Which place is cheaper, Arequipa or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Lake Titicaca (Puno) or Arequipa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Lake Titicaca (Puno) and Arequipa. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Lake Titicaca (Puno) or Arequipa?
Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Lake Titicaca, which directly translates to "puma stone" in Quechua, is located high in the Andes Mountains straddling Peru and Bolivia, with about 60% of the lake in Peru and 40% in Bolivia. Among the lake are three main islands, the most popular of which are the Uros Islands, also known as the floating islands, where the Uros people live on totora reeds that grow in the lake.
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 Photography Tours in Peru, The Best Jungle Trekking Tours in Peru, The Best Luxury Tours to Peru, and The Best Budget Tours to Peru.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLake Titicaca (Puno) $55Arequipa $47
The average daily cost (per person) in Lake Titicaca (Puno) is $55, 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) and Arequipa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLake Titicaca (Puno) $26Arequipa $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLake Titicaca (Puno) $52Arequipa $46
Compare Hotels in Lake Titicaca (Puno) and Arequipa
Looking for a hotel in Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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: Lake Titicaca (Puno) Hotel Prices and Arequipa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lake Titicaca (Puno) $11Arequipa $6.02
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno):
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Taxi$0.81
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno):
- Direct Private Transfer From Puno to Cusco, English Local Speaking Driver: $205
- Private Transfer From Puno to Chivay With a 2 Hour Stop: $296
- Private Transfer From Puno to Chivay, English Speaking Driver: $209
- Private Transfer From Puno to Cusco With 2 Stops: $249
- Private Transfer From Puno to Oruro With a Stop in Lake Titicaca: $285
- Private Transfer from Hotel Puno to Puerto de Puno: $21
- Private Transfer from Puerto de Puno to Hotel Puno: $21
- Private Transfer from Puno to Desaguadero: $193
- Private Transfer from Puno to Frontera Kasani: $202
- Puno Airport Private Transfer: $44
- Puno Airport Shared Transfer: $20
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:
- Arequipa Airport Departure Transfer: $13
- Arequipa Airport Arrival Transfer: $13
- Private Transfer from Alfredo Rodríguez Ballón Airport to Hotel: $20
- Arequipa Bus Station Arrival Transfer : $25
- Arequipa Airport Private Transfer: $25
- Airport private transfer to/from the city center: $26
- 1-Way Airport Private Transfer: $31
- Sihanouk Ville Airport Pickup or Transfer Private Car: $32
- Private Transfer from Arequipa to Alfredo Rodríguez Ballón (AQP) Airport : $35
- Transfer Between Arequipa's Airport and Hotels: $35
- Koh Lanta any hotel to Krabi airport Private transfer: $71
- From 2-Day Colca Canyon Tour with Transfer to Puno: $98
Is it cheaper to fly into Lake Titicaca (Puno) or Arequipa?
Prices for flights to both Arequipa and Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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 dayLake Titicaca (Puno) $15Arequipa $14
Typical Food Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:
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Tamales$1.49
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.Lake Titicaca (Puno) $29Arequipa $18
Tours and Activities in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:
- Half Day Tour to Sillustani from Puno : $22
- Sillustani / 4-hour tour from Puno: $25
- Morning: Uros Floating Islands Tour from Puno: $25
- Half Day Tour in Sillustani: $26
- 3h Boat Tour to Uros Island from Puno: $38
- Full Day Tour Uros and Taquile (Speed Boat): $40
- Full Day Guided Tour of the Aymara Route from Puno: $40
- Tour to Uros and Taquile Islands in a Fast Boat: $40
- Lake Titicaca Day Tour from Puno: $44
- Uros and Taquile Islands Full Day Tour with lunch: $49
- Full Day Tour Of Lake Titicaca And Uros & Taquile - A.m: $50
- Full Day Lake Titicaca Tour to Uros and Taquile Islands: $52
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:
- Arequipa Tasting Tour: $8.00
- 4-hour tour to the Sillar Route in Arequipa: $10
- Campiña Tour in Arequipa and Quick View to the Viewpoints 4 hours: $10
- Small-Group Arequipa Countryside Tour Including La Mansion del Fundador -Mirabus: $15
- Tour por la Ruta del Sillar, el Origen de Arequipa: $16
- Countryside Tour Arequipa: $18
- From Panoramic Tour of Arequipa: $20
- From Sillar Route Tour || Half Day ||: $20
- From Sillar Route - Half Day Tour: $20
- City tour with panoramic bus: $20
- The Sillar Route Day Tour: $22
- Tour Colca Full Day Promotional Price: $22
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLake Titicaca (Puno) $13Arequipa $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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) and Arequipa, we can see that Lake Titicaca (Puno) is more expensive. And not only is Arequipa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) Expensive? and Is Arequipa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lake Titicaca (Puno) or Arequipa?
Arequipa has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Lake Titicaca (Puno). When comparing the sizes of Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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.