Which place is cheaper, San Pedro de Atacama or Huaraz?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Huaraz or San Pedro de Atacama?
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 San Pedro de Atacama can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Huaraz or San Pedro de Atacama?
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.
San Pedro de Atacama
San Pedro de Atacama is a gateway to northern Chile. It is a good jumping off point for exploring the area's impressive landscape, most of which is included in the Los Flamencos National Reserve. It is popular with both Chilean and international tourists, and because of its popularity, it is a relatively expensive destination, with many prices comparable to what you might pay in Santiago.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Peru, The Best 10-Day Tours in Peru, The Best Tours for Seniors to Chile, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Chile.
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Huaraz Prices
Peru PricesSan Pedro de Atacama Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHuaraz $66San Pedro de Atacama $69
The average daily cost (per person) in Huaraz is $66, while the average daily cost in San Pedro de Atacama is $69. 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 San Pedro de Atacama in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHuaraz $21San Pedro de Atacama $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHuaraz $42San Pedro de Atacama $64
Compare Hotels in Huaraz and San Pedro de Atacama
Looking for a hotel in Huaraz or San Pedro de Atacama? 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 San Pedro de Atacama Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Huaraz $11San Pedro de Atacama $9.14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Huaraz
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Huaraz are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$2.29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro de Atacama
Also for San Pedro de Atacama, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 3 Perfect Days in Atacama + Airport Transfer: $224
- Astronomical Tour in San Pedro de Atacama includes transfer, photo, and cocktail.: $53
- Atacama Airport Private Transfer: $88
- Atacama Airport Shuttle Transfer: $38
- Calama Airport Transfer to Atacama / Airport Lodging: $60
- Calama Airport: Transfer to/from San Pedro de Atacama: $30
- Private transfer from San Pedro de Atacama to Calama City: $190
- Puritama Hot Springs Experience with Transfer and Entrance: $90
- Etno-Stargazing Tour with Transfer: $40
- Etno-Stargazing Tour with Transfer: $40
- Puritama Hot Springs Transfer Tour: $45
- Stargazing Experience with Transfer: $44
Is it cheaper to fly into Huaraz or San Pedro de Atacama?
Prices for flights to both San Pedro de Atacama 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 $32San Pedro de Atacama $25
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$6.31
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Chips$1.58
Typical Food Prices in San Pedro de Atacama
For San Pedro de Atacama, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Empanadas$1.26
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Lunch$10
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Dinner$11
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Drink$0.94
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Empanada$5.24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Pedro de Atacama
For San Pedro de Atacama, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Local haute cuisine tasting menu dinner: $135
- Private Dinner Under the Stars: $300
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Huaraz $21San Pedro de Atacama $21
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$18
Tours and Activities in Huaraz
Here are a few actual costs in Huaraz for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2-Day Hatun Machay Tour: $439
- 3-day tour to Parón, Llanganuco and Laguna 69 from Huaraz: $150
- From Ancash: Tour Huaraz with Puya Raymondi 4D/3N: $197
- From Ancash: Tour fantastic in Huaraz 2D/1N: $92
- From Ancash: Tour in Huaraz with Hotel |5D-4N|: $250
- From Huaraz || Full day tour Laguna 69 in -Cordillera Blanca: $40
- From Chavín de Huántar Full-Day Tour with Lunch: $55
- From Chavín de Huantar fullday tour: $56
- From Cordillera Huayhuash 8-Day Trekking Tour: $1,650
- From Lake 69 Trek Day Tour - White Mountain Range: $35
- From Llanganuco Lagoon fullday tour: $65
- From Nevado Pastoruri Tour fullday tour: $65
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Pedro de Atacama
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for San Pedro de Atacama's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Sand Boarding$56
Tours and Activities in San Pedro de Atacama
For San Pedro de Atacama, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Astronomical Tour with Guide and Pick Up San Pedro de Atacama: $30
- Shared Moon Valley Tour: $32
- Tour to the Valley of the Moon San Pedro de Atacama: $35
- Astronomical Guided Tour in San Pedro: $35
- Half-Day Tour to Laguna Cejar: $35
- Stargazing Experience: $35
- Stargazing Tour in San Pedro de Atacama: $36
- Stargazing Tour in the Atacama Desert: $36
- Cejar Lagoon Tour: San Pedro de Atacama: $37
- Rainbow Valley Tour + Petroglyphs (Yerbas Buenas): $37
- Shared Archaeological Tour in San Pedro de Atacama: $38
- Moon Valley Tour: $39
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHuaraz $16San Pedro de Atacama $4.93
Typical Alcohol Prices in San Pedro de Atacama
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in San Pedro de Atacama:
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Alcohol$25
When comparing the travel costs between Huaraz and San Pedro de Atacama, we can see that San Pedro de Atacama 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 San Pedro de Atacama Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Huaraz or San Pedro de Atacama?
Huaraz has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of San Pedro de Atacama. When comparing the sizes of Huaraz and San Pedro de Atacama, 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.