Which place is cheaper, Arequipa or Copacabana?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Copacabana or Arequipa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Copacabana and Arequipa. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Copacabana or Arequipa?
Copacabana
Copacabana, Bolivia, is a small, bright and enchanting town located on the Bolivian shore of Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake. Situated relatively close to the capital of La Paz, it is a popular resort mostly destination for foreign travellers, meaning that you may feel like there are more Argentinians and Americans than locals. Copacabana is the perfect jump-off point for visiting Isla del Sol and Isla de la Luna and makes a pleasant stopover between La Paz and Puno or Cusco. Featuring beautiful nature walks, ancient sites, stunning sunsets and quaint little restaurants, Copacabana is a travelers' favorite destination to soak in the panoramic views, savor freshly caught trucha, and explore what the Incas believed to be the birthplace of their empire.
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 Budget Tours to Bolivia, The Best 10-Day Tours in Bolivia, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru, and The Best Cultural Tours in Peru.
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Copacabana Prices
Bolivia PricesArequipa Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCopacabana $54Arequipa $58
The average daily cost (per person) in Copacabana is $54, while the average daily cost in Arequipa is $58. 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 Copacabana and Arequipa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCopacabana $11Arequipa $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCopacabana $22Arequipa $48
Compare Hotels in Copacabana and Arequipa
Looking for a hotel in Copacabana 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: Copacabana Hotel Prices and Arequipa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Copacabana $14Arequipa $6.11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arequipa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arequipa are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$1.38
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Bus Ride$0.44
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Taxi Ride$0.96
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arequipa
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Arequipa:
- 2 Days Colca Canyon Tour with Transfer to Puno : $100
- 2-Day Colca Canyon Tour with optional transfer to Puno: $132
- Alfredo Rodrígue Airport: Arequipa Hotel Private Transfer: $16
- Arequipa Airport Arrival Transfer: $13
- Arequipa Airport Departure Transfer: $13
- Arequipa Bus Station Arrival Transfer : $25
- Arequipa Bus Station Departure Transfer: $25
- 1-Way Airport Private Transfer: $31
- Airport private transfer to/from the city center: $26
- City Highlights Bus Tour with Transfer: $22
- Colca Canyon + Transfer To Puno: $103
- Colca Canyon 2 days from Arequipa with final transfer to Puno: $110
Is it cheaper to fly into Copacabana or Arequipa?
Prices for flights to both Arequipa and Copacabana 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 dayCopacabana $30Arequipa $24
Typical Food Prices in Copacabana
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Copacabana:
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Lunch$3.61
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Sandwich$1.16
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$2.89
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Ice Cream$1.10
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Fruit$0.83
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Ice Cream$0.96
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arequipa
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Arequipa.
- Cooking Class at La Plantation: $35
- Peruvian Cooking Experience in Arequipa: $35
- Hands-On Experience, Master Peruvian Cooking: $42
- Cooking Class Typical Food in Arequipa: $49
- Peruvian Cooking Class in arequipa: $50
- Peruvian Cooking Class: $53
- Peruvian Cooking Class: $53
- Typical Food Cooking Class in Arequipa: $54
- Private Cooking Class in Arequipa: $57
- Cooking Class Typical Food in Arequipa: $57
- Arequipa Food Tour: Ancestral Cuisine & City Tour: $79
- Arequipa Food Tour: Ancestral Cuisine & City Tour: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Copacabana $19Arequipa $19
Tours and Activities in Copacabana
Here are a few actual costs in Copacabana for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Titicaca Touristic Bus from Copacabana to La Paz_Everyday_1:00 p.m.: $12
- From La Paz: Cable car ride tour with tasting food.: $49
- Island of the Sun: and Copacabana Full Day Tour, from La Paz: $79
- Isla del Sol and Moon Island Day Tour: $115
- Sun and Moon tour: $115
- Copacabana, Sun Island 1 day private tour: $160
- CONDORIRI Mountain 5650m. 2 DAYS 1 NIGHT. TREKKING. English guide. Shared Tour: $198
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$2.75
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Salsa Class$2.75
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Movie Ticket$3.00
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Hot Springs$2.75
Tours and Activities in Arequipa
Here are a few actual costs in Arequipa for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 4 hours Tour: Route of Sillar with Trek in Culebrillas: $8.39
- Tour + Hike to the Sillar Route and Culebrillas in Arequipa: $8.99
- Tour to La Ruta del Sillar and Culesbrillas in Arequipa: $12
- Arequipa Tasting Tour: $12
- Sillar Route Tour.: $13
- Walking Tour through the Historic Center of Arequipa: $16
- From Mirabus City Tour | Yanahuara Viewpoint |: $17
- Countryside Tour Arequipa: $18
- Walking tour through the historic center of Arequipa: $19
- From Panoramic Tour of Arequipa: $20
- AREQUIPA COUNTRYSIDE TOUR PANORAMIC BUS TOUR: $20
- From Sillar Route - Half Day Tour: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCopacabana $12Arequipa $16
Typical Alcohol Prices in Copacabana
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Copacabana from other travelers:
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Wine$2.89
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$2.48
Sample the Local Flavors in Arequipa
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Arequipa:
- Pub Crawl with Skip-The-Line Access and Drinks: $21
- Pub Crawl Tour in Arequipa with VIP Access.: $25
- From Pisco and wine tour through the Majes Valley: $50
- Pisco and wine tour through the Majes Valley: $59
- Pub Crawl Tour in Arequipa with Drinks and VIP Access.: $60
When comparing the travel costs between Copacabana and Arequipa, we can see that Arequipa 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 Copacabana Expensive? and Is Arequipa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Copacabana or Arequipa?
Arequipa has a larger population, and is about 190 times larger than the population of Copacabana. When comparing the sizes of Copacabana 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.