A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Fortaleza vs. Arequipa for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Fortaleza or Arequipa?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Fortaleza and Arequipa 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: Fortaleza or Arequipa?

Fortaleza

A major city on Brazil's northeastern coast and the capital city of Ceara state, Fortaleza is best characterized by its city landscape lined with beaches and palm trees. It also features some great seafood as well as long-standing folk traditions in culture and dance.

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 Adventure Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru, and The Best Cultural Tours in Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Arequipa or Fortaleza?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Fortaleza is $69, 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 Fortaleza and Arequipa in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Fortaleza $30
    Arequipa $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Fortaleza $60
    Arequipa $46
Compare Hotels in Fortaleza and Arequipa

Looking for a hotel in Fortaleza 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.

Hotels in Fortaleza


Hotels in Arequipa


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: Fortaleza Hotel Prices and Arequipa Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Fortaleza $21
    Arequipa $6.02

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fortaleza

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

  • 4x4 Private Transfer Service : $179
  • 4x4 Transfer Private Service Fortaleza - Jericoacoara: $259
  • Arrival Private Transfer from Fortaleza Airport FOR to Fortaleza by Minivan: $117
  • Beach Park Transfer from Fortaleza: $16
  • Cumbuco Private Transfer From Fortaleza: $58
  • Departure Private Transfer: Fortaleza City to Fortaleza Airport FOR by Minivan: $117
  • Departure Private Transfer: Fortaleza City to Fortaleza Airport FOR by Sedan Car: $88
  • Fortaleza Airport (FOR) to Fortaleza - Arrival Private Transfer: $16
  • Fortaleza Airport (FOR) to Fortaleza Round-Trip Private Transfer: $33
  • Fortaleza to/from Jericoacoara Transfer: $29
  • Beach Park Round-Trip Transfer: $13
  • Private Transfer Airport to/from City Hotels: $32

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arequipa

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


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.36
  • Bus Ride
    $0.43
  • Taxi Ride
    $0.95

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arequipa

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Arequipa:

  • Private Transfer From Arequipa to Puno, English Speaking Driver: $262
  • Private Transfer From Arequipa To Puno With a 2 Hour Stop: $241
  • Colca Canyon Sightseeing Tour 2D1N and Transfer to Puno: $120
  • Colca Canyon 2 days from Arequipa with final transfer to Puno: $110
  • From 2-Day Colca Canyon Tour with Transfer to Puno: $103
  • From 2-Day Colca Canyon Tour with Transfer to Puno: $98
  • Koh Lanta any hotel to Krabi airport Private transfer: $71
  • Transfer Between Arequipa's Airport and Hotels: $35
  • Private Transfer from Arequipa to Alfredo Rodríguez Ballón (AQP) Airport : $35
  • Sihanouk Ville Airport Pickup or Transfer Private Car: $32
  • 1-Way Airport Private Transfer: $31
  • Airport private transfer to/from the city center: $26

Is it cheaper to fly into Fortaleza or Arequipa?

Prices for flights to both Arequipa and Fortaleza 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
    Fortaleza $24
    Arequipa $14

Typical Food Prices in Arequipa

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Arequipa:


  • Coke
    $0.41
  • Lunch
    $2.85
  • Ice Cream
    $1.09
  • Fruit
    $0.81
  • 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.

  • Skip the Line: Dinner and Typical Dances Show Ticket: $25
  • Peruvian Cooking Experience in Arequipa: $34
  • Peruvian Cooking Class: $48
  • 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
  • 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
  • Food Tour Experience: $115

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Fortaleza $15
    Arequipa $18

Tours and Activities in Fortaleza

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

  • Full Day Tour to Cumbuco From Fortaleza: $11
  • Cumbuco Beach Tour: $12
  • 3 Beaches in 1 Day Tour Leaving Fortaleza: $13
  • Águas Belas Tour: $15
  • Cumbuco Beach with City Tour from Fortaleza: $16
  • Lagoinha Beach Tour: $17
  • Tour 3 beaches in 1 day: $18
  • Canoe Quebrada Full Day Tour - Departure from Fortaleza by Vitorino Turismo: $19
  • The colorful sands of Morro Branco beach - Full Day Tour: $22
  • Tour 3 Beaches in 1 day (Morro Branco, Praia das Fontes and Canoa Quebrada): $22
  • Historical and Cultural City Tour of Fortaleza: $24
  • Jericoacoara Tour in a Full Day - Leaving Fortaleza by Girafatur: $25

Typical Entertainment Prices in Arequipa

Here are a few typical costs in Arequipa for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Monastery Entry
    $2.71
  • Salsa Class
    $2.71
  • Movie Ticket
    $2.96
  • 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 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-Hour Tour by Mountain Bike in Arequipa: $69
  • 3-day tour of the Valley of the Volcanoes: $350
  • 4-hour tour to the Sillar Route in Arequipa: $10
  • 8-Hours Tour in Arequipa Laguna de Salinas with Pick-up: $25
  • AREQUIPA BIKING CITY TOUR: $29

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Fortaleza $9.97
    Arequipa $16

Typical Alcohol Prices in Arequipa

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Arequipa are as follows:


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

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


Which is Bigger, Fortaleza or Arequipa?

Fortaleza has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Arequipa. When comparing the sizes of Fortaleza 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.