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

Should you visit Gothenburg or Arequipa?

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

Should I visit Gothenburg or Arequipa? 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: Gothenburg or Arequipa?

Gothenburg

Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden with a population of about 500,000. It is located on the western coast at the edge of the Gota River. It's a very friendly and welcoming city with a great vibe. Part of its energy comes from the Gothenburg University, which, with over 60,000 students, is the largest university in the country. Historically, Gothenburg has working class roots which are still apparent today, particularly in the city's harbour area. Recently there has been a growing number of expensive restaurants and cafes, showing that the demographic continues to evolve.

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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in Sweden, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Sweden, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru, and The Best Cultural Tours in Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Arequipa or Gothenburg?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Gothenburg Prices
    Sweden Prices
    Arequipa Prices
    Peru Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Gothenburg $145
    Arequipa $60

The average daily cost (per person) in Gothenburg is $145, while the average daily cost in Arequipa is $60. 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 Gothenburg and Arequipa in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Gothenburg $46
    Arequipa $24
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Gothenburg $92
    Arequipa $48
Compare Hotels in Gothenburg and Arequipa

Looking for a hotel in Gothenburg 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 Gothenburg


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: Gothenburg Hotel Prices and Arequipa Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Gothenburg $21
    Arequipa $6.36

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gothenburg

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

  • Airport Transfer: Gothenburg to Airport GOT by Business Car: $132
  • Goteborg City to Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) - Departure Private Transfer: $108
  • Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) to Goteborg City - Arrival Private Transfer: $108
  • Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) to Goteborg City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $216
  • Gothenburg Airport: Transfer to City center of Gothenburg: $74
  • Gothenburg Private Transfer from Central Gothenburg to Gothenburg Airport: $80
  • City Highlights Bike Tour with Transfer: $128
  • Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Arrival: $17
  • Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Departure: $17
  • Ostersund Private Transfer from Ostersund (OSD) airport to central Ostersund: $115
  • Private Transfer From Gothenburg Landvetter Airport to Gothenburg Hotels: $95
  • Private Transfer Gothenburg Airport GOT to Gothenburg by Sedan: $162

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arequipa

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


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.43
  • Bus Ride
    $0.46
  • Taxi Ride
    $1.00

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arequipa

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Arequipa:

  • Transfer Between Arequipa's Airport and Hotels: $35
  • Private Transfer from Arequipa to Alfredo Rodríguez Ballón (AQP) Airport : $38
  • Private Transfer from Alfredo Rodríguez Ballón Airport to Hotel: $20
  • Koh lanta any hotel to Phuket airport Private transfer: $172
  • Koh Lanta any hotel to Krabi airport Private transfer: $81
  • Full Day Tour to Colca including Transfer to Puno: $60
  • Full Day Tour Including Transfer to Puno / Colca Canyon: $112
  • Colca Canyon Sightseeing Tour 2D1N and Transfer to Puno: $147
  • Colca Canyon Day Trip with Transfer to Puno: $65
  • Colca Canyon 2-Day Tour with Lodge Stay and Transfer to Puno: $283
  • Colca Canyon + Transfer To Puno: $103
  • Arequipa Bus Station Arrival Transfer : $25

Is it cheaper to fly into Gothenburg or Arequipa?

Prices for flights to both Arequipa and Gothenburg 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
    Gothenburg $76
    Arequipa $25

Typical Food Prices in Arequipa

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


  • Coke
    $0.43
  • Lunch
    $3.01
  • Ice Cream
    $1.15
  • Fruit
    $0.86
  • Ice Cream
    $1.00

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
  • Peruvian Cooking Class in arequipa: $50
  • Peruvian Cooking Class: $53
  • Private Cooking Class in Arequipa: $57
  • Food Tour Gastronomic Guided : $113

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Gothenburg $18
    Arequipa $19

Tours and Activities in Gothenburg

For Gothenburg, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Private Self Guided Tour in Gothenburg: $3.58
  • Eila's Time Travels: A Lycksele Family Walking Tour Game: $8.59
  • Headless Horseman in Self-Guided Ghost Tour Game: $8.63
  • Alfie Atkins Cultural Centre Admission Ticket: $15
  • Old Town Sightseeing Tour: $16
  • Gothenburg Old Town Sightseeing Tour: $16
  • World of Volvo Exhibition Entry Ticket: $19
  • Universeum Entry Ticket: $24
  • Gothenburg Universeum Ticket - Aquarium, Science, Wildlife, Zoo: $25
  • City Canal Sightseeing Cruise: $28
  • Gothenburg 24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket: $36
  • City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $36

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
    $2.87
  • Salsa Class
    $2.87
  • Movie Ticket
    $3.13
  • Hot Springs
    $2.87

Tours and Activities in Arequipa

Here are a few actual costs in Arequipa for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Colca Full Day Tour: $51
  • Walking tour history, legends & mysteries : $28
  • 2 Day - Colca Canyon and Condor Tour from Arequipa, Peru - Group Service : $295
  • 2 Days of Natural Experience in the Colca Canyon: $140
  • 2 days 1 night Colca Canyon tour from Arequipa: $110
  • 2-Day Group Tour to Colca Canyon from Arequipa: $230
  • 2-Day Hiking Tour to the Colca Canyon: $90
  • 2-Day Tour to the Magical Colca Canyon: $68
  • 2-Day tour Colca Canyon ending in Puno: $95
  • 3 Hour Congata Rover Biking Ride Tour in Arequipa: $45
  • 3-hour guided tour in Arequipa: $65
  • 8-Hours Tour in Arequipa Laguna de Salinas with Pick-up: $20

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Gothenburg $24
    Arequipa $17

Sample the Local Flavors in Gothenburg

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Gothenburg:

  • Guided Brewery Tour on Bicycle: $66

Typical Alcohol Prices in Arequipa

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


  • Beer
    $2.58


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Gothenburg and Arequipa, we can see that Gothenburg is more expensive. And not only is Arequipa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Gothenburg is in Europe and Arequipa is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Gothenburg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Gothenburg 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 Gothenburg Expensive? and Is Arequipa Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Gothenburg or Arequipa?

Arequipa has a larger population, and is about 67% larger than the population of Gothenburg. When comparing the sizes of Gothenburg 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.