Should you visit Copacabana or Arequipa?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare 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. So, let's dig into it.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Arequipa or Copacabana?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Copacabana is $34, while the average daily cost in Arequipa is $35. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Copacabana and Arequipa in more detail.
Accommodation
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $18 for a double occupancy room in Copacabana.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $18. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Arequipa the cost is $36 on average.
Food
The price of a meal in Copacabana can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $14 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $5.60 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
The average traveler spends about $10 per day in Arequipa for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Copacabana $14
Arequipa $10
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
$3.62
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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
$0.38
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Lunch
$2.68
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Ice Cream
$1.02
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Fruit
$0.77
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Ice Cream
$0.89
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arequipa
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Arequipa.
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Skip the Line: Dinner and Typical Dances Show Ticket:
$23
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Peruvian Cooking Experience in Arequipa:
$28
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Peruvian cooking class + PiscoSour class + visit the local market *Whatsapp for more información:
$55
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Curious Monkey -Arequipa Streets, Walking Food Tour:
$55
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Curious Monkey- Arequipa Market and Streets, Walking Food Tour:
$56
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Peruvian Cooking Class in arequipa:
$64
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A 3-hour Guided Food Tour with 5 Iconic Restaurants of Arequipa:
$67
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Peruvian market tour, cooking class, and dinner in Arequipa:
$67
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3-hour guided food tour / 5 iconic restaurants of Arequipa:
$72
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Food tour in Arequipa:
$207
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Copacabana is $11 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
The cost of a taxi ride in Arequipa is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $4.61 per person, per day, on local transportation in Arequipa.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Copacabana
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Copacabana:
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Private Transfer from La Paz to Uyuni.:
$249
Typical Local Transportation prices in Arequipa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arequipa are as follows:
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Taxi Ride
$1.28
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Bus Ride
$0.41
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Taxi Ride
$0.89
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arequipa
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Arequipa:
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2 day trek including transfer to Puno / Colca Canyon:
$113
-
3 day trek including transfer to Puno / Colca Canyon:
$128
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Airport transfer Arequipa / From airport to hotel:
$19
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Arequipa Airport Arrival Transfer:
$13
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Arequipa Airport Departure Transfer:
$13
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Arequipa private departure bus station transfer:
$22
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Arrival bus station private transfer in Arequipa:
$43
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Colca Canyon + Transfer To Puno:
$103
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Colca Canyon Sightseeing Tour 2D1N and Transfer to Puno:
$125
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Departure Private Transfer Arequipa Arequipa City to Airport AQP by Minibus:
$40
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Departure Private Transfer Arequipa Arequipa City to Airport AQP by Sedan Car:
$19
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Departure Private Transfer from Arequipa City to Arequipa Airport AQP by Minivan:
$31
Entertainment
Copacabana's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $15 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Entertainment and activities in Arequipa typically cost an average of $14 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Tours and Activities in Copacabana
Here are a few actual costs in Copacabana for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Titicaca Touristic Bus from Copacabana to La Paz_Everyday_1:00 pm:
$12
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La Paz and Moon Valley Half-Day Tour:
$55
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Private Tour: La Paz City Sightseeing and Moon Valley:
$66
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2-Day Moon & Sun Island Tour from La Paz:
$147
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La Paz City Tour - Fullday (FD):
$163
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Private Tour: Lake Titicaca, Copacabana and Sun Island from La Paz:
$311
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2-Day Private Tour from La Paz: Lake Titicaca, Copacabana and Sun Island:
$553
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
$2.55
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Salsa Class
$2.55
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Movie Ticket
$2.78
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Hot Springs
$2.55
Tours and Activities in Arequipa
Here are a few actual costs in Arequipa for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Museo Santuarios Andinos Arequipa Admission Ticket:
$7.00
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Tour Around The City Arequipa In Bus:
$10
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Monasterio de Santa Catalina Admission Ticket:
$12
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Small-Group Arequipa Countryside Tour Including La Mansion del Fundador -Mirabus:
$15
-
Arequipa Historical Downtown Tour:
$18
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Tour Colca Full Day Promotional Price:
$22
-
San Camilo Market Tour:
$25
-
City tour & Countryside Tour Bus:
$25
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Private Walking Tour Arequipa:
$26
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Arequipa E-Bike Tour:
$27
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Walking Tour Arequipa:
$36
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Colca Canyon Tour 2 Days:
$38
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Copacabana may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $9.33 per day on alcoholic beverages.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Arequipa may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $12 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Typical Alcohol prices in Copacabana
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Copacabana from other travelers:
Typical Alcohol prices in Arequipa
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Arequipa are as follows:
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.
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