Which place is cheaper, Arequipa or Huaraz?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Huaraz or Arequipa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Huaraz and Arequipa can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Huaraz or Arequipa?
Huaraz
Huaraz is a large town in the Cordillera Blanca region of Peru's Central Sierra. Huaraz stands tall at 3100m; travellers from Lima might need a day or two to acclimatize to the change in atmosphere. Nearly wiped out by the earthquake of 1970, the town of 100,000 blends a mix of modern and native culture. Huarez is first and foremost a trekking metropolis. During high season the streets buzz with hundreds of backpackers and adventurers freshly returned from arduous hikes or planning their next expedition. The town has many markets, shops, quality restaurants and hopping bars catering to tourist and local needs. Mountain adventures in the off-season can be equally rewarding, but the vibe is calmer and some places go into hibernation once the rains set in.
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 Luxury Tours to Peru, The Best Budget Tours to Peru, The Best G Adventures Tours to Peru, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lima.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHuaraz $49Arequipa $46
The average daily cost (per person) in Huaraz is $49, while the average daily cost in Arequipa is $46. 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 Huaraz and Arequipa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHuaraz $20Arequipa $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHuaraz $40Arequipa $46
Compare Hotels in Huaraz and Arequipa
Looking for a hotel in Huaraz 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: Huaraz Hotel Prices and Arequipa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Huaraz $9.92Arequipa $5.86
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Huaraz
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Huaraz are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$2.11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arequipa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arequipa are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$1.32
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Bus Ride$0.42
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Taxi Ride$0.92
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arequipa
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Arequipa:
- 2 Day Trek Including Transfer to Puno / Colca Canyon: $179
- 3 Day Trek Including Transfer to Puno / Colca Canyon: $250
- Arequipa Airport Arrival 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
- From 2-Day Colca Canyon Tour with Transfer to Puno: $98
- From 2-Day Colca Canyon Tour with Transfer to Puno: $103
- From Colca Canyon Tour 1 Day and Transfer to Puno: $129
- Full Day Tour to Colca including Transfer to Puno: $60
- Koh Lanta any hotel to Krabi airport Private transfer: $72
Is it cheaper to fly into Huaraz or Arequipa?
Prices for flights to both Arequipa and Huaraz 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 dayHuaraz $17Arequipa $13
Typical Food Prices in Huaraz
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Huaraz:
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Lunch$5.81
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Chips$1.45
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$0.40
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Lunch$2.77
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Ice Cream$1.06
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Fruit$0.79
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Ice Cream$0.92
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arequipa
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Arequipa.
- Peruvian Cooking Experience in Arequipa: $35
- Peruvian Cooking Class: $48
- Peruvian Cooking Class: $48
- Cooking Class Typical Food in Arequipa: $48
- Private Cooking Class in Arequipa: $57
- Arequipa Ancestral Cuisine and City and Food Tour: $69
- 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
- Arequipa Food Tour Experience: $115
- Food Tour Experience: $115
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Huaraz $19Arequipa $18
Typical Entertainment Prices in Huaraz
Here are a few typical costs in Huaraz for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Climbing Gear$16
Tours and Activities in Huaraz
Here are a few actual costs in Huaraz for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Traditional Picante de Cuy Gastronomy Tour in Huaraz: $15
- 69 Lake Tour of Peru: $26
- Glacier Pastoruri and Puya Raimondi Full Day Tour: $28
- Lake 69 Trek Day Tour - White Mountain Range: $30
- From Tour to Llanganuco Lakes (Chinancocha Lake): $35
- From Tour to Llanganuco Lakes (Chinancocha Lake): $35
- From Tour to Llanganuco Lakes (Chinancocha Lake): $35
- From Huaraz || Tour to Llanganuco Lakes || Full Day: $35
- Huaraz : Adventure in Snowy Pastouri + Puyas Raymondi Forest: $35
- From Ancash: Chavin de Huantar Tour: $35
- From Tour to Archeological Complex of Chavin: $36
- From Tour to the Pastoruri Glacier and Puya Raimondi: $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:
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Monastery Entry$2.64
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Salsa Class$2.64
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Movie Ticket$2.88
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Hot Springs$2.64
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: $12
- Sillar Route Tour.: $13
- Walking Tour through the Historic Center of Arequipa: $16
- Walking Tour through the Historic Center of Arequipa: $16
- Tour por la Ruta del Sillar, el Origen de Arequipa: $16
- Countryside Tour with Volcano Views: $17
- Tour through the Countryside of Arequipa in Panoramic Bus: $18
- Countryside Tour Arequipa: $18
- Ticket for Planetarium and Star Observatory: $19
- From Panoramic Tour of Arequipa: $20
- Arequipa City tour in panoramic bus: $20
- City tour with panoramic bus: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHuaraz $15Arequipa $15
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$2.38
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 comparing the travel costs between Huaraz and Arequipa, we can see that Huaraz 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 Huaraz Expensive? and Is Arequipa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Huaraz or Arequipa?
Arequipa has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Huaraz. When comparing the sizes of Huaraz 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.