour sobre la Historia del Tango (sin mitos): $60
  • "SAILING TOUR: Tango and Choripan (typical Argentine food): $300
  • 3 Hours Ultimate Buenos Aires Bar Tour: $34
  • 5 Hour Private Driving and Walking Tour of Buenos Aires: $185
  • 5hs Small Group City Tour of Buenos Aires (Optional Street Food): $54
  • Adventure in Parque de la Costa: $95
  • Argentina Polo Experience by La Guapeada Polo: $267
  • Argentine Asado by Maru. Private experience in Buenos Aires: $140
  • Argentine Women Bike Tour: $45
  • Argentinian Cocktail Experience in Palermo to Mix and Connect: $54
  • Asado Experience at Parrilla Don Julio: $273
  • Asado and Parrilla Tour in BA with Optional Michelin Upgrade: $91

Tours and Activities in Arica

For Arica, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Half day Panoramic City Tour: $49
  • City Tour with Chinchorro Beach Visit: $82
  • Arica Private Sightseeing Tour: $171
  • Archeological Sightseeing tour in Arica: $174
  • Chungará Lake & Lauca Park Tour from Arica with Lunch: $197

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Buenos Aires, Argentina $9.69
    Arica $21

Sample the Local Flavors in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Also in Buenos Aires, Argentina, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Exclusive Malbec Wine Tasting in Buenos Aires: $42
  • Argentine Wine Tasting in Caminito with Appetizers Included: $45
  • BA: Small Group Wine Tasting and Blending in Palermo: $54
  • Buenos Aires Small-Group Wine Tasting: $60
  • Tango Lesson and Wine Tasting in Buenos Aires, Argentina: $65
  • Wine Tasting in Palermo, City of Buenos Aires.: $65
  • Premium Wine Tasting in Buenos Aires: $85
  • Private Malbec Wine Tasting Experience in Buenos Aires: $95
  • Buenos Aires Wine Tasting Tour: $129
  • Upscale Asado & Wine Tasting Experience (BBQ): $150
  • Bodega Gamboa Premium Wine Tasting with Lunch: $159
  • Private Buenos Aires Wine Tasting Experience: $160


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Buenos Aires, Argentina and Arica, we can see that Arica is more expensive. And not only is Buenos Aires, Argentina much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Buenos Aires, Argentina would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Buenos Aires, Argentina 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 Buenos Aires, Argentina.

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


Which is Bigger, Buenos Aires, Argentina or Arica?

Buenos Aires, Argentina has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Arica. When comparing the sizes of Buenos Aires, Argentina 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.