Which place is cheaper, Arequipa or La Plata?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit La Plata 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 La Plata and Arequipa can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: La Plata or Arequipa?
La Plata
Just over an hour from Buenos Aires, the bustling university city of La Plata is notable for being South America's first planned city. Indeed, also known as the City of Diagonal, La Plata's intricate grid system includes diagonal streets that run through it, contributing to easy navigation but confusing intersections.La Plata is the Capital of the Province of Buenos Aires, the main Argentine state, so you will find lots of elaborate government buildings alongside leafy green plazas in this laid back as well as active city. La Plata is a happening university town with a population of over 700,000. You can walk the width of it in under an hour, stopping at trendy craft beer bars, local music joints, and great restaurants along the way. Also, football is a religion in Argentina and if you're looking for some local atmosphere, La Plata is the place to go! Two of Argentina's biggest football teams, Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata and Estudiantes de La Plata challenge each other each year. If you are around during that special day for the city, you will witness thousands of fans wearing the relevant colours heading off to watch the match and parade by calle 7.
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 from Buenos Aires, The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru, and The Best Cultural Tours in Peru.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLa Plata $8.62Arequipa $47
The average daily cost (per person) in La Plata is $8.62, while the average daily cost in Arequipa is $47. 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 La Plata and Arequipa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLa Plata $3.47Arequipa $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLa Plata $6.94Arequipa $46
Compare Hotels in La Plata and Arequipa
Looking for a hotel in La Plata 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: La Plata Hotel Prices and Arequipa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.La Plata $2.47Arequipa $6.02
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arequipa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arequipa are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$1.36
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Bus Ride$0.43
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Taxi Ride$0.95
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arequipa
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Arequipa:
- Private Transfer From Arequipa to Puno, English Speaking Driver: $262
- Private Transfer From Arequipa To Puno With a 2 Hour Stop: $241
- Koh lanta any hotel to Phuket airport Private transfer: $147
- Colca Canyon Sightseeing Tour 2D1N and Transfer to Puno: $120
- Colca Canyon 2 days from Arequipa with final transfer to Puno: $110
- From 2-Day Colca Canyon Tour with Transfer to Puno: $103
- From 2-Day Colca Canyon Tour with Transfer to Puno: $98
- Koh Lanta any hotel to Krabi airport Private transfer: $71
- Transfer Between Arequipa's Airport and Hotels: $35
- Private Transfer from Arequipa to Alfredo Rodríguez Ballón (AQP) Airport : $35
- Sihanouk Ville Airport Pickup or Transfer Private Car: $32
- 1-Way Airport Private Transfer: $31
Is it cheaper to fly into La Plata or Arequipa?
Prices for flights to both Arequipa and La Plata 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 dayLa Plata $3.37Arequipa $14
Typical Food Prices in La Plata
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to La Plata:
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Ice Cream$0.01
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$0.41
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Lunch$2.85
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Ice Cream$1.09
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Fruit$0.81
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Ice Cream$0.95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arequipa
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Arequipa.
- Skip the Line: Dinner and Typical Dances Show Ticket: $25
- Peruvian Cooking Experience in Arequipa: $34
- Peruvian Cooking Class: $48
- Peruvian Cooking Class: $48
- Peruvian Cooking Class in arequipa: $50
- Guided Food Tour in Arequipa City: $69
- 3-hour guided food tour / 5 iconic restaurants of Arequipa: $72
- 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
- Peruvian cooking class + PiscoSour class + visit the local market: $95
- Food Tour Experience: $115
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.La Plata $2.16Arequipa $18
Typical Entertainment Prices in La Plata
For La Plata, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Sciencias Naturales Museum Entrance Fee$0.01
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$2.71
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Salsa Class$2.71
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Movie Ticket$2.96
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Hot Springs$2.71
Tours and Activities in Arequipa
Here are a few actual costs in Arequipa for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 Day - Colca Canyon and Condor Tour from Arequipa, Peru - Group Service : $288
- 2-Day Misti Volcano Tour: $117
- 2-Day Tour to the Magical Colca Canyon: $68
- 2-Day || Adventure From Arequipa to Chachani Volcano ||: $143
- 2-day tour to the Colca Valley and the Cruz del Condor: $99
- 3 Hour Congata Rover Biking Ride Tour in Arequipa: $45
- 3-Day Cotahuasi Canyon Tour: $350
- 3-Hour Tour by Mountain Bike in Arequipa: $69
- 3-day tour of the Valley of the Volcanoes: $350
- 4-hour tour to the Sillar Route in Arequipa: $10
- 8-Hours Tour in Arequipa Laguna de Salinas with Pick-up: $25
- AREQUIPA BIKING CITY TOUR: $29
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLa Plata $1.20Arequipa $16
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$2.44
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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between La Plata and Arequipa, we can see that Arequipa is more expensive. And not only is La Plata much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to La Plata would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Plata 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 Arequipa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arequipa than you might in La Plata.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is La Plata Expensive? and Is Arequipa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, La Plata or Arequipa?
Arequipa has a larger population, and is about 21% larger than the population of La Plata. When comparing the sizes of La Plata 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.