Which place is cheaper, La Paz or Huaraz?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Huaraz or La Paz?
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 La Paz can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Huaraz or La Paz?
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.
La Paz
La Paz is the capital of Baja California Sur, Mexico. It has a population of about 215,000 people and is a significant commercial center for the region. The city has a good economy and a high standard of living when compared to much of Mexico. Much of the economy is focused on eco-tourism and there are many protected marine environments in the area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Peru, The Best 10-Day Tours in Peru, The Best Budget Tours to Mexico, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Mexico.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHuaraz $50La Paz $118
The average daily cost (per person) in Huaraz is $50, while the average daily cost in La Paz is $118. 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 La Paz in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHuaraz $20La Paz $52
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHuaraz $40La Paz $104
Compare Hotels in Huaraz and La Paz
Looking for a hotel in Huaraz or La Paz? 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 La Paz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Huaraz $10La Paz $22
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Huaraz
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Huaraz are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$2.17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Paz
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Paz:
- La Paz Airport to Costa Baja Private Roundtrip Transfer: $89
- La Paz Airport: Private Roundtrip Transfer to La Ventan: $259
- La Paz Int. Airport (LAP): Private Transfer to La Paz hotels: $174
- Roundtrip Transfer to La Paz International Airport: $73
- Private Transfer from La Paz to Cabo San Lucas: $240
Is it cheaper to fly into Huaraz or La Paz?
Prices for flights to both La Paz 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 $18La Paz $38
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$5.97
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Chips$1.49
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Paz
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Paz.
- 4 Hours of Guided La Paz Street Food Tour: $81
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Huaraz $19La Paz $13
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$17
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 Huaraz || Full day tour Laguna 69 in -Cordillera Blanca: $36
- From Tour to Llanganuco Lakes (Chinancocha Lake): $37
- From Tour to Archeological Complex of Chavin: $38
- Ancash: Nevado pastors and puyas Raymondi Tour | Full Day |: $40
- Lake 69 Full-Day Hiking Tour from Huaraz: $40
- From Lake 69 Trek Day Tour - White Mountain Range: $46
- From Chavín de Huantar fullday tour: $56
- From Llanganuco Lagoon fullday tour: $65
Tours and Activities in La Paz
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Paz are as follows:
- Transparent Boat Tour with Mushroom Rock: $64
- Pearls of Pearl Farm Experience: $64
- Half Day Sandboarding and Paddleboarding Experience in La Paz: $81
- Unique Mexican Spirits Tasting & Pairing Experience: $85
- Sunset Sandboarding at La Paz Dunes Tour: $89
- City Tour & Beaches from La Paz: $91
- Supercombo 2-Day City Tour: $105
- Half Day Private Tour of the Beaches of La Paz: $113
- From Los Cabos: City Tour La Paz, Balandra and Todos Santos: $115
- holy spirit island tour: $116
- Los Cabos Tour from La Paz: $119
- Snorkel Tour with Whale Shark in La Paz: $119
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHuaraz $15La Paz $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Huaraz and La Paz, we can see that La Paz is more expensive. And not only is Huaraz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Huaraz is in South America and La Paz is in North 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 Huaraz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Huaraz 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 La Paz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Paz than you might in Huaraz.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Huaraz Expensive? and Is La Paz Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Huaraz or La Paz?
La Paz has a larger population, and is about 97% larger than the population of Huaraz. When comparing the sizes of Huaraz and La Paz, 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.
When is the best time to visit Huaraz or La Paz?
La Paz has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Huaraz experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Huaraz or La Paz in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Huaraz and La Paz. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Huaraz year-round. Also, many visitors come to La Paz in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Huaraz. In the summer, Huaraz is much colder than La Paz. Typically, the summer temperatures in Huaraz in July average around 3°C (37°F), and La Paz averages at about 30°C (86°F).
In July, Huaraz usually receives more rain than La Paz. Huaraz gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while La Paz receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHuaraz 3°C (37°F)La Paz 30°C (86°F)
Should I visit Huaraz or La Paz in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Huaraz as well as La Paz. Huaraz attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to La Paz for the shopping scene during these months.
Huaraz can get quite cold in the autumn. In October, Huaraz is generally much colder than La Paz. Daily temperatures in Huaraz average around 4°C (39°F), and La Paz fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
Huaraz usually gets more rain in October than La Paz. Huaraz gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while La Paz receives 13 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHuaraz 4°C (39°F)La Paz 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Huaraz or La Paz in the Winter?
Both La Paz and Huaraz are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Huaraz throughout the year. Also, the winter months attract visitors to La Paz because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Huaraz is much colder than La Paz in the winter. The daily temperature in Huaraz averages around 7°C (45°F) in January, and La Paz fluctuates around 18°C (65°F).
It's quite rainy in Huaraz. In January, Huaraz usually receives more rain than La Paz. Huaraz gets 122 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while La Paz receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHuaraz 7°C (45°F)La Paz 18°C (65°F)
Should I visit Huaraz or La Paz in the Spring?
Both La Paz and Huaraz during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Huaraz because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the beaches are the main draw to La Paz this time of year.
In the spring, Huaraz is much colder than La Paz. Typically, the spring temperatures in Huaraz in April average around 6°C (43°F), and La Paz averages at about 23°C (73°F).
Huaraz usually gets more rain in April than La Paz. Huaraz gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while La Paz receives 1 mm (0 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHuaraz 6°C (43°F)La Paz 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for La Paz and Huaraz
| Huaraz | La Paz | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 7°C (45°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 8°C (46°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 7°C (45°F) | 126 mm (5 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 6°C (43°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| May | 5°C (41°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Jun | 4°C (39°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Jul | 3°C (37°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Aug | 3°C (37°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 30°C (87°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Sep | 3°C (37°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 30°C (85°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Oct | 4°C (39°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| Nov | 5°C (41°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 6°C (43°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
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.