Which place is cheaper, Arica or Fortaleza?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Fortaleza 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 Fortaleza 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: Fortaleza or Arica?
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.
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 Adventure Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best 10-Day Tours in Chile, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFortaleza $69Arica $79
The average daily cost (per person) in Fortaleza is $69, while the average daily cost in Arica is $79. 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 Arica in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFortaleza $30Arica $35
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFortaleza $60Arica $70
Compare Hotels in Fortaleza and Arica
Looking for a hotel in Fortaleza 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.
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 Arica Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Fortaleza $21Arica $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fortaleza
Also for Fortaleza, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer to Beach Park: $11
- Transfer leaving from the Fortaleza waterfront to Beach Park: $8.83
- Transfer from Fortaleza to Jericoacoara: $28
- Transfer Fortaleza to Jericoacoara: $300
- Transfer Fortaleza - Jericoacoara: $150
- Transfer 4x4 Regular Service Fortaleza - Jericoacoara: $75
- Transfer 4 X 4 Fortaleza to Jericoacoara or Jericoacoara to Fortaleza: $240
- Shared Transfer from Fortaleza to Jericoacoara: $104
- Shared Transfer from Fortaleza to Cumbuco: $49
- Shared Transfer from Fortaleza to Aquiraz: $88
- Shared Airport Transfer to Fortaleza Hotels: $9.42
- Round trip transfer to Jericoacoara: $56
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arica
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arica are as follows:
-
Short Taxi Ride$2.10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arica
Also for Arica, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arica Airport Private Transfer: $85
- Private Transfer from Arica Airport (ARI) to Arica Cruise Port: $30
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Airport (ARI): $30
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Airport (ARI): $27
- Private Transfer from Arica Airport (ARI) to Arica Cruise Port : $27
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Hotels: $24
- Private Transfer from Arica Hotels to Arica Cruise Port: $24
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica city hotels: $22
- Private Transfer from Arica City hotels to Arica Cruise Port: $22
Is it cheaper to fly into Fortaleza or Arica?
Prices for flights to both Arica 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 dayFortaleza $24Arica $28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Fortaleza
For Fortaleza, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Thematic Show with Rotation of Pizzas in Aquiraz: $27
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Fortaleza $15Arica $20
Tours and Activities in Fortaleza
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Fortaleza.
- Águas Belas Tour: $15
- 3 Beaches in 1 Day Tour Leaving Fortaleza: $13
- Beach Park Full-Day Trip Including Brief Tour of Fortaleza: $35
- Canoa Quebrada Beach Tour with Nettour: $20
- Canoe Quebrada Full Day Tour - Departure from Fortaleza by Vitorino Turismo: $19
- City Tour Fortaleza - Full Day Cumbuco Beach Tour by Nettour: $25
- City-Tour and Fortaleza (central market, cathedral, Fort, Theaters, encetur, P.ferreira: $55
- Cumbuco Beach Tour: $11
- Cumbuco Beach with City Tour from Fortaleza: $16
- Fortaleza City Tour : $26
- Fortaleza Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $31
- Half-Day City Tour: $25
Tours and Activities in Arica
For Arica, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Archaeological Tour: $32
- Archeological Sightseeing tour in Arica: $103
- Arica Private Sightseeing Tour : $134
- Half day Panoramic City Tour: $49
- Private Tour to Tacna from Arica: $256
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayFortaleza $9.97Arica $19
When comparing the travel costs between Fortaleza and Arica, we can see that Arica 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 Fortaleza Expensive? and Is Arica Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Fortaleza or Arica?
Fortaleza has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Arica. When comparing the sizes of Fortaleza 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.
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.