A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Buzios vs. Iquique for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Buzios or Iquique?

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

Should I visit Buzios or Iquique? 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: Buzios or Iquique?

Buzios

Initially a fishing village, Armação dos Buzios is a small beach resort town about three hours from Rio de Janeiro by bus. Buzios is a common weekend getaway destination for Cariocas. With 23 beaches, visitors from all over come to swim, snorkel, surf and enjoy sun and sand.

Iquique

Located in a golden crescent of coastline, the beautiful beach city with an ocean that's several shades of blue and a historic centre that offers the perfect balance of culture and relaxation is counted among Chile's premier beach resorts. The city is home to the duty free zone called "Zofri" and a growing number of high rise resort hotels along its beaches. Slightly more expensive and polluted than neighboring population centers, such as Arica, Iquique and its chaotic duty-free shopping zone (zona franca) have become the perfect summer holiday destination for Chilean families.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Chile, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Iquique or Buzios?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Buzios is $77, while the average daily cost in Iquique is $96. 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 Buzios and Iquique in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Buzios $37
    Iquique $43
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Buzios $74
    Iquique $86
Compare Hotels in Buzios and Iquique

Looking for a hotel in Buzios or Iquique? 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 Buzios


Hotels in Iquique


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.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Buzios $19
    Iquique $23

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Buzios

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

  • Departure Private Transfer Arraial do Cabo to GIG or SDU Airport by Sedan Car: $241
  • Departure Transfer from Buzios or to Rio Airports by Minivan: $219
  • Private transfer from Buzios to the GIG Airport : $186
  • Private transfer Buzios in Rio to the SDU Airport : $186
  • Private Transfer from GIG Airport to City Buzios in Rio : $170
  • Private transfer Minivan from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 6 pax to Buzios: $110
  • Executive private transfer from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 4 pax to Buzios: $106
  • Executive private transfer from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 3 pax to Buzios: $97
  • Private Transfer Buzios to Rio de Janeiro: $91
  • Private Transfer from Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro: $91
  • Tour in Buzios City Tour, Lunch and Transfer: $60
  • Arraial do Cabo Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $52

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Iquique

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

  • Sandboard activity in Iquique with transfer: $60

Is it cheaper to fly into Buzios or Iquique?

Prices for flights to both Iquique and Buzios 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
    Buzios $24
    Iquique $34

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Buzios $27
    Iquique $27

Tours and Activities in Buzios

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Buzios.

  • Buzios Trolley City Tour: $29
  • 3-hour Small Group Buzios Peninsula Open Air Trolley Tour: $33
  • 7 Beaches In Búzios With Photos On A Private Tour!: $34
  • Búzios Full day: Boat and Trolley Tour with Lunch from Arraial do Cabo: $128
  • Búzios Full day: Boat and Trolley Tour with Lunch from Búzios: $99
  • Búzios Full day: Boat and Trolley Tour with Lunch from Cabo Frio: $116
  • Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo: $23
  • Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo Panoramic City Tour in Cabo Frio: $96
  • Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo from Buzios with Lunch: $60
  • Buggy Ride in Buzios by Buziana Tour: $16
  • Buggy Tour in Arraial do Cabo by Arraial Viagens: $31
  • Cabo Frio Full-Day Tour From Buzios with Lunch: $68

Tours and Activities in Iquique

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Iquique.

  • City Tour in Iquique: $89
  • City tour of Iquique with navigation to the Esmeralda buoy: $50
  • Guided City Tour with Boat Trip to Esmeralda Buoy: $60
  • Pintados Geoglyphs, Humberstone and Salar Crespo tour: $145

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Buzios $17
    Iquique $20


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Buzios and Iquique, we can see that Iquique is more expensive. And not only is Buzios much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Buzios would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Buzios 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 Iquique would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Iquique than you might in Buzios.

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


Which is Bigger, Buzios or Iquique?

Iquique has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Buzios. When comparing the sizes of Buzios and Iquique, 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.